St. Joseph's College
COSTA RICA 2011
Tour# 4147
January 7 -16, 2011
From $2,350.00
| Day 1 | Friday | Jan 7 | San Jose, Costa Rica (D) |
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Your flight to San Jose with Taca Airlines, via San Salvador, leaves at 3:00 am. Check-in at Terminal 4 around midnight leaving home on January 6. Arrive in San Jose at 9:40 am. Meet your guide and go to Grand Hotel Costa Rica. Check-in is after 3:00 pm. Dinner at hotel. |
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| Day 2 | Saturday | Jan 8 | San Jose, Poas Volcano, Cloud Forest (D) |
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Full day excursion to Costa Rica's coffee growing region. View Poas Volcano and its crater, then Escallonia Cloud Forest, home to epiphytes, orchids and hummingbirds. Visit a small family coffee farm and return to San Jose to see Plaza de la Cultura, Central Park, the National theatre and the Gold Museum. |
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| Day 3 | Sunday | Jan 9 | Butterfly Garden, Tortuguero Park (B, L, D) |
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Drive through Braulio Carillo Park. Visit a butterfly garden, a banana plantation, then cruise along the rivers of Tortuguero National Park, home to more than 300 species of birds: toucans, parrots, kingfishers and the rare green macaw. Visit the Green Turtle Research Station. Walk along the Atlantic turtle nesting beaches. Enjoy a two night stay at Laguna Lodge. |
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| Day 4 | Monday | Jan 10 | Tortuguero Park, Canal Cruise (B, L, D) |
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Morning cruise along canals. See howler monkeys, green iguanas and tropical birds as you follow the waters of Caño Palma Wildlife Reserve. Enjoy the pool and the gardens before an afternoon boat excursion looking for otters, turtles and manatees. |
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| Day 5 | Tuesday | Jan 11 | Pineapple Tour, Fortuna (B, L, D) |
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En route to El Arenal Volcano visit a pineapple plantation, sample the sweet organic fruit and drive through scenic countryside to the San Carlo Valley. Two night stay at the Magic Mountain Hotel. |
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| Day 6 | Wednesday | Jan 12 | Caño Negro, Hot Springs, Arenal (B, L, D) |
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Head North through sugar cane, teak and orange plantations, then cruise on the Rio Frio through Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge, home of many migratory birds, caimans, crocodiles, spider monkeys and lizards. Then, relax in the volcanic hot springs before dinner. |
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| Day 7 | Thursday | Jan 13 | Hanging Bridges, Guanacaste (B, L, D) |
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Hike through the lush tropical rainforest canopy on six suspension bridges. Drive through the only tropical dry forest in Costa Rica. Stop in Liberia, then reach the Pacific Coast for a two night stay at Octocal Beach Resort. |
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| Day 8 | Friday | Jan 14 | Pacific Coast, Guanacaste (B, L, D) |
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Excursion to Artola and the nearby Congo Trail Natural Reserve. See monkeys, frogs and exotic butterflies. In the afternoon, rest or swim at the pristine beaches of your resort. |
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| Day 9 | Saturday | Jan 15 | San Jose (B, L, D) |
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Drive through the cattle ranches of Guanacaste. Stop at Monteverde Cooperative. Sample the delicious local cheese and shop for colorful handicrafts, including painted oxcarts. Farewell dinner and overnight at Grand Hotel Costa Rica. |
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| Day 10 | Sunday | Jan 16 | Return (B) |
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Day at leisure in San Jose until it is time to go to the airport for your 6:00 pm flight, non stop to JFK. Arrive shortly after midnight on January 17. |
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The exact timing of these flights is subject to change and will be reconfirmed.
Check-in at the airport should be 3 hours prior to departure time.
| DATE | FLIGHT NO: | FROM | TO | DEP | ARR | |
| Jan 7 | TA567 | JFK | SAL | 3:42 AM | 7:42 AM | |
| Jan 7 | LR671 | SAL | SJO | 8:30 AM | 9:40 AM | |
| Jan 16 | LR660 | SJO | JFK | 6:01 PM | 12:01 MN |
Grand Hotel Costa Rica
http://www.granhotelcostarica.com/home.htm
Laguna Lodge
http://www.lagunatortuguero.com/
Magic Mountain Hotel
Octocal Beach Resort
$2,350.00 (includes airfare, taxes and surcharges)
This price includes:
* Round trip flights from JFK to San Jose with TACA Airlines
* Airport taxes and surcharges at $80.00 (subject to increase and adjustment at time of ticketing)
* Accommodation in first class hotels (double room):
- 3 nights San Jose - Grand Hotel Costa Rica
- 2 nights Tortuguero - Laguna Lodge
- 2 nights Arenal - Magic Mountain Hotel
- 2 nights Ocotal Beach Resort
* Transportation by private coach
* Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily
* English speaking tour escort throughout
* Entrance fees and all activities as per itinerary
This price does not include:
* Single room supplement + $555.00
* Tips to tour guide and driver
* Merchant fee of 3.5% on payments by Visa or MasterCard
* Expenses of personal nature such as drinks, phone, laundry
* Departure tax at a pproximately $30.00
* Excess luggage
* Optional travel insurance covering trip cancellation
* Passport and visa fees: Everyone needs a passport valid until July 16, 2011. If you are not an American citizen, a visa may be required. A Green Card is compulsory.
Registration online:
(click here)
Register online, then mail your deposit immediately with copy of your passport, if
available, along with the optional travel insurance amount to:
Celestial Voyagers
27-28 Thomson Avenue, SW11
Long Island City, NY 11101
Registration by mail:
Complete the registration form included in the brochure and mail it to Celestial Voyagers with your
$500.00 deposit and the photocopy of your passport, if available.
Celestial Voyagers’ terms relate to contracts with airlines, hotels and other suppliers. The regulations below must be strictly enforced as they are related to these contracts.
Deposit $500.00 due upon registration and before September 1, 2010
Balance due no later than October 25, 2010
After September 1 full payment is due with registration
All check payments to be made out to Celestial Voyagers escrow account. Your deposit secures your reservation with the airline, the hotel and other suppliers. It must be sent with a copy of your passport and the registration form.
Credit card payments:
We accept Visa and MasterCard. Since Merchant fees are not included in the package price, a 3.5% supplement applies should you wish to pay by this method .
Cancellation:
All cancellations must be received in writing. Tthe following penalties apply:
* $150.00 non-refundable processing fee
* $150.00 additional fee for cancellation received between September 1 and October 24, 2010
* Penalty of 50% of the total trip cost if cancellation is received between October 25 and November 18, 2010
* Penalty of 100% of the total trip cost if cancellation is received after November 19, 2010 and in case of a no-show.
These policies will be strictly applied.
We strongly recommend that you avail yourself of travel insurance as protection against penalties as well as baggage damage and travel delays. Without insurance, if you cancel your trip within a few days of the departure date, the total value of the trip will not be refunded. Pre-existing medical conditions are covered only if the insurance registration has been submitted within 14 days of sending your deposit.
Please check with Celestial Voyagers for insurance plans and premiums, or refer to our insurance page for additional information. Premiums are subject to change without notice.
To purchase your travel insurance from Access America:
Classic and Limited Classic Plan
Basic Plan
Sister Joan will inform you of the date for the pre-departure meeting. If you cannot make the meeting, please inform her as well as Celestial Voyagers.
If your documents have to be sent directly to you, you must submit your request for this service in writing and supply your address. Somebody will need to be home to sign for the package and a $20.00 administration, handling and mailing fee applies.
For more details on the program or for additional information, please contact:
Sister Joan Ryan, C.S.J
Phone: 631-687-2635
All travel arrangements are made by:
Celestial Voyagers, Inc.
Francoise, Jimmy and Gineth
27-28 Thomson Avenue
, SW11
Long Island City, NY 11101
Email: Gineth@celestialvoyagers.com
Phone: 516-829-1525
Fax: 718 729-0306
St. Joseph’s College, New York, is not officially sponsoring this trip or any aspect of it and disclaims all liability in connection with this trip.