Private Guided Tour
Foto Vida
Overview
Itinerary
Accommodation
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Guided Tour Foto Vida

15 Days / 14 Nights

from from 1730.- US$ p. p.

Useful Information Travel Planning

  • Photo-walk through San José
  • Hummingbirds and Quetzals
  • The greatest frogs right in front of your camera lens
  • Boat Transfer to the border
  • Tropical Rainforest and Volcanoes
  • Fantastic, sandy Pacific Beaches

  

Guided Tour Foto Vida

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.

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:          

  • Transfers from/to the Airport
    Accommodations based on sample itinerary
  • 14x Breakfast,  6x Dinner
  • All expenses for listed and included activities, excursions and National parks.
    English-speaking and certified travel guide
    Transportation in new, comfortable vehicles with A/C
  • Security Management Guidelines (EU) for vehicles and drivers followed.
    24/7 English speaking Hotline in case of emergencies.

 

Self-Drive

  • On request

 

Not included: 

  • Voluntary tips
    Depending on the chosen airline. 29.-US$ departure tax not yet included. Payment on the spot.    

 

 

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.