Costa Rica January 11-19, 2024

Below is a detailed itinerary. You may also download it as a printable pdf at the bottom of the page.

The meals included on the tour are specified for each date: Breakfast (B), Lunch (L), and Dinner (D). 

This is a small group tour with a maximum size of 12 people (plus guides).

DAY 1 - Thursday, Jan. 11 (D) 

Flight on your own to San Jose, Costa Rica. Take a taxi on your own to the hotel. Suggested sites to see in your free time are the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum, National Theatre, Jade Museum, or Central Market. We will eat dinner as a group at 6:30 p.m. at the hotel restaurant. 

Lodging: Hotel Presidente - www.hotel-presidente.com 

DAY 2 - Friday, Jan. 12 (B, L, D) 

We meet our wonderful Costa Rican guide, Sven, and depart our hotel at 6:30 a.m. and eat breakfast in route to our boat in Guapiles. The boat ride is full of natural beauty and wildlife. After a buffet style lunch, take some free time to enjoy the freeform swimming pools, butterfly and frog gardens, hammock and bar areas, and beautiful botanical gardens that attract the tropical birds before dinner. An optional search for the famous green Costa Rican frog will take place right before dinner.
Lodging: Laguna Lodge - www.lagunatortuguero.com 

DAY 3 - Saturday, Jan. 13 (B, L, D) 

We take two tours to the Tortuguero National Park to see tropical lowland wildlife, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. We hope to see monkeys, sloths, toucans and more. You will have free time in between the tours and meals. 

Lodging: Laguna Lodge
 

DAY 4 - Sunday, Jan. 14 (B, L, D) 

You are free to relax and enjoy the grounds in the morning. In the afternoon, we take a boat ride to the Caribbean Conservation Corporation center for Tortuguero village history, a video about sea turtles, and a visit to the village of Tortuguero.
Lodging: Laguna Lodge
 

DAY 5 - Monday, Jan. 15 (B, L) 

After breakfast, we take the return wildlife boat tour to Guapiles for lunch. Sven will be leaving us as we continue to enjoy the variety of Costa Rica's natural beauty as we head to see the Arenal volcano. Our hotel is in the town of La Fortuna, and you can walk to the central park and souvenir shops in just a few minutes. 

Lodging: Hotel Secreto La Fortuna - www.hotelsecretolafortuna.com 

DAY 6 - Tuesday, Jan. 16 (B) 

Today, we go to the Mistico Hanging Bridges where you will experience the rainforest. This tour includes 10 regular bridges and 6 hanging suspension bridges. Your naturalist guide will point out the different species of plants and animals unique to each habitat and elevation. Keep your eyes sharp, looking for lizards and small mammals (coatis, agoutis, peccaries) on the ground, and once you get to the treetops, look for colorful toucans and parrots. We also take the North Fields Coffee, Chocolate, and Sugar tour where we will learn the process of making coffee, chocolate, and sugar cane and will get a taste of each. 

Lodging: Hotel Secreto La Fortuna 

DAY 7 - Wednesday, Jan. 17 (B) 

This is a free day. Suggested activities include going to one of the hot springs resorts, taking a cooking class, tour the La Fortuna waterfall, or go on a zipline.  

Lodging: Hotel Secreto La Fortuna 

DAY 8 - Thursday, Jan. 18 (B, D) 

We depart La Fortuna and head to Villa San Ignacio to be near the airport. 

Lodging: Villa San Ignacio - www.villasanignacio.com
 

DAY 9 - Friday, Jan. 19 (B) 

After breakfast, the tour concludes. The hotel can assist in getting transportation to the airport. 

While changes to the tour are not likely, please realize that weather, site renovations, or other factors could keep the tour group from any given site or lodging choice. 

What is included: 

• Tour Director Aaron Garber will be with you for the entire tour. 
• Lodging every night 
• Transportation for the tours outlined in the itinerary 
• Meals as outlined in the itinerary 
• Entrance fees to the places outlined in the itinerary. 
• Tips for your drivers and guides 

What is not included: 

• Drinks other than table water at the tour dinners unless already included in the meal. 
• Travel insurance (highly recommended) - Aaron is an agent for Allianz Travel Insurance and will be pleased to help you find the insurance you need (cancellation and/or medical). 
• Flights 

TOUR COSTS 

• $2,500 (per person) for a double occupancy room or $3,100 (per person) for a single occupancy room 
• You may pay your tour in full at one time. 
• Deposit: $200 will secure your place on this tour; please include your completed Registration Form with the deposit; Terms & Conditions and the Registration Form can be found at https://internationaltourco.com/important-documents 
• Payment 2:  $2,300 (double occupancy); $2,900 (single occupancy) is due 90 days before departure. 

BOOK YOUR TOUR 

• Please make your check payable to International Tour Company and put Costa Rica Jan. 11-19, 2024 Tour in the memo line. Mail it to 

International Tour Company 

P.O. Box 23 

Cloverdale, VA 24077-0023 

• You may purchase your tour by credit card/debit card. If you prefer this method, please let us know and an invoice that you can pay online will be sent. Please note that a 3.5% fee is added on to all credit/debit card purchases.  

Other Important Information 

• I suggest bringing $200 in cash or less cash if you choose to use a credit/debit card. Bring a minimum of $100 in cash. Costa Rica uses the Colon and also U.S. dollars. Because the use of U.S. dollars is so prevalent, you should not worry about exchanging your money before you get to Costa Rica. When you pay in dollars, you may get back colones in change and can use them as needed. Visa and MasterCard are the most commonly used credit cards followed by American Express. Make sure that you have your PIN number or a card with a chip for them to work. This applies to both credit and debit cards. Call your card company before you leave to let them know where and when you will be in Costa Rica and to find the latest information on your card.  
• You need a U.S. passport that is valid for the length of your stay. It is recommended that your passport is valid six months beyond your stay. 
• You do not need a visa for this trip to Costa Rica. 
• No special shots or vaccines are necessary for this tour.