GUARANTEED DEPARTURE!
Best of Costa Rica
Travel from coast to coast and experience teeming waterfalls, cloud forests, volcanoes and steaming thermal springs… Join very own Costa Rica expert, Mel Stewart, on this deluxe, fully-escorted adventure of a lifetime as we return to this unspoiled paradise. Mel loves to share her knowledge of the birds, wildlife, ecology and culture of Costa Rica.
Meet Mel Stewart
Our Costa Rica Expert
“Costa Rica is pure magic,” says our host, Mel Stewart. “In my 40 years as a Maritime Travel agent and branch manager, I’ve travelled the world – Europe, Africa, Asia, the South Pacific, South and Central America, and the Arctic. But it’s Costa Rica that calls me back again and again. For me, it’s paradise!”
Mel has hosted small group adventures in Italy, France, Iceland, Africa, India, and beyond. An avid wildlife photographer and birder, she’s happy to share her tips for capturing the perfect shot!
Contact your Travel Advisor for more information & to book!
Sunday, February 7 – Travel to San Jose, capital of Costa Rica. After clearing customs and immigration and claiming your luggage, you will be met outside by Mel or another Maritime Travel representative and transferred to HOTEL STUDIO BOUTIQUE (2NT), located in Santa Ana, 15km from the airport and 12km from downtown. The hotel features beautiful Costa Rican and international art and views of the surrounding Central Valley. In order to arrive in time for orientation, participants should book flights that arrive in San Jose no later than 2 pm. Tonight, we enjoy a Welcome Dinner and meet our guide, driver and travelling companions. D
Monday, February 8 – Following breakfast, our adventure begins with a visit to POAS VOLCANO NATIONAL PARK. Experience a great view of the Central Valley and stunning pastoral scenes along the way. Poas Volcano is active and has one of the largest craters in the world. Because it is in the cloudforest, it can rain and be cold here so bring a sweater and a poncho or rain jacket, wear closed -toe shoes and long pants. Our next stop will be a visit to DOKA COFFEE ESTATE located in the foothills of Poas Volcano. This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site where we will experience firsthand how a choice bean is transformed into our morning cup of coffee. We then continue our adventure as we travel to LA PAZ WATERFALL GARDENS AND PARK, a private animal sanctuary with over 100 species of rescued animals. We will hike with our guide along the La Paz River past five amazing waterfalls and enjoy a delicious Costa Rican lunch. You will not want to miss the butterfly observatory, hummingbird gardens, and much more. Dinner is on your own tonight. B L
Tuesday & Wednesday, February 9 & 10 – We begin our adventure today with a drive through scenic and mystical BRAULIO CARRILLO NATIONAL PARK, with cascading waterfalls set amidst Jurassic Park-like jungle. Crossing the Continental Divide to the Caribbean side of the country, we continue on past banana plantations to board our boat and travel along rivers and canals through jungle waterways to PACHIRA LODGE (2NT) Located in the middle of TORTUGUERO’s tropical forest. Being awakened at 5:25am by howler monkeys in the trees directly above you is an experience you will never forget. This is considered one of Costa Rica’s most exotic areas and accessible only by boat or plane. While here, we will enjoy guided boat tours through striking canals of TORTUGUERO NATIONAL PARK. We might find spider, howler and white-faced Capuchin monkeys swinging through the trees, as well as hundreds of bird species and wildlife including tiger herons, macaws, boas, crocodiles, caimans, bats, iguanas and more. Rain jackets or ponchos and insect repellant are necessary for this tour. During our stay we will stroll through tiny TORTUGUERO VILLAGE, visit the TURTLE MUSEUM, and during a short beach hike, we will have the opportunity to take part in a community service project by cleaning a portion of one of the most important nesting beaches for marine turtles in the world. B L D (each day)
Thursday, February 11 – Following breakfast, we traverse the canals and rivers to continue our adventure. We will meet up with our coach and driver and enjoy a typical lunch in GUAPILES, then continue on to experience the CARIBBEAN RAINFOREST AERIAL TRAM. We will travel through 2.6 km of rainforest from forest floor to treetops, accompanied by our own naturalist guide. Following this, we travel to SARAPIQUI region and check in to SELVA VERDE LODGE AND RAINFOREST RESERVE (2NT), located in the lush lowlands of the north-central area of Costa Rica. Fauna such as keel-billed toucans, great green macaws, sloths and howler monkeys can be spotted in the lodge area. Tonight, we will enjoy a special group dinner in LA TERRAZA RESTAURANT. B L D
Friday, February 12 – Free morning to relax, take an early morning hike with our guide, enjoy the pool, hike lodge trails or take a local tour. Midday we will take part in a “CHARLA”. What better way to learn about rural community life than to visit a home and meet a member of that community. We will visit a local casa and discover how a Tico family makes cheese and “arepas”. We will have the opportunity to ask questions about life in this area. We will have the opportunity to donate school supplies to local schools in the area during this visit. Following dinner, you might choose to explore the rainforest on a night walk with our guide. B L D
Saturday, February 13 – Following breakfast, we will check out of Selva Verde Lodge and make our way to THE BEST PINEAPPLE TOUR – Ever! This is a funfilled, insightful experience that you will not soon forget! Not only will you learn all about the history and growing process and how to choose the best pineapple in the store, you will taste the fruit straight from the field! We will then cross the Sarapiqui River to enter the PRIMARY FOREST RESERVE. We will check into the ARENAL OBSERVATORY LODGE (2NT). This lodge is the only one within ARENAL NATIONAL PARK. Prior to dinner this evening, we will attend a lecture on “Biological Corridor.” B D
Sunday, February 14 – Following breakfast we will discover our lodge’s old growth and secondary forest, to observe this unique ecosystem with a naturalist guide. This is an easy hike and you need to wear closed-toe shoes and insect repellant and bring a rain jacket or poncho. The major attractions here are the splendid ARENAL VOLCANO and man-made LAKE ARENAL. We will stop at the picturesque town of LA FORTUNA, a great place to take photos and shop for snacks or light lunch. Later this afternoon, we visit ECOTERMALES HOTSPRINGS and escape into this family-owned natural paradise, surrounded by the tropical rainforest with views of the impressive Arenal Volcano. Enjoy time bathing in the hot springs, strolling through the lush tropical gardens of this secret paradise or sipping a cool drink at the pool bar. Water sandals (not flip-flops) are necessary for this hotsprings activity. You will have time to enjoy all this before savouring a dinner highlighting the art of Costa Rican cuisine. B D
Monday, February 15 – Are you an early riser? Our alarm clock this morning might be a Howler Monkey or a Montezuma Oropendula bird. Enjoy breakfast overlooking the lake and viewing the mighty volcano. Today we journey to the beautiful and mystical area of MONTEVERDE where trees grow to heights of more than 100 feet! Enjoy the views as we transition from rainforest to cloud forest. We will arrive at FICUS SUNSET SUITES (2NT) with breathtaking views and surrounded by amazing gardens and cloud forests teaming with wildlife. You will find great local restaurants, shops and a grocery store in the town. The afternoon is free before a group dinner tonight at the hotel. Lunch is on your own. B D
Tuesday, February 16 – Following breakfast, we head to SELVATURA HANGING BRIDGES – a reserve that abounds with wonderful trails, suspension bridges, and outstanding natural areas. Count on up-close encounters of Costa Rica’s famous forest ecosystems and possible close encounters with cloudforest inhabitants. If we are fortunate, we may spy the “resplendent quetzal” bird – the wish of many travellers who venture here. This is an easy hike and you need to wear closed-toe shoes and insect repellant and bring a rain jacket or poncho. The afternoon and evening are free. Lunch and dinner are on your own. B
Wednesday, February 17 – This morning we leave the mountains of Monteverde Cloudforest behind us and journey west and south to the Pan American Highway (longest highway in the world) towards the Central Pacific, home to beautiful beaches, national parks and refuges. Many activities here involve sun, sand, nature, adventure, relaxation, and water sports. Destination – the NICOYA PENINSULA, separated from the mainland of Costa Rica by the GULF OF NICOYA. We will cross the FRIENDSHIP BRIDGE (gift from Taiwan) and continue on to TANGO MAR BEACHFRONT SPA & GOLF RESORT (3 NT). This intimate and exclusive small, deluxe resort, located on a 150- acre private beachfront reserve, offers the ultimate relaxation escape or an active eco- vacation. Guests here have access to a world of fascinating and exciting soft and adrenaline-rush activities: horseback riding, kayaking, canopy zip lining, hiking, bird watching, golf, incredible sunset cruises, nature and ecological tours. This is the time to relax, enjoy the beach and pools or check out the area and get rested for our journey back to reality! A group dinner is included tonight in the restaurant overlooking the stunning Pacific Ocean. Lunch is on your own today. B D
Thursday & Friday, February 18 & 19 – Two days at leisure to enjoy the resort. Our guide and driver will be available for local excursions. Lunch and dinner are on your own. B
Saturday, February 20 – Today we will return to the mainland and the CENTRAL VALLEY via ferry from PAQUERA port on the Nicoya Peninsula to PUNTARENAS port on the Central Pacific. The 70-minute crossing is scenic and relaxing with great views of the gulf and the small islands, some inhabited by colonies of seabirds, another, SAN LUCAS – a formerly penal colony. Next, we are off to SARCHI, Costa Rica’s main artisan town. The brightly painted oxcarts that you noticed around the country are made here. We will visit the oxcartfactory and see Guinness Book of World Records “largest oxcart in the world.” This is the ideal place to purchase those last-minute gifts. Finally, we journey on to San Jose and check in to CROWNE PLAZA SAN JOSE COROBICI, (2NT) – located 15 minutes from the airport and 5 minutes from downtown. Enjoy your hotel for our final two nights in Costa Rica. Lunch and dinner are on your own today. B
Sunday, February 21 – This morning, following breakfast, our guide will show us the culture, history and architecture of San Jose. We will begin with a tour of the downtown and surrounding area, including residential areas and SABANA PARK, location of the first international airport. We will visit the beautiful NATIONAL THEATRE and the impressive PRE‐COLUMBIAN GOLD MUSEUM. Tonight, we will gather together at FUJI RESTAURANT, located in our hotel, for a farewell dinner. Be prepared for an evening of fun as we raise a glass to shared experiences with new friends and bid “adios” and “pura vida” to our guide and driver. Lunch is on your own today. B D
Monday, February 22 – Departure day. Following breakfast, there will be transfers to the airport for your flights home unless you are choosing to extend your stay. Your adventure completed, you will have to agree that Costa Rica is an ecological wonderland and everything in this tiny country is indeed a natural wonder! B
B = BREAKFAST L = LUNCH D = DINNER
Terms & Conditions: *Some itinerary details are subject to change. Price is per person based on double occupancy.
Cancellation Policy: Once full payment has been received, the tour is considered non-cancellable. Deposit of $1,000 per person required at time of booking. Deposit is fully refundable if tour does not occur. Full payment is required on November 9, 2026. Minimum number of 14 guests required to guarantee departure.
Liability: Travel arrangements made by Maritime Travel Exclusive Escorted Tours and Holiday Escapes are subject to the terms, conditions and tariffs set out by our suppliers. Maritime Travel Exclusive Escorted Tours and Holiday Escapes will not assume liability for any refunds, losses, damage, costs or expenses arising out of injury, accident or death, loss of, or damage to, or delay in baggage or other property, delay, inconvenience, upset, disappointment, stress, frustration, or loss of enjoyment or loss of holiday time resulting from:
(i) the act or fault or omission by any party other than by Maritime Travel Exclusive Escorted Tours and Holiday Escapes or its employees;
(ii) mechanical breakdown, government action, weather, strike or any other action beyond its control;
(iii) being denied access to aircraft due to contravening the airlines conditions of carriage;
(iv) the traveller missing flight connections or departures or failing to follow instructions of tour representatives.
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