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Costa Rica and Panama Package 11 Days / 10 Nights from $1619 Email this Page to a Friend!   Duration: 11 days, 10 nights Package Name: Costa Rica & Panama Vacation   Description Experience pura vida, the Costa Rican concept of enjoying life slowly, and an off-the-beaten-path adventure through Panama on this memorable yet affordable trip to Central America. Begin with a brief panoramic tour of San Jose, including historical & government buildings and the public park La Sabana. Next, depart for Arenal, enjoying the views of coffee and sugarcane plantations along the way. En route stop in Sarchi, an artisan town, where traditional colorful oxcarts and souvenirs can be found. Enjoy a morning at leisure in Arenal, famous for the Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica's youngest and most active volcano, as well as the surrounding hot springs and natural scenery. Spend the afternoon on a hike of Arenal National Park to learn more about the flora & fauna while enjoying scenic views of the volcano. Continue on to Monteverde. This stunning Cloud Forest boasts an extraordinarily diverse ecosystem, being home to 120 species of reptiles and amphibians, 130 species of mammals, and an astounding 500 species of birds, not to mention more than 3,000 species of plants. Enjoy a tour of a traditional Costa Rican coffee farm before heading back to Costa Rica's capital city where you can explore independently and perhaps try one of over 50 restaurants, bars, night clubs, art galleries and museums. Next, fly to Panama. You will tour Panama City's "3 cities": Old Panama, the site of the original city; Casco Antiguo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a mix of architectural styles including Caribbean, Republican, Art Deco, French, and Colonial; and Modern Panama where skyscrapers dominate the skyline. Complete your tour of the city with a visit to the Miraflores Locks, the first set of locks located on the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal. Embark on a tour of Panama's scenic Anton Valley, located within the crater of the second-largest inhabited dormant volcano in the world. Visit the Macho Cascade, where the 114-foot waterfall tumbles down over ancient rocks and stones. Continue to El Nispero Zoo, where you can see animals and birds endemic to the area and conclude the day with a visit to the thermal waters where you can enjoy a relaxing soak before returning to Panama City.   Package Includes Roundtrip Airfare from Miami (other departure cities available) 10 nights accommodations in your choice of hotels - 2 nights San Jose, 2 nights Arenal, 2 nights Monteverde, 4 nights Panama City All airport transfers 12 Meals; 10 breakfasts, 2 dinners Sighseeing in a modern, air-conditioned coach English speaking tour guide  Itinerary   Day 1 - Depart the USA, Arrive in San Jose, Costa Rica Depart the USA for Costa Rica. Arrive in San Jose. After clearing customs, a representative will direct you to the car rental center. Balance of the day at leisure Overnight: San Jose   Day 2 - Travel to Arenal Today, enjoy a brief panoramic tour of San Jose, with sights of the city including historical & government buildings and the public park La Sabana. Next, depart for Arenal, enjoying the views of coffee and sugarcane plantations along the way. Later this evening, enjoy an opportunity to visit an observation point perfect for a captivating night view of Costa Rica's most active volcano. Overnight: Arenal   Day 3 - Full Day in Arenal Spend a full day at leisure in Arenal in the midst of an unspoiled setting. You may choose to spend half the day hiking to Arenal National Park, enjoying the natural hot springs throughout the area, or spend the morning or afternoon enjoying a horseback ride through both pastures and rainforest to La Fortuna Waterfall. For extraordinary views of the Arenal Volcano and Lake Arenal, the Sky Tram gondolas soar smoothly through the rainforest to an observation deck. You can ride the tram down the same route that you ascended or take a fast-paced Sky Trek zip line tour to the bottom. Overnight: Arenal   Day 4 - Travel to Monteverde Depart for Monteverde Cloud Forest area. The road system in Costa Rica has improved over recent years, but be aware that those in and out of Monteverde can be bumpy and unpaved. Visit the charming small town of St. Elena, founded by Quaker settlers in the fifties and filled with tasty restaurants and folksy artisan shops. Then, explore the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, which is dedicated to the conservation of many species of flora and fauna, and has over 8 miles of trails available to explore on your own or with a guide. Set atop the spine of Costa Rica's continental divide, Monteverde is a world above the coastal towns that dot the country's famous shoreline. You can explore the internationally recognized environment along trails, trams, canopy tours or inside museums Overnight: Monteverde Day 5 - Full Day in Monteverde Enjoy a full day to explore the Monteverde Cloud Forest on your own. Boasting 120 reptile and amphibian species, 130 mammal species, and 500 bird species, the Reserve represents an outstanding example of biodiversity. You may choose to visit the Selvatura Adventure Park, where you can experience a canopy or treetop walkway tour. The canopy (zip line) tour allows tour takers to feel truly immersed within the forested environment. There are 15 cables and 18 viewing platforms that stretch over 2 miles – the longest cable length of any canopy tour in Costa Rica. The Treetop Walkway guides visitors both through and above the rainforest with a birds-eye view of the rainforest canopy on a series of suspension bridges connected by trails. Alternatively, you may choose to trot out onto the trails around Monteverde on horseback or learn about coffee production and Costa Rican folklore at the Don Juan coffee plantation Overnight: Monteverde Day 6 - Travel to San Jose Today, travel back to Costa Rica's capital city, San Jose. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel and enjoy the balance of the day at leisure. Perhaps explore the city independently and try one of over 50 restaurants, bars, night clubs, art galleries and museums. Overnight: San Jose Day 7 - Depart for Panama Transfer to the airport for your flight south to Panama. Arrive in Panama City and transfer to your hotel. Balance of the day at leisure. This evening, enjoy a welcome drink and orientation with your Panamanian Tour Manager. Overnight: Panama City Day 8 - Panama City Tour & Miraflores Locks The day begins with a tour of Panama City's "3 cities", Old Panama, Casco Antiguo, and Modern Panama. Old Panama, also known as Panama La Vieja, is the site of the original city founded by Pedro Arias de Avila in 1519. Tour the archaeological site of the settlement, which finally met its end in 1671 after an attack by the infamous pirate Henry Morgan. From here, continue to the historic center of Panama City, Casco Viejo, the location to which the settlement was moved after the destruction of the original location. In 2003, Casco Antiguo was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site and with its mix of architectural styles, including Caribbean, Republican, Art Deco, French, and Colonial, this area has become the second most popular destination in Panama. Take in the atmosphere of this important section of Panama City which houses the majority of the city's monuments such as the Catedral Metropolitana and the National Theater before your tour takes you to Modern Panama, where skyscrapers dominate the skyline. In the afternoon, complete your tour of the city with a visit to the Miraflores Locks, the first set of locks located on the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal. Here you have the opportunity to view the lock in operation and watch in amazement as over 20 million gallons of water are transferred in less than 10 minutes. Balance of the day at leisure. Overnight: Panama City Day 9 - Excursion to the Anton Valley In the morning depart for a tour of Panama's scenic Anton Valley. The Anton Valley is located within the crater of the second-largest inhabited dormant volcano in the world. Visit the Macho Cascade, where the 114-foot waterfall tumbles down over ancient rocks and stones. Continue to El Nispero Zoo, where you can see animals and birds endemic to the area. During the tour, view the mysterious petroglyphs of the Anton Valley, whose true meaning still puzzles archeologists. The day concludes with a visit to the thermal waters where you can enjoy a relaxing soak before returning to Panama City. Balance of the day at leisure Overnight: Panama City Day 10 - Full Day Panama City Spend the day at leisure in Panama City. Take the day to do any last-minute shopping and sight-seeing in this capital city or sample the cuisine at one of its world-class restaurants Optional: Panama Canal Cruise Overnight: Panama City Day 11 - Depart for USA Today transfer to the airport via hotel shuttle for your departure flight.     Pricing    2012 Departures May 31 $1619 June 14 $1659 July 19 $1629 August 23 $1619 September 20 $1819 September 27 $1729 October 11 $1659 *Prices are per person, based on double occupancy & subject to availability Optional tours cost additional

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