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SOME TOURS WE RECOMMEND

InSightCostaRica can assemble tours from many destinations. Some of our favorites include the following - the photos were all taken en route:

The Grumbling Volcano Tour to Arenal

- 3 to 6 hours depending on number of stops you like
- TRANSFER for $155 for a van transfer non-stop
- or TOUR for $40 more with perhaps 3 locations & a comida typica lunch extra
- departs daily at any time with advance reservations

"what a nice volcano!"

This is a one way transfer/tour to OR FROM Arenal Volcano that takes from 3 to 8 hours depending on how many places you decide to stop at. The suggested route goes only a few kilometers down the Pan American highway before exiting to visit "the cleanest town in Costa Rica" - Grecia.

You will run by the old metal church and then out into the most beautiful coffee growing panoramas of your trip to Costa Rica. You will soon enter Sarchi, the woodworking capital of Costa Rica and we recommend a shopping stop to look at wood crafts, ox carts and other examples of natural and painted wood art. Next stop, after a beautiful drive in the rolling hills, will be Zarcero and the only example of the work of our own "Edward Scissorhands" in the form of topiary art in front of the Zarcero church. Stop and take some photos - the topiary includes whimsical monkeys on bicycles and a beautiful archway framing the church.

"Local artist: Romero"

Your friendly InsightCostaRica guide will now stop for lunch with a local family at their house or their local "soda" where you can experience what all Ticos eat at lunch - a casado. Perhaps you can visit a rural community and the local school after eating? Then we will be on our way north to Ciudad Quesada and soon across the northern plains heading into the bustling community of La Fortuna just east of the volcano. You will be dropped directly at the front door of your hotel (most hotels are between La Fortuna and Tabacon) or at the Tabacon hot springs.

The Tour to the Monteverde Cloud Forest

- 3 to 6 hours depending on number of stops you like
- TRANSFER for $165 for a van transfer non-stop
- or turn into a TOUR/DAY TRIP for $40 more (comida typica lunch extra $8 to $10)
- departs daily at any time with advance reservations

"Poison Dart Frog

Your driver/guide will first take you on a circuitous route around the second largest town in Costa Rica . . . our town of Alajuela. He will show you the cathedral, the Juan Santamaria statue (you will learn the meaning of the phrase El Erizo) and the mercado central (a typical feature of many central American cities).

From there he/she will continue on the Pan American highway exiting at Grecia "the cleanest town in Costa Rica" and you will drive by the famous metal church (Iglesia Metalica). Your guide will then take you across the most beautiful coffee growing panoramas of your trip at an elevation of 3000 to 4500 feet.

Your next stop is Sarchi, the woodworking capital of Costa Rica and we recommend a shopping stop to look at wood crafts, ox carts and other examples of natural and painted wood art.

A view all the way to Guanacaste

We then continue our day trip along the Pan American highway stopping for lunch at La Cuenca . . . your driver recommends the chicken and rice! From there we start the climb to the cloud forests of Monteverde and we will take you directly to your hotel anywhere in Santa Helena area (the main village for the forest reserves of Monteverde).

The Mango/Crocodile Tour to the Manuel Antonio Beach

- 3 to 6 hours depending on number of stops you like
- TRANSFER for $160 for a van transfer non-stop
- or TOUR for $40 more with perhaps 2 more locations & a comida typica lunch extra
- departs daily at any time with advance reservations

"A bridge en route to Manuel Antonio

This is a one way transfer/tour to the Quepos and Manuel Antonio area hotels that takes 3 to 6 hours depending on stops you choose.

We could drop by Zoo Ave - one of the nicest small Zoos on the planet and visit with their wonderful cat population and a myriad of other creatures in lovely natural settings. Zoo Ave is situated on the La Garita Road - the plant and vivero capital of Costa Rica. If you have an interest in plants and fruits of the neo-tropics ask us to stop at Snr. Vivi's amazing nursery - we can blow hours ther but you won't have the time.

"Street lottery seller: Quepos

We travel along the pan-American highway out to Atenas (an area getting more famous for it's growing population of American ex-patriates who favor the rural yet accessible area on the way to the coast). After Atenas the road gets even more windy (wyndy?) heading to Orotina - the mango capital of Costa Rica. If you are here in March to June you will want to stop and pick up mangoes from one of the many roadside stalls along your route.

After Orotina the road straightens out and leads to the famous Tarcoles river bridge. EVERYONE stops here to watch the many crocodiles sunning themselves under the bridge and on the banks of the Rio Tarcoles. If you let us know ahead of time we can do something most visitors don't get to see - a close up look at the crocodiles with a boat trip on the river.

Next up, if you have not stopped too often already, you could digress to the Carara National Park just south of Tarcoles. Best seen VERY early in the morning like all birding havens - this park is home and breeding location to many heron, scarlet macaws and toucans as well as a whole lot more.

You now can head along the coastal road past Jaco, maybe stopping for a walk on the long Esterillos beach tipping your bare feet in the warm Pacific.

"Our destination: Manuel Antonio Beach

Heading south you could stop at the Damas estuary - there is a marvellous kayak trip we like into the mangrove swamps full of monkeys (capuchin) - we also met a big old boa constrictor on our last trip curled around a tree branch.

Next up is the town of Quepos and the 7km row of small hotels leading to the Manuel Antonio National Park. We will drop you at your hotel and wish you well on your travels.

The Pretty Volcano/River Route to the Caribbean

- 4 to 8 hours depending on number of stops you like
- TRANSFER for $195 for a van transfer non-stop
- or TOUR for $40 more with perhaps 3 locations & a comida typica lunch extra
- departs daily at any time with advance reservations

"A Caribbean sunset south of Cahuita

This is a one way transfer/tour to the Limon, Cahuita or Puerto Viejo area hotels that takes 4 to 8 hours depending on stops you choose.

We have a few interesting ways to do this trip - most drivers will head east through San Jose - perhaps doing a little circuit of some of the sights "downtown". We can do that OR we can head north first up to Poas Volcano and possibly La Paz waterfall gardens. You must start early if you want to see Poas most of the year (before the cloud cover forms).

Then, on our "road less traveled" we will continue north and east along a very pretty rural road stopping for lunch at a place that gets fresh water shrimp from the river below. The trip continues to the Sarapiqui river and the northern village of Puerto Viejo.

For those interested in wild life we highly recommend that your main stop on this trip be a river trip in the Sarapi the optional boat ride, Siquirres, Limon, Cahuita and Pueto Viejo or any hotel en route.

SOME OTHER TOURS WE ENJOY

The Tamarindo Tour to the Pacific

This is a transfer or tour to one of the Guanacaste beaches of the north Pacific taking from 5 to 8 hours. Driving the scenic route via Grecia and Sarchi (woodworking capital of Costa Rica), Bagaces (rural community and forest tour and lunch), Santa Cruz and the Guaitil pottery village, Tamarindo or other beach city in Guanacaste.

The Central Highlands/Volcano Tour

This is a round trip from Pura Vida Hotel or any hotel near the airport to the largest volcanic crater, Poas and optional digressions to La Paz waterfall Gardens, a rural community lunch, the Las Colinas canopy tour, Doka's "real coffee tour" and a driving tour of San Jose city returning to your airport hotel in 4 to 8 hours.

The Poas Volcano/Sarapiqui Wildlife Tour

This is a round trip from Pura Vida Hotel or any hotel near the airport to the largest volcanic crater. Poas. Spend an hour or two hiking around Poas and Botos lake and then on to a most scenic drive in the highlands above San Jose to the Sarapiqui river and a river boat ride. En route a shrimp lunch or rural community lunch and return to your hotel.

The Costa Rican Rural Community Tour

This is a round trip from Pura Vida Hotel or any hotel near the airport to Nacientes Palmichal, the showcase rural community of Costa Rica. Quitirrisi indigenous, rural breakfast, cheese making, dairy farm, rural lunch. Presentation on water protection and conservationj in Plamichal and Costa Rica.

The Irazu Volcano/Orchid Tour

This is a round trip from Pura Vida Hotel or any hotel near the airport to Irazu Volcano and points east of San Jose and Cartago the old colonial capital. We will visit the Cartago Church of the Black Virgin, the beautiful Irazu volcano, take a rural lunch, then on to the excellent Lankaster gardens and if time Orosi and the coffee root carvers.

SEND an inquiry with your ideas or preferences to: InsightCostaRica for a quote or additional information.