Costa Rica & Panama Blends

Day 1 Arrive San Jose

Upon arrival in San Jose, you will be transferred to a quiet hotel in the outskirts of the city. Balance of the day at leisure. Overnight.

Day 2 Arenal, the smoking giant

This morning we depart San Jose for the spectacular Arenal area. Once we leave the Panamerican Highway, the road winds through lush rolling countryside with green pastures on one side and sparkling Lake Arenal on the other. As we drive around the lake, Arenal Volcano’s imposing silhouette will start emerging on the horizon. Once at our hotel, there will be time to relax and have lunch on our own. In the afternoon we’ll take a leisurely hike through the forest and across lava fields. Don’t make any plans for the evening. The volcano will probably put on a new show of fireworks and incandescent, flowing lava as it has been doing almost nightly for the last 40 years. (B)

Day 3 Adventures in Arenal

With an active volcano, natural hot springs, a shimmering lake, cloud forests, rivers and waterfalls, this incredible place has something for everybody. We leave today at your discretion to follow your wishes, instincts or mood. Recommendations include rafting trips in the Sarapiqui and Toro Rivers, excursions to Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge, horseback rides to La Fortuna Waterfall, canopy tours, lake windsurfing, mountain biking, or just plain relaxing at Tabacon Hot Springs. (B)

Day 4 Monteverde, the cloud forest

The idyllic Monteverde community and natural preserve lie 3 ½ hrs. away from San Jose, straddling the Continental Divide at 4,662 ft. Monteverde is not the image you may have of a tropical country: The mist produced by perennial, hovering clouds and cool temperatures have created perfect conditions for the development of a lush cloud forest, where hundreds of bird and mammal species plus thousands of curious insects and plants thrive. Think of hummingbirds, lichens, orchids, butterflies, bromeliads, mosses, even the elusive quetzal. This afternoon, after an overland transfer, and free time at your hotel, we will start our explorations with a canopy tour to observe the forest from different vantage points. This thrilling experience will have you literally flying from tree to tree as you glide along “zip lines.” Or if you prefer you may walk along trails, and cross suspension bridges to observation platforms offering an easier, still highly rewarding experience. (B)

Day 5 Visiting the Monteverde Preserve

The cloud forest wakes up early, so if we want to experience it at its best, we should too. The Preserve looks and feels like an enchanted forest taken from the pages of a fairy tale book: Sun rays penetrate the forest canopy creating magical scenes as they reflect on streams and misty leaves; a symphony of chirping and tweeting sweeps through the forest; myriad butterflies add a touch of color with their incessant dances; looming strangler figs line trails with their sinister, ghostlike appearance; a velvet carpet of moss and lichens coats rocks and tree trunks. Our local guide will lead the way along well-maintained trails, pointing out birds and orchids as he explains their characteristics and habitats. Keep your ears opened and your eyes peeled and you may spot the multihued quetzal, one of nature’s most beautiful creatures. The rest of the day is free to visit the cheese factory, founded by Quaker immigrants, enjoy the butterfly garden, hike to San Luis Waterfalls, take a horseback riding excursion or peruse the numerous art galleries. (B)

Day 6 Monteverde – San Jose – Bocas del Toro

Near the Costa Rican border, there is a small archipelago that has so far been ignored by the tourist hordes that ramble around the Caribbean. Columbus was here in 1502. Centuries later, Jamaican landowners followed. Their slaves were brought along and Bocas del Toro slowly evolved into an isolated melting pot of races and languages. The banana boom hit “Bocas” in the roaring 20s, and the area flourished for a few years. Today, some stately colonial mansions and parks remain, offering a taste of the Caribbean of yesteryear. However, the main draw for visitors is not the historical heritage but the superb, pristine natural environment. You will probably get a glimpse of shimmering greens and azure blues from the airplane on your way from San Jose. The rest you will discover in the coming days. Upon arrival in Bocas, you will be transferred to your hotel. (B)

Day 7 A day in Bastimentos National Park

Bastimentos is Panama’s first marine national park and one of the most stunning in the Caribbean. We will start our excursion navigating through clusters of red mangroves as our guide explains the importance of this habitat for the conservation of the park’s marine species. Landing on one of the islands, we hike through lowland forest, admiring numerous tropical birds and mammals including night monkeys, white-faced capuchins and three-toed sloth. The trail ends in an inland lagoon inhabited by caimans and turtles.

We will stop at a nearby indigenous community where you can purchase handcrafts directly from the artisans. After lunch, we grab fins and snorkels and explore the park’s many underwater treasures: sponges, sea fans, corals, starfish and a myriad of tropical fish. In the late afternoon we return to our hotel. (B, L)

Day 8 In Bocas del Toro

You have a full day to enjoy the sheer beauty and serenity of this piece of paradise at your own pace. Possibilities run the gamut: Just a short boat ride away, the uninhabited Zapatillas Keys offer perfect white-sand beaches beside clear, shallow waters and lush forests. Hiking pristine forests trails will reveal a multitude of familiar faces—night and capuchin monkeys, sloth, tanagers, manakins, and dart frogs. Visiting nearby indigenous communities will give you an idea of what this land was like when Columbus arrived here 500 years ago. In the evening, take in the fiery sunsets and feast on fresh seafood as the sleepy communities wake up to the beat of ancestral drums and infectious Calypso rhythms. (B)

Day 9 Bocas del Toro – Panama City

We make an early start as we depart for the airport for our flight back to the capital city. Upon arrival, our guide will pick you up and take you on a comprehensive guided tour to show you historic Old Panama, Colonial Panama and Modern Panama, plus you’ll visit the Miraflores Locks to watch the operation of Panama’s famed canal. Evening free to shop, sample Panama City’s seductive nightlife, or try your luck in the casinos. (B, L)

Day 10 Wildlife spotting in the canal

Most tours just offer a boat ride in the canal. We take it a step forward and give you the possibility not only of cruising beside gigantic cargo ships but of exploring Gatun Lake’s tropic shores, where packs of inquisitive capuchin and howler monkeys will carefully monitor all your movements. At Barro Colorado Island, we will disembark and follow our guide on a short hike along forest trails ending at the fascinating Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, where we will stop for lunch. During the day, you are sure to meet Barro Colorado’s long time residents, namely monkeys, sloth, and numerous tropical birds. (B, L)

Day 11 A train journey back in time

In the 16th century Spain’s King Charles I established the legendary Las Cruces Trail, a route across the Panama isthmus to mainly transport plundered Inca gold from the Pacific to the Atlantic coast. Five centuries later, we retrace the trail as we head for history-drenched Portobelo, departing point for galleons bound for the Old World. We will walk in the footsteps of pirates and conquistadors as we inspect narrow colonial streets, ancient forts and the Customs House, where gold was once stacked awaiting shipment to Spain. Our guide will also recount local legends including Sir Francis Drake’s, who died offshore in 1596, and that of Portobelo’s revered Black Christ. In the afternoon, we return by train to Panama City for an unforgettable ride beside the Panama Canal. At the end of this eventful day we will transfer you to the new Gamboa Resort, located on the banks of the Panama Canal. (B, L)

Day 12 Depart Panama City

This morning you will be escorted to the airport in time for your departing flight. (B)

Remarks

Not included: Gratuities of any kind; airport departure taxes; meals unless included in the itinerary.