Costa Rica Christmas / New Years 
Singles Eco-Adventure Vacation
December 26 2008 - January 3 2009

Dec 26 - Day 1 - San Jose
Our singles trip begins as we arrive in San Jose and met at the Juan Santamaria airport and transfered to our hotel.

Our welcome dinner is at Café Mundo, which mixes creative cuisine with casual elegance. Overnight at Sleep Inn (Meals: D)

Dec 27 - Day 2 - San Jose/Tortuguero
Today starts our real singles eco-adventure
vacation as we depart to Tortuguero National Park on the Atlantic Coast, crossing Costa Rica from west to east, descending into the lowlands of the Caribbean coast. In Caño Blanco or Matina, we board a river boat where our exciting tour really begins. During the two hour trip, we will observe various aniimals and vegetations. We arrive in time for lunch. Aftertnoon at leisure, dinner at hotel
Overnight at Laguna Lodge (Meals: B-L-D)

Day 3 - Dec 28th - Tortuguero
After breakfast the singles travel group will explore the National Park of Tortuguero. It is where we can see the green turtles, sea birds, monkeys, and even the rare manatee. The tour ends on the beaches where we can see turtle tracks and occasionally nearly hatched babies. Lunch at the lodge. Afternoon we visit Tortuguero town and the Caribbean Conservation Center.
Overnight at Laguna Lodge (Meals: B-L-D)

Day 4 - Dec 29th - Tortuguero/Arenal
After an early breakfast, we board the boats back to Caño Blanco or Matina port where a private transfer takes us to the Arenal Area.

After lunch at Hacienda Pozo Azul, we arrive
in La Fortuna and get our first full view of the majestic volcano. Minutes away is our Hotel, nestled near the base of the Arenal Volcano.

After check-in we visit the Titokú Hot Mineral Springs and bathe in the pools at the feet of the Arenal Volcano. Titokú, meaning water from the gods offers 8 different hot springs pools, with hydro-massage and different temperatures.
Overnight at Arenal Paraíso (Meals: B-L-D)

Day 5 - Dec 30th - Arenal
In the morning we will enjoy an extraordinary view of the  Arenal Volcano on a gentle 2 1/2 hour hike along the base. The hike begins on a trail close to the volcano and takes us through the forest, over recent lava flows and thru the area destroyed in 1968, now in the process of regeneration.

After lunch (on own) we Horseback Ride to La Fortuna Waterfalls. The tour is about four hours; 1 ½ hours on horseback to the rest site. Along the way we will see the Costa Rican country side, cattle farms and have the chance to see birds like oropendolas and tucans. Then it is a short walk into the forest to the 70 meter high waterfall. At the base is a “natural pool” where we can swim.
Dinner at local restaurant - Arenal Volcano Inn
Overnight at Arenal Paraíso (Meals: B-D)

Day 6 - Dec 31 - Arenal - Monteverde
Arenal-Monteverde by Lake is the fastest and newest way to travel. We board a very comfortable pontoon boat for a 40 minutes ride to Río Chiquito, a little town on the other side of the lake. Once at Rí Chiquito, we leave the boat and have a short break to stretch before a 1.5 hour microbus ride to our hotel.

Afternoon at leisure to take a short walk into town or rest for the night's festivities
New Years Eve Party at La Guarida del Sapo music, dancing and dinner.
Overnight at El Establo Hotel  (Meals: B-D)

Day 7 - January 1 - Monteverde
After breakfast at the hotel we will hike in the Monteverde reserve for 3 hours. The reserve is the better known of the two cloud forest reserves and covers around 10,500 hectares. Elevation ranges from 600 meters above sea level to 1800 meters on isolated peaks. Trails are in excellent condition with railings on the steps and in some cases slices of tree trunks creating a lily pond like path to keep people from walking through mud.

After lunch at hotel we go to the Sky Tram and Sky Way.

Sky Trek is a system of trails, suspension bridges, and zip lines that offer visitors the opportunity to observe, view and appreciate tropical vegetation from different vantage points above the canopy. Two suspended bridges in, and above the canopy, one 265 feet long, and one 60 meters. There are three platforms above the canopy, connected by zip lines. A canopy observation tower, 72 feet high, 10 cables system, the longest is 1,400 feet long.

Dinner at Hotel
Overnight Cloud Forest Lodge (Meals: B-L- D)

Day 8 - January 2 - Montevede - San Jose
Sleep in and have a late breakfast at hotel. Then we transfer from Monteverde to San José.
Afternoon at leisure in San Jose to tour with the singles group or on your own.

Farewell dinner buffett at a local Costa Rican restaurant called Tiquicia, featuring marimba music and probably a folkloric show.

Overnight at Sleep Inn  (Meals: B - D)

Day 9 - January 3 - San Jose -
After Breakfast we say goodbye to our new single friends being transfered to the airport for their flights home. If you are staying for the optional post All Inclusive resort vacation we will be transfered to the Doubletree Resort by Hilton Puntarenas.

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Tortuguero National Park shelters a fabulous array of wildlife, including more than 300 bird species, among them the great green macaw; 57 species of amphibians and 111 of reptiles, including three species of marine turtles; 60 mammal species, including 13 of Costa Rica's 16 endangered species, including jaguars, tapirs, ocelots, cougars, river otters, and manatees. Commonly seen birds include toucans, aricaris, oropendolas, swallow-tailed hawks, several species of herons, kingfishers, anhingas, parrots, and jacanas. The wide-open canals make viewing easy for spotting crocodiles, giant iguanas, and basilisk lizards basking atop the branches, swallow-tailed hawks and vultures swooping over the treetops, and caimans on the fallen raffia palm branches at the side of the river.

The Arenal Volcano is the only volcano in Costa Rica constantly active since it woke up after 400 years with the big 1968 eruption producing huge ash columns, explosions & glowing red lava almost every day. It is considered one of the ten most active volcanoes in the world.

The Monteverde Cloud Rain Forest is known around the world for its conservation efforts and lifestyle centered on respect for nature. In the rain forest are found more than 100 species of mammals including 5 species of cats, over 400 species of birds including 30 kinds of hummingbirds, tens of thousands of insect species (over 5000 species of moths) and 2,500 species of plants (420 kinds of orchids). The area is acclaimed as one of the most outstanding wildlife refuges in the New World Tropics.

Optional Post Singles Tour
 January 3 - January 6

Relax Before You Return Home

All-Inclusive Resort
$475.00

The Doubletree Resort by Hilton Puntarenas offers a host of amenities and activities at your fingertips. With the incredible variety of recreation, dining and entertainment options, all included in the all-inclusive plan, there is no end to the fun.

There is something for everyone from dusk to dawn or dawn to dusk, the activities department will keep you busy playing games, sports, dancing, pool aerobics, cocktail making classes or participating in all of the activities. Whether its water polo, beach volleyball, tennis, soccer or ping-pong, aerobics, or beach aerobics, just to name a few, they have it all.

Take a kayak or surf on a boogie board or surf board and get in the enticing waters of the Pacific. The beaches in Costa Rica are famed for their great waves.

When the sun goes down, things around the resort heat up! Shows and activities await the night owls. Every evening the resort presents a production of exceptionally choreographed dance presentations, well known for their professionalism and quality.

If you wish to dance all night long, the Disco Sports Bar is open nightly, featuring sizzling dance music, pool tables, dart boards and a cool bar to create a great atmosphere!

When it's time to try your luck, visit the Casino, where you can enjoy the slot machines, black jack tables or roulette.

All Inclusive Price: $475 per person

Deposit - $100 Reserve Now
Balance - $375 Due October 15 2008

*Double Occupany - Best Single Travel provides Roommate Matching Service so there is never a need to pay a single supplement. If you decide to room solo it is $150 extra

Deposit - $100

For Additional Information
Call
877 -84-TRIPS
877 848-7477

or email
sheryl@bestsingletravel.com