Costa Rica Dive and Explore Trip April 2nd to 9th, 2022

Double Occupancy Diver $1996, Double Occupancy non diver $1696

Single Occupancy Diver $2892, Triple Occ Diver $1886

3 days of diving, then some exploration of Costa Rica

This is a not only a diving trip, but also a trip to see some Costa Rica highlights.  It has always been on our list, but our recent survey told us that it is on yours too.  So it is three days of two tank diving on the Pacific coast side, then some river, jungle and cloud forest exploration for a few days, tours including a sloth sighting hunt!  The whole itinerary is custom for our group, and they’ll be a guide with us once we leave the dive resort.  Should be pretty awesome.  Read on!

Itinerary

Pre-Trip (more diving): arrival March 30th, 2022 (optional add-on)

Meet airport March 3oth and two tank diving included Mar31, Apr01, and Apr02.  Daily breakfast.  This add-on was special request. The hope is the the winds will be suitable for a long distance trip to the Bat Islands (Islas Murciélagos).  These islands are famous for school mobulas, giant pacific mantas and possible bull shark sightings.  The long distance trip is an extra cost if the dive center says the sea conditions are suitable.  Be aware that this is completely weather dependent.  Cost for add on three days is $855 dbl occupancy and $1076 single occ.  This is same hotel and dive center as main part of trip.  The hotel night April 2nd is already paid in the main trip, and that diving continues on April 3rd with main trip.

DAY 1: GUANACASTE arrival April 2nd 2022 (main body of trip)

Airport Meet & Greet with short private transfer to your beach hotel. Arrival and get settled on Costa Rica’s Gold Coast before your next morning dive adventure. Check in with your dive center to confirm last minute questions about diving. 

DAY 2,3,4: GUANACASTE – SCUBA DIVING

Breakfast at Hotel – Meet your dive group and Scuba Diving (Local) 2-Tank Dives with a great variety and abundance of marine life. Return to the hotel for afternoon by the pool or arrange an outside adventure. You can add on third dive daily if you want to, $35.  

DAY 5: GUANACASTE to  ARENAL

Enjoy breakfast at hotel. Your private guide will meet you at the hotel reception to head to the beautiful Arenal Volcano around  the scenic  Lake Arenal. On the way we will stop at for a jungle river cruise down the Bebedero River with frequent encounters with Monkeys, Crocodiles and colorful native birds.   Upon checking into the hotel in Arenal you will head to the Tabacon Hot springs for a relaxing  soak  in the naturally volcanic  heated  waters to relax followed  by a local dinner. Overnight Arenal Volcano

DAY 6: AM SLOTH WALK  followed  by CHOICE OF ADVENTURE : White Water Rafting or  Hanging Bridges Visit.

After breakfast we will head to try our luck  to  find  SLOTHS – We will look for the 2 different sloth species in Costa Rica, the Two-toed sloth and the three toed sloth. Besides going in search of the sloths, we will also find different species of toucans that lives in the Arenal area. you will have your choice of white water rafting on the class 2/3 Balsa River or a hike to the La Fortuna waterfall. After  your adventure enjoy a locally prepared lunch

In the evening you will head to  a local  restaurant for dinner.

DAY 7: ARENAL to SAN JOSE  via  LA PAZ WATERFALL GARDEN ECO PARK

After breakfast at the hotel we will  pack up and head out to head  to San Jose. On the way  we will make a stop at the famous  LA PAZ WATERFALL  GARDEN  Eco Park  featuring five waterfalls, cloud forest and rain forest, safe hiking trails, aviary with numerous species of birds, toucan feeding demonstration time, insect exhibit, butterfly observatory, hummingbird garden with 26 documented species, hummingbird hand feeding demonstration time in the mornings and afternoons, ranarium (frog exhibit), orchid exhibit, heliconia exhibit.  We will spend a few hours exploring the park and then  top it off  with a great local  lunch  before heading back to  San Jose.

Dinner on  own  this  evening.

DAY 8: DEPARTURE

Enjoy breakfast at hotel. Depending on the flight schedule, shuttle transfer to the San Jose or Liberia International Airport  for your departure flight .  If you are planning on further Costa Rica adventures, this is a great jumping off point for that.  

Post Day 8 note:  Matt and Sheila are thinking of heading to the southwest corner of Costa Rica to one of the ecolodges for an extra add on trip.  See the trip plan.  There is also a ton of tourists things are reasonable hotels in San Jose if you just want to add a day or two and do your own thing.  You are there, and while we will have done a lot of the Costa Rica highlights already, never hurts to extend once the flights are paid for!

Inclusions

• 4 Nights Hotel Accommodations Beach – Bosque del Mar hotel (JR SUITE ROOM CATEGORY)
• 2 Nights Hotel Accommodation Volcano Arenal Manoa  (JR SUITE STANDARD CATEGORY)
• 1 Night Hotel Accommodation Best Western Irazú (Standard Room)
• Arrival group airport transfers from LIR (1 per group) 
• Jungle River Cruise with lunch guided transfer to Arenal around beautiful Lake Arenal
• Tabacon Volcanic Hot Springs with Dinner
• Sloth Walk then Choice of tour – White Water Rafting Adventure OR Hanging Bridges Walk  ( both tours included lunch)
• Stop at  La Paz Waterfall Garden Eco Park
• Hotel tax   – 7 Breakfast/ 3 Lunch/2 Dinner  
• Diver – Dive Package6 Dives (3 Dive Days- 2 Tank AM Boat Dives with Tanks, Weight Belts & Weights) add 3rd dive of day, $35.

Information on Hotels and Diving

Here is a flyer on the diving Diving in Costa Rica Information – ENG

Here is a flyer on the hotel in Guancaste Bosque del Mar – ENG

Here is a flyer on the hotel in Arenal Arenal Manoa – ENG

Payment Schedule

$500 to hold a spot, balance due Feb 15th, 2022.  Payments are made to Dive Travel Services PO Box 30108 Honolulu HI 96820 by check.  Deposits and payments are non-refundable, but they are transferable if you find someone to take your spot.  It is possible to make a payment by PayPal, but there there is a 3% service fee, and you have to acknowledge in writing (email) that you understand that payments are not refundable.  Contact divetravel@islanddivershawaii.com for any questions.