Guanacaste, a province in the northwestern part of Costa Rica, is the sunniest region of the country. It is the Costa Rican "Wild West", famous for its cowboys and cattle ranches. But there is much more to this fascinating and diverse area - volcanoes, mangroves, tropical dry-forest, beautiful beaches and unforgettable sunsets - that and more, is Guanacaste!

Type of car: we recommend a 4x4 vehicle at any time of the year.

Day 1: San José - Ensenada Lodge / Playa Pajaros

On the way to Puntarenas you can visit Sarchí, a small village specialized in production of wooden artifacts, such as colorful oxcarts. If you leave San José early enough, you can also visit Poás Volcano before you drive to Puntarenas and Ensenada Lodge. At the lodge, you might have time to explore the Hacienda on horseback. If you wish to take a boat excursion the next day, you should inform the reception today.

Overnight at: La Ensenada Lodge**(*)
Total km today: about 140 km (without Sarchí or Poás)
Total driving time today: about 2 ½ hours
Included meals today: none

Day 2: La Ensenada Lodge

Not far from here lies Palo Verde National Park, an extensive mangrove forest habitat with a great variety of birds and reptiles. You can visit this park by booking a boat excursion. This tour is highly recommended for birdwatchers and for wildlife observation, as chances of seeing crocodiles, iguanas and monkeys are very good in this area. After returning to the lodge there will still be time to relax or to go for a horseback ride.

Overnight at: La Ensenada Lodge
Total km today: none
Total driving time today: none
Included meals today: breakfast

Day 3: La Ensenada Lodge - Rincón de la Vieja

Today you drive back to the Panamerican Highway and head north to Cañas and Liberia. From here you reach Rincón de la Vieja Mountain Lodge**(*), which is situated close to Rincón de la Vieja Volcano. You can book guided walks through the National Park, rent a horse or sign up for one of the many tours offered by the hotel. Please ask at the reception about available options.

Overnight at: Rincon de la Vieja Mountain Lodge**(*)/ Bungalow.
Total km today: 145 km
Total driving time today: about 2 ½ hours
Included meals today: breakfast

Day 4: Rincón de la Vieja National Park

Today is at your leisure to enjoy the interesting sites of the area. We recommend a walk through Rincón de la Vieja National Park (entrance fee US$ 6 per person), a bubbling and steaming geothermal hot bed, with waterfalls, boiling mud holes, geysers and hot springs.

Overnight at: Rincón de la Vieja Mountain Lodge**(*)/ Bungalow.
Total km today: none
Total driving time today: none
Included meals today: breakfast

Day 5: Option 1: Rincón de la Vieja - Tamarindo / Playa Grande (October to March)

Drive back to Liberia and from there head for Tamarindo via Belén. Check-in at Hotel Jardín del Edén****. This area is not only known for its beautiful, long beach, but also offers many interesting options for excursions. Undoubtedly one of the most interesting is a night visit to Playa Grande to watch Leatherback turtles lay their eggs into the sand. This happens from October to March. The turtles only come to shore until about 2 hours after low tide. So the best time can be late at night, but it's worth the inconvenience! There is also a turtle museum and education center to visit. During the day you can relax by the beach or sign up for another tour, for example to the mangroves, where you can observe crocodiles, many different species of birds and other animals.

Overnight at: Hotel Jardin del Edén****/ Regular Parkside.
Total km today: about 120 km
Total driving time today: about 2 hours
Included meals today: breakfast

Day 5: Option 2: Rincón de la Vieja - Nosara

Drive back to Liberia and on to Nosara, via Santa Cruz and Nicoya. Here you can check in at Hotel Lagarta Lodge**(*). The private Nature Reserve of this Lodge comprises of about 50 ha and protects mangroves and humid forest along Nosara River. A network of trails allows you to explore the reserve and watch the many different birds and animals that live in it. Boat tours on Nosara River are also available. Every month, about 5-7 days after the full moon, turtles can be watched at the neighboring beach of Ostional, where they lay their eggs. Sometimes there are thousands of them. There are three beaches in the area; the closest and wildest only lies about 10 minutes from the hotel.

Overnight at: Lagarta Lodge
Total km today: about 180 km
Total driving time today: about 3 ½ hours
Included meals today: breakfast

Day 6 - option 1: Tamarindo

The whole day is at your leisure.

Overnight at: Hotel Jardin del Edén****/ Regular Parkside
Total km today: none
Total driving time today: none
Included meals today: breakfast

Day 6 - option 2: Nosara

The whole day is at your leisure. See excursions day 5.

Overnight at: Lagarta Lodge**(*)
Total km today: none
Total driving time today: none
Included meals today: breakfast

Day 7: Driving back to San José

Return to San José. If you want to return via a different route, we recommend crossing the new bridge at Tempisque River. From there you continue to San José on the Panamerican Highway.
Note: You can also drop off you car at any destination at the Pacific Coast at extra charge.

Total km today: Playa Grande: about 310 km / Nosara: about 260 km
Total driving time today: Playa Grande: about 5 - 6 hours / Nosara: about 6 hours
Included meals today: breakfast

Package Rate 2007/2008

The package rate is per person. The rental car, insurance charges and any other extra costs have to be added to the total per person rate to determine the final price.

Hotels Used for this Itinerary

	Hotel La Ensenada Lodge**(*), Playa Pajaros/Palo Verde National Park
	Official category:	**(*)
	Total number of rooms:	20
	Location:	The lodge is located directly on the Gulf of Nicoya at Pájaros Beach. You reach it via the Panamerican highway, the crossing is about 43km south of Cañas or about 25 km north of Puntarenas. The village of Pájaros and the lodge are signed out at the crossing. Afterwards you drive about 20km in direction of the sea and follow the signs to the lodge.
	Transfer time:	From San José about 3 hours, from Liberia about 2 hours.
	Hotel facilities:	Within the huge terrain of the finca the lodge itself claims very little space and offers the typical ambiance of a Costa Rican hacienda. The restaurant is located at the ranch and the swimming pool lies in the beautiful garden. The lodge arranges boat tours to Bebedero River or to Palo Verde National Park, horseback riding tours, hikes on marked trails as well as a tour of the finca atop a modified tractor. The hacienda not only cultivates various kinds of vegetables, but also breeds cattle and horses, and produces salt.
	Room facilities:	The rooms are rustic and clean, with private bathroom, fan, terrace and view of the Gulf of Nicoya. They are distributed in the extensive gardens.
	Our opinion:	Experience the real Costa Rican life at this authentic hacienda! A great place to relax. Pájaros Beach is not suitable for swimming!

	Hotel Jardin del Edén****, Tamarindo
	Official classification:	****
	Total number of rooms:	36 (7 regular, 10 standard, 13 superior, 3 deluxe, 1 apartment, 1 master apartment, 1 sunset suite, the rooms have recently been remodeled and exquisitely decorated); Short descriptions: - Regular rooms have a queen or king size bed, 4 of these rooms are decorated in Japanese style with a small sun bathing terrace without view, no balcony. 1 room in Tunisian style and 1 room in Mexican style, 1 room is not remodeled. - The standard rooms are fitted with a queen or king size bed and shower, have a view and a terrace on the first floor. There are 2 Tunisian style rooms, 3 African style rooms and 5 Indonesian style rooms. - The superior rooms have a queen or king size bed, shower, balcony and ocean view, also decorated in differents styles; 3 Indonesian, 3 Tunesian, 4 African, 1 Japanese and 1 Mexican style. 1 room is not remodeled. - All the deluxe rooms are decorated in Japanese style, with jacuzzi, and ocean view. - 1 apartment (not remodeled) with garden view, large terrace located on the first floor, 2 Sgl bed sofa in the living room and a master room equipped with a full-size bed. - 1 Master Apartment (remodeled) Studio with communal area in Mexican Style, garden view, 1 King size bed, 1 pull out sgl bed. - 1 sunset suite with ocean view, balcony, jacuzzi tub, decorated in Japanese Style, has a large and cosy balcony, especially for honeymooners.
	Location:	This little paradise is located about 150 meters from the beautiful sandy beach of Tamarindo. Restaurants, bars and other entertainment facilities can be reached within a view walking minutes.
	Transfer time:	4-5 hours by road from San José and 15 minutes form the local airstrip Tamarindo.
	Hotel facilities:	This small and stylish hotel is located in a beautiful tropical garden and features an excellent restaurant, bar, swim-up bar, swimming pool and jacuzzi. The French owners take very good care of their clients and provide great personal service.
	Room facilities:	All the rooms are different in size. They all face the tropical garden and are fitted with a private bathroom, air conditioning, fan, mini-bar, safe deposit box (at extra charge), balcony or terrace. The hotel offers standard rooms for maximum 2 persons and apartments for up to 4 adults.
	Our opinion:	Ideal place for a quiet beach vacation in a tropical setting and excellent personal attention.

	Lagarta Lodge**(*), Nosara
	Official classification:	***
	Number of rooms:	7 rooms
	Location:	This small and cozy hotel sits on a hillside about 40 meters above sea level with a perfect view over the Pacific Ocean. It is just 10 minutes walk away from the beach. A privately-owned nature reserve of about 50 ha is just one of the highlights of this hotel.
	Transfer time:	From San José about 6 / 5 hours (see village description) by road. From Nosara airstrip about 10 minutes. SANSA and Nature Air offer daily flights from San José, flight time is 60 minutes. From Carillo airstrip and Sámara about 1 hour. From Tamarindo airstrip about 2 hours.
	Hotel facilities:	Small, friendly hotel under Swiss management with restaurant, Swimming pool and many excursions.
	Room facilities:	Large rooms with shower, toilet, fan and terrace
	Our opinion:	Ideal place for nature lovers, photographers and guests, who prefer to enjoy Costa Rica away from the main tourist stream.

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US$100 deposit for mobile phone

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