LETTER CODES: (B) Breakfast, (L) Lunch, (D) Dinner.

Day by Day Itinerary

Day 1. WELCOME TO COSTA RICA. Arrival to the International Airport Juan Santamaria. Upon arrival at the San Jose airport, you will be met by one of our representatives how will explain your itinerary, answer any questions and provide you with a packet of vouchers and information about your trip. Transfer to Hotel Villa Tournon and free time at leisure.

Optional and depending on arrival time: City Tour: Visiting: San Jose, University of Costa Rica, San Pedro, Principal buildings as National Museum, National Teather, Congress, Yellow House, Plaza de la Cultura, Gold Museum, etc. Residential areas and principal Malls. Dinner on your own.
 
Day 2. MONTEVERDE CLOUD FOREST (B, L, D) During the morning, departure to Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. Set atop the spine of Costa Rica’s continental divide, Monteverde is a world above the coastal towns that dot the country's famous shoreline. It is a place of cloud forests and coffee plantations, monkeys, mist, and friendly locals. The town of Santa Elena is small and quaint, filled with tasty restaurants and folksy artisan shops, while the nearby rainforest hosts a remarkable amount of biodiversity.

Due to its high altitude – some 4,662 ft (1,440 m) above sea level – Monteverde is privileged to receive a steady supply of clouds and the life-giving moisture that they contain. This moisture, often in the form of fog, catches on the branches of the tallest trees and drips down to the other organisms below. This helps to support a complex and far-reaching ecosystem, one that harbors over 100 species of mammals, 400 species of birds, tens of thousands of insect species, and over 2,500 varieties of plants, 420 of which are orchids alone.

Upon arrival, check in at Historias Lodge and lunch. Afternoon, Visit to Santa Elena Town.

 Evening, Night Walk Tour: For those who wish to discover the night-time wonders of the forest, Hidden Valley offers a fascinating guided night walk. Led by bilingual, professionally trained naturalist guides, the tour begins at 5:30 pm, daily. After enjoying the beautiful sunset, visitors will first observe diurnal species, especially birds, as they prepare themselves to settle for the night. As darkness falls, they will witness the forest begin to awaken once again, as the nocturnal creatures start to emerge. The guide will explain many of the unique sights and unusual sounds while pointing out an array of insects, reptiles, birds, bats and mammals that inhabit the forest at night.

Among the creatures that visitors are likely to spot are snakes, spiders, especially tarantulas, sleeping blue crowned mot-mots, tiny tree frogs, Coatimundis, Agoutis, bats, and if you're really lucky, maybe even a sleepy sloth, a wide-eyed Kinkajou, or an Armadillo. Of course there are no guarantees, so keep your eyes and ears peeled!

Day 3. MONTEVERDE CLOUD FOREST TOUR. (B, L, D). Breakfast at your hotel. By Mid Morning, Sky Trek Tour. SKY TREK is a secure system of trails and zip lines, in the Monteverde Cloud Forest that offers visitors the opportunity to observe and appreciate the nature from different vantage points.SKY TREK is similar to other canopy tours in Costa Rica, but incorporates some significant differences, such as being of larger scale, metal platforms covered with mesh-covered and steel rails which prevent falling or sliding.

After the tour, lunch in Santa Elena Town. Afternoon, tour to El Trapiche (Sugar Mill Tour). El Trapiche Tour is a Costa Rican Family project that offers visitors a two hour long guided tour. 

We begin with a walk on our farm where our guests will learn about the production of sugarcane, coffee, and the traditional ways of cultivating bananas, arracache (a local legume), avocado, macadamia nuts as well as other products.  Also one can observe our Tilapia fish project and a small-forested area where it is possible to see various flora and fauna of the Monteverde zone.

During the tour of the farm, our visitors will have the opportunity to collect coffee, transport it to the grinding machines and see how the delicious Monteverde coffee is made.  Also on our farm there are oxen with a traditional cart waiting to transport visitors to the sugarcane mill where we will demonstrate the process of making brown sugar and all the other types of products made from sugarcane.  One can also enjoy a representation of the extraction of guaro, a Costa Rican alcohol made from sugarcane.  To end this eventful tour our guests can enjoy “picadillo de arracache”, a traditional vegetable hash, accompanied by a cup of coffee or lemonade. Return to the Hotel and dinner.

Day 4. RINCON DE LA VIEJA VOLCANO & GUACHIPELIN LODGE. (B, L, D). Breakfast at the hotel and departure to our next destination in the province of Guanacaste. Overnight at Hacienda Lodge Guachipelin. Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin is a truly ecotourism lodge for adventure travel and nature lovers.

The hotel is surrounded by lush gardens with native trees, exotic flowers and many types of birds, and it has views to both the Rincon de la Vieja Volcano and the Pacific ocean. Near the reception area, you will find our corrals, where real cowboys and ranch hands begin working in the early hours each day. Also there are many adventure activities that await the adventurer that comes to Costa Rica to do different things like horseback riding, canopy tour, tubing tour on the Rio Negro, and trekking among many other attractions. Lunch at The Lodge.

Afternoon, cattle Ranch Tour.  You leave from the stables of the hacienda to the pastures, where you can experience working in a corral, starting milking cows, round up cattle, harness horses all this accompanied with authentic “sabaneros guanacastecos”. (Sabaneros = cowboys, Guanacastecos = From the Guanacaste province). Dinner at The Lodge and free time at leisure.

Day 5. RINCON DE LA VIEJA VOLCANO TOUR. (B, L, D). Breakfast at the Hotel and tour to Rincon de la Vieja National Park. Rincon de la Vieja, the largest volcano in the country's northwest, comprises a remote volcanic complex in the Guanacaste Range. At least nine eruptive vents are located within a 15-kilometer-wide caldera. The twin cone of 1,916 meter Santa Maria volcano, the highest peak of the Rincon complex, features an inactive crater 500 meters across. The last major eruption of Rincon de la Vieja occurred about 3,500 years ago.

All subsequent eruptions, including numerous historical events dating back to the 16th century, have occurred in the mountain's lake-filled active crater. A sulfuric hot spring is 3 km up the trail from the ranger station, allowing visitors to relax in its naturally heated pools and then cool off in a nearby stream. In close proximity, a trail reveals a number of adjoining waterfalls with perfect swimming holes. Bubbling pools of mud can be found an additional 3 km beyond the hot springs where visitors can observe Rincon de la Vieja's powerful geological forces at work. Lunch and dinner at the lodge.

Day 6. PLAYA PANAMA (B, L, D) Say good by to Guachipelin Lodge and transfer to Playa Panama located in Papagayo Gulf, one of the most beautiful areas in Costa Rica. Upon arrival, check in at Hotel Casa Conde de Mar and free time at leisure for enjoy the beautiful hotel facilities and the pristine beach.

Day 7. PLAYA PANAMA - SAN JOSE. (B, L, D) Morning breakfast at the hotel and free time for enjoy the beautiful beach. By Noon, hotel check out and return to San Jose. Stop for lunch on route. Upon arrival to San Jose, Check In at Hotel Villa Tournon. Evening, farewell dinner in San Jose.

Day 8. TRANSFER OUT (B). Transfer to the International Airport according with your scheduled flight and good bye.

NOTE: Rates based on Triple & Quad occupancy for the students and double rooms for the teachers. No single rooms available unless a single supplement is paid.

CHAPERONES:  One free ticket for every 15 students.                

MINIMUM: 15 students.

INCLUDE: 7 nights lodging in high quality Hotels, all land transportation within Costa Rica, all airport/ hotel transfers on scheduled arrival/ departures dates only, specified meals, specified tours, private transportation and naturalist tour guide.

NOT INCLUDED: International air fare, airport departure taxes, meals not specified in the itinerary, alcoholic beverages, personal equipment, extras in hotels (laundry, phone calls, room service), gratuities, or costs associated with changes in your itinerary for reasons beyond our control.

WHATS TO BRING: Hiking Shoes, Bathing Suit, Binoculars, Camera, Beach Sandals, Suntan Lotion, Hat, Mosquito Repellent.

DEPARTURE DATES: All our options are available all year around and we just need your travel dates in order to check the hotel's availability and arrange it.

HOW BIG ARE THE GROUPS: Our vacations are operated in an independent basis and you will not travel as part of a group unless you are part of a group. However, during the transfers and Daily Tours you will travel with other tourist we might have for that particular activity or service.

HOW TO RESERVE THIS PACKAGE: Please send an email to info@greenwaytours.com with as much as information you can about your desired vacation, number of participants, arrival dates, name of the package you are interested on and any other special requirements. Once you receive our confirmation form, a 20% deposit is due. Full payment due 60 days prior to departure.

CAN I CUSTOMIZE A PACKAGE: Yes, you can use our packages as a base and make any change on it. We are very flexible. If these packages do not fit on your desired vacation, just send an email to us and we can prepare a new option for you.

AIRFARE IS NOT INCLUDED: All our options includes the Land Portion only. Airfare must be on your own and indicate your arrival and departure dates to us in order to arrange the hotel's bookings.

HOTEL CATEGORIES: All the hotels used by Greenway Tours had been selected considering the best standards of quality and service. Our Hotels are between 3 and 5 stars. All inspected by our company's owners and managers in order to guarantee an excellent service. At least 50% of our lodging contractors had been certified as Green Companies by the Costa Rican Tourist Board ( Certification in Sustainable Tourism CST ).

AIRPORT TRANSFERS: All our packages includes Airport - Hotel - Airport Transfers with a professional bilingual tour guide upon your flight arrival.

VOUCHERS & WECOME KIT: During the transfer service to your hotel, our tour guide will provide general information about your tour and give you a welcome kit with all the vouchers and documents you will need for your trip.

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