15 Days / 14 Nights
from from 1730.- US$ p. p.
The awakening of the tropical mountain landscape at sunrise at over 3000m above sea level enchant! A hummingbird in ‘flight-mode’ or the red-eyed tree frog in front of your camera lens are just some of the many highlights you may expect during our "Photo-Vida" tour. Our goal is not only to marvel at these unique natural beauties, but also take the time to capture these fascinating motifs in a special way. Not to forget the image-design, the background or the lighting conditions. Our journey takes us from the capital city of San Jose up to the oak forests as part of the "Cerro de la Muerte" further towards the Atlantic lowlands until facing even the border of Nicaragua. Further unforgettable highlights like the Arenal and Tenorio volcano as well as the dream beaches of the Pacific await you!
Day 1: Upon arrival at the San José airport, our English speaking tour guide from Amadeus will be waiting for a warm welcome. After a short transfer to the hotel, install yourselves into the rooms. During a welcome cocktail, get to know the other participants of the group.
Overnight: Holiday Inn San José Aurola
Day 2: After breakfast together we explore the most interesting corners of the capital San José. Motives such as the lively market, colorful fruits or interesting buildings from the former times, owned by the coffee barons await us. Then it is time to start on one of the most famous streets in the world: the Inter-American or Pan-American, to the mountains of the Talamanca Cordillera.
Overnight: Savegre Hotel, Natural Reserve & Spa. Meals: breakfast & dinner
Day 3: Even before sunrise, you will be taken up by a tour vehicle to the highest point of our entire tour. The awakening of this unique landscape around the Cerro de la Muerte at 3400m above sea level enchant. it is not only because of the relatively cool temperatures that await us, all the scenes are simply unforgettable. Then we enjoy a hearty breakfast and embark on a search for the gods, the colorful Quetzal bird. But also the hummingbird world in this region will inspire us.
Overnight: Savegre Hotel, Natural Reserve & Spa. Meals: breakfast & dinner
Day 4: This morning we take the time to enjoy the flora and fauna of the mountain area, heading to our next destination. Back north on the other side of the Central Valley, in sight of the volcanoes Poas, Barva, Irazu and Turrialba, the road leads us to the Caribbean Lowland, to Sarapiqui. The change of different habitats, vegetation zones and climates at a relatively short distance is remarkable.
Overnight: La Quinta de Sarapiqui. Meals: breakfast & dinner
Day 5: Today is dedicated to the frog world, among others. A few minutes from our hotel, we are a guest of the Don José Solis family, who have truly created a "Frogs Heaven" on their land. We have the opportunity seeing frog species such as Get poison dart frogs or red-eye frogs right in front of the lens. Taking the macro lens today, will certainly pretty much appreciated! The afternoon is also dominated by macro photography. Visiting Don Leo, who has been dealing with the leafcutter ants for some time. Fascinating is the complex structure of such a state and maybe we get an audience with the queen.
Overnight: La Quinta de Sarapiqui. Meals: breakfast & dinner
Day 6: Today we take advantage of the beautiful morning light and have the opportunity to explore the lush hotel garden with its rich flora and fauna before heading to our next destination. Passing pineapple and manioc fields, the trail heads north to Boca Tapada into the Maquenque Sanctuary. Not only bright red macaws or soldier's macaws await us in this region. We also get one of the most colorful toucans in front of the lens.
Overnight: Maquenque Eco Lodge. Meals: breakfast & dinner
Day 7: When the lowland rainforest awakens in the morning, the rays of the sun make their way through the frequent morning mist often the most atmospheric photos. After breakfast, take a motorboat down the Rio San Carlos to its mouth in the Rio San Juan, the border with Nicaragua. Also on this trip we can observe a rich wildlife: crocodiles, iguanas, snakebirds and much more can meet us.
Overnight: Maquenque Eco Lodge. Meals: breakfast & dinner
Day 8: After another photo session with the local bird life and a hearty breakfast our way leads us to our next destination. The imposing Arenal volcano awaits us. At noon we reach the small town of La Fortuna, and then explore the Arenal National Park. Breathtaking views of the Arenalsee and the volcano of the same name can be expected. As a precaution, we should check the free space on our memory cards. We will need a lot of it and in La Fortuna there may be the possibility to buy SD cards.
Overnight: Hotel Los Lagos. Meals: breakfast
Day 9: After a short drive, we use this morning to get to know the tropical rainforest of all its strata. A well maintained circular route with several suspension bridges leads us through this unique habitat where we take the time to dive into smaller details of this forest.
Overnight: Hotel Los Lagos. Meals: breakfast
Day 10: Also today is completely dominated by volcanism. We say goodbye to the Arenal and after a not too long drive we can welcome the volcano Tenorio with its Rio Celeste. Celeste means translated light blue and the river with a waterfall of this color awaits us in the national park of the same name. Less than an hour is missing then until our next accommodation.
Overnight: Tenorio Lodge: Meals: Breakfast
Day 11: Aroused by bird song or maybe by the roar of coat howler monkeys awaits us a delicious breakfast, but we should not leave the trees around our restaurant unobserved. Not only once were sloths spotted there. Then we make our way to the coast. We leave the weather and watershed behind us and head to the Pacific side of Costa Rica. Arriving on the Nicoya Peninsula, a short stop at one of the country's less ancient buildings is on the schedule. We visit the colonial church in the city of Nicoya before arriving in Samara just one hour later.
Overnight: Hotel Belvedere: Meals: breakfast
Day 12: Packed with photo equipment, bathing suits and sunscreen, we set out to explore one or the other beaches north of Samara. Not only Playa Pelada is worth a visit. If there is an opportunity to observe sea turtles laying eggs or maybe even hatching, we can also take advantage of this opportunity at the Playa Ostional Nature Reserve.
Overnight: Hotel Belvedere: Meals: breakfast
Day 13: Today is available for optional activities in or around Samara. But we can also take a break from everyday's life, while enjoying the extense beach of Samara bay and take a look back at the past two weeks with our photos taken.
Overnight: Hotel Belvedere: Meals: breakfast
Day 14: After a leisurely breakfast and a restful morning we drive back to the heart of the country to San José, where we arrive later in the afternoon.
Overnight: Holiday Inn San Jose Aurola. Meals: breakfast
Day 15: Depending on our flight time, we will be picked up by one of our drivers and driven to Juan Santamaría International Airport.
Name | Days | Stars ICT | Parking | Swimmingpool | Spa | Restaurant | AC | TV | WIFI | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Holiday Inn San José Aurola | 1,14 | |||||||||
Savegre Hotel Natural Reserve & Spa | 2,3 | |||||||||
La Quinta Sarapiquí Lodge | 4,5 | |||||||||
Maquenque Eco Lodge | 6,7 | |||||||||
Los Lagos Hotel, Spa & Resort | 8,9 | |||||||||
Tenorio Lodge | 10 | |||||||||
Belvedere Hotel | 11,12,13 |
15 Days / 14 Nights | Single | Double | |
---|---|---|---|
2-3 Persons | 5595 | 4620 | |
3 Persons | 5595 | 4620 | |
4-5 Persons | 4240 | 3265 | |
6-7 Persons | 3700 | 2725 | |
8-9 Persons | 3500 | 2525 | |
10-11 Persons | 3305 | 2330 | |
12 Persons | 3160 | 2185 | |
single room supplement | 975 | ||
All Prices in USD |
Included services:
Self-Drive
Not included:
We would like to thank all our guests who have been travelling with us since 1994 in the most beautiful time of the year - their well-deserved holidays. When developing itineraries for groups and individual travelers, selecting our local service partners and caring about the well-being of our guests, we always focus on the highest possible quality standards. Since the founding of Amadeus Travel, we have been committed to sustainable tourism as the only long-term viable form of tourism, e.g. through our social commitment, visiting and supporting private and state nature reserves as well as the training of our team and experienced, fully licenced tour guides.