Latin America
Costa Rica

Depart from Los Angeles airport in the evening for the overnight flight to Costa Rica. AV Travel tour leader flies with the group.

Arrive San Jose, capital of Costa Rica,, is the capital and most populous city of Costa Rica, but it tends to be treated as little more than a way station where travelers arrive and pick up rental cars before heading to the beach or into the cloud forests. It’s time for that to change. San José has stunning architecture, beautiful parks and delicious food, minus the crowds that can pack other Latin American capitals like Mexico City.

Your journey at San Jose start with a visit to Museo de Arte Costarricense, The Spanish -style structure served as San jose’s main airport terminal until 1955. The remodeled museum features regional art, a sculpture garden, ahuge (150sq m)bas-relief mural of Costa Rican history from pre-Columbian times to 1940 by French artist Luis Feron parizot, and other exhibits. Located at the east entrance of Parque la Sabana. the National Stadium, and the University of Costa Rica. visit the first capital I Coata Rica, Cartago founded in 1563 by Juan Vasquez de Coronado, it was the first successful establishment in Costa Rica. The city was granted a coat of arms by King Philip II of Spain1565, It served as the first capital of Costa Rica until 1823 when Republican leader Gregorio Jose Ramirez, moved the capital to the bigger city of San José, because Cartago wanted to unite the newly independent province of Costa Rica to the Iturbide’s Mexican Empire while San Jose and Alajuela supported a Republican system. The city was severely damaged by major earthquakes in 1822, 1841 and 1910. In 1963, a volcanic eruption of Irazu Volcano which for two years covered San José in ash badly damaged some agricultural areas around Cartago, but not the city. (L/D)

Begin your day with a visit to Poás Volcano, one of the major attractions in the Central Valley region, one of the most visited national parks. The term Poás can be derived from the Latin name “púas” due to the presence of some plants with quills in the area or to the existence of a town called “Púas” located near the mountain range. It is one of the most impressive volcanoes in Costa Rica, with tropical scenarios that will take your breath away. The land in this sector is ideal for the cultivation of coffee, strawberries, and other local and traditional goods.

Visit La Paz Waterfall Gardens is the most visited private ecological attraction in Costa Rica that offers you the best trails near San José, an animal sanctuary and private wildlife reserve with more than 100 species of animals and environmental education programs. It has five waterfalls, cloud forest and rainforest, safe trails, aviary with 40 species of birds, demonstration of feeding toucans in the palm of the hand, marmosets, insect display, butterfly farm with its laboratory, two-toed sloths, white-faced or capuchin monkeys, spider monkeys, hummingbird garden with more than 26 documented species, demonstration of feeding hummingbirds in the palm of the hand in the mornings and afternoons, serpentarium, jaguar, pumas, ocelots, tigrillos, cauceles, casita La Paz with area of domestic animals and cart with oxen, Ranarium, exhibition of orchids, exhibition of heliconias, exhibition of bromelias. (B/L/D)

Head out to Arenal Volcano National Park. The most characteristic feature of this park is the majestic Arenal Volcano that has a nearly perfect volcanic cone 1,633 meters high offering thousands of tourists the opportunity to appreciate the columns of white smoke, ash and fumarolic activity that emanates from the colossal Conical shape.

Then we will visit Tabacón Gran Spa, considered the best thermal waters of our country, here you can relax and enjoy the rejuvenating effects of them whose temperature ranges between 33 to 66 degrees Celsius (93-152 Fahrenheit). The thermal waters of Tabacón combine the four elements of nature, the heat of the volcano, the waters that flow from the springs of hot water, the pure air of the forest, and the fertile land of the La Fortuna region of San Carlos. (B/L/D)

Visit La Fortuna Waterfall, set just outside the town of La Fortuna, this 200-ft waterfall is a great place to take pictures. The falls emerge from a thick jungle before plummeting into an emerald green pool below. Transfer to Quepos. Enjoy the scenic ride to the Central Pacific region of Costa Rica. (B/L/D)

Enjoy your day to discover Manuel Antonio National Park. With the establishment in 1972, the people of Costa Rica decided to preserve, for future generations, one of the most beautiful and bio-diverse areas in the world. Manuel Antonio contains a charming combination of the rainforest, beaches, and coral reefs. These beaches are the most beautiful in the country, lined with lush forest, and the snorkeling is excellent, too. The forest is home for sloths, iguanas, the rare and adorable squirrel monkeys, white-faced monkeys and millions of colorful little crabs. The trail that winds around Punta Catedral features some spectacular views. After the dinner, transfer to the airport for the departure. (B/L/D)

We will visit The Basílica de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles is a Roman Catholic basilica in Costa Rica, located in the city of Cartago and dedicated to the Virgen de los Pardos, officially known as Virgen de los Ángeles. The basilica was built in 1639 and was partially destroyed by an earthquake. the “Ruins of Santiago Apostle Church”, The City Museum, Maria Auxiliadora church. Transfer to the airport. (B)