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Country Info
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Other Sections
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AMERIKA VENTURE
inbound travel agency
& tour operator
across the Americas
since 1996
Member of
BBB, TIES & STI
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| Cultural Ecotourism in Costa Rica - 8 days - CRB 15 day tour, click here |
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| Small groups (6 to 12 travellers) :: Top naturalist guides :: Professional drivers :: Charming high end lodging |
Throughout this journey at the heart of nature we explore the cloud forests of Monteverde, the Poas & Arenal active volcanoes and some of the most unique protected national parks, biological reserves and regions of Costa Rica.
An 8 days ecotour travelling in a small group with one of the best naturalist tour guides in Costa Rica !
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Would you recommend
Amerika Venture Ecotours ?
"Absolutely ! Will use you again. You were recommended to us by a couple friends of mine. I'm glad they had such a good experience with you. I also want to personally thank you for being so flexible when Brenda and I had to cancel our first trip with you due to a skiing accident she had. You were so gracious and accommodating. Really a class act ! "
Mary Settle, USA
" We are seriously considering your Amazon adventure next year, it looks great. Your company really delivers what they promise, and more. "
Mr. & Mrs.Watts, Canada
" Your tours exceeded our expectations in every area. I've been recommending Amerika Venture to friends and coworkers enthusiastically and will continue to do so. Hope we'll be in touch in the future; I've enjoyed our communications "
Eric Lowenkron, USA
" Pre-tour communications: 10/10
Tour guide: 10/10
Excellent guide, well informed, amiable
Tour: 10/10
Accommodations: 9/10
Transport: 10/10
Our Driver (Elias) was excellent, the minibus very comfortable.
Meals: 10/10
Good & healthy meals throughout.
Travel companions: 10/10
Good company particularly liked that some were from Europe adding new perspectives.
Yes, I do recommend Amerika Venture ! "
Jeannine Lunney, Canada
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Day 1. San Jose
Arrival in San Jose International Airport, meet your driver and guide at the airport arrivals terminal. Private transfer to San Jose, evening meal and overnight in a very comfortable and charming hotel or inn in the capital.
Day 2. Poas National Park - Monteverde
Meet your friendly tour guide and travel companions for breakfast. Exploration of Poas National Park; encounter with an active volcano which has the world's second largest crater surrounded by a cloud forest abounding with this life so particular to Costa Rica : hummingbirds, bromides, lichens, butterflies... Lunch on the Volcano slopes on our way back and guided visit of a coffee plantation. Explanation of the coffee growing process and its social and political context in Costa Rica. Drive towards Monteverde in the afternoon (4hrs drive). Tonight we will be staying in a charming lodge in Monteverde (our lodge offers some of the best cuisine in the region).
Day 3. Monteverde Cloud Forest
Exploration of Santa Elena's Biological Reserve in the Monteverde Cloud Forest. Guided hike on the trails accompanied by a naturalist (tropical biologist). Contoured by the Tilaran Mountains this reserve is spread on eight ecological zones, it shelters over 100 mammal, 400 bird and 1500 plant species. In the afternoon, we will also experience the famous Sky Trek, a network of understory trails and platforms reaching high above the ground. Zip lines of steel cables attached from one platform to another allow you to slide through the forest canopy - it's fun and unforgettable! Evening meal is served at the lodge.
Day 4. Arenal Volcano
Breakfast at the lodge and departure for a scenic drive towards the active Arenal Volcano going around the beautiful Arenal Lake OR expedition on horseback through the farmland and slopes of the Arenal-Monteverde zone (both options are proposed, additional fees apply if you choose the horseback ride). Those who will travel by road will stop for lunch in a very pleasant Italian restaurant located on a hill top yielding superb views of the region, those on horseback will have a lunch box meal on the side of the lake. They will then cross on a motorized boat to meet the rest of the group at the Arenal dam near the foot of the Volcano a few minutes drive away from our hotel and the Tabacon Hot springs. Stay in a comfortable hotel on the volcano slopes. Optional visit to the Tabacon hot springs in the evening.
Day 5. Arenal Volcano:
Optional early morning birding tour on the volcano slopes. Breakfast at the hotel and transfer to the beautiful Fortuna waterfall located next to the Chato mountain, the ancient crater of the Arenal Volcano. Descending a steep trail between rock cliffs with dense vegetation we reach the base of this amazing 140-foot waterfall for a refreshing swim. Lunch at a restaurant in Fortuna village before heading towards Arenal Volcano National Park. Inside the park are several hiking trails open to visitors taking you as close as advisable to the summit of the active volcano. The park rangers are continuously monitoring the volcanoes activity and upon arrival at the ranger station they will inform visitors which trail is open. From the ranger station at the park entrance there are two hiking trails leading east through some young secondary forests & old lava formations from previous eruptions to the mirador, a look-out point, from where you can watch lava flowing from the volcano. This is a 2 to 3 hours hike (1.4km each way). Transfer back to our hotel for supper and relaxation. Optional visit to Tabacon hot springs (fees apply).
Day 6. Selva Verde
Breakfast at the hotel and transfer to the private reserve of Selva Verde (1½ hr drive). Upon arrival buffet lunch at the lodge's restaurant located on the riverside. Selva Verde Reserve protects 180 hectares of primary and 300 hectares of secondary tropical rainforest we discover during a guided hike on the nature trails. Free afternoon to explore the surroundings or simply relax in the hammocks. You may wish to visit the butterfly farm to learn about the butterfly world, the plants and flowers they are attracted to and how the garden is maintained. Evening meal at the lodge.
Day 7. Selva Verde
An early morning bird watching tour is available every day at 6h00 before breakfast. Inform your tour guide if you are interested. Breakfast at the lodge followed by a boat trip on the Sarapiqui river, during which you will have the opportunity to observe river wildlife, and feel the vitality of the river as a means of transportation for the local Costa Ricans. After lunch at the lodge we visit the Sarapiqui Conservation Learning Center (SCLC) located on the grounds of Selva Verde for an overview of this project. Your guide may be able to organize a meeting with the researchers and volunteers working at the center in order to provide an insight in their world. Excellent local artwork can also be purchased at the end of the visit. Free afternoon; explore the surroundings – together with your naturalist guide or on your own, relax or choose one of the optional activities proposed by the lodge such as rafting or kayaking on Sarapiqui River and horseback riding expeditions in the nearby region (aditional fees apply). Your tour guide will be happy to assist you in organizing such activities. Supper and overnight at the lodge.
Day 8. Selva Verde, La Paz Gardens, San Jose
NB: If you catch a plane today, we will transfer you to the airport to check-in at least 2 hours before your flight.
Optional morning wildlife watching tour in the reserve. Filling breakfast and scenic drive towards the capital via Vara Blanca. We will visit on our way to the capital the amazing La Paz Waterfall Gardens where we experience lush rainforests, majestic waterfalls, fluttering butterflies and whimsical hummingbirds. With over 3.5 kilometers ( 2 miles) of nature trails, a butterfly observatory, hummingbird gardens and bird watching areas proposed, we can spend here most of our day without seeing time fly! Lunch will be served buffet style in the excellent on site restaurant (rated 4 forks). The dining area yields incredible views of the La Paz River Valley and the Poás Volcano. Final drive down to San Jose in the afternoon, transfer to the airport or to your hotel. End of the adventure.
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NOTE: The description of this program is provided as a general indication of the tour's itinerary. Your program could be slightly different according to weather conditions, availabilities or changes in the accessibility of a site and/or service.
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 LODGING provided during this tour is in charming meticulously selected 3* inns, eco-lodges and hotels. We mainly use, throughout our tours, exactly & carefully selected small or medium sized genuine hotels and Inns offering friendliness and a homey touch along with the comfort and services provided in larger hotels. Inns are locally owned and managed - often family run - and provide a warm and friendly atmosphere to the visitors. The large charming rooms always count a private bathroom, a ceiling fan and/or air conditioning. * Unless otherwise indicated in the tour's day by day description.
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All our services in Costa Rica . . .
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Exclusions
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- An excellent naturalist tour guide with you from the beginning to the end and specialized local guides in some areas.
- All the transports in a private mini-bus with private driver, from airport arrival to airport departure.
- Lodgings in charming and very comfortable hotels, eco-lodges and inns, private bathroom, pleasant ambience.
- All the activities and entry fees in the sites and national parks included in the description of the tour.
- All the meals served in the inns and restaurants or picnic (full board).
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- International flights; get a quote
- Personal insurances; get a quote
- Optional activities (0 to 80 $US / pers.)
- Tips, drinks and personal expenses.
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| Rates $US 2008 starting from: |
Coming departures: |
1395 / pers. in double occ.
+ 350 / pers. in single occ. |
| 2008 : |
JUN 07, JUN 21, JUL 05, JUL 19, AUG 02, AUG 16, AUG 30, OCT 25, NOV 01, NOV 22, DEC 26 |
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Change currency: $US | $CAN | €EURO
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Click on a date to book or propose a new departure |
| For all our tours' DATES & PRICES please Click here |
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Prices DO NOT include international flights, please CONTACT US for an estimate.
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Comparing our tours and prices with others, consider...
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- The number of participants in the tour. The GROUP SIZE has a major incidence on the quality of the services provided by the tour leader and the driver. Small groups remain personal unlike large groups.
- What IS and what is NOT respectively included in the tours you compare.
- Our tours respect the principals of ecotourism. Our guides, staff members and providers are meticulously selected to meet our exacting requirements and standards and they are remunerated equitably and considered with great esteem as we much value their participation to our mission.
- The quality standard of the services and accommodations we provide in our tours is high and our customer service is exceptional. We are committed to offering the very best to our travellers before, during and after their tour.
- We provide our travellers with the contact information of their tour manager who is available 7 days a week, reachable at all time before and during the tour to promptly assist them with any situation or simply answer questions or doubts before the tour starts.
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Tours & Destinations
