Real Affordable Costa Rica 2017 14-Day Land Tour{Tripoperatedby}

Real Affordable Costa Rica 2017 14-Day Land Tour{TRIPOperatedBy}

Extend your trip

Pre-Trips Guatemala: Antigua & Tikal OR Nicaragua's Colonial Cities & Volcanic Landscapes

Post-Trip Tortuguero National Park: Ultimate Rain Forest Experience

Your Day-to-Day Itinerary Overseas Adventure Travel

Overseas Adventure Travel, founded in 1978, is America’s leading adventure travel company. The New York Times, Condé Nast Traveler, The Los Angeles Times, Travel + Leisure, The Wall Street Journal, US News & World Report, and others have recommended OAT trips. But our most impressive reviews come from our customers: Thousands of travelers have joined our trips, and 95% of them say they’d gladly travel with us again, and recommend us to their friends.

Included in Your Price

»» International airfare, airport transfers, government taxes, fees, and airline fuel surcharges unless you choose to make your own air arrangements

»» All land transportation

»» Accommodations for 13 nights

»» 31 meals—daily breakfast, 9 lunches, 9 dinners (including 1 Home-Hosted Lunch)

»» 10 small group activities

»» Services of a local O.A.T. Trip Leader

»» Gratuities for local guides, drivers, and luggage porters

»» 5% Frequent Traveler Credit toward your next adventure—an average of $176

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-955-1925. What This Trip is Like Pacing Accommodations & Facilities »» 6 locations in 14 days with one 1-night »» Some of our lodgings may be quite small stay and some early mornings or family-run

»» While this is a mobile trip, the pace is not »» In rural areas, our lodgings may have demanding limited services; rooms may not include TV, phone, or air-conditioning Physical requirements »» Not appropriate for travelers using wheelchairs, walkers, or other mobility aids

»» You must be able to walk 3 miles unassisted and participate in 6-8 hours of physical activities each day

»» We reserve the right for Trip Leaders to restrict participation, or in some circumstances send travelers home, if their limitations impact the group’s experience

Altitude »» 2 days at altitudes of 6,000-8,884 feet

Climate »» Costa Rica has a tropical climate with high temperatures reaching 90°F, high humidity, and moderate-to-heavy rainfall

»» As a narrow isthmus, Costa Rica is influenced by many meteorological systems, making weather prediction difficult

Terrain & Transportation »» Travel over rural streets, unpaved roads, and rugged paths and trails

»» Travel via 22-passenger air-conditioned minibus, river raft, and horseback

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-955-1925. Real Affordable Costa Rica 2017

Extend your trip

Pre-Trips Guatemala: Antigua & Tikal OR Nicaragua's Colonial Cities & Volcanic Landscapes

Post-Trip Tortuguero National Park: Ultimate Rain Forest Experience

For a country roughly the size of West Virginia, there’s an incredible amount of biodiversity to be seen and adventures to be had in Costa Rica. Swirling white-water rivers thrill, hot springs soothe, and tropical forests enthrall, making Costa Rica an adventure-seeker’s paradise. With the help of our resident Trip Leader, we’ll travel its hidden paths by horseback, raft, and trail.

We’ll also discover Costa Rica’s other great natural resource—its people, the warm and gracious Ticos— as our small group dines with a local family, visits rural farmers and traditional artisans, and meets children at a village school. From the rapids of the Río Sarapiquí to the tropical forests of Tirimbina, from the mountains of Guanacaste to the sun-drenched shores of the Pacific coast, this peaceful little nation beckons us with countless wonders, all summed up by a popular saying: Pura vida—this is the life.

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-955-1925. Detailed Itinerary

An important word about your adventure

Our Real Affordable Costa Ricatrip is designed for people who want a different kind of travel experience. We seek out unusual experiences in out-of-the-way places where ordinary tours don’t go. Costa Rica is a developing country, and the quality of travel services may not always be similar to what you would find in the United States and Europe.

This is an adventure travel trip. Part of the adventure is the possibility that things may change, which makes it impossible for us to follow this trip itinerary exactly. When we are confronted with changing circumstances, this itinerary is the one we strive to follow. But, it’s important for you to know in advance that we may not be able to follow this plan verbatim. The sequence of places visited may vary. When we are forced to make variations, we make every attempt to use facilities that are equivalent in quality.

DAY 1 Depart U.S. • Arrive San José, DAY 2 Explore San José • Visit Costa Rica; Transfer to Santa Ana Lifting Hands Center Upon arrival at the airport, an O.A.T. After breakfast and a Welcome Briefing with representative meets us and assists with our Trip Leader, we’ll embark on a city tour the transfer to our hotel, where we meet of San José. Here, we’ll see the National our Trip Leader and our fellow travelers, Theatre, considered one of the country’s including those arriving from the pre-trip most impressive architectural accomplish- extensions to Guatemala: Antigua & Tikal ments. We’ll also visit the National Park, San and Nicaragua’s Colonial Cities & Volcanic José’s largest park. Landscapes. The evening is free to relax or You’ll have time for lunch on your own in explore on your own. San José before we transfer to the Lifting Hands Center in the nearby suburb of Escazú. The Lifting Hands foundation invites

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-955-1925. volunteers to bring education to impov- DAY 4 River rafting • Optional Pineapple erished communities by teaching English, Farm tour • Discover Tirimbina’s bats computer, and mathematics classes to After breakfast at our lodge, we’ll drive to children and adults. We’ll take a tour of the the nearby Río Sarapiquí. Flowing into the Lifting Hands Center and speak to volunteers San Juan River and the Lake of Nicaragua, and participants to see the difference the the Sarapiquí is one of several rivers that organization is making in the area outside of run down from Costa Rica’s mountainous San José. central highlands, the Cordillera Central. Later, we’ll return to our hotel, where The surrounding land varies in altitude from we’ll have some time at leisure before our 112 to 9,500 feet, which is a big reason so Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant. many migratory birds congregate in the region—more than 300 species of them at Breakfast, Dinner last count. Here you have a choice: rafting on Class I-II rapids of the Sarapiquí, or learning about tropical flora and fauna during a walk DAY 3 Explore Poás • Visit coffee along its banks. finca • Overland to Sarapiquí Costa Rica is a destination for rafters from We will explore the town of Poás through its around the world, and we surveyed several people and their livelihood. We will visit with of its rivers before selecting the Sarapiquí a local family, and then visit the Central de for the quality of its rapids, which are sporty Flores, a local flower shop. Then, we’ll visit a enough to be fun, but mild enough to be 70-year-old coffee finca, or farm, located on enjoyed by first-timers. Those who opt to the fertile slopes of Poás Volcano. Here, we’ll raft will get a complete introduction to river enjoy lunch as well as a tour of the finca, safety from our professional boatmen before learning how it grows, harvests, processes, we board the raft and enjoy the ride. and packages its world-renowned coffee. For those who prefer not to raft, a local Later, we’ll embark on our journey to guide will lead a nature walk through the Sarapiquí. We arrive at our comfortable jungle and pasturelands that surround the lodge outside the town of La Virgen in the Sarapiquí. This walk will provide the op- late afternoon. Our eco-friendly lodgings portunity to spot some of the region’s more here are situated alongside the Tirimbina elusive animal species, and to view the rich Biological Reserve. A lush tropical rain forest flora of this verdant environment up close. teeming with native fauna, this habitat is a Both the river rafting and the nature walk seasonal home to migratory birds from the last about two hours, after which the two northern U.S. and Canada. groups will come together for lunch at a Tonight we’ll have dinner together at our local restaurant, where we can relax in the hotel. mid-day sun and compare notes about our morning’s discoveries. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner After lunch together, you can choose to join us for an optional visit to a family-owned pineapple finca. On this excursion, we’ll enjoy an in-depth look at the finca’s fields

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-955-1925. and facilities, learn about pineapple cultiva- DAY 6 A Day in the Life of a Costa tion techniques throughout history, discover Rican village • Home-Hosted Lunch • how the Sarapiquí region’s fertile, volcanic Optional The Source of Chocolate tour soil nurtures these tropical plants, and enjoy After breakfast at our lodge, we’ll enjoy a a taste of the “Fruit of Kings.” unique opportunity to spend A Day in the Life Tonight, after dinner at our hotel, we’ll of a Costa Rican village, including a visit to a enjoy a presentation on Costa Rica’s bats. local elementary school supported in part by We’ll learn all about these unique flying Grand Circle Foundation. The children will mammals, which represent more than 50% warmly welcome us, and with their colorful of the country’s mammal population, and traditional costumes and cheerful demeanor, have the chance to acquaint ourselves with they may leave a lasting impression on all some live specimens, captured humanely by who meet them. In fact, past travelers have the research center’s nets in the evening and found this to be a highlight of the trip. then released back into the wild. During our visit, we’ll spend some time Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner with the students one-on-one, talk with their teachers and parents, and learn about Costa Rica’s universal educational system. DAY 5 Tirimbina nature walk Long a national priority—and a focus of • Travel to La Fortuna government spending following the abolition of its army—Costa Rica’s policy of universal After breakfast today, we visit the Tirimbina education has resulted in a literacy rate of Biological Reserve, an innovative education 96%. While successful in educating their and research center devoted to the pres- students, many school systems in Costa Rica ervation of this endangered tropical forest suffer from a lack of funding, and the school ecosystem. We’ll enjoy a nature walk along we visit today has benefited from a Grand the reserve’s woodland trails, crossing the Circle Foundation grant, used to improve nearly 860-foot suspension bridge over the and expand the school building and grounds Río Sarapiquí. by constructing a new ceiling, classrooms, After lunch at our hotel this afternoon, we’ll sidewalks, and even (at the San Francisco depart for La Fortuna. Known as the “front School) a self-sustaining microfarm project, yard of the Arenal Volcano,” La Fortuna is which provides the students and their com- a town of thermal spas and verdant hills. munity with much-needed nutrition and Our home for the next three nights, it offers revenue. spectacular views of Arenal Volcano when Your day also includes a visit to a local weather permits. After we check in to our village for a Home-Hosted Lunch. Costa hotel, we’ll enjoy an orientation walk and Rican cuisine is simple and wholesome, and some time at leisure. Dinner tonight is at our a typical meal features chicken, beef, or fish hotel. (sometimes grilled), served with tortillas and Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner rice and beans. But whatever’s on the menu, you can count on the warm hospitality of your hosts, who may share some of their experiences of rural life in Costa Rica with us.

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-955-1925. Then, we return to our hotel, where the dry tropical climate and is famous for its afternoon is at leisure. Or, you can join thermal pools, which we’ll enjoy later in our our optional tour to discover The Source of stay. Chocolate. We’ll hike to a plot in the rain Our lodge is situated in the foothills of forest where the cacao beans used to make Rincón de la Vieja Volcano. We’ll arrive in chocolate are grown in the traditional way, the late afternoon and take an orientation then see the whole process of chocolate walk. From the lodge, local trails lead into making and taste the delicious results. wild expanses of tropical dry forest where Dinner tonight is on your own. we may spot peccaries, armadillos, motmots, and capuchin and howler monkeys, as well Breakfast, Lunch as white-fronted Amazon parrots, spectacled owls, and more than 270 other avian species.

DAY 7 Nature walk • Cruise the Río Frío Tonight, we’ll have dinner together at the Early this morning, we can elect to join lodge’s restaurant. a nature walk led by our Trip Leader on Breakfast, Dinner the hotel grounds. We’ll have breakfast together afterward, then travel to the Río Frío, where we board a small boat to explore DAY 9 Guanacaste • Horseback ride to this complex inland waterway. We’ll keep hot spring • Optional Forest Canopy Ride an eye out for wading birds—like northern jacanas and wood storks—as well as turtles Following breakfast, we begin our day with and butterflies during our cruise. Keep your an elective horseback ride that takes us binoculars and camera ready—we might through the jungle and into the remarkable be lucky enough spot larger animals, like thermal area near our lodge. Those of us the spider and howler monkeys, sloths, and looking to travel by horseback will get a caimans that live by the river. safety talk and riding lesson from our Trip Leader before we saddle up and ride through After lunch, we’ll return to our hotel, where sloping pastureland and along the tropical the balance of the afternoon is at leisure. dry forest’s narrow trails, while those who Dinner is on your own this evening. prefer a motorized means of transport will enjoy a tractor or pick-up truck ride instead. Breakfast, Lunch Either way, everyone is heading for the same destination: the thermal baths.

DAY 8 La Fortuna • Travel to Guanacaste We can thank the Rincón de la Vieja Volcano Today, our Costa Rica travel continues with for creating this rustic, open-air retreat. a drive to the Guanacaste Province in the Subterranean thermal currents produce northwestern part of the country, a large warm mineral mud, heated pools, and even section of which has been set aside for pres- natural saunas. Getting close to nature is ervation and designated a UNESCO World part of the Costa Rica experience, as we’ll Heritage Site. Dominated by the Guanacaste discover firsthand this morning. mountain range, this region has a distinctive

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-955-1925. We’ll begin by participating in a typical lunch at a local restaurant. In the late after- therapeutic mud regimen, starting with noon, we’ll arrive at our hotel near Jacó—a a pore-opening sauna near a fumarola, a beach town renowned for its long stretch of thermal vent in the Earth’s crust. Next, we’ll gray sand and its world-famous surf. We’ll enjoy a “facial”—Costa Rican style—by enjoy a brief orientation walk around our covering our faces with warm, mineral-rich hotel before enjoying some time at leisure. mud transported here from bubbling pools We’ll have dinner at our hotel tonight. deep within the mountain. Finally, when the Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner mud hardens, we’ll rinse it off and dip into a warm, relaxing thermal pool to wash the rest of our tensions away. It’s a tranquil, rejuve- DAY 11 Manuel Antonio nating, and—when several group members National Park nature walk are caked in soothing gray mud—hilarious experience! We’ll spend our morning in Manuel Antonio National Park, one of the most biologically This afternoon, you can join us as we fly diverse areas in the world. One of the small- above the rain forest on an optional Forest est—and also most popular—of Costa Rica’s Canopy Ride. We’ll begin our optional excur- national parks, this lush reserve encompass- sion with a 20-minute uphill hike, followed es four beaches, island bird sanctuaries, coral by a safety talk. Then, strapped into our reefs, and a luxuriant rain forest. Manuel harnesses and wearing thick leather gloves, Antonio is also one of only two habitats we’ll head to the first of ten platforms high in the country for the endangered squirrel up in the treetops, where we’re sent off on monkey. As we walk about a mile along the the ride of our lives. Whizzing from tree to nature trails here this morning, we’ll keep tree on the zip-line, we’ll witness stunning an eye out for these friendly primates as well panoramic views of the forest below. as two- and three-toed sloths, capuchin monkeys, giant iguanas, and more. Or, spend the afternoon at leisure at the lodge, where you can enjoy a nature walk on We spend a full morning at Manuel Antonio, your own, relax and write in your journal, or including plenty of time for hiking or relax- go for another round of independent birding ing on its beaches before lunch at a nearby on the grounds. We conclude the day with restaurant. This afternoon, we’ll return to dinner at our hotel. Please note: Travelers on our hotel for time at leisure. Tonight, dinner May-November departures can enjoy today’s is on your own. optional Forest Canopy Ride tour before breakfast, followed by all other activities as described. Breakfast, Lunch

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner DAY 12 Outrigger canoe ride • Visit fishing cooperative DAY 10 Overland to Pacific Coast This morning, we’ll venture to Agujas Beach, After breakfast, we’ll head southeast to Costa a beautiful protected cove. Here, after a Rica’s Pacific Coast—a region renowned safety briefing, we’ll embark on an outrigger for its sandy beaches, tropical rain forests, canoe to catch the spirit of pre-Columbian and diverse wildlife. En route, we’ll stop for Costa Rica as we paddle along the ocean,

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-955-1925. passing steep cliffs and sandy beaches (and Before traveling overland to Santa Ana, keeping watch for wildlife). We’ll disembark you’ll have some time to get lunch on your at Limoncito Beach and enjoy some leisure own. When we arrive in Santa Ana, we’ll time to stroll the beach before returning enjoy some time at leisure. In the evening, to Agujas Beach to shower and change our we’ll say adios to our Trip Leader and travel clothes (if desired). companions over a Farewell Dinner at a local restaurant in Santa Ana. We’ll have lunch in the area before visiting Coope Tárcoles, a fishermen’s cooperative Breakfast, Dinner founded in 1986 with the goal of promoting environmental and social responsibility. Members of this cooperative—who often DAY 14 Santa Ana • Return to U.S. rely on fishing for their livelihood—follow a or begin your post-trip extension strict set of rules to ensure they are fishing We’ll rise before daybreak for an early responsibly and protecting marine resources. breakfast and transfer to the airport in San We’ll learn more about sustainable fishing José for our flight home. Travelers taking in Tárcoles today when we meet members of our optional Tortuguero National Park: Ultimate the cooperative. Rainforest Experience post-trip extension will transfer overland to Tortuguero this This afternoon, we’ll return to our hotel for morning. some time at leisure. Tonight, we’ll gather for dinner together at a local restaurant. Breakfast

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 13 Pacific Coast • Cruise for crocodiles on Río Tárcoles • Overland to Santa Ana Today, we board a small boat and drift down Río Tárcoles, a partially tidal estuary that forms a border of the park, and Costa Rica’s largest habitat for crocodiles. Our naturalist Trip Leader will give us an introduction to these “prehistoric” animals, which can be up to 20 feet long, and we’ll keep our eyes peeled for them as the river carries us along. The mangrove forest of Río Tárcoles is also home to many other creatures, and the birdwatching here is among the best in the country. Scarlet macaws are sometimes seen here flying overhead in pairs, and we may also spot egrets, osprey, frigate birds, roseate spoonbills, and white ibis during our journey.

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-955-1925. Pre-trip Guatemala: Antigua & Tikal

Included in Your Price

»» Roundtrip flight to Tikal and flight from »» All transfers Guatemala City to San José »» Gratuities for local guides, drivers, and »» Accommodations for 1 night in luggage porters Guatemala City, 2 nights in Antigua, and 2 nights in Tikal

»» 10 meals—5 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners

»» 5 small group activities

»» Services of a local O.A.T. Trip Leader

Itinerary, Pre-Trip Extension

Discover a land of mystery and majesty, home to 1,700-year-old Mayan temples and the deepest lake in Central America. From the bustle of Guatemala City to the ancient marvels of Tikal, Guatemala’s culture is an intriguing blend of Mayan and Spanish colonial heritages.

DAY 1 Depart U.S. • Arrive Guatemala City years ago. As we begin exploring the city, Today you fly from the U.S. to Guatemala, you’ll notice the Spanish influence in all that the northernmost country in Central surrounds you. Though an enormous earth- America. An OAT Trip Leader meets you at quake in 1773 destroyed almost all of the the airport in Guatemala City and will help architecture, many colonial structures still you transfer to our hotel. remain. On a walking tour, you’ll behold a mixture of vine-covered facades, tiled roof- tops, and intricate detailing—all reminiscent DAY 2 Travel to Antigua • Explore of the Spanish style. city and Casa Santo Domingo Enjoy lunch on your own, then take a short After breakfast, we’ll depart for Antigua. walk over to the Casa Santo Domingo, a Founded in 1542, this charming city was cultural complex housing two of Antigua’s the hub of Spanish power more than 200

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-955-1925. best museums—one featuring Spanish Those who choose not to enjoy the optional colonial art and another of Classic Maya excursion can spend the day at leisure in art. The complex is set within the ruins of Antigua. Feast your eyes on the restored, as the Spanish colonial monastery of Santo well as crumbling, monuments of its past. Domingo. They all have a certain Old-World charm. The city is primarily a study in Colonial- We then arrive at our hotel where we have late Baroque style architecture, since most time to relax and freshen up before our of its earlier buildings were destroyed in Welcome Dinner this evening at a local earthquakes. By keeping everything closer restaurant. to the ground and reinforcing the structures Breakfast, Dinner with piles of brick and mortar, 18th-century builders tried to ensure that the tremors of an earthquake would not wreak the havoc DAY 3 Discover Antigua • Optional they had done in the past. As a pleasant, Lake Atitlán & Mayan Villages tour visual distraction, these thick, fortified walls were covered with intricate reliefs and Today you may join an optional full-day saintly shrines. tour that includes a boat tour of Lake Atitlán, the deepest lake in the Western During your day you may wish to enjoy a Hemisphere with a depth of more than 1,000 good cup of coffee—and this is the place feet. Surrounded by towering volcanoes, to do it, as Antigua produces some of the Lake Atitlán’s natural beauty provides a best in Guatemala. Perhaps you’ll spend a stunning backdrop for our discoveries. We’ll portion of the day writing in your journal also get a sense of local life around the lake under the shade of a tree in the central park. when we explore some highland villages. Maybe you’ll make your way to the Colonial Lake Atitlán is located in the heart of the Museum, which houses a large collection Mayan world—the Western Highlands of of colonial artwork, ranging from religious Central America. More than 85,000 years paintings and statues to recreations of colo- ago a gigantic volcanic explosion formed this nial trade work such as pottery making and lake. The results of this tumultuous period blacksmithing. Or, you can search for carved are quite breathtaking. The lake is located jade and silver jewelry trinkets at some of over 5,000 feet above sea level, with three the local stores. Whatever you decide to do, imposing volcanoes gracing its southern today is your day to mingle with the locals edge: San Pedro, Toliman, and Atitlán. and get a true sense of Antigua’s daily life. Because of this stunning location and ar- resting scenery, Lake Atitlán has been called Breakfast, Lunch “the closest thing to Eden on Earth.” It’s no wonder that visitors use such superlatives. Our explorations include visits to Panajachel DAY 4 Guatemala City tour • Fly to Petén and Santiago Atitlan, as well as a boat tour This morning, we’ll enjoy some time at lei- that provides exceptional vistas of water, sure before regrouping for an included lunch sky, and volcanoes. We will then enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. In the late afternoon, at a local restaurant. we’ll return to Guatemala City to enjoy a city tour. Founded in early 1776, the colonial settlers believed they had picked a strategic

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-955-1925. location within the surrounding mountains The Tikal site comprises about six square that would prevent the shock of earthquakes. miles with about 3,000 structures, includ- Unfortunately, this was not the case. Several ing temples, pyramids, tombs, palaces, massive earthquakes in recent history, most ball courts, and terraces. The Maya had a notably in 1917 and 1918, destroyed any complex cultural caste system that relied remnants of the lovely Colonial architecture heavily on deity worship. Often perceived as that once graced the city. However, as we’ll a violent sect, they sacrificed to their gods see today, Guatemala City still maintains a both in their temples and on the playing colorful and vibrant spirit. On our tour, we’ll fields of their ball courts. Oftentimes the stop at the ornate Yurrita Church and the entire losing team was sacrificed in the beautiful National Palace. The Palace was name of sport. built in the 1930s and 1940s and now houses At its peak some 1,500 years ago, Tikal was the executive branch of the country’s gov- home to an estimated 100,000 Maya, and it ernment. Many of Guatemala’s best artists was one of the most important urban centers of the time helped decorate the building, and of its time. Its size is intimidating, and its it is now considered a museum because of setting is lush and teeming with wildlife. their contributions. Standing back and just observing the im- In the evening, we’ll depart for our flight mensity of it all can be quite breathtaking. to Petén. After we check in to our hotel, There are many mysteries to ponder today, dinner tonight is on your own. and after our half-day at ancient Tikal, we Breakfast, Lunch enjoy dinner and perhaps a lively discus- sion of the famous, and infamous, Mayan civilization. DAY 5 Flores • Explore Tikal Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner After breakfast this morning, we transfer northeast to Tikal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and perhaps the most remarkable of DAY 6 Flores • Fly to San José all the classic Mayan cities. It is here that a After breakfast at our hotel, you’ll transfer magnificent civilization reigned from about to the airport for your flight to San José AD 300 to 900. Nestled within Tikal National via Guatemala City, where you’ll have the Park, the grounds are expansive and inspir- afternoon to explore the city before the other ing, and it’s difficult to determine which members of our group arrive for our Real is more impressive—the accomplishments Affordable Costa Rica adventure. of man or those of nature. The towering structures rise above the leafy canopy and Breakfast fight for your attention with the assortment of animals and exotic birds. Within the park, it’s possible to spot howler monkeys gliding through the treetops, raucous macaws and colorful toucans perching on branches, and wild turkeys wandering the forest floor. We’ll enjoy an included lunch while we are at Tikal.

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-955-1925. optional tours on Pre-trip

Lake Atitlán & Mayan Villages (Day 3 $75 per person)

On this optional full-day tour, you’ll sail upon the heavenly blue waters of Lake Atitlán, the deepest lake in the Western Hemisphere, and a place of spiritual signifi- cance for the ancient Mayans. The mighty volcanoes that surround the lake provide some truly stunning scenery during your cruise. You’ll also explore Panajachel and Santiago that line the lake’s shores, where you’ll learn about local life as you interact with the villages’ residents. For this tour, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-955-1925. Pre-trip Nicaragua’s Colonial Cities & Volcanic Landscapes

Included in Your Price

»» Airfare from Managua to San José, Costa »» All transfers Rica »» Gratuities for local guides, drivers, and »» Accommodations for 2 nights in luggage porters Managua and 3 nights in Granada

»» 11 meals—5 breakfasts, 3 lunches, and 3 dinners

»» 9 small group activities

»» Services of a local O.A.T. Trip Leader

Itinerary, Pre-Trip Extension

Nicaragua has a strong cultural legacy that is re-emerging today following decades of dictatorship. Amid landscapes encompassing volcanic mountains, colonial cities, agricultural villages, and Lake Nicaragua, now is the time to meet proud Nicaraguans in a country that has only recently opened its doors to travelers.

DAY 1 Depart U.S. • Arrive Explore 17 well-preserved structures that Managua, Nicaragua have withstood earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Today you fly from the U.S. to Managua. An OAT representative meets you at the airport Then enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and will help you transfer to the hotel. before discovering León Cathedral, another UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Cathedral, DAY 2 Travel to León • Managua built over the course of a couple centuries, has noticeably contrasting Baroque and Following breakfast at the hotel, we’ll ex- Neoclassical styles. Set off in search of even plore a Nicaraguan UNESCO World Heritage more architectural treasures after departing Site—León Viejo. Trace the history of oldest the cathedral for a tour of León. Spanish colonial settlement in the Americas, which dates back to the 16th-century.

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-955-1925. Later this afternoon, we’ll travel back to our to see an outstanding array of aquatic birds hotel, and you’ll have the rest of the day to and some other wildlife. Some of the most make your own discoveries. Dinner is on unusual fish in the world evolved in this your own this evening. lake, including the sweet-water Bull Shark, a voracious predator that roams between the Breakfast, Lunch ocean waters of the Caribbean and the lake’s fresh waters. Afterwards, we return to our hotel, then have dinner at a local restaurant DAY 3 Managua • Travel to Granada in Granada. After breakfast, we discover Nicaragua’s capital, Managua. Our tour will take us to Breakfast, Dinner the Tiscapa Historical Park, where former dictator Anastasio Somoza had his house and headquarters on a hilltop with a magnificent DAY 5 Discover Masaya & Catarina view of the city of Managua. We’ll also This morning we’ll get an overview of the see the Palacio Nacional and the National city of Masaya as we drive through it, then Cathedral. explore the volcanic landscapes and forested beauty of Masaya Volcano National Park. We have lunch at a restaurant in Managua, We’ll visit active and inactive craters on then depart for Granada. When we arrive in the 2,083-foot-high volcano. Then we’ll Granada, we’ll check in to our hotel and take learn about this area’s geology at the largest an orientation walk. We’ll have dinner at a museum devoted to vulcanology in Central local restaurant this evening. America, which is located in the park. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner From the park, we return to the city of Masaya and visit the workshops of some local craftspeople. Then we continue on DAY 4 Discover Granada • Boat to the town of Catarina, one of the pueblos tour of Lake Nicaragua blancos (white towns), so called because their This morning, we take a walking tour that buildings were once all whitewashed with reveals the colonial splendor of Granada. quicklime. Here we’ll stop at a viewpoint on This was one of the first Spanish cities in Catarina Lake (Lago Apoyo)—a blue-green Latin America, founded in 1524. We’ll stroll body of water that fills the largest and parts of the city and stop by a 16th-century deepest volcanic caldera in Nicaragua. We’ll convent that has been converted to a colo- have an included lunch at a local restaurant nial and pre-Columbian museum. in Catarina.

Afterwards, lunch is on your own and the In the afternoon, we’ll visit artisans’ work- early afternoon is free to relax or make your shops in Catarina, where local people make own discoveries. Later in the afternoon, bamboo baskets, bamboo furniture, and we’ll head to Lake Nicaragua, which is also indigenous styles of ceramics. Afterwards, called Lago Cocibolca. This is the tenth- we return to our hotel in Granada, and later largest body of fresh water in the world, we’ll gather for a Farewell Dinner. and we’ll cruise for about 1.5 hours along its islet-dotted waters. This is a great chance Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-955-1925. DAY 6 Fly to San José, Costa Rica • Begin main trip After breakfast, we’ll enjoy the morning at leisure, with time to have lunch on our own in Granada. Then, we’ll fly to San José to begin our Real Affordable Costa Rica adventure.

Breakfast

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-955-1925. Post-trip Tortuguero National Park: Ultimate Rain Forest Experience

Included in Your Price

»» Accommodations for 2 nights in »» Gratuities for local guides, drivers, and Tortuguero National Park and 1 night in luggage porters San José

»» 8 meals—3 breakfasts, 3 lunches, and 2 dinners

»» 3 small group activities

»» Services of a local O.A.T. Trip Leader

»» All transfers

Itinerary, Post-Trip Extension

Extend your Costa Rica travel in Tortuguero National Park, renowned for its lush jungle canopy and the fascinating abundance of wildlife that call this protected haven home. A naturalist’s nirvana, much of this 47,000-acre expanse on the Caribbean coast can only be explored by boat along a network of waterways.

DAY 1 Transfer to Tortuguero After our main Real Affordable Costa Rica trip • Visit Tortuguero town concludes with breakfast this morning, we’ll travel to the Caribbean coast and board a Remote Tortuguero is home to 111 species of boat for our cruise to Tortuguero. En route, reptiles, 60 species of mammals, 309 species we’ll stop to discover Tortuguero town, of birds, and 57 species of amphibians—in- where we’ll enjoy the Caribbean flavor of cluding the endangered green turtle, for this unique village, which has no roads, no which it is the Western Hemisphere’s most sidewalks, and no cars. We’ll arrive at our important nesting site. If you arrive during lodge in the early afternoon, and enjoy a nesting season, which fluctuates through brief orientation walk followed by lunch at mid-June until October, you might observe legions of sea turtles descending upon the beaches to lay their eggs and bury them in the sand.

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-955-1925. our lodge. Afterward, you’ll have time for DAY 4 San José • Return to U.S. independent exploration before our included After breakfast at our hotel, transfer to the dinner at our lodge tonight. airport for your flight home.

Lunch, Dinner Breakfast

DAY 2 Tortuguero • Explore canals by boat • Nature walk Both natural and man-made canals are the primary means of transportation in Tortuguero. This morning, we’ll cruise along this restricted network in search of such local denizens as crocodiles, iguanas, and the rare manatee.

We’ll return to the lodge for lunch, then we’ll walk along the lodge’s trails to observe the region’s diverse flora and fauna—perhaps glimpsing the sloths, monkeys, green macaws, and toucans that call this protected area home. Following our afternoon nature- viewing activities, we’ll have dinner together at our lodge.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 3 Tortuguero • Boat ride to Caño Blanco • Overland to San José Following breakfast this morning, we enjoy a leisurely canal boat ride to Caño Blanco. There, we begin our overland transfer to San José, stopping en route for an included lunch at a local restaurant. We arrive in Costa Rica’s capital this afternoon, and have the evening at leisure. Dinner is on your own tonight.

Breakfast, Lunch

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-955-1925.