Volcanoes in Costa Rica
Irazú Volcano National Park, Lankester Gardens and Orosí Valley
Duration: 10 Hours
Location: Cartago
This tour begins with a stop in the city of Cartago, the country's capital while it was under Spanish rule. In Cartago, a visit will be made to the Basilica shrine of Costa Rica's patron saint, "Our Lady of Angels." You then ascend Costa Rica's tallest volcano, towering 11,257 feet (3432 meters) above the historic city. This tour will take you to the rim of this natural wonder and allow you a close look inside the crater of this active volcano. Departure is 8:30 am from San José.
You will see why Costa Rica is called "The Garden of the Americas" as you are taken through some of the country's most colorful and visually impressive areas. The drive to Cartago takes you through the scenic areas of Los Yoses, San Pedro and Curridabat. Once in the former capital, Cartago, a visit is paid to the Cathedral ruins, now a park and garden. A stop is then made at the Basilica shrine of "Our Lady of the Angels", before continuing on to the stunning Lankester Gardens. Created by Charles Lankester in 1917, these gardens, under the administration of the University of Costa Rica, have become one of the most valuable botanical research centers in Central America. Covering 25 acres, the gardens house over 800 species of native and hybrid orchids and a variety of other plants, including bromeliads, anthuriums and many types of ferns. There are species in flower year round, but the peak blooming season is February to April.
Poás Volcano National Park and Sarchí
Duration: 8 Hours
Location: Alajuela
Although not as tall as Irazú Volcano, Poás volcano, with its active caldera a gaping 300 meters deep and 1500 meters wide, offers a sight just as breathtaking. From a lookout point at more than 2400 meters (8000 ft) above sea level, you will have an impresive view of its cavern, alive with smoke and geyser eruptions. Poás is the only active volcano with year round access via a paved road.
All the way to its crater rim, the drive is easy yet spectacular. Well maintained trails offer the opportunity to explore the surrounding cloud forest where you can see a variety of ancient trees, ferns, wildflowers and birds as you make your way to the visitor's center. The center is complete with photos of the last major eruption and provides information on the area's natural history as well.
This tour departs from San José at 8:30 am and reaches the park via the historic province of Alajuela, home of Juan Santamaría, Costa Rica's national hero whose statue you will visit on this trip.
Driving through rich coffee plantations and sugar cane fields, this tour's destination is the Artisan town of Sarchí, the center of production for the hand painted oxcart for over a century. For years coffee farmers depended upon these carts to transport their beans on the narrow paths and roads throughout the mountainous country. A visit to a Sarchí factory provides an opportunity to witness the creation of one these vibrantly colored carts that are still sold worldwide. Handcrafted souveniers and unique furniture of the finest quality are also available for sale.
Arenal Volcano and Tabacón
Duration: 5 Hours
Location: San Carlos, Alajuela
The Arenal Volcano is active since 1968, it constantly ejects gases, water fumaroles and explosions with pyroclastic material emissions, sometimesv the eruptions are accompanied with powerful thunders.
The ash is carried by the wind to long distances specially to the northwest area of the volcano. The biggest and heaviest material falls close the crater. The lava flows come out of the crater with a temperature near to 1000 centigrade degrees, as the lava flows down it slowly cools off.
The Tabacón River has its origin in the marvelous "Mountain of Fire" - The Arenal Volcano -, at the Tabacón Resort Hot Springs, our customers can enjoy a healthy and relaxing soak, it is also possible to see the Arenal Volcano erupting from this comfortable SPA.
Arenal Volcano
Duration: 5 Hours
Location: San Carlos, Alajuela
The Arenal Volcano is active since 1968, it constantly ejects gases, water fumaroles and explosions with pyroclastic material emissions, sometimes the eruptions are accompanied with powerful thunders.
The ash is carried by the wind to long distances specially to the northwest area of the volcano. The biggest and heaviest material falls close the crater. The lava flows come out of the crater with a temperature near to 1000 centigrade degrees, as the lava flows down it slowly cools off.
Arenal Volcano, Hot Springs and Caño Negro.
Duration: 2 Days / 1 Night
Location: Alajuela
The Arenal Volcano is active since 1968, it constantly ejects gases, water fumaroles and explosions with pyroclastic material emissions, sometimes the eruptions are accompanied with powerful thunders.
The ash is carried by the wind to long distances specially to the northwest area of the volcano. The biggest and heaviest material falls close the crater. The lava flows come out of the crater with a temperature near to 1000 centigrade degrees, as the lava flows down it slowly cools off.
The Tabacón River has its origin in the marvelous "Mountain of Fire" - The Arenal Volcano -, at the Tabacón Resort Hot Springs, our customers can enjoy a healthy and relaxing soak, it is also possible to see the Arenal Volcano erupting from this comfortable SPA.
The Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge and the Rio Frio are biological humid areas considered to be one of the richest on biological diversity in Costa Rica, there you can find a great variety of endemic and migratory birds plus three different species of monkeys, also, Iguanas, Sloths, Turtles, Caymans and different kinds of fish.
The tour starts at 7:30 am when we pick-up all the Nature Lovers from the hotel in a very comfortable transportation for about one hour and a half transfer to Los Chiles, a cultural mixed village at only 4 kms from the Nicaraguan border, there, our boat awaits you for the river adventure, at that time we begins our 4 hours floating safari through the Tropical Rainforest and pastures until arriving at the marsh.
Along the river we can see howler monkeys, spider monkeys, white-faced monkeys, also, the Two Toes Sloth and some reptiles like caimans and turtles.
Arenal Volcano and Monteverde Cloud Forest
Duration: 3 days / 2 nights
Location: La Fortuna, Alajuela and Santa Elena, Puntarenas
Just a 1 and 1/2 hour drive from San Jose, stands Costa Rica's tallest mountain range, The Talamanca. Within these mountains is San Gerard De Dota, a long highland valley which the scientific community has recently discovered contains the most dense population of quetzals in the world. Sacred to the Mayans and Aztecs, the quetzal is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful birds in the world. Because the complete migratory range is contained within this valley, these magnificent birds can be seen here year round. In addition to the quetzal, San Gerardo's numerous other species of birds makes bird watching the focus of this tour. Much time is devoted to exploring the valley. The views from these mountains are breathtaking. For lunch we will have rainbow trout fresh from the high mountain streams. This tour leaves the Central Valley at 7:30 a. m. Breakfast and lunch are included.
Hiking, Arenal National Park
Duration: 4 Hours
Location: La Fortuna, San Carlos
Before the active period of 1968, the Arenal Volcano was covered by a lavish canopy of vegetation. People that climbed Arenal s summit related that inside the crater there was some heat due to small steam outlets. Right now can be seen on the north and the south of the volcano.
Enjoy the most extraordinary view of the Arenal Volcano on a gentle hike along the base of this marvelous "Mountain of Fire".
The hikes begins on the active side of the volcano, that will take us through the forest over the recent lava flows and to the destroyed area now in the process of regeneration.
The Highlights Tour
Duration: 12 Hours
Location: Central Valley
On your Way to the Poás Volcano travel past country town, dairy farms and fern and flower plantation, stopping for a break at a private coffee farm, nestled in the heart of some of the most fertile farmlands in Central America.
On the cool summit of the Poás Volcano at 2,700 mts. walk through an exuberant primeval cloud forest, laden with epyphites, moss, giant leaves, tree ferns, elfin forests, hummingbirds and colorful blossom. After a short walk through the forest, witness one of the largest most spectacular active craters in the world with its awesome variety of colors, surrounded by lush vegetation and treasuring a steaming, sulfur lagoon at its center.
Continue on a lovely route past volcanic edifices, down and around the volcano, though deep canyons, jungles and streams stopping eventually at the beautiful La Paz and San Fernando Waterfalls which flow out of the Rainforest and plunge hundreds of feet into sparkling pools of crystalline water.
On the Caribbean experience an entirely different world of warm tropical weather and vegetation, driving past cacao and banana plantations, pineapple fields and Bhrama bull ranches, taking plenty of time to enjoy the scenery along the way .
Stop for a delicious buffet lunch at one of the most beautiful jungle lodges in Costa Rica, surrounded by jungles and colorful gardens, where you ll also have a chance to enjoy a pleasant walk through the rainforest trails or to relax and spend some time on your own.
Later, board a comfortable covered boat and gently float down the beautiful Sarapiquí River on the lookout for iguanas, monkeys, crocodiles, sloths, turtles, and colorful birds while intimately experiencing the impressing biologically diversity of the rainforest that thrives along the banks of the river.
During the 1 1/2 hr. jungle cruise, also get a glimpse at the way of life of the Costa Ricans in this remote area near Nicaragua as you drift past picturesque jungle homes, canoes, and native fishing along the banks.
Return to San José throughout the heart of Braulio Carrillo National Park, a protected area of almost 500 square kms. of towering mountains and virgin tropical forests, traveling along one of the most spectacular jungle roads of Costa Rica.
Miravalles Volcano and Lomas de Barbudal
Duration: 9 Hours
Location: Guanacaste
Leave your hotel about 08:00 am for a nice drive through the plains of Guanacaste. About one hour later arrive to Lomas de Barbudal Biological Reserve. This reserve contains pemanent rivers, many springs and boasts of magnificient scenery. Vertebrates are numerous, and some 130 species of birds have been sighted including the Turkey Vulture, Elegant Trogon, Scarlet Macaw and Keel-Billed Toucan. The most frequently observed mammals are the Howler and White-Faced monkeys, Racoon, Tree Squirrel, Armadillo, White Nosed Coati and occasionally, White-Tailed Deer. The gallery forest is formed by mixture of evergreen and such deciduous species as the Chicle Tree, Rubber Tree and Tempisque. After a hike trough the misteries of the Tropical Forest, you will have time to swimm in a natural pool formed in a river next to the trail, with a natural background that will immerse you into the roots of life.
Pic-nic lunch will be served in a special place area designed for this purpose, under the shade of the trees. After lunch, you will be visiting the fumaroles of the Miravalles Volcanic Area, natural wonders seen only in a few places of the world, here you will experience a unique feeling when walking between this fantastic fumaroles and seeing hot mud bubbling at very high temperatures.
What to Bring?: Bathing suit, towel, sun tan lotion, hat, camera, binoculars, walking shoes, light clothing.
Rincón de la Vieja Volcano National Park (Pailas)
Duration: 9 Hours
Location: Guanacaste
In this nature hike through the Rincón de la Vieja volcano National Park, we will find the bubbling mud, steamy sulfur water ponds and fumaroles, while we explore the 2 miles of trails in the jungle. As we walk, our guide describes all the secrets of the forest and keep searching for the animals that make this park their home, such as monkeys, toucans, agoutis, coatis among others.
Full day tour including a/c transportation, English speaking guide, lunch, entrance fees.