CENTRAL AMERICA: CROSSING COSTA RICA, NICARAGUA & EL SALVADOR FEBRUARY 2–13, 2015
Central America—an isthmus fusing North and South America—contains far more than the beautiful beaches and exotic rain forests that most people imagine. Highlights of this trip include visiting Tortuguero National Park, nesting place of the endangered sea turtle; touring the charming colonial cities of Granada and León; crossing the dramatic Gulf of Fonseca; dotted by islands and volcanoes; relaxing at the secluded Maculís Beach; and exploring the unique pre-Columbian Maya site of Joya de Cerén, the “Pompeii of Central America”. Enjoy the region’s soaring mountains, scenic coffee farms, spectacular wildlife, stunning lakes, and tasty cuisine.
STUDY LEADER: TO BE ANNOUNCED
GROUP SIZE: 12 to 22 guests
PRICING: $5,595 DOUBLE/$6,490 SINGLE
at leisure to relax or to discover the SCHEDULE BY DAY surrounding nature. (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner) Overnight: Evergreen Lodge (B,L,D)
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2 U.S. / SAN JOSÉ, COSTA RICA Depart today for San José, Costa Rica. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5 Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel. TORTUGUERO / ARENAL
Overnight: Intercontinental Hotel (Meals Aloft) This morning, fly to Arenal located in Costa Rica’s fertile northern lowlands and home
to Arenal Volcano. Arenal is a national symbol of Costa Rica—its near-perfect conical shape provides a quintessential TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3 image of a volcano. In the afternoon, relax SAN JOSÉ / TORTUGUERO at the lodge with time to enjoy the Today embark on a fascinating journey by magnificent views and explore the grounds bus and boat to Tortuguero National Park searching for wildlife including toucans and on the Caribbean Coast. Along the way, monkeys. In the evening, relax at travel through the immense Braulio geothermal hot springs heated by the volcano. Carrillo National Park, a montane forest, and then board a boat to cruise the Overnight: Arenal Springs (B,L,D) Tortuguero canals to your lodge. Evergreen Lodge, located five minutes by boat from the entrance of the park, was built sustainably within Tortuguero FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6 National Park without altering the ARENAL / GRANADA, NICARAGUA surrounding ecosystem. This morning drive to Peñas Blancas, Overnight: Evergreen Lodge (B,L,D) stopping for lunch in San Juan del Sur on the Pacific Coast of Nicaragua along the
way. Continue to Granada via the Pan American Highway traveling around Lake Nicaragua, the largest lake in Central WEDNESAY, FEBRUARY 4 America. Granada, situated along the north TORTUGUERO shore of the lake, is renowned for its Take excursions by boat on the canals and colonial architecture. Founded by the lagoons of the park. From aboard Spanish in 1524 and subsequently razed motorized boats you may observe three times by pirates, it was beautifully monkeys, crocodiles, and one of the most rebuilt. Your hotel is in the heart of the unusual of canopy leaf-feeders—the sloth. historic district. As you navigate along the canal observe Overnight: Hotel Darío (B,L) the magnificently tall rainforest. Aside from its beautiful forest and extensive canal system, the park is home to leatherback, hawksbill, and green sea turtles, as well as manatees. In addition, the great, forested walls of the canal make wildlife viewing easier than at other parks. The afternoon is
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7 TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10 GRANADA / MOMBACHO LEÓN / GULF OF FONSECA CROSSING /LA UNIÓN, This morning take a relaxing boat ride EL SALVADOR around the islands of Lake Nicaragua. Visit the fishing village of Potosí; then Strewn across the lake are hundreds of travel by boat across the Gulf of Fonseca, small islands formed from a volcanic the most scenic and fastest route between eruption that occurred thousands of years Nicaragua and El Salvador. The Gulf is a ago. Enjoy an afternoon excursion and hike fascinating place of rugged beauty—a to the Mombacho Volcano this afternoon. hidden gem in Central America. Stop for Ascend to the top of the volcano by 4x4 lunch at one of the islands in the Gulf. vehicles and take a short hike while taking Arrive at the port of La Unión this in breathtaking views. Search for howler afternoon. and white-faced monkeys as well as deer, reptiles, and the endemic Mombacho Overnight: Comfort Inn (B,L,D) salamander, found only in this volcano.
Enjoy an evening at leisure to explore historic Granada. Overnight: Hotel Darío (B,L) WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11 LA UNIÓN / MACULIS BEACH / SAN SALVADOR
Depart for San Salvador stopping at SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 8 Maculis Beach, a private one mile long GRANADA / MASAYA / LEÓN crescent-shaped beach that is dotted at either end with volcanic boulders. After a Depart for Masaya, known as the city of delightful beach-side lunch, continue to the flowers. Visit the Masaya Volcano to hear cosmopolitan capital city of San Salvador, its rumbling and observe the fumaroles the second largest in Central America. inside its immense crater. The interior of Located in the foothills of the the volcano is home to green parakeets Quetzaltepec, or San Salvador Volcano, that have adapted to the sulfur smoke. the city has a long and fascinating history, Continue to the Masaya market to see local with origins dating back to long before the handicrafts. This afternoon arrive in the Spanish Conquest. Your hotel is located in historical city of León. the upscale neighborhood of San Benito. Overnight: Hotel El Convento (B,L) Overnight: Hotel Sheraton Presidente (B,L,D)
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9 LEÓN THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12 SAN SALVADOR / JOYA DE CERÉN / León was the home of the national poet, EL BOQUERÓN Rubén Darío, one of the greatest poets in the Americas. Visit the cathedral Basilica of This morning visit the UNESCO World the Assumption of León, one of the largest Heritage, and Maya archaeological, site of cathedrals in Central America and where Joya de Cerén. It features a pre-Columbian Darío is buried. Also tour the Ruben Dario Maya farming village that was preserved Museum and some of Leon’s architectural under layers of volcanic ash and is jewels, including the Church of the remarkably intact. Continue to the Parque Recolección with its yellow facade. Nacional El Boquerón, which sits atop San Salvador Volcano. Admire its enormous Overnight: Hotel El Convento (B,L,D) crater, El Boquerón, and take in the incredible views of the capital city. Lunch is at a restaurant with vistas of the Lake Ilopangno, a volcanic caldera. On your return, enjoy a city tour that includes the restored Metropolitan Cathedral and elegant National Theatre, plazas and avenues. Gather for a farewell dinner.
Overnight: Hotel Sheraton Presidente (B,L,D)
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13 SAN SALVADOR / U.S. After breakfast transfer to the airport for flight home. (B)