BESKRIVNING AV HOTELL OCH INKVARTERINGAR PÅ RESAN Alta Hotel, San Jose Hotellet överblickar San Jose från den norra sidan och har bergen bakom sig. Ett av våra favorithotell i sk boutique stil med italienskinspirerad stil. Hög charmfaktor och en fin start på resan. Restaurangen är mycket trevlig och serverar utsökta rätter. Hotellet har pool, tropisk trädgård, gym, bastu mm. 23 rum med hög standard och alla tänkbara bekvämligheter. www.thealtahotel.com Hazienda Pozu Azul, Arenal En reception vid entren som är incheckningsplats för La Finca Lodge, Magsasay Lodge & Cuculmeca Tent Camp. I receptionsbyggnaden som ligger vid den större av flera floder har butik, restaurang mm. Härifrån går gamla farmvägar in i olika delar av en gigantisk farm som angränsar till regnskogen. Det tar flera timmar att ta sig till de olika boenden som finns på ranchen. De är gamla byggnader som varit ägarens sommarhus mm. Enkel inkvartering (ibland delat badrum) och mycket charmigt. Naturen är oerhört inbjudande och lämplig att utforska till häst. www.pozoazul.com Hotel Barcelo Playa Tambor Hotel, Nicoya Peninsula Ett lite större hotell beläget vid de fina stränderna på Playa Tambor. Här finns 3 barer, 2 restauranger, pool, gym, bastu, spa, jacuzzi, tennisbanor, shop, massage, frisör mm. Mängder av aktiviteter erbjuds på hotellet: Windsurfing, kanot, tennis, croquet, aerobics, vattenpolo, badminton. Allt ingår! Rummen är utrustade med bl a satelit TV, kassaskåp, kaffemaskin, hårtork, telefon och minibar. Hotellet omges av vackra trädgårdar och utsiken är betagande mot havet och trädgårdarna. Lite lyxigt mitt i resan! Hotel Luz De Mono, Guanacaste Hotellet ligger 35 meter från stranden och 50 meter från den lilla byn Montezuna i Guanacaste. Alla 20 rum har takfläkt, kyl/minibar, kaffemaskin, kassaskåp mm. Hotellet har Internet, bar restaurang, grillplats, fester med musik i trädgården (torsdagar och lördagar) mm. Aktiviteter som kan bokas är turer till Montezumas vattenfall, Tortuga Island (med båt), fiske, snorkling, kajak, canopy och mycket mer. En oförglömlig upplevelse detta speciella hotell! www.luzdemono.com Casa Caletas, Playa Naranjo, Nicoya Peninsula Ett underbart hotell med endast 9 rum och sviter, alla med AC, privat badrum, havsutsikt från terrass eller balkong. Sviterna har egen pool eller jacuzzi. Här finns restaurang och bar, barnpool, vacker trädgård. Aktiviteter: kajak, fiske, surf och jet sky.. Ett underbart ställe att avsluta resan på! www.ticoresorts.com
DAG FÖR DAG PROGRAM Med reservation för nödvändiga ändringar Day # 1 Arrival to Costa Rica and transfer to hotel. Private transfer from international airport to hotel. Overnight at Alta Hotel Day #2 Across the mountain and into the rain forest Pick up at Alta hotel in route to Hacienda Pozo Azul, a 98 Km trip due North from San Jose and across the Central Volcanic Range. Includes a side visit to Poás Volcano National Park, a semi active volcano with an impressible large crater. We then start to descend to Pozo Azul on the spectacularly scenic road along the large Sarapiquí River canyon on the west ridge, with impressive waterfalls pouring down from the solid green cloud forest wall covering the canyon. Arrive at Hacienda Pozo Azul, the premier destination for natural adventure in the tropical rain forest. Lunch will be served here. After lunch and a briefing session we mount and ride for 3 hours on dirt back roads to La Finca Lodge, a working farm with cows, sugar cane and beef cattle. It also serves as a refuge for animals in problems, so you will be see tapirs, wild hogs, a cougar and plenty of macaws flying around the lodge. Here we will taste home cooking for dinner. La Finca will provide an authentic taste of the local life and farming in the humid tropic. Overnight at La Finca Lodge Day #3 Volcanic lakes up in the mountain After a farm breakfast we mount again, this time for a longer ride which will take us from the low hot land to an altitude of 800 meters above sea level, riding through beef cattle farms and back roads to a complex of three lakes on Mount El Congo (the hauling monkey Mount) an old volcano, today a protected area with lush green vegetation. After a 4 hour ride we will reach the lakes were we are going to have a small snack and those wanting to fresh up can swim. After this refreshing stop we will ride for about 45 minutes to a small restaurant with a beautiful view of the lake to enjoy a delicious Tilapia. After this lunch break, we continue the ride down the mountain to the idyllic Cariblanco valley, a former Cardamom plantation, today a part of the El Angel agro-industrial community, which processes all types of food products from the area. We take a van back to Pozo Azul for dinner. This night we will be Sleeping in Cuculmeca Tent Camp l, the ultimate experience in lodging in the rain forest. Comfortable tents mounted on wooden decks and covered by heavy canvas, where the sounds of the rainforest at sunrise is an unbelievable experience.
Overnight at Cuculmeca Tent Camp Day #4 Across the Sarapiquí Canyon and into deep rainforest land After breakfast at Hacienda Pozo Azul, we begin our ride at 8:30 through a rural road between farms that grow beef cattle, ornamental plants, and wood until we get to a private ecological reserve were we will do some riding inside the rainforest and through a beautiful creek In this reserve we will have a delicious home cook meal, prepared by the owners and using some products produced organically by them such as heart of palm, pejibaye (a palm fruit), ñame (a tropical root similar to potato). After lunch we will have a look at a butterfly project that they have, and then begin our journey towards the Braulio Carrillo National Park. Around 5:30 pm we will end our riding at Magsasay Jungle Lodge, a small lodge located in front of this National Park Overnight at Magsasay Lodge Day #5 At Magsasay lodge and the Braulio Carrillo National Park This morning is open to what each one wants to do, you can choose from ridding through the farm visiting the reforestation, the cattles, or hike around the jungle, relax around one of the swimming spots of the Peje River, the crystal clear water river separating the lodge from the National Park, or just relax around the lodge. At 2:00 PM we will start our 3 hour ride to the Cuculmeca Tent Camp at Hacienda Pozo Azul. Overnight at Cuculmeca Tent Camp Day #6 A full day of adventures: We will experience a Canopy Tour in the morning ( zip lines through the tree tops of the forest) a Costa Rican invention putting you in contact with the rainforest biodiversity, then after lunch we will enjoy 3 hours of white water rafting adventure through class 3 and 2 rapids in the warm waters of the Sarapiquí River, known as the scenic river of Costa Rica, Overnight at Cuculmeca Tent Camp Day #7 Sarapiquí - Puntarenas Drive from Sarapiqui to la Peninsula de Nicoya. A representative from CR Top Tours will pick you up at Hacienda Pozo Azul to transfer you to the Mid Pacific Area, tambor for overnight there. A pacific beach resort at the southern Nicoya Peninsula were we will change the humid rain forest with all its beauty and abundance, for the warm waters of the pacific coast and pristine beaches, with lush vegetation.
Overnight in Tango Mar Hotel Day # 8 The southern Nicoya Peninsula is one of Costa Rica's most secluded gems. From the hilly interior the mountains sweep down to the Pacific Ocean, creating some of the most beautiful and solitary beaches of Costa Rica. Today s ride will include 25 Kilometers of beaches, hills and estuaries starting at Ballena Bay (whale bay) and ending at Cabuya, a small village by the ocean, at the entrance to Cabo Blanco National Reserve, a tropical dry forest and marine reserve, where you can appreciate the natural diversity existing in the small country of Costa Rica. Guided tours are available to appreciate this important reserve. The ride is estimated to last 5 hours, with a stop at Montezuma a colorful sea side village for lunch, where you can choose food with accents from many areas of the world as this is a cosmopolitan village. Sano Banano Lodge a small 10 will be waiting for us. We will be Leaving Ballena at 9:00 AM and estimate arriving at Cabuya around 4:00 PM Overnight at Luz de Mono Hotel Day #9 Mountains and beautiful beaches The ride on this second day of beach will start at 8:00 AM, crossing the peninsula for 2 hours or 15 km through a small mountain range to the open seas of Mal Pais, a tranquil little village with charming hotels loosely spread out along three kilometers of road. From Here we will ride up to a mountain top to observe the coast line ahead of us. Back at the coastline we will encounter a series of beaches, divided by rock formations, which are considered among the best beaches in Costa Rica for surfing. The marine life her is abundant, due to the maritime reserve of the national park of Cabo Blanco, as can be observed by the frecuent flocks of pelicans diping on the water. Twenty more kilometers of beach and trails and we will reach Manzanillo, a secluded, and unspoiled place with a wonderfull beach, ideal to enjoy the warm waters of the pacific ocean. Here you may choose to enjoy Expert massages form Sharon, a resident of Manzanillo for 8 years now, she also offers yoga and pilates sessions that can help you recuperate from the last 2 days of riding. We will stay at Chamalos Place a simple but clean group of rooms phasing the ocean, and a restaurant close by with a wonderfull vista (view). At night we will have a barbeque at the beach. Overnight at Esencia Hotel www.esenciahotel.com Day #10 Ride through cattle country Today s 25 km ride will continue partly on the beach and occasionally inland through some typical beef cattle ranches bordering some small rivers and estuaries. As we go north we start moving into cattle country, the traditional activity of the Northwest of Costa Rica.
Our destination today will be Hacienda Caleta, a beef cattle ranch with a small luxury hotel strategically located with a spectacular view overlooking the beach. Overnight at Casa Caletas Hotel Day #11 Our last day riding takes us towards the north our final destination We start by bordering the Coyote river and on to Coyote Beach. Continuing northbound by beaches, estuaries and hill country through some small hamlet finally arriving at Casa Caletas by mid afternoon with a 28 km ride. Overnight at Casa Caletas Hotel Day #12 Breakfast at hotel. Land transfer from Casa Caletas to San José. *** Passengers have to check-in three hour prior to flight departure. Day # 12 & 13 (Christmas ride) 2 more nights in Casa Caletas incl only breakfast breakfast at hotel. Lazy days on the beach and by the pool! Day #14 (Christmas ride) Breakfast at hotel. Land transfer from Casa Caletas to San José.