Eco Special

*Includes 1 night FREE at BOTH Hotel Villa Blanca & Playa Nicuesa Rain Forest Lodge plus added values upon arrival at Hotel Villa Blanca! 

Day 1:  Upon your midday or early afternoon arrival into San Jose, Costa Rica you will be met and transferred approximately 1 ½ hours to the Los Angeles Cloud Forest near San Ramon. This high-elevation forest, literally in the clouds, is a misty dreamlike setting that is great for hiking and wildlife observation. Arrive at the Hotel Villa Blanca for overnight located on a 75-acre Private Biological Reserve.  The hotel offers distinctive and unique accommodations with amenities not commonly found in a Cloud Forest region including 35 Casitas with fireplaces, each with breathtaking views of pristine tropical cloud forest, upscale restaurant, lobby with fireplace, bar lounge, terrace deck, library / game room, private movie theater, Serenity Spa facilities and Regalame II Gift Shop and Art Gallery.  The remainder of the day is free to explore this unique environment or to simply sit back and relax. 

Day 2:  San Luis Canopy Tour - Set about 40 minutes from Hotel Villa Blanca into the placid cloud forests of Costa Rica’s Central Valley region, the San Luis canopy tour will take you on an exhilarating and safe adventure through lush, green canopy and across the majestic Rio Cataratitas. Carried securely by a system of ziplines, you will soar weightlessly through the expanse of virgin forest that grounds the tour, and find yourself in intimacy with the habitats of Costa Rica’s distinct cloud forest wildlife.  The rest of the afternoon is free Guests can enjoy taking day-trips to San Ramon (known as the city of poets and artists) to experience a unique look into Costa Rican society and history.  Optional excursions available at an additional cost include bird watching tours, guided cloud forest hikes, cultural, historical & coffee plantation tour, horseback riding, nocturnal nature walk and Quetzal Tour (February – June). Overnight Hotel Villa Blanca. 

Day 3:  Arenal Volcano and Hot Springs Tour (full day): This morning we will depart from Villa Blanca for travel along the continental divide into the San Carlos plains.  Along the way your guide will explain dairy production and the characteristics of different crops located in San Carlos including ornamental plants, pineapple, cassava, papaya and plantains.  Upon arriving in the town of La Fortuna you will learn the growing importance of tourism to this area in recent years.  Next we will take a nature walk to observe the volcano (weather permitting) and discuss its history, including the most important recent eruptions.  After a short walk and photo opportunity we will head to the private thermal hot springs where we will relax in the medicinal waters.  Prior to the drive back to Villa Blanca we will stop at a local restaurant for a delicious campesino style lunch and more spectacular views of the volcano.  Overnight Hotel Villa Blanca.

Day 4:  Morning transfer 1 and ½ hours to the domestic airport in San Jose for a short & scenic flight to Puerto Jimenez on the remote Osa Peninsula.  Upon arrival, you will transfer by ground and boat to the Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge for overnight.  Set on a private bay, with a large stretch of black-sand beach, this is the most luxurious and impressive lodge located along the shores of the Golfo Dulce. Playa Nicuesa’s location is amazingly unique. Located on a 165-acre private preserve within a region that has been described as being one of most biologically diverse places on the earth, this area contains Central America’s largest remaining Pacific Coast rainforest. The property is nestled between the awesome blue-green waters of the Pacific Coast and the lush rainforest of the 14,000-hectare Piedras Blancas National Park.

The small size of Playa Nicuesa allows for a more intimate experience with nature. The cabins, guestrooms and the main house are uniquely designed to create a seamless and enjoyable transition between the indoors and outdoors. The lodge’s five private cabins, and the Mango Guesthouse with four rooms, offer privacy and comfort in a natural setting. All cabins and rooms have canopied beds, ceiling fans, private terraces, and private baths with hot water and open-air garden shower. The full-length louvre doors that wrap around your room and private verandas afford panoramic views of your natural surroundings. Electricity is provided by solar energy. However, candles are still used throughout the lodge to maintain the natural experience. Candlelit pathways and dinners are reminders of our efforts and commitment towards conservation, and sensitivity to the natural environment. Three exceptional meals are prepared each day by their chefs. Emphasis is on local cuisine and fresh fish, tropical fruits and vegetables.

Day 5 – 7: Free days to enjoy Golfo Dulce’s 80-degree blue green waters. Kayak right off the beachfront. The water is calm and perfect for swimming. Spend a relaxing hour or a challenging day kayaking and exploring along the coastline and through nearby mangroves. Stop and snorkel along the way! In-shore and off-shore fishing guarantee a fresh fish dinner. You can also explore the jungle by hiking the labyrinth of trails that wind through the rainforest canopy, up the mountainside, and connect through the National Park. Listen to the howler monkeys, watch and hear the calls of any one of the 250 species of birds, and end up at a waterfall. Or, just relax in a hammock under the almond tree by the sea and take in the ocean and mountain views while listening to the rhythmic waves.  Overnight Playa Nicuesa Lodge.

Day 8:  Morning boat & ground transfer to the local airport in Puerto Jimenez for a short flight back to San Jose.  Upon arrival you will be met and transferred to Hotel Grano de Oro for overnight. Situated on a shady street just off Paseo Colón, San José's main thoroughfare, Hotel Grano de Oro is a true oasis, a sanctuary in the heart of the city.  Converted from a Tropical Victorian mansion, the recently renovated 40-room hotel maintains the warmth and comfort of a private home. Guests delight in the tranquil ambience of tropical plants and flowers found throughout the hotel. Italian tile fountains grace intimate atriums, ensuring that one is never far from the soothing melody of falling water. Additionally a rooftop garden terrace offers relaxing Jacuzzis and a blissful, secluded spot for lounging, sunbathing and stargazing. Once a simple café, the restaurant at Grano de Oro has evolved into one or San Jose’s finest dining establishments, frequented by locals and visitors alike.   The rest of the afternoon is free to explore the city or to relax in the rooftop Jacuzzis. 

Day 9: Morning transfer to the international airport in San Jose for your return flight home. 

Price: $1745.00 per person / double occupancy / land package
           (valid for travel May 1 –Sep 30, 2011)

Includes: 

• Roundtrip private ground transfers San Jose / San Ramon. 
• 3 nights Hotel Villa Blanca, superior casita.  Breakfast daily included.  *3rd night is FREE! 
• San Luis Canopy Tour.  Includes:  transfers, guide and equipment. 
• Arenal Volcano & Hot Springs Tour.  Includes:  transfers, guide, entrance and lunch. 
• Roundtrip domestic flights San Jose / Puerto Jimenez.  *MAX 40 lbs luggage per person to avoid excess luggage fees. 
• 4 nights Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge, one bedroom cabin.  Includes: boat pick up and drop off from town of arrival and departure, 3 meals a day, unlimited self-guided hikes, use of kayaks, windsurfers, snorkeling and fishing equipment.  *4th night is FREE! 
• One way San Jose domestic airport transfer. 
• 1 night Hotel Grano de Oro, deluxe room. 
• One way San Jose international airport transfer. 
• ALL HOTEL TAX INCLUDED. 

Receive these added values upon arrival at Hotel Villa Blanca: 
-Gift voucher for 15% off any premium bottle of wine
-10% discount coupon at El Sendero Restaurant
-50% discount for Villa Blanca Cloud Forest Nature Guided Walk