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Costa Rica is an explosion of life! With a seashore-to-mountaintop topography and a tropical climate, it is home to an unbelievable variety of plants and animals from both sides of the equator. No other country on the planet has a greater number of species per square mile or offers so many fun and educational pursuits for the traveler in such a small package!
Panama’s famous Canal is indisputably a high point among mankind’s achievements. Often overlooked, however, are Panama’s fascinating history, rich biological diversity, and intriguing native cultures.
"The two nights we spent in the 'rustic' cabins
were what I thought Costa Rica would be.
That's one thing I look forward to with WAI -
having a fun and different experience than I'd
find with other tour groups
that just go to the
main cities and stay in hotels like I could stay
in at home."
- Janet O., Ogden, UT
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Day
1 |
EN ROUTE TO SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA
Our Costa Rica Adventure begins in San Jose, bustling capital of Costa Rica. At the airport, a representative of WAI will meet you and arrange your transfer to our hotel in nearby La Garita. Since flights generally arrive very late in the evening, no group activities are planned for this day. Our first group activity will be breakfast tomorrow morning in the poolside restaurant of beautiful Hotel Martino.
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Day
2
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ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN JOSE AREA (B,D)
Escazu Barrio Meander - 5 km, rated 2+
Escazu, a charming San Jose suburb, provides our morning walk through a typical, laidback Costa Rican barrio (neighborhood). The afternoon in downtown San Jose offers a sampling of fascinating Costa Rican history and culture at the National Theater and Gold Museum. The pedestrian mall, the Artisan’s Market, and the photogenic Central Market will round out our visit to San Jose and we’ll be back to the hotel in time to enjoy a dip in the beautiful pool, or just relax and enjoy the garden setting before dinner together!
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Day
3
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LA GARITA – ARENAL VOLCANO AREA (B,L,D)
This morning, we’ll get a chance to observe the most dazzling of Costa Rica’s 1000+ species of butterflies on a stroll through the Butterfly Farm. From the Butterfly Farm, we’ll drive through the scenic Central Highlands to the Rojas Coffee Plantation. Here, we’ll learn about the small yet potent bean that revolutionized the economy of Costa Rica in the 19th century, then share lunch with our hospitable hosts. Our destination, this evening, is the Casa Luna Lodge, in the vicinity of Arenal Volcano, one of the more active volcanoes on the planet.
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Day
4
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ACTIVITIES IN ARENAL VOLCANO AREA (B,D)
Lake Arenal Rainforest Walk - 5 km, rated 3
Today’s walk takes us through the Costa Rican jungle to Lake Arenal, an area rich in the biodiversity for which Costa Rica is famous. Watch for raucous howler monkeys, stealthy coatimundi, a rainbow of hummingbirds, and brilliant Blue Morpho butterflies. The optional afternoon activity is a horseback ride through the jungle followed by a thrilling passage through the rainforest canopy on a zipline ride. We’ll finish our day with a relaxing soak in Titokú Hot Springs before another delicious Tico dinner.
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Day
5
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ARENAL VOLCANO AREA – LA GARITA (B,D)
Sarchi Homesteads & Oxcarts Trek - 8 km, rated 2+
Rural Costa Rica delights us this morning as we walk along country roads past small farms growing coffee, bananas, and a host of other fruits and vegetables. Following a break for lunch in Sarchi, we’ll enjoy an enchanting glimpse into the past with a visit to Taller Eloy Alfaro, the only oxcart workshop in the country still building these conveyances in the traditional manner by hand. Oxcarts were the primary means of transporting the coffee harvest over trails and primitive roads to ports on the Pacific coast in the mid 19th century. Dinner tonight is a unique cultural experience at Delicias del Maiz, a popular local eatery with lots of atmosphere and few tourists.
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Day
6
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LA GARITA – CAHUITA (B,L,D)
Another full day of exploring Costa Rica offers two options:
Rio Reventazon Whitewater Rafting: You’ll be in the care of top-notch professionals rafting in Class 3 waters. Prior WAI groups (including first-time rafters) have been enthusiastic about their experience.
- OR -
Rainforest Aerial Tram: On the edge of the Braulio Corillo National Park, our tramcar glides slowly through the rainforest canopy, allowing time for photos and your guide’s explanation of this complicated ecosystem.
In the afternoon, the two groups will rendezvous and continue toward Cahuita on the Caribbean coast.
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Day
7
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ACTIVITIES IN CAHUITA AREA (B,D)
Cahuita Nat’l Park Dry Jungle Journey - 10 km, rated 1+
The wide, natural, palm-lined trail through Cahuita National Park parallels the crystalline sapphire sea and offers opportunities to spot slinking sloths, brilliant butterflies, and two species of monkey. This afternoon you are free to wander the funky Caribbean village of Cahuita, relax by the pool at the hotel, or join us for a visit to a banana plantation to learn about this giant member of the herb family.
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Day
8
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CAHUITA – TORTUGUERO (B,L,D)
We’ll be taking a jungle riverboat through the labyrinthine network of canals and rivers to Tortuguero National Park. Our boat provides a perfect viewing platform in order for us to glimpse crocs and a colorful and seemingly limitless array of birds en route to Laguna Lodge, nestled in the Caribbean jungle and accessible only by boat or plane. Following lunch, we’ll explore the surrounding jungle with our guide in search of toucans, iguanas, and whatever else is wandering through this stretch of paradise.
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Day
9
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ACTIVITIES IN TORTUGUERO (B,L,D)
Tortuguero Wet Jungle Jaunt - 6/10 km, rated 1+
Lizards, leafcutter ants, and more of our feathered friends are just a few of the critters we’ll keep an eye out for along this morning’s jungle trail. The afternoon is free to participate in the second part of our walk in the national park, visit the neighboring village of Tortuguero, or relax by the pool back at the Lodge.
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Day
10
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TORTUGUERO – LA GARITA (B,D)
An unforgettable wildlife cruise early this morning takes us in search of toucans, sloths, iguanas, monkeys, and other local residents. Later this morning, we’ll board our charter flights on small planes and return to San Jose. Our local representatives will transport you to Hotel Martino for your last night in Costa Rica, while the WAI guide accompanies travelers continuing on to Panama.
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Day
11
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RETURN HOME FROM LA GARITA - OR - CONTINUE ON TO PANAMA (B)
You leave Costa Rica this morning on a return flight to the USA with fond memories of our adventures in this land of breathtaking beauty and diversity!
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Day
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EN ROUTE TO PANAMA CITY, PANAMA (D)
Upon arrival at the Panama City airport, you’ll be met by our local representatives and will be transferred to our hotel on the banks of the Panama Canal! We’ll rendezvous tonight for dinner and discuss the exciting program of exploration that lies ahead.
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Day
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ACTIVITIES IN PANAMA CITY (B,D)
Panama Canal Zone & Casco Viejo Walk - 8 km, rated 2
Our walk through the historic Canal Zone links neighborhoods of the U.S. personnel who were involved in administering the epic project and includes a visit to the impressive Canal Administration Building. An early afternoon visit to the Miraflores Locks and the impressive new visitor center there will further enhance our understanding of this ambitious feat of engineering. Later this afternoon, Casco Viejo (colonial Panama City) offers an intriguing stroll past restored colonial grandeur, this area providing a contrast to the cramped colonial era apartments.
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Day
3 |
ACTIVITIES FROM PANAMA CITY (B,D)
Amador Causeway Walk - 5 km, rated 1
The saga of the Canal becomes a reality today as we cruise from the Balboa Pier through the Miraflores Locks, then the Pedro Miguel Locks, and into the infamous Gallard Cut, the 9-mile trench blasted through the shale and solid rock of the Continental Divide at the cost of many lives. The significance of the Canal to international shipping is illustrated by the fact that ships worldwide are built to the dimensions of Canal locks – 305 meters long and 33½ meters wide. Following a visit to the Gamboa Resort for lunch, and a stroll through the Summit Botanical Gardens, you’ll have the opportunity to walk along the Amador Causeway, a thin stretch of land built with the pilings from the Gallard Cut. Today it offers a delightful seaside promenade, beloved by visitors and locals alike.
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Day
4 |
ACTIVITIES FROM PANAMA CITY (B,L,D)
We step from our air-conditioned coach into the pages of the National Geographic this morning! Embera River guides take us up the Chagres River in motorized dugout canoes for an immersion into Embera Indian culture, including crafts, food, dress, and dance. You will not soon forget this opportunity to observe and interact with a Stone Age tribe struggling to balance their cultural heritage with the materialism and convenience of the 21st century readily available to them in nearby Panama City. After a shared lunch, explore a jungle trail with the tribe’s medicine man or perhaps join the children swimming in the crystal clear waters of the river.
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Day
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RETURN HOME FROM PANAMA CITY (B)
Our intriguing sojourn in Panama ends with flights back to the USA. We’ll return home enriched by our new connection with the history, culture, and scenery of Panama, a land rich in colonial history, lush rainforests, and fascinating indigenous tribes that all leave a mark on the planet much deeper than that of the Canal.
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