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    Crutchfield, Joy
April 25, 2009

Consider Costa Rica, an affordable locale

By Joy Crutchfield

Are you looking for a great vacation at an affordable price? How about 10 days in Costa Rica beginning at $995?

Costa Rica offers naturalist guides, exotic birds and wildlife, hiking in jungle rainforests, views of volcanoes, soaking in hot springs and cruising through biological reserves.

You’ll find relaxation on the both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts.

Your tour begins and ends in San Jose, Costa Rica. It includes all meals in Latin America, all activities, all hotels, a great itinerary, all airport transfers, all transportation and excursions.

A professional tour director accompanies you for the entire tour. Purified water is provided at meals and complimentary bottled water is available on the motorcoach.

Want to know where you’re going? Take a look at this wonderful itinerary:

Day One: Welcome to the “rich coast.” Tonight you’ll dine in your hotel then join a welcome briefing.

Day Two: After breakfast you will view Poas Volcano and its’ mile high crater. Next, hike the Escalonia Cloud Forest Trail. Enjoy lunch, then see San Hose’s Plaza de la Cultura, Central Park and the National Theater.

Day Three: After a scenic drive through Braulio Carrillo Park, you’re going to glide through the jungle canopy on the world famous rainforest aerial tram.

Enjoy a short hike on level terrain with a naturalist guide, then lunch. Next you’ll cruise through rivers and canals to the 47,000 acre Tortuguero National Park. Look for toucans, parrots, kingfishers, and the rare green macaw.

Day Four: Cruise this morning along canals lined by raffia palm, habitat of howler and white-faced monkeys, green iguanas and tropical birds. Later you’ll take a boat excursion into Tortuguero Park to look for otters, turtles and manatees.

Day Five: After visiting a pineapple plantation you’ll drive through the scenic countryside to the San Carlos valley.

Day Six: This morning you head north through sugar cane, teak and orange plantations. Cruise the Rio Frio which runs through the world famous Cano Negro wildlife refuge, home to many migratory birds. Watch out for caimans, crocodiles, spider monkeys and web footed, water-walking lizards.

Finally, enjoy a relaxing soak in the volcanic hot springs. You may see Arenal Volcano’s softly glowing lava flow.

Day Seven: Today you’re going to hike on six suspension bridges through lush tropical rainforest canopy.

Later drive around Lake Arenal, then on to the only tropical dry forest in Costa Rica.

Day Eight: Enjoy your visit to the Manual Antonio National Park, home of the rare squirrel monkey. There’s time to beach comb or swim at the pristine beaches.

Day Nine: You’ll enjoy the morning drive to the central valley where you’ll shop for handicrafts including painted oxcarts. After lunch you’ll get to pick a few coffee beans at a coffee plantation and sample fresh Costa Rican coffee. Tonight is your farewell dinner.

Day Ten: San Jose: Your wonderful tour ends after breakfast this morning at your hotel.

This tour if offered several times a month throughout 2009. Contact me at The Joy of Travel for details. Call 918-339-4805.

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