Hidden Costa Rica and Panama

Day 2 Private San José City Tour and Tabacón Hot Springs

Historic and Contemporary Exploration

Enjoy the morning exploring San José with a private locally guided walking tour. San José is the capital of Costa Rica and the economic centre of the nation. It is currently undergoing a renaissance, yet it still retains much of its past multicultural heritage in restored elegant old buildings, museums, historic statues, and parks. The walking city tour is an intimate and authentic perspective of the capital city and contemporary Costa Rica. This guided tour will provide visitors with an overview of Costa Rica’s view on sustainability and eco-centric focus and how that has fed into their policy making, culture, and present-day economy. The tour will conclude with lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, we will make our way by private transfer to Hotel Tabacón Resort where we will spend the rest of our afternoon and evening enjoying the Tabacón Hot Springs, Costa Rica’s largest network of naturally flowing thermal mineral springs in Arenal’s largest and most beautiful private rainforest reserve.

Day 3 Arenal National Rainforest

Visit Volcanos and Waterfalls

Enjoy a morning adventure with the Sky Aerial Tram and Arenal Lava Volcano Trail to explore Arenal Volcano National Park. Later, experience a cultural tour and a delicious lunch at the Arenal Vida Campesina local organic farm. After lunch, enjoy a private guided walk to La Fortuna Waterfall. Free time in the afternoon allows you to walk around the town of La Fortuna at your leisure, then return to the Hotel Tabacón Resort to enjoy a group dinner and the natural thermal water pools.

Day 4 Arenal National Rainforest to Puntarenas

A Birder’s Delight

Take part in a private naturalist walk this morning at the Danaus Biological Reserve. Once open farmland, this reserve has been allowed to revert to a forest and now teems with wildlife. Keep your eye out for Boat-billed herons, butterflies, and over 150 species of birds. After lunch, we will travel to Puerto Caldera where we will transfer to the “M/S Panorama” and set sail down the coast.

Day 6 Curú and Isla Tortuga

Swim and Snorkel in Crystal Clear Waters

In the morning, begin with a fascinating birding excursion through the Curú Wildlife Refuge, led by local park rangers and our team of naturalists. Set sail for the paradise island of Isla Tortuga to indulge in a delicious beach barbeque and a swim or snorkel in crystal clear waters.

Day 7 Bahía Drake and Corcovado National Park

Commune with Creatures Great and Small

Hike at Corcovado National Park, the largest park in Costa Rica, covering almost a third of the Osa Peninsula. National Geographic has called Corcovado “the most biologically intense place on Earth in terms of biodiversity.” Embark on a mangrove cruise through the ecologically rich Sierpe River. Nearby is Bahía Drake, known to be a common wintering and breeding ground for humpback whales.

Day 8 Puerto Jiménez on Golfo Dulce

Observe Tropical Plants and Parrots

Visit “Casa Orquideas” (House of Orchids) for a peek at the region’s botanical delights, including orchids, heliconia, and bromeliads. Get your camera and binoculars ready to spot wild Scarlet macaws, who are regular visitors to the jungles surrounding Puerto Jiménez. This small town in the southern region of the Puntarenas province, our last stop in Costa Rica, is also a historic gold mining and logging community.

Day 9 Isla Coiba National Park and Marine Preserve, UNESCO World Heritage site, Panama

Enjoy a Nature Lover's Paradise and Tour a Historic Prison

Learn the poignant history of Isla Coiba’s penal colony, which housed Panama’s most notorious criminals and political prisoners for more than 90 years. Choose the guided walk that suits you best, spotting bird species as you go, in this natural paradise that retains 80% of its original forest cover. Relax by the beach or strap on your snorkel for views of the largest coral reef in the Eastern Pacific.

Day 10 Playa Muerto, Darién National Park

Visit an Emberá Indigenous Community

Journey into the lowland tropical forests of Darién National Park for an excursion to a traditional Emberá community, one of the seven Indigenous nations within Panama. This community is not accessible by road or ferry service. Receive a warm welcome, watch a cultural performance, and appreciate the beautiful handicrafts and traditions.

Day 11 The Panama Canal

Take a City Tour

Depart from the marina for a guided walking tour of Panama City, with stops at the Panama Canal Museum, the Miraflores Locks, and the historic Casco Viejo (old town). When you re-embark the “M/S Panorama”, you’ll enter the locks to officially begin your transit through the Panama Canal: gateway to the Atlantic Ocean!

Day 12 Lake Gatún and Fort San Lorenzo

Transit an Iconic Waterway and Visit a Historical Fort

Enjoy an excursion to Fort San Lorenzo, a Spanish colonial ruin and a UNESCO World Heritage site on the Atlantic side of the Panama Canal, with possibilities for spotting birds and sloths along the way. Then it’s all aboard to transit the locks of Lake Gatún and begin the final leg of your seaward journey. Enjoy the on-board education program and scenic views on deck as you cruise.

Expedition Cost Includes

• Breakfast, lunch and dinner are provided each day with the exceptions of Day 1 dinner only and Day 14 no meals provided
• Passage aboard the “M/S Panorama” on days 4 to 13
• Accommodation in 4-star hotels with private facilities on days 1 to 3
• Applicable taxes and credit card fees
• Special access permits, entry and park fees
• Team of expedition staff
• Guided activities, sightseeing and community visits
• All Zodiac excursions
• Port fees
• Pre-departure materials
• Educational program
• Interactive workshops
• Evening entertainment

Payments, Hotels, Pre-trip and Post-trip Enhancements

Fares are priced in United States Dollars and are per person, per trip. A $2,000 United States Dollars deposit per person, per trip is required to register. Your final balance for the trip is due 120 days prior to the scheduled departure date (“Departure Date”). All late payments are subject to a penalty of 1.5% interest per month, or 18% per annum. Adventure Canada reserves the right to cancel your booking if it is not paid within 120 days of the Departure Date or deny boarding due to any unpaid balances, without a refund to you. Hotels offered through Adventure Canada are a third-party service and require full payment at the time of booking. If cancelled more than 120 days before your Departure Date, a $50 United States Dollars per hotel room fee will be non-refundable. Within 120 days of your Departure Date, the hotels will be non-refundable. Future Travel Credits do not apply to and will not be issued for hotel bookings.

Travel Insurance

A minimum of Emergency Medical and Evacuation Insurance is mandatory for participation in all Adventure Canada trips. You must carry a minimum of $500,000 United States Dollars per person emergency medical and evacuation coverage. This may not cover the full cost of a medical emergency. All medical and evacuation expenses are your sole responsibility. Any losses you sustain as a result of not having sufficient or proper insurance coverage are your responsibility. Evidence of policy documentation will be required prior to the trip.

Cancellation by the Passenger

All requests for cancellation must be received in writing. Upon Adventure Canada receiving a written notice of cancellation at least 121 days prior to the Departure Date, you shall receive a refund of the amount paid for the trip, less an administrative penalty of $1,000 United States Dollars per person, per trip. If a written notice of cancellation is received by Adventure Canada between 91 and 120 days prior to the Departure Date, you shall receive a refund of 35% of the amount paid for the trip, and no Future Travel Credit will be provided. In the event of a cancellation made 90 days or less before the scheduled date of departure, you will forfeit any amount paid for the trip to that date. For these and other reasons mentioned within these Terms and Conditions, you are strongly advised to obtain comprehensive cancellation insurance at the time of registration.

Age Restriction

The minimum age requirement is 5 years of age for travel. Children aged 5 to 7 must have their legal guardians sign a liability waiver.