Volcanos & Lush Rainforest Tour

Description:

Hotel Aranjuez is a great value for accommodation in San Jose. The hotel is actually a sprawling old house built in the 1930s that has been beautifully maintained and modernized to meet American and European standards. Each room is unique and nicely decorated, and "deluxe" rooms have flat screen TVs. The showers are hot, and the hotel has wi-fi as well a small computer room. The highlight of this hotel is the buffet breakfast, served in the indoor/outdoor garden. A chef will whip you up an omelet to go with your homemade pastries, fresh fruit, and gallo pinto, and the coffee is good and plentiful. The drawbacks are these: The hotel is not located within walking distance to much, and there is nowhere to eat on the premises at night. The rooms are small and the walls are thin, and quaint may feel like cramped when trying to maneuver luggage through the maze of rooms. Hotel Aranjuez is Costa Rican owned and operated and the customer service is excellent. The price is right, starting at $40 including breakfast.

Description:

Enjoy a wide variety of Central American nature and sights on this Costa Rican day trip from San Jose. You'll visit the highest volcano in Costa Rica, the old city of Orosi and the colorful Lankester botanical gardens ' all in one day!

Your first stop for the day will be at the City of Cartago at the foot of the Irazu Volcano. This is the home of the Basilica of Los Angeles (Basilica de Nuestra Semora de Los Angeles), the focal point for pilgrims throughout Central America. Inside you will find a fine collection of small gold and silver images of human body parts, offered in the hope of healing.

Next you will discover Irazu Volcano, which at 11,000 feet (3.4 kilometers) above sea level is the highest volcano in Costa Rica. You will be amazed by how much the grey earth that surrounds the crater, half a mile wide, resembles the moon's surface.

After you have descended from the mountain you will arrive at the historic and colorful Valley of Orosi. Here you will have the opportunity to visit the oldest church of Costa Rica, the colonial church of Orosi, and its town.

Before being transported back to your San Jose hotel, you will have the opportunity to explore the stunning botanical gardens...

Description:

Miraflores Eco-Lodge is an ideal place to escape from it all and sleep with the sounds of nature, cliche as it sounds. 4km south of the town of Puerto Viejo, Miraflores is perched on the edge of the rainforest in the tiny neighborhood of Playa Chiquita, named for its small, secluded stretch of beaches. The grounds of Miraflores are lush, green, and full of exotic flowers. It is a peaceful place, perfect for writerly retreats and creative exploration inspired by the rich natural setting. The rooms are clean and well-kept, the nicest are upstairs and overlook the garden. Some have shared bathrooms, others kitchenettes- all have mosquito nets. The rates include breakfast with fresh fruit and coffee made the old-fashioned way. The lodge also has wi-fi internet, and a café with a tasty menu. Playa Chiquita and Punta Uva are the closest beaches to Miraflores, and perhaps the region's most beautiful. Secret paths lead off of the road across from the lodge through the forest and let out at coral and sand beaches that are often deserted. There is much to explore around the lodge and in the immediate area, but a bicycle or a car will be a real asset here. The small community is home to many... read more

Description:

Unlike many tour companies here, this one is owned by Costa Ricans, and it offers a wide range of tour packages. Of special interest are the meditation tours, which take travelers to some of Costa Rica's most beautiful spots so that they can meditate in idyllic surroundings. Destinations include Tortuguero, National Park Manuel Antonio, Monteverde and the Arenal Volcano. Lots of photo opportunities are available for photography enthusiasts on any of the tours.

Description:

This national park is very popular among Costa Ricans and tourists for its amazing views of, and from, the volcano. Volcán Poás is active, and it releases sulphuric gases from its crater. Visitors to the park enjoy hiking along the trails to the mountain and lake. There is also a Visitor's Center with educational displays and a coffee shop. There are regular connections from San José to the park. For more information, please contact the local bus terminals.