Costa Rican Traditions

DAY 1, Saturday – Arrive in San Jose
Arrive in San Jose and transfer to your hotel. The Alta Hotel is conveniently located in the mountains of the exclusive Alto De Las Palomas district, and all guest rooms feature spacious balconies with expansive views or private patios with lush tropical gardens. This evening, join the group for a welcome dinner of Costa Rican cuisine at the hotel's restaurant.
Overnight: San Jose
Meals: Dinner
 
DAY 2, Sunday – Poás Volcano, Sarchi, Zarcero Village
After breakfast, depart on a beautiful drive through the lush coffee plantations and flower farms of the area to the Poás Volcano, one of the world’s largest geysers. You will take a hike through the surrounding forest teeming with typical plant life and exotic birds to a restful, emerald green, tropical lagoon. Continue to Sarchi, known as the Cradle of Costa Rican Artisans because of its fine workshops. Here you will have time to enjoy the artistic work of the local artisans as they create the famous typical oxcart. You will learn how to paint an oxcart and have time to shop for that special souvenir. Enjoy lunch at a typical restaurant in Sarchi. You will then continue to Zarcero Village and visit the Topiary Garden, showcasing sculptured shrubs such as an ox pulling a cart and dancing animals. Finally, you will continue to the Arenal region where you will see the awe-inspiring Arenal Volcano.
Overnight: Arenal
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
 
DAY 3, Monday - Cooking Class, Tabacon Hot Springs
Enjoy the morning at leisure. This afternoon, visit a local restaurant for a Tico cooking class, where you will learn the traditional Costa Rican art of cooking with exotic flowers and tropical vegetables. A local chef will teach you how to prepare a typical Costa Rican dish. In addition, you can admire the on-site vegetable and medicinal plants garden. In the evening you may want to relax in the Hot Springs after dinner at your hotel, an amenity included with your room. The Tabacon Hot Springs flow from the veins of the active Arenal Volcano and soaking in these waters is a deeply soothing experience.
Overnight: Arenal
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
 
DAY 4, Tuesday - Boat Ride on Lake Arenal, Trapiche Tour, Monteverde Orchid Garden
This morning, depart for Monteverde. This tour/transfer is a scenic and fun way to experience the landscape of La Fortuna (Arenal Volcano Area) and Monteverde. Depart from the hotel by bus and drive to the Arenal Lake Dam. On arrival, board a pontoon boat for a relaxing boat ride on Lake Arenal to the shores of Rio Chiquito, a small little town at the far side of the lake. Once ashore, a ground transfer will be waiting to escort us to Monteverde, one of the most enchanting regions in Costa Rica. This afternoon, visit a local farm for a Trapiche Sugar Mill tour. Begin with a guided walk through the farm to learn about the production of sugarcane, coffee, and the traditional ways of cultivating bananas, arracache (a local legume), avocado, and macadamia nuts. Here, observe the tilapia fish farming project and a small-forested area, where it is possible to see various flora and fauna of the Monteverde zone. During the tour of the farm have the opportunity to collect coffee, transport it to the grinding machines, and see how the delicious Monteverde coffee is produced. At the end of the tour, you are invited to take a ride in a traditional oxcart, hauled directly from the fields to the Trapiche. Witness first-hand how sugar cane juice is extracted from the stalk and produced into brown sugar. You will also enjoy a presentation on the extraction of guaro, a Costa Rican alcohol made from sugar cane Then proceed to the Monteverde Orchid Garden, which has a large collection of orchids totaling more than 425 different species. Each species is identified with its scientific name next to it. In the collection you can find species that are endemic to Monteverde, and a collection of miniature orchids, including the smallest one in the world.
Overnight: Monteverde
Meals: Breakfast
 
DAY 5, Wednesday - Painting Lesson at CASEM, Folklore Presentation
Start your day with some free time to discover Monteverde on your own. Later on this morning, enjoy a folkloric presentation as performed by the local children of the community at the hotel. Proceeds are organized to help fund the children's local school. This afternoon, visit the nearby artists' community of CASEM and enjoy a painting lesson from a local artisan. Since 1982, CASEM has flourished from its 8-women founding to a commune of 140 artisans, 10 of whom are men. Many of the artisans live in the communities surrounding Monteverde. This evening, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.
Overnight: Monteverde
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
 
DAY 6, Thursday - Ferry to Tambor, Yoga Class on the Beach
After breakfast, depart for Tambor via a special ferry crossing. Pause and consider the place perceived in your mind's eye. Perhaps it is a vision of sea and sky, tropical brilliance fresh and unspoiled as a new dawn. After you check into your hotel, enjoy a refreshing lunch. In the late afternoon, you will travel to a nearby beach for a yoga session. Here, the tropical paradise of Tambor and the Pacific open before you as you rejuvenate your body and mind. The evening is at leisure.
Overnight: Tambor
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
 
DAY 7, Friday - Tortuga Island Excursion & Snorkeling
After breakfast, board a boat in Bahia Ballena to enjoy a relaxing cruise and watch the sea birds and jumping fish while cruising out of the bay to Tortuga Island. With some luck, you may even see dolphins, whales and sea turtles along the way. Pass a shipwreck as well as a magnificent rock archway carved by nature. Once you get to the island, you can snorkel to see coral, a large variety of tropical fish, oysters and octopi firsthand. The flora and fauna is stunning and represents nature at its most vibrant. You can also enjoy a stroll along the gorgeous white sand beaches and rent kayaks and other water sport equipment. The balance of the day is at leisure.
Overnight: Tambor
Meals: Breakfast
 
DAY 8, Saturday - Gold Museum and National Theater in San Jose
After breakfast, bid farewell to the coast and transfer to San Jose with ferry crossing. Upon arrival, enjoy a panoramic tour of the city that includes a visit to the Gold Museum. Later this afternoon, visit the National Theater of Costa Rica and enjoy a reception with coffee and hors d'oeuvres. Take time for shopping before your farewell dinner at a local restaurant.
Overnight: San Jose
Meals: Breakfast, Reception, Dinner
 
DAY 9, Sunday - Depart Costa Rica
Transfer to the airport in San Jose for your departure flight.
Meals: Breakfast