Globus > NATURAL WONDERS OF COSTA RICA WITH GUATEMALA EXTN (SRQ2008)

NATURAL WONDERS OF COSTA RICA WITH GUATEMALA EXTN (SRQ2008)
13 Days starting from $2,399

Countries Visited:
Costa Rica, Guatemala

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Length: 13 Days
Type: First Class Tour
Category: REGIONAL DISCOVERY CENTRAL AMERICA
Operator: Globus
Tour Code: SRQ-2008
   
 
About This Tour



Vacation Overview
This incredible Regional Discovery vacation lets you sample the scenic beauty of Guatemala and Costa Rica. Begin in Guatemala City and transfer to Antigua, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Sightseeing of this beautiful city shows you the Catedral de San José, Palace of the Capitanes Generales, and tours a jade factory. Travel to the highland town of Chichicastenango to visit a colorful, open-air Indian market and Church of Santo Tomás. Continue to Lake Atitlán, where you’ll enjoy a cruise across the lake and will visit the Indian village of Santiago Atitlán. Next, on to San José and a visit of the National Theater and the National Museum. Tour a banana plantation before reaching Tortuguero National Park, where you will cruise through the canals, view amazing flora and fauna in a remote section of the park, and enjoy a guided walk through the rainforest. Transfer by boat to Sarapiqui and tour the Corsicana Pineapple Farm, then travel through Tilajari Rainforest Reserve en route to Tilajari Resort, where you will experience the Butterfly Garden, relax in the pools of Ecotermales Hot Springs, and view Arenal Volcano. Then on to Poas Volcano National Park to see the magnificent La Paz Waterfall and Poas Volcano. Learn about coffee production at the Doka Coffee Plantation before returning to San José for the final night of your unforgettable Costa Rica vacation.

 
  • What's Included
  • Itinerary
  • Dates & Prices
  • Sightseeing Highlights
  • Additional Details
  • SPECIALS

Meals
American breakfast daily (B); 5 lunches (L); and 6 dinners (D), including a special Farewell Dinner in San José. On Tour SRQ: breakfast daily (B); 1 lunch (L); and 2 dinners (D)

Hotels
SAN JOSÉ Melia Cariari Hotel and Golf Resort (D), TORTUGUERO NATIONAL PARK Pachira Lodge (BA), SARAPIQUI Sueno Azul (BA), TILAJARI Tilajari Resort Hotel (F); Tour SRQ: ANTIGUA Porta Antigua (F), LAKE ATITLAN Porta Del Lago (F), GUATEMALA CITY Biltmore Express (SF)
Day 1:
Arrival in Guatemala City, Guatemala–Antigua. (Tue.) Upon arrival, meet your Local Host and transfer to Antigua, Guatemala’s capital from 1543 until a devastating earthquake in 1776 when it was moved to Guatemala City. The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Antigua is one of the Americas’ oldest and most beautiful cities, with pastel-colored buildings, wide cobblestone streets, and a beautiful natural setting ringed by three volcanoes. (D)

Day 2:
Antigua. (Wed.) Our morning tour of this magnificent highlands city, known for its 16th-century Spanish Colonial architecture, includes lively Plaza Mayor flanked by the impressive Catedral de San José and Palace of the Capitanes Generales. We also see the ruins of churches and monasteries, some with hidden underground passages, destroyed by the earthquake of 1776; and take a tour of a JADE FACTORY. (B)

Day 3:
Antigua–Chichicastenango–Lake Atitlán. (Thu.) Today, reach the whitewashed highland town of Chichicastenango, where we visit the colorful, open-air INDIAN MARKET and the Catholic CHURCH OF SANTO TOMÁS to witness ancient Mayan ceremonies that have long been practiced there. Continue to the shores of Lake Atitlán (Place of Great Water), surrounded by three volcanoes and numerous indigenous villages. (B,L)

Day 4:
Lake Atitlán–Guatemala City. (Fri.) This morning, embark on a CRUISE across the 900-foot-deep Lake Atitlán. Visit the Indian village of SANTIAGO ATITLÁN, where you can meet the Tzutuhil people, one of Guatemala’s indigenous tribes. This afternoon, head back to Guatemala City for a tour and a Guatemalan FAREWELL DINER. (B,D)

Day 5:
Guatamala City–San José, Costa Rica. (Sat.) Upon your evening arrival you will be met by your Tour Director who will help you check into your hotel.

Day 6:
San José. (Sun.) This morning, enjoy a San José city tour that will introduce you to the capital’s most important sights. Driving through Paseo Colon, visit the heart of the city to admire the pride of the ticos, the NATIONAL THEATER. This architectural jewel was designed as the opera house at the beginning of the 19th century. Visit the NATIONAL MUSEUM, a faithful witness to Costa Rican history, then enjoy sightseeing at Central Park, the cathedral, the Congress Building, and the Justice Court. Continue to the town of SARCHI, for centuries a production center of Costa Rica’s famous hand-painted oxcarts, to have an included lunch and shop for unique souvenirs. Tonight, enjoy a WELCOME DINNER hosted by your Tour Director at the hotel. (B,L,D)

Day 7:
San José–Tortuguero National Park. (Mon.) Journey east to the Caribbean shore and TORTUGUERO NATIONAL PARK. On the way, stop at a BANANA PLANTATION. Later, board a motor launch for your CRUISE along the Tortuguero Canals, waterways crisscrossing a national park dedicated to the protection of endangered turtles. The trained eyes of your guide and boatman help you spot freshwater turtles, caymans, herons, toucans, egrets, and monkeys. An afternoon at leisure lets you explore Pachira Lodge until you meet for an informative slideshow presentation on the area. (B,L,D)

Day 8:
Tortuguero National Park Tour & Canal Cruise. (Tue.) Your Tour Guide accompanies you on a leisurely BOAT RIDE along remote, unspoiled sections of the park’s waterways, explaining the bountiful flora and fauna. Enjoy a fascinating stroll through an accessible portion of the nearby RAINFOREST. During the peak nesting season, from mid-July to mid- October, you may be lucky enough to observe an endangered green turtle laying her eggs under the starlight on an optional tour. (B,L,D)

Day 9:
Tortuguero–Sarapiqui. (Wed.) A morning boat transfer begins your journey to the Sarapiqui area. Along the way, enjoy views of the passing rainforest. Arrive at your resort hotel for time to relax before dinner. (B,L,D)

Day 10:
Sarapiqui–Tilajari Resort. (Thu.) This morning, tour the CORSICANA PINEAPPLE FARM to learn about the history, cultivation, and industry of pineapples. Continue through TILAJARI RAINFOREST RESERVE. After settling in, experience the magic of the resort’s BUTTERFLY GARDEN and consider a walk in the nearby tropical rainforest in search of 300- to 400-year-old trees, poisonous frogs, monkeys, birds, and possibly small animals native to the reserve. (B)

Day 11:
Tilajari Resort. (Fri.) During your morning at leisure you may wish to go on an optional horseback ride or float trip. Or, you can take advantage of Tilajari’s amenities by walking along the shaded trails of the private, 750-acre tropical forest. Later this afternoon, enjoy a walking tour of the town of La Fortuna de San Carlos, offering spectacular views of the active Arenal Volcano. Next, drive to nearby ECOTERMALES HOT SPRINGS for a dip in the curative and relaxing pools. This evening, view ARENAL VOLCANO, hoping to see lava glowing on its sides. (B,D)

Day 12:
Tilajari–San José. (Sat.) Get an early start this morning to POAS VOLCANO NATIONAL PARK. On the way, see LA PAZ WATERFALL, one of the five magnificent falls in the area. Arrive at POAS VOLCANO for close-up views of the enormous crater with its deep, green lake; perhaps you will even see one of its sporadic geyser-like eruptions. Next, stop at the DOKA COFFEE PLANTATION where you will see firsthand the entire production process—from seedlings to your cup! Tonight, your Tour Director hosts a FAREWELL DINNER at a local restaurant, ending an unforgettable discovery of Costa Rica. (B,L,D)

Day 13:
(Sun.) Your homebound flight arrives the same day. (B)


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Airfare Disclaimer
A NOTE ABOUT AIRFARE: We encourage you to buy your airfare from the tour operator, because if your tour cancels then your airlines tickets will be covered. Purchasing flights separately at a lesser rate and incorporating it with a Non-Guaranteed Departure Date can result in loss of total cost of your flight investment. Depending on the fare rules, flights may be Non-Refundable and/or Non-Transferable. Neither the tour operator and/or Atlas Cruises & Tours will be held responsible for loss if a tour is cancelled for Lack of Participation. If you would like to check for discounted fares on Guaranteed Departures or for competitive pricing on air and hotel packages, we invite you to follow this link.

Documents
TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: Necessary Travel Documents such as Passports and Visas is the responsibility of the traveler. Passports must be valid six months from your return travel date.

         
Touring Date
Land Only
Land + Air
Single
(Land Only)
Single
(Land + Air)
10/21/2008 - 11/2/2008
$2,399
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11/4/2008 - 11/16/2008
$2,399
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12/2/2008 - 12/14/2008
$2,399
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1/6/2009 - 1/18/2009
$2,449
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1/13/2009 - 1/25/2009
$2,449
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1/20/2009 - 2/1/2009
$2,449
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2/3/2009 - 2/15/2009
$2,449
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2/10/2009 - 2/22/2009
$2,449
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2/17/2009 - 3/1/2009
$2,449
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2/24/2009 - 3/8/2009
$2,449
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3/3/2009 - 3/15/2009
$2,449
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3/10/2009 - 3/22/2009
$2,449
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3/17/2009 - 3/29/2009
$2,449
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3/24/2009 - 4/5/2009
$2,449
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4/7/2009 - 4/19/2009
$2,699
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4/21/2009 - 5/3/2009
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5/5/2009 - 5/17/2009
$2,429
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7/7/2009 - 7/19/2009
$2,429
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7/21/2009 - 8/2/2009
$2,429
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9/8/2009 - 9/20/2009
$2,429
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9/22/2009 - 10/4/2009
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10/13/2009 - 10/25/2009
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11/3/2009 - 11/15/2009
$2,429
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12/1/2009 - 12/13/2009
$2,429
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1/5/2010 - 1/17/2010
$2,599
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1/19/2010 - 1/31/2010
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2/2/2010 - 2/14/2010
$2,599
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2/16/2010 - 2/28/2010
$2,599
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2/23/2010 - 3/7/2010
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3/2/2010 - 3/14/2010
$2,599
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3/9/2010 - 3/21/2010
$2,599
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3/16/2010 - 3/28/2010
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3/23/2010 - 4/4/2010
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Related Tours
SR| Natural Wonders of Costa Rica without Guatemala Pre-extension
SRE| Natural Wonders of Costa Rica with Manuel Antonio Extension
SRY| Natural Wonders of Costa Rica with Guatemala Pre-extension and Manuel Antonio Extension

Price Details US
Single Room Supplement:
SRQ $543. Triple Room reduction per person: SRQ $127.

Extra nights per person in San Jose:
Jan 1-Apr 30: In single room $199; in twin room $111; in triple room $97. May 1-Dec 31: In single room
$184; in twin room $103; in triple room $92.

Extra nights per person in Antigua:
In single room $103; in twin room $70; in triple room $57.

Extra nights per person in Quepos:
Jan 1-Apr 30: In single room $248; in twin room $136; in triple room $116. May 1-Dec 31: In single room $206; in twin room $114; in triple room $101.

2009 prices and itineraries subject to change.

City Highlights
SAN JOSÉ:
City sightseeing; visit the National Theater, the National Museum, and a banana plantation; tour Doka Coffee Plantation; welcome dinner; Farewell Dinner

SARCHI:
Shop for souvenirs

TORTUGUERO NATIONAL PARK:
Guided cruise through the canals to view wildlife; guided walk through the rainforest

SARAPIQUI:
Tour a working pineapple Plantation

TILAJARI RESORT:
Tilajari Rainforest Reserve; visit the Butterfly Garden, Ecotermales Hot Springs, and Arenal Volcano

POAS VOLCANO NATIONAL PARK:
View La Paz Waterfall; visit Poas Volcano

GUATEMALA EXTENSION:
Sightseeing in Antigue and Guatemala City; visit a jade factory; stop in Chichicastenango to visit an open-air Indian market and the Church of Santo Tomas; take a cruise on Lake Atitlan; visit Santiago Atitlan; Farewell Dinner

Related Tours
SR| Natural Wonders of Costa Rica without Guatemala Pre-extension
SRE| Natural Wonders of Costa Rica with Manuel Antonio Extension
SRY| Natural Wonders of Costa Rica with Guatemala Pre-extension and Manuel Antonio Extension

Price Details US
Single Room Supplement:
SRQ $543. Triple Room reduction per person: SRQ $127.

Extra nights per person in San Jose:
Jan 1-Apr 30: In single room $199; in twin room $111; in triple room $97. May 1-Dec 31: In single room
$184; in twin room $103; in triple room $92.

Extra nights per person in Antigua:
In single room $103; in twin room $70; in triple room $57.

Extra nights per person in Quepos:
Jan 1-Apr 30: In single room $248; in twin room $136; in triple room $116. May 1-Dec 31: In single room $206; in twin room $114; in triple room $101.

2009 prices and itineraries subject to change.

CURRENT SPECIALS:

Standard Offers and Specials provided by Globus

Discount for young travelers

Share the pleasure of a Globus vacation with your children and grandchildren and take advantage of a 10-percent discount on the land-only price. For eligibility, children must be under 18 years of age on the departure date and must be accompanied by an adult. On escorted vacations we don’t accept children under eight years old because we have found that they are too young to enjoy these vacations.

Pay less for your second vacation

We charge you vacation price for your first vacation in 2008, but for every additional Globus vacation you take in the same year, you pay US$35 under list. Our vacations are designed and scheduled so you can combine them almost any way you want. It’s fun to play the add-a-vacation game yourself or talk to your travel agent.

Triple room reduction

On most Globus vacations you receive a reduction when three people travel together and share the same accommodations. Triple room reductions, when available, are listed on the itinerary pages. A word of caution: Triple rooms usually are no larger than twin rooms and the third bed, if there is one, is often a rollaway put in a twin-bedded room.

Avoid the single room supplement

We do not take reservations on a “share” basis because we have found that strangers rarely enjoy sharing a room for the duration of their vacation. Avoid the single room supplement by traveling with a friend. It’s less expensive and much more fun!


Do you have a large party of friends or family that wants to travel?

Right now when you book between 5 and 7 people before December 31, 2008, each passenger will save $75.* For example, book 5 passengers and receive a $375 discount, 6 passengers equals a $450 discount and 7 passengers will receive a $525 discount. With an offer like this, the world’s greatest destinations are now closer than ever!

*Book a 2009 Globus vacation for five, six or seven travelers to receive the $75 off per person offer. Booking must be made, under deposit, and discount applied between Jun 4 and Dec 31, 2008 for travel through December 31, 2009. Individuals must be traveling together from the same origination point to receive the discount. Not valid with any other offer and applies to new 2009 bookings only. Offer reliant on space availability. Full cancellation penalties will apply. Additional restrictions may apply.


   
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