Costa Rica – A Tropical Paradise

January 23, 2024 thru February 1, 2024

*****SOLD OUT! CALL FOR AVAILABILITY*****

Costa Rica is a special place, a clean and safe country of natural beauty and wildlife. Costa Rica is known for its incredible scenery and immense biodiversity. Roughly a quarter of its area is made up of protected jungle, brimming with exotic wildlife. Our Costa Rican naturalist/guide leads us from coast to coast through the many ecosystems. The animals are equally as impressive be it a jaguar (the largest cat in the New World), the ever-elusive Margay, or the wonderful birds like the green or scarlet macaws. The amphibians are also quite impressive.  The poison dart frogs, with their bright colors, are bound to catch your attention.


Transportation

Roundtrip air transportation from ABQ

Transportation

Deluxe Motorcoach

Duration

10 Days, 9 nights

Activity Level

4 - Energetic

Meals

24 Meals (9 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 8 dinners) included

Availability

SOLD OUT - Call For Availability

Documents Required

Passport


Tour Highlights

Inclusions

  • Roundtrip airfare to and from ABQ
  • Transportation by deluxe motorcoach
  • 9 nights’ lodging at excellent hotels
  • Baggage handling at hotels (for one piece)
  • 24 meals (9 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 8 dinners)
  • Admission to all listed attractions
  • Professional Costa Rican Tour Guide/Naturalist
  • Your SUN TOURS Escort (with 20 or more travelers)
  • All taxes and tips for included items (except hotel housekeeping)


Day 1 - Albuquerque to San Jose

We fly to San Jose, Costa Rica’s capital city, meet our naturalist/guide, and transfer to Studio Hotel for two nights.

Day 2 - Doka Estates Coffee Plantation

This morning we will tour Doka Estates Coffee Plantation. Enjoy a guided tour and tastings of this decades-old company built on volcanic slopes.  After coffee it’s on to Poas Volcano. The Poás Volcano, is an active 2,697-metre stratovolcano in central Costa Rica and is located within Poas Volcano National Park. It has erupted 40 times since 1828.  For lunch we will stop at La Paz Waterfall Gardens and then enjoy a guided tour before celebrating with a “Welcome” dinner at Studio Hotel.

Meals included: (B, L, D)

Day 3 - Braulio Carrilo and Tortuguero National Parks

We travel through the lush Braulio Carrillo National Park rainforest, en route to Tortuguero National Park (on the North Eastern Costa Rican coast) where we have lunch. Then we visit the nearby village of Tortuguero with our guide and learn about the thousands of sea turtles which nest on the beach every year. Located in an unspoiled jungle close to the Caribbean Sea, the Evergreen Lodge is home for the next two nights.

Meals included: (B, L, D)

Day 4 - Tortuguero National Park

Considered “The Amazon of Costa Rica,” Tortuguero National Park is a tropical wetland filled with exotic flora and fauna waiting to be discovered. We travel in specially-designed boats to explore the extensive network of waterways that wind through the wildlife-rich vegetation. Watch for monkeys, sloths, iguanas, crocodiles, frogs, flowers, turtles, and birds by the hundreds. In the afternoon, our guide leads a nature walk on some of the jungle trails.

Meals included: (B, L, D)

Day 5 - Guápiles

We enjoy an early breakfast, then take a boat ride and transfer to Guápiles. Guápiles is one of Costa Rica’s most popular cities and it sits within the country’s banana growing region. Here we have lunch at El Ceibo Restaurant and catch a land transfer from Guapiles to Arenal. Dinner is served at the Arenal Kioro where we spend two nights at the Arenal Kioro Suites & Spa.

Meals included: (B, L, D)

Day 6 - Arenal Hanging Gardens

Our day starts with a tour of the Arenal Hanging Bridges. Our guide points out the interesting flora and fauna. Monkeys, sloths, colorful birds, and reptiles are abundant and likely to make an appearance for our cameras. We savor lunch at Fortuna Waterfall and have time for shopping in town! Our afternoon gives us plenty of time for relaxing at our beautiful resort hotel with on-site hot springs. Dinner this evening is at Rancho Perla Restaurant.

Meals included: (B, L, D)

Day 7 - Tarcoles River and Manuel Antonio National Park

After breakfast this morning, we leave the Arenal area and drive south to the Pacific Coast and board our boat for a crocodile and bird nature safari. We navigate through mangroves and sail up the Tarcoles River. The up-close views of basking and swimming crocodiles are fascinating and the variety of birdlife is remarkable. It truly is a bird watcher’s paradise! We continue to Manuel Antonio National Park where we lodge two nights at Hotel El Parador Resort and Spa. (Trip Advisor has given this property its 2017 Traveler’s Choice designation!)

Meals included: (B, L, D)

Day 8 - Manuel Antonio National Park

After breakfast, we will walk the trail in Manuel Antonio National Park, enjoying the alluring, pristine beaches. Those with a stronger sense of adventure may choose to hike some of the more challenging trails. We will have the option to go into the nearby town of Quepos for shopping, or return to the resort to enjoy the pool and other luxury facilities. Late afternoon finds us on a delightful sunset dinner cruise along the coastline. Watch for dolphins on this one!

Meals included: (B, L)

Day 9 - El Parador and San Jose

After breakfast, walk the trails at El Parador before departing for San Jose. We stop for lunch at El Jardin, then go into the city for a tour of the National Theater. A farewell dinner this evening at our hotel is a fitting end to the day.

Meals included: (B, L, D)

Day 10 - Depart for Albuquerque

After a very early breakfast, we transfer to the airport for our departure from stunning, and unforgettable, Costa Rica.

Meals included: (B)

Tour Map

Itinerary is subject to change. Passport required.


Package Pricing

SOLD OUT

Call for Availability

Deposit:

$4,095 per person

Double occupancy

Deposit: $250

$4,895 per person

Single occupancy

Deposit: $250

Final payment due:

September 19, 2023

Deposit: N/A

Price Includes

• Roundtrip airfare to and from ABQ
• Transportation by deluxe motorcoach
• 9 nights’ lodging at excellent hotels
• Baggage handling at hotels (for one piece)
• 24 meals (9 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 8 dinners)
• Admission to all listed attractions
• Professional Costa Rican Tour Guide/Naturalist
• Your SUN TOURS Escort (with 20 or more travelers)
• All taxes and tips for included items (except hotel housekeeping)


Booking Policy

**PASSPORT REQUIRED**

Final Payment Due: September 19, 2023

Cancellation Fees:

  • None: Through September 19, 2023
  • $250 …  September 20 – October 16, 2023
  • $2400… October 17 – December 9, 2023
  • 100% … After December 9, 2023

 


ACTIVITY LEVEL RATING

Level 4: Active

Expectations: The tour includes well-paced walking tours with regular breaks. Up to 2-3 hours of walking each day. To fully take advantage of all this tour has to offer, guests need to be able to walk longer distances, climb several flights of stairs and navigate steps and uneven terrain walking for extended periods of time over more difficult terrain (e.g. cobblestones, city hills, stairs without handrails, limited or no access to elevators). Your itinerary can include significant changes in temperature and altitude and may require a higher number of longer travel days with morning and/or evening activities. Most trips will feature long touring days, many full-day excursions and a full and active itinerary with a faster pace and longer distances. Excursions require standing and walking to city centers where coaches are prohibited.

Appropriate for: Travelers who are physically fit, expect a vigorous pace and enjoy participating in two to three hours of physical activity per day.

ITINERARY

For your reference, we send to you a detailed itinerary approximately 3-4 weeks prior to the scheduled tour departure. This has day-by-day times and events, hotel information where you can be reached in case of an emergency, and airline information.

The times listed on the itinerary are all approximate. We cannot be held responsible for schedule changes due to unforeseen circumstances with the weather, transportation agents, highway conditions, hotels or contracting agents.

EMERGENCY CONTACT

It is always a good idea to carry on your person a list of medications that you are taking and an emergency contact phone number while you are traveling. And we suggest making a copy of the itinerary and provide it to a friend or family member.

GRATUITIES/ITEMS INCLUDED IN PRICE

All hotel baggage handling fees are included. We also include basic gratuities for the Tour Director, Coach Driver, and local Tour Guides. If someone has truly gone above and beyond additional tipping is permitted, but never required.

LODGING REQUESTS

If you would like to request special accommodations at the hotel(s) where we are lodging, please call us as soon as possible and we will forward these requests for you. The phone numbers of the hotel(s) where we are staying are listed on the itinerary.

Many hotels around the country have instituted a "reconditioning fee" of $300 or more that is levied upon a guest that smokes in a non-smoking room. If this occurs during our tour you will be responsible for paying this fee to the hotel prior to check-out.

TRAVEL REQUESTS

We pay close attention to your requests but please realize that these are merely requests and cannot be guaranteed.

RESPONSIBILITY

SUN TOURS acts solely as an agent in arranging hotels, transportation, sightseeing, baggage-handling, and other services and does not assume any liability for injury, damage, loss or delay due to any act or default of any company or person. We, along with our subcontractors, reserve the right to make changes to an itinerary if it is necessary for the proper handling of a tour.

AIRLINE TICKETS

You will be issued your boarding pass the morning of our departure, after your arrival at the Albuquerque International Sunport. If you have a frequent flyer number, or a TSA number, please call our office at least 3 days prior to the tour to ensure we can note these in your reservation.

If you are joining the tour from locations other than Albuquerque, we make other arrangements for you to join the tour. Please call our office for more details.

AIRPORT SECURITY

Do not forget to bring your government issued picture ID to show at the airport. If you do not have the proper ID, the airline and border security will turn you away.

BAGGAGE

We have arranged for handling for one piece of luggage per person regarding the skycaps (where available) and hotels. If you check through luggage note that the maximum weight for the checked piece of luggage is 50 pounds and maximum size is 62 inches (length + width + height). If your bag weighs over 50 pounds the airlines will levy an extra fee that you will be responsible to pay. If you feel the need to lock your checked through luggage and your bag is searched, your lock could be damaged in the process. You can purchase a TSA (Transportation Security Administration) accepted and recognized lock at any luggage store. Make sure you ask for a TSA approved lock. These locks are the kind that TSA screeners can open by using a special tool without breaking. Passengers can carry-on 1 bag (dimensions are limited to 10x16x24 inches), plus a personal type bag, like a purse. We advise that you pack your carry-on lightly. There are restrictions regarding your carry-on baggage and contents due to enhanced security measures. If you have further concerns, please visit the TSA's Web-site at www.tsa.gov. There is room inside the motorcoach for your hand carried bag.

CHECKED BAGGAGE FEES

On our preferred airline for this tour, passengers are assessed a fee per checked in bag, by the Airlines, upon checking in for the flight.

Inquire About This Tour

Submit your inquiry for more information about a tour. We will get back to you with a (human) response as soon as possible. During the week that’s usually within a couple of hours. Evenings and weekends may take us a little bit longer. Please note that this is an inquiry for tour bookings only and does not constitute or confirm a reservation on a tour.

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