Kids Edventure, 3 weeks

"KIDS’ EDVENTURE”
21 days adventure in Costa Rica!
Dutch biologist Freek Vonk has explored Costa Rica for his television show in
the Netherlands and this inspired us to work out our ‘Kids’ Edventure’. During
this trip you will stay at various lodges and hotels, but also with the indigenous
Indians. Along the way you will certainly meet turtles, crocodiles, monkeys,
iguanas and toucans.........Have fun!
TRAVEL DETAILS

‘Kids Edventure’: 20 nights, 21 days.

Our rates are in US$

Your flight to Costa Rica is not included in our offer

Meet & greet with Edventure in San Jose on your first day

The Edventure team is 24/7 available for questions and/or emergencies
“Kids Edventure” 2015 – 21 days
TRAVEL SCHEDULE
Day
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
Destination
San Jose
San Jose
Tortuguero
Tortuguero
Playa Chiquita
Playa Chiquita
Playa Chiquita
Sarapiqui
Sarapiqui
Arenal
Arenal
Rincon de la Vieja
Rincon de la Vieja
Dominical
Dominical
Drake Bay
Drake Bay
Ojochal
Ojochal
San Jose
Departure
Hotel
Rincon de San Jose
Rincon de San Jose
Laguna Lodge
Laguna Lodge
Shawanda Lodge
Shawanda Lodge
Shawanda Lodge
Finca Sura
Finca Sura
Rancho Margot
Rancho Margot
Aroma de Campo
Aroma de Campo
Hacienda Baru
Hacienda Baru
Pirate Cove
Pirate Cove
Rio Tico Safari Lodge
Rio Tico Safari Lodge
Trapp Country Inn
Package on website
Downtown San Jose
Downtown San Jose
Tortuguero
Tortuguero
Caribbean
Caribbean
Caribbean
Maquenque
Maquenque
Explosive Arenal
Explosive Arenal
Birds and Clouds
Birds and Clouds
Costa Ballena
Costa Ballena
Whales and Dolphins
Whales and Dolphins
Costa Ballena
Costa Ballena
Welcome to Costa Rica
All hotels are subject to availability when confirming your reservation. In case the
requested rooms are not available we will offer an alternative in close consultation with
you. Any price difference will be taken into account when calculating the final amount of
your trip.
“Kids Edventure” 2015 – 21 days
“Kids Edventure” 2015 – 21 days
ADDITIONAL DETAILS
Meals

During your stay in Tortuguero all meals are included, in total 8 per person.

At Rancho Margot all meals are included, in total 6 per person.

In Drake Bay (Corcovado) all meals are included, in total 6 per person.

When staying at the other hotels, breakfast is included in the price of your stay.
Tours

In Tortuguero 2 tours are included. A guided boat tour through the canals of
Tortuguero and a guided walk in the jungle and a tour of the village
(park fee is not included; US$15 pp).

Rancho Margot offers its guests a ranch tour and you can take part in their daily
yoga classes (all for free).
Transport inclusief

Transport from the airport to your hotel on your day of arrival in Costa Rica.

From San Jose to Tortuguero by bus and boat.

From Tortuguero to Guapiles by boat. In Guapiles your rental car will be
delivered.

Transport by boat from Sierpe to Drake Bay (and back from Drake Bay to Sierpe).

Rental car with basic insurance, check further down this document for more
details.

Transfer from hotel Trapp to the airport on the day of your departure.
“Kids Edventure” 2015 – 21 days
TRAVEL DESCRIPTION
Day 1 Arrival Costa Rica
Today you will be picked up at the airport by our taxi and go to your first hotel in the city
centre. Depending on the traffic, this will a ride of some 40 minutes.
Day 2 San Jose
San Jose is the capital of Costa Rica and is located in the
Central Valley in the heart of the country. The city has a
compact city center and the few monuments such as the
National Post Office and the National Theatre are all within
walking distance of each other. In the center you also find a
couple of nice markets which offer traditional Costa Rican
souvenirs and products like coffee. Do stop for a typical
lunch at one of the many local 'soda's' which offer delicious
and cheap meals.
You stay the night in a small hotel at walking distance from
the bustling center. There are some excellent restaurants and
nice little boutiques close by.
From San Jose you can make various daytrips in the region.
You can visit for instance the Poas Volcano, surrounded by a
beautiful national park. The volcano crater is 1,5 km wide and
the Poas is one of the most famous
volcanoes in the world.
Another recommendation is the La Paz Waterfall Gardens. The
impressive waterfalls and the beautiful butterfly, bird and snake
garden make it a worthwhile visit.
If you decide to stay in town, go and explore the 'barrio' or
neighborhood close to your hotel with its boutiques and art galleries
or visit one of the museums or the National Theatre.
Day 3 and 4 Tortuguero
Laguna Lodge, www.lagunatortuguero.com
This national park is also known as the ‘small Amazon’ because it’s just as spectacular as
the Amazon rainforest in Brazil. Tortuguero is renowned for its lush rainforests and
exotic wildlife; here you can find a large number of birds, monkeys and alligators.
Tortuguero actually means ‘turtle hunter’ and refers to the period when it was legal to
hunt turtles. Now it’s forbidden, the beach of Tortuguero is protected and the most
important nesting area where sea turtles like the green turtle, leatherback, loggerhead
and hawksbill come to lay their eggs. In season (July to
September) you can go to the beach after dark with a
guide to see the giant sea turtles lay their eggs, a once
in a lifetime experience!
In the village of Tortuguero with its many colorful
houses you find friendly people, delicious food and that
typical, relaxed Caribbean atmosphere.
“Kids Edventure” 2015 – 21 days
In the middle of the jungle your home is a comfortable lodge where the howler monkeys
will wake you up in the morning! The rooms of the lodge are surrounded by a lush
tropical garden with beautiful flowers where toucans and small parrots are regularly
spotted by the guests. Take a dive in the pool, relax in a
hammock and above all enjoy the peaceful area.
Early in the morning, when the jungle wakes up, you have
the best chances to spot animals. It’s still pleasantly cool
and the birds are busy looking for their breakfast. You will
make a guided tour in the jungle. In the afternoon you go
on a boat trip through the narrow canals of Tortuguero and
hopefully you will see some of the many birds and
alligators which are living in this area. Tortuguero is one of
the few places in Costa Rica where the endangered green
macaw still lives in his natural environment. Also the pink spoonbill that spends the
winter in Costa Rica is spotted regularly on the shore. You can also spot kingfishers,
snake-necked birds and a lot of herons. Besides, there are good chances you’ll find
monkeys, sloths, iguanas and river turtles.
Day 5, 6 and 7 Playa Chiquita
Shawandha Lodge, www.shawandhalodge.com
The Caribbean coast historically is home to the Jamaicans who landed in Costa Rica to
work on the Atlantic Railroad. In those days coffee beans
were transported by train from the capital San Jose in the
Central Valley to the port city of Limon at the coast. If you
visit the region now, everything
is above all ‘tranquilo’ and
absolutely nobody is in a hurry.
So take your time to get to
know your surroundings, have a
chat with the locals, and enjoy
the beautiful beaches and
wonderful food.
You drive to Puerto Viejo, a small coastal village popular
with surfers and backpackers with that typical laid back
Afro-Caribbean atmosphere reflected by its wooden houses in bright colors and reggae
music that meets your ear as soon as you enter the main street.
You spend the next two nights in a nice lodge some 10
minutes from the town center. The beach is nearby, but you
can also explore the region by bike or hike south towards the
Panamanian border.
A nice optional tour is to visit the indigenous communities of
the Bri Bri. Please contact Linda of Edventure for more
information on the possibilities and rates: linda@edventure.biz
“Kids Edventure” 2015 – 21 days
Day 8 and 9 Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui
Finca Sura
Your next destination, Finca Sura, is a typical Costa Rican
homestay. Your hosts have been active in growing tropical
pot plants and now grow
pineapple among others.
Here you relax and enjoy
the Costa Rican
countryside and all the
delicacies it has to offer!
Activities nearby include rafting on the river Sarapiqui
(up to category 4), but there are also more quiet parts
where you can make a relaxing boat trip in search of
howler monkeys and crocodiles.
Via a 300 meter long suspension bridge over the Sarapiqui River, you enter the
Tirimbina reserve. Here a guided evening tour to discover the jungle wild life in the dark
is a great experience.
These and more excursions can be booked via Edventure, please contact Linda for more
information: linda@edventure.biz.
Day 10 and 11 Arenal
Rancho Margot, www.ranchomargot.com
The Arenal volcano used to be a very active volcano and nearby town La Fortuna grew
into one of the largest tourist attraction in the country. Unfortunately the Arenal has
been silent for over a year, but that doesn’t at all influence your stay at your next
destination.
You’ll be staying in a luxurious and comfortable bungalow at
Rancho Margot, an impressive ranch, located, literally, at the
end of the road. This little paradise is surrounded by the socalled ‘Children’s Eternal Rain Forest’ and situated on the
shores of Lake Arenal and the valley of the Caño Negro river.
Because of its location, the Rancho has its own unique
microclimate that provides a comfortable temperature
throughout the year. At the Rancho everything is produced on
its own land and completely organic, so the freshness of
everything you eat and drink is guaranteed
Rancho Margot offers various activities; you can try
rappelling (abseiling from a waterfall), go horseback riding,
participate in the complementary yoga classes, relax in the
gorgeous, heated pools or go kayaking. Before enjoying a
lavish buffet dinner you might want to book a relaxing
massage!
Day 12 en 13 Rincon de la Vieja
Aroma de Campo, www.aromadecampo.com
Today you will travel to Rincon de la Vieja or ‘the corner of the old woman’. This unusual
definition refers to Curubande, the daughter of an Indian chief who lived the last years of
her life as medicine woman on the flank of the volcano which now is called Rincon de la
Vieja. The volcano had no less than nine craters, it’s still active and known for its
bubbling mud pools at its foot.
“Kids Edventure” 2015 – 21 days
You will spend the night in a charming bed & breakfast
few miles away from the volcano. Be sure to pay a visit
to the natural spa (including mud pools) and enjoy the
stunning nature around the house.
Visit the National Park Rincon de la Vieja, where you can
follow the trails through the dry forest. The region is also
perfect for long horseback rides. If you are more into
sports, go tubing in the nearby river.
Day 14 and 15 Dominical
Hacienda Baru, www.haciendabaru.com
Dominical is a small, once sleepy village located almost on the beach and close to the
river mouth of the river Baru. Dominical is the perfect surfer’s paradise and if you want
to take lessons, take them here!
Just outside Dominical you’ll stay at Hacienda Baru in a nice bungalow
on a large plot of land which used to be a cattle-breeding station. The
owner gradually became fascinated by the natural surroundings
however and decided to give the land back to nature. Now the plot
consists for 95% of jungle again and his initiative is well known in and
outside Costa Rica as an excellent example of ecological
entrepreneurship.
Hacienda Baru offers great canopy and jungle
tours with enthusiastic local English speaking guides. Learning
how to surf is actually a must, but you can also go and explore
the mangroves by kayak and spot raccoons and/or sloths when
you’re lucky! Of course, a relaxing day on the beach is also
possible….
Day 16 and 17 Drake Bay
Pirate Cove, www.piratecovecostarica.com
To reach your next destination Drake Bay, you step onto a boat in the nearby village of
Sierpe and drive down the river to the coast. Along the way you pass mangrove forests
and you finally reach a beautiful bay brimming with wildlife and named after Sir Francis
Drake himself (he visited in March 1579).
Drake Bay borders Corcovado national park; the largest
nature reserve in Costa Rica and the biologically most
intense place on earth. The park is brimming with wildlife
and puma’s, tapirs and scarlet macaws all can be spotted
here in their natural habitat.
Few tourists have discovered this still untouched part of
Costa Rica, so prepare for a unique experience!
One of the reasons why Drake Bay is
full of wildlife is that it remains largely
cut off from the rest of Costa Rica. From your lodge and comfortable
room the jungle is very near and in the garden there’s a great
chance you’ll spot howler monkeys, scarlet macaws and other
tropical birds.
When looking for things to do, for sure book a day trip to Isla del
Caño, a nature reserve some 15 km off the coast. The island was
“Kids Edventure” 2015 – 21 days
once a sacred place for the original Indian population, now it’s an oasis of pristine
beaches and vibrant jungle. It’s also one of the Costa Rica’s top spots for diving with
attractions including intricate rock and coral formations and an amazing array of
underwater life. From September to January there’s a great chance you’ll spot humpback
whales and dolphins are also regularly spotted.
Day 18 and 19 Ojochal
Rio Tico Safari Lodge, www.riotico.com
Today you drive towards the national marine park Costa Ballena
Humpback whales, dolphins, turtles, puma’s, baird’s tapirs and
scarlet macaws…if you’re lucky you’ll spot them here! Also, enjoy
sun, sea and sand at the nice, not-too-crowded Playa Tortuga
and Las Ventanas.
The next few nights you’ll sleep in a
genuine safari tent. In the early
morning howler monkeys will wake you
up and before your lavish breakfast,
take a refreshing dive in the river!
Visit the national park, not too far from your tent, or go and
relax a day on the beach. The owners of the safari lodge also
offer hikes and horseback rides guided by locals, an excellent
way to get to know your surroundings and the Ticos of course.
Day 20 San Jose/ Alajuela
Trapp Country Inn, www.trappfamilycostarica.com
Today you drive back to San Jose and spend your last night
in Costa Rica at a nice hotel near the airport.
Day 21 Departure
Mapache will pick up your rental car at the hotel and at the
hotel reception you can arrange your transfer (free of charge)
to the airport.
“Kids Edventure” 2015 – 21 days
CAR RENTAL
EDVENTURE offers its clients a 10% discount on a rental car with Mapache.
For more information go to: www.mapache.com
Please find the additional information regarding your rental car (for 16 days) below. If
you prefer another type of car, please let us know and we will adjust our offer.
Type auto
Drop off date
Drop off time
Drop off location
Daihatsu Bego 4x4
Day 5
1 PM
Guapiles, restaurant Selva Tropical
Pick up date
Pick up time
Pick up location
Day 21
1 PM
Hotel San Jose / Alajuela
Basic insurance
Yes (compulsory) $18 per dag
The car type mentioned above is subject to availability. In case this car is not available we
will offer an alternative in close consultation with you.
RATE
Our rate for this trip (including hotels, transfer in, rental car with basic
insurance and meals as indicated) based on 2 adults and 2 kids until 8 years of
age:
Rate 2 adults and 2 kids
From US$ 5495,- *
*Please check the Euro-Dollar exchange rate via: www.xe.com
Edventure works with the exchange rate on the day of payment.
CONTACT
www.edventure.biz / info@edventure.biz
“Kids Edventure” 2015 – 21 days