Dear Friends:

We are glad to present you our fixed departures program. This itinerary was created by our costa rica travel agency to give you a trip with very nice cheap family vacations and last minute hotels deals. We are sure this new option will help you to promote Costa Rica as a destination to your clients.

Please find as follows the policies to apply this program:

1. This program has the following fixed departure dates:

This program will not apply in other dates, in case that you want to offer the program in other dates we will have to re-quote it.

2. This program will be operated with participants from different companies and countries; they will be traveling together as a group.

3. The itinerary for group #3 is a little different from the rest of the groups, due hotels availability; this trip will be confirmed with the following logistic: San Jose − Monteverde − Arenal − San Jose.

Main All Inclusive Travel Vacation Package Includes*:

• Private English speaking Guide through out the trip (if a client requires a Guide in other language there will be an extra cost. Please find it on the additional prices below).
• Private transportation A/C San Jose − Arenal
• Lake crossing transfer Arenal − Monteverde on regular basis: Van-boat-Van
• Private transportation A/C Monteverde − San Jose.
• Shuttle service from Irazu hotel to Juan Santamaria International Airport
• 06 night accommodation (based on single, double or triple occupancy).
• All breakfasts
• Tours and visits as itinerary
• Hotel taxes

Beach Extension Vacations Package Deal Includes*:

• Shuttle service in regular basis from Monteverde to Tamarindo
• 02 night accommodation with breakfast included (based on single, double or triple occupancy)
• Shuttle service in regular basis from Tamarindo to San Jose
• Hotel taxes

*Prices are subject to change without notice, according to fuel increases, taxes, and hotel availability.
If there is any physical problem for any of the clients, we will appreciate if you could let us know in advance to make the necessary adjustments.
In case of using domestic fights or boat transportation (Tortuguero, Corcovado, Lago Arenal), the maximum weight allowed per person is 25 pounds (12 kilos).

DO NOT INCLUDE:

• Round trip air tickets to and from Costa Rica
• Tips for guides, drivers, bellboys and maids
• Departure taxes us$ 28, per person
• Meals not specified
• Optional tours
• Personal expenses

PROGRAM
Day	B	L	D	Activities	Overnight
01				-Arrival transfer from International Airport to Presidente Hotel -Night at leisure -Dinner on your own	Presidente Hotel San Jose
02	X			-Breakfast included at the hotel 08:00 am San Jose Sightseeing Walking Tour included Our guide will meet you at your hotel and will show you San Jose City. Enjoy a morning sightseeing tour through Costa Rica's Capital San Jose. This is an excellent opportunity to learn of the past and culture of Costa Rica. Visit different parks, the heart of San Jose, churches and some of the government buildings. This tour does not include any entrance fee. 10:30 am Departure on ground transfer from San Jose to Arenal including a visit to Zarcero Park & Church On the way to Arenal, you will find the village of Zarcero, a farmer’s village and its Central Park with different garden figures which makes these park a very charmed place! In a small park in the middle of town is a menagerie of sculpted shrubs that includes a monkey on a motorcycle, people and animals dancing, an ox pulling a cart, a man wearing a top hat, and a large elephant. Behind all the topiary is a wonderful rural church. Unique gardens in Costa Rica, where, for over 3 decades, Evangelisto Blanco, the park gardener, has been clipping and pruning Cypress bushes and hedges, into a whimsical garden of amazing creatures. -Upon arrival to the hotel visit to Crocodile Farm included and forest Walk to "El Mirador" In the Costa Rican tropical rainforest you can see some of the largest crocodiles in the world (apart from the Australian and African varieties), and our farm has in residence a 4 m (12 feet) individual, although in the wild crocodiles can grow to about 5-6 mts. Despite their more than 3,000 pounds per square inch of jaw power (by far the strongest bite of any animal thanks to their powerfully developed jawbone muscles), female crocodiles take motherly care of their offspring, carrying them in their mouths and protecting them for some months after hatching. Crocodiles are very fast over short distances, even out of water. Caimans are smaller than crocodiles and are not harmful to people. They eat fish, amphibians and other small animals. The main physical difference between these two reptiles is the more pointed snout in crocodiles, as well as their exposed lower teeth. Also, the caiman has a distinctive spectacle-shaped coloring near the eyes. But, lacking thermal regulation, both species depend on environmental heat. In excessive heat, they open their mouths, exposing their tongues to fresh air to cool off. They also get vitamin D from the sun. Newly hatched crocodiles and caimans eat insects, but if they are not careful themselves, they can become food for Jabirus, Wood Storks or Great Egrets. Adult crocodiles and caimans have no predators in the rainforest, except for human hunters. - Afternoon at leisure - Los Lagos Hot spring waters included for the guests -Lunch and dinner on your own	Los Lagos Hotel Arenal Area
03	X			-Breakfast included at the hotel - Morning OPTIONAL tour: Arenal Volcano National Park (not included) - Afternoon OPTIONAL tour: Peñas Blancas Safari floating (not included) - Los Lagos Hot spring waters included for the guests The natural hot springs at Los Lagos receive their water supply directly from pristine rainforest springs, and are natural looking hot tubs, strategically places to receive the continuous flow of the hot fresh water, full of healthy minerals, from the Arenal Volcano’s underground heat source to your body. -Lunch and dinner on your own.	Los Lagos Hotel Arenal Area
04	X			-Breakfast included at the hotel -08:00 am Departure on regular lake crossing transfer from Arenal to Monteverde (fixed departure) This service, half tour − half transfer is a scenic, fast and the newest way to go or come from La Fortuna (Arenal Volcano Area), to the Monteverde area. Passengers will be picked up at the hotel in La Fortuna for a 30 minutes microbus drive to the Arenal Lake Dam. There, they will aboard into a very comfortable and safe pontoon boat for a 30 to 40 minutes (aprox.) ride to Rio Chiquito, a little town at the other side of the lake. Total of 2 hours and 30 minutes transfer from Arenal to Monteverde. - Afternoon OPTIONAL tour: "Trapiche tour" (Sugar Cane Mill Tour / not included) -Lunch and dinner on your own - Welcome cocktail included - Night Live Music included at the hotel	Poco a Poco Hotel Monteverde Area
05	X			-Breakfast included at the hotel -Morning OPTIONAL tour: Santa Elena Cloud Forest tour (not included) - Afternoon OPTIONAL tours: Selvatura Hanging bridges and Canopy tour (not included) -Lunch and dinner on your own - Two movies from the hotel movie collection to watch included for each room - Night Live Music included at the hotel	Poco a Poco Hotel Monteverde Area
06	X			-Breakfast include at the hotel -Mid morning departure on ground transfer from Monteverde to San Jose including a visit to Sarchi Artisans Center and Oxcart Tour Sarchi is Costa Rica's most famous crafts center. The most popular items on sale are "carretas", elaborately painted oxcarts that traditionally carried coffee from the highlands down to the port on the Pacific coast. Originally, each region of Costa Rica had its own particular design, enabling the identification of the driver's origin by the painted patterns on the wheels. While in most regions of Costa Rica trucks and trains replaced oxcarts as the main means of transport, the carretas remain strong symbols of Costa Rica's rural past, and still feature prominently in parades and in religious and secular celebrations, reson why it has been declared a Master Piece of Intangible heritage by the UNESCO. Today, the town offers more than 200 stores and small family-operated woodworking factories producing wooden bowls and other tableware, fold-up rocking chairs of wood and leather, and a wide variety of kitschy items. - 17h00 Happy Hour included at La Cantina hotel bar (2 hours) - International calls included for the guests at the hotel - Lunch and dinner on your own	Best Western Irazu Hotel
07	X			-Breakfast included at the hotel - Shuttle transfer out included from the Hotel to the SJO Airport. (This service runs from 4:00am to 11:00 pm, you must reserve in the reception of the hotel). Consider that due to security reasons, group must check in at airline counter three hours prior flight departure time.	End of services

WHAT IS INCLUDED?

For Hotels description click the link below:

- Presidente Hotel
- Los Lagos
- Hotel Poco a Poco
- Best Western Irazu

• San Jose Sightseeing (Walking tour)
• Visit to Zarcero Park and Church
• Crocodile Farm Visit
• Forest walk to the Lookout point (Los Lagos property)
• Los Lagos Hot Spring Waters
• Lake Crossing (Arenal / Monteverde)
• Welcome cocktail at Poco a Poco hotel
• Two movies per room from the Movie collection (Poco a Poco hotel)
• Night Live Music at Poco a Poco hotel
• Visit to Sarchi Town and Typical Ox Cart Tour
• Happy Hour at Irazu hotel (2 hours)
• Free International calls at Irazu hotel

• Breakfast: 06

• Prices are net per person and are given in US Dollars
• Prices subject to change without previous notice depending on any significant increase in rates, taxes, fuel or due to availability problems
• Prices are based on the minimum of paying participants previously informed. If these minimum of paying participants change, the rates would also change
• Valid from May 01st to November 30th, 2012

Important Remarks:
* Shuttle service from Tamarindo to San Jose has fixed departure at 08:30am (this time may vary according to the number of pick ups at the different hotels in Tamarindo and it will be reconfirm at the moment of making reservations). Please take into consideration this time at the moment of book departure flight in order to avoid any problem to participants.
*Night at Best Western Irazu is not mention on the beach extension inclusions, because it is already included on the main program.

The above rates include:

• One way shuttle service from Monteverde to Tamarindo
• Two (2) night accommodation at Tamarindo Diria (Poolside view room) based on single, double or triple occupancy
• Two (2) breakfast per person
• One way shuttle service from Tamarindo to San Jose
• Happy Hour at Irazu hotel (2 hours)
• Free International calls at Irazu hotel
• Shuttle transfer out from Irazu to SJO Airport

As follows we are sending a general list of general infomation that clients have to consider for a trip to Costa Rica:

• Copies of passport
• Travel alarm clock
• Sunscreen and insect repellent
• Shirts: cotton or light synthetic, long- and short-sleeved
• Trousers: cotton or light synthetic pants. Bring at least 2 sets of clothes that dry quickly. (Jeans not recommended; too slow to dry)
• Hiking shorts
• Footwear: waterproof, light-weight hiking boots, river sandals (Teva-type sandals), tennis shoes/running shoes. If you do not bring hiking boots, make sure you bring TWO pairs of tennis shoes. As soon as one pair gets wet, use that pair whenever you're likely to get your feet wet.
• If you are traveling to Tortuguero during turtle nesting season (June- Sept.) bring dark pants and shirt, and closed-toe shoes
• Socks: bring extra pairs in case feet get wet
• Rain gear: poncho, raincoat and umbrella
• Hat(s) with visor for rain and sun protection
• Plastic water bottle: especially for hikes
• Flashlight with spare batteries and bulb (a MUST for Corcovado)
• Camera and plenty of film. Also, extra batteries/battery charger and plenty of memory for a digital
• Ziplock plastic bags for spillable toiletries, and plastic garbage bags for wet items
• Extra prescription glasses and medication (if applicable)
• Small day pack or fanny pack for hikes
• Sweater or jacket
• Underwear
• Sunglasses
• Swimwear
• Bandanas
• Collapsible luggage to store extra items in San Jose

IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT COSTA RICA:

• The sunset in Costa Rica is between 5:45 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. all year around
• Drinkeable bottled water available at every village
• Credit cards accepted: Visa, Master Card & American Express
• US$ are well accepted at restaurants and stores. (Preferably $10’s & $20’s)
• Weather: Dry season: From December to April. Rainy season: From May to November. (if visits are near forests, could be more chances of rain)
• The electrical current throughout Costa Rica is the same as US-110 volt AC. Outlets are generally 2-pronged. A voltage converter is necessary in order to use 240/250-Volt AC-powered items

LIABILITY

Travel Excellence acts only as agent for the passenger in regard to travel. Whether by air, surface or water, by whatever means or transport whether it be mechanical, non-mechanical or animal and assumes no responsibility for loss damage, injury, accident, death, delay or irregularity caused either by reason of defect in any vehicle or other means of transport or for any reason whatsoever or through the act of default of any hotel, restaurant, boat, airline, company or person including Travel Excellence or its employees rendering any of the services included on the trip, or any other circumstances beyond their direct control.

Travel Excellence cannot be held responsible for additional expenses due to strike, illness, act of God, weather, personal health, earthquakes, floods, epidemics, fires, explosions, wars, accidents, road conditions, transportation delay, river levels, force of major or other causes. Travel Excellence reserves the right to change or cancel any tour without previous notice and to use the services of affiliated companies as deemed necessary.

OPERATIONAL CONSIDERATIONS

The operation of the program will always be subject to change due to weather conditions or nature, and Travel Excellence can make any necessary changes in the daily schedule before arrival of participants or during their stay in country in order to guarantee safety and enjoyment of all services.

Quoted transportation is based on the number of persons taking the trip and considering that each person will bring along one suite case and a little carry on. If at time of arrival clients bring extra luggage and there is not enough space on bus porterage, and a bigger bus is needed, wholesaler will be responsible to cover the extra expense.

The following weight restrictions apply for all participants taking programs with Travel Excellence:

If you have any doubt, want to make any change or proceed with the reservations; do not hesitate to get back to us.

For reservations, please send an e-mail to: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

24 hours contact information:
Mobile: +(506) 8395-9292
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