Friendly, peaceful Costa Rica is the southernmost country in Central America with an immense range of climates, flora and fauna of particular interest to naturalists from around the world.

In 1948 Costa Rica voted to abolish its army and today proudly spends 60% of its budget on social services. It boasts a high level of sanitation and education, and is one of the most literate nations on earth.

Deeply committed to ecology, Costa Rica has set aside nearly 30% of its land as national parks or as private reserves.

It has long, sandy beaches on both coasts which are ideal for an active or relaxing vacation. Costa Rica is an excellent family destination. Once you have savored the misty mountains, tropical rainforests, and warm, friendly "Ticos," you will wonder why you stayed away so long!

We have a variety of transportation modes in order to accommodate every budget. Our Suggested Itineraries are quoted using the basic shuttle service, with supplemental rates quoted for upgrades to semi-private and private services.

Shuttle Service
Comfortable, air-conditioned, late-model vehicles transport visitors between most destinations. The departures are usually in the mornings, and travelers are picked up and dropped off at their hotels of choice, and are assisted by bilingual attendants. The shuttle service is operated by an independent company, all departures are guaranteed, and vehicles vary from mini-vans, micro-buses or 40 passenger motorcoaches, depending on group size.

Semi-Private Transfer Service
The Semi-Private Transfer Service is an economical alternative to the shuttle service and is a privately operated service of our own. The bilingual drivers are experienced and courteous, but they are not guides. All departures are guaranteed, and the vehicle size may vary from late-model cars or vans to micro-buses. Pick-ups and drop-offs are limited to a maximum of three each, which will also limit the group size. Most departures are in the mornings, with a few exceptions.

Private Transfer Service
For those who desire personalized service and flexible schedules, we offer transportation all around Costa Rica via private four-wheel-drive vehicles (depending on the number of passengers) with expert, bilingual drivers. Our drivers are experienced and courteous, but they are not trained guides, and are not expected to perform guide services. Quotes for private guide services, in addition to the drivers, are available upon request.

Car Rental Service
We can quote a self-drive program to Costa Rica upon request. Vehicles will be dropped off and picked up at the hotels, and our representatives will review all contracts and paperwork with the travelers. If the vehicle is rented on arrival day, or dropped off on departure day, our representative will assist passengers at the airports. All of the vehicles are four-wheel-drive with manual or automatic transmissions. However, this mode of travel is not for everyone. Driving conditions in Costa Rica are not ideal, and many roads are not paved. Even where roads are paved, the surface is not always well maintained. Some say that the signage in Costa Rica is poor, whereas we maintain that something that does not exist cannot be good or bad. Once outside of the major urban and tourist areas, most “Ticos” do not speak English, and trying to get driving instructions can be challenging. Finally, the following destinations in Costa Rica are not driveable: Tortuguero National Park, Nicoya and Osa Peninsulas.

Air Service
Some areas of Costa Rica are served by air, and are indicated with the airplane icon on the map above. Certain destinations, such as the Nicoya and Osa Peninsulas are technically accessible by road, but the roads are in such bad conditons that we have packaged them as fly-in destinations only. Checked luggage is restricted to 25 pounds per person.

San Jose Hotels

Standard
Britannia Britannia Hotel is a charming Victorian mansion situated in San Jose's historic district of Barrio Amon. This elegant inn is decorated with beautiful wallpaper, fine rugs, high vaulted ceilings, mosaic tile floors, and English-style furniture. It features 24 spacious rooms and suites equipped with private bathroom with tub, safe, and cable TV. Deluxe rooms and Junior Suites also have air-conditioning. The hotel also offers a restaurant, bar, room service, laundry service, and conference rooms.
First Class
Amon Park Plaza Hotel Amon Park Plaza is a comfortable hotel situated in the historic district of Amon in San Jose. It features 90 rooms and suites equipped with air-conditioning, complete bathroom, mini-bar, and cable TV. The hotel also offers restaurant, two bars, casino, gift shops, parking, and conference rooms.
Deluxe Class
Doubletree Cariari† The Doubletree Cariari sits on 134 acres of lush landscaped grounds and gardens. The hotel has 220 oversized guest rooms, including 24 suites. In additon to three restaurants: Las Tejas Coffee Shop, poolside Los Mariscos Restaurant-Bar, and Los Vitrales specializing in international and Northern Italian cuisine, there is also an 18-hole golf course designed by George Fazio. Other facilities and services include: Casino, nine tennis courts, business center, gift shop, 24-hour room service, health club with olympic pool, sauna, spa, beauty parlor, babysitting, laundry and valet service, children's playground, currency exchange, and car rental desk.
Deluxe Plus Class
Marriott† Marriott San Jose is a colonial-style deluxe property situated on a 30-acre coffee plantation on the outskirts of San Jose. It features 252 elegant, spacious rooms and suites appointed with colonial motifs and equipped with air-conditioning, complete bathroom with hair dryer and bathrobes, mini-bar, cable TV, and balcony. The hotel also offers three restaurants, two bars, 24-hour room service, gourmet coffee house, two swimming pools, garden Jacuzzi, health club, three tennis courts, driving range and golf pro shop, boutiques, beauty salon, chapel, valet parking, free shuttle to downtown, and conference rooms.
Finca Rosa Blanca Finca Rosa Blanca Country Inn is situated on ten lush acres of exotic tropical flora above Costa Rica's beautiful Central Valley. Surrounded by towering Higuerón trees, the Inn offers spectacular views of volcanoes, cloud forests and coffee plantations. The Rosa Blanca Master Suite is a stunning duplex, with the sleeping quarters occupying a tower 40 feet above the ground with a 360-degree view of the surrounding verdant countryside. In addition, the Inn offers three elegant, yet whimsical junior suites, two spacious villas, and three uniquely appointed double rooms, each with its own private veranda.
Xandari Plantation† Xandari Plantation Resort & Spa is a deluxe, secluded property situated on a coffee plantation with stunning views of the Central Valley, yet only 15 minutes from downtown San Jose. Nineteen elegant and unique villas feature custom-designed furniture, original works of art, large panoramic view terraces, and walled-in patios. The hotel also offers international restaurant, bar, two swimming pools, gym, massage service, library, and extensive grounds with scenic trails and dramatic waterfalls.
Xandari Prima Villa Prima Villas are spacious villas of approximately 500 sq. ft in a four-plex building. Most Prima Villas have two full beds, and two Prima Villas have king beds. All Prima Villas have private terraces with panoramic views of the Central Valley, an enclosed terrace on the entry side of the villa, and a bar/kitchenette with a small refrigerator.
Xandari Prima Plus Villa Prima Plus Villas are similar to the Prima Villas (500 sq. ft) but they are individual buildings. In addition to large, private view terraces, they have private gardens on the side and in the rear, large, double-sink bathrooms opening to the gardens, and additional storage space. They also have a built-in sofa that can be used as an extra bed. An electric cart is available for transportation uphill 200 meters to the main building, restaurant and swimming pools (does not apply for villa # 20 which is near the west pool area). Note: The Allamanda (yellow trumpet flower) Villa #20 is in an individual building with a dramatic palm roof.
Xandari Ultra Villa Ultra Villas have a king-bedded sleeping alcove with a Central Valley view on one side and a private garden on the other side. All have private terraces with panoramic views of the Central Valley, an enclosed terrace on the entry side of the villa, and a bar/kitchenette with a small refrigerator.
Xandari Ultra Plus Villa Ultra Plus Villas are the newest villas and are approximately 820 sq. ft., located near the Spa Village. They have a king-bedded master bedroom with a Roman bath overlooking a private garden, as well as a separate shower. The living room has a bar, kitchenette, spacious balcony and two comfortable sofa beds that will sleep an additional two people. An electric cart is available for transportation the 200 meters uphill to the main building, restaurant and pools.
† Located outside San Jose Metropolitan area.

	Tour	Adult	Child
	Half-Day San Jose City Tour	$40	$40
	Half-Day Coffee Plantation Tour	67	61
	Half-Day Poas Volcano and Sarchi Oxcart Factory	80	80
	Full-Day Combined Butterfly Farm and Coffee Plantation with lunch	86	63
	Full-Day Irazu Volcano, Cartago, Lankester Gardens, Orosi Valley with lunch	86	86
	Full-Day Reventazon River Rafting with lunch (Class III - minimum 4 pax)	87	n/a
	Full-Day Poas Volcano & Sarapiqui Jungle tour with lunch	100	100
	Full-Day Pacuare River Rafting with lunch (Class IV - minimum 4 pax)	114	n/a
	Full-Day Poas Volcano & La Paz Waterfalls & Butterfly Observatory with lunch	116	116
	Full-Day Arenal Volcano, Tabacon Resort with lunch	139	107
	Full-Day Pacific Island Cruise with lunch (Fri, Sat & Sun)	147	147
	Full-Day Punta Coral Cruise with lunch	147	147
Toucan	2-day Pacuare River Rafting Trip with all meals	345	n/a