Natural Wonders of Costa Rica with the Panama Canal
Natural Wonders of Costa Rica with the Panama Canal
Natural Wonders of Costa Rica with the Panama Canal
14 Days Starting and ending in UK
Visiting: San José, Tortuguero, Parque Nacional Tortuguero, Arenal Volcano, Refugio de Vida Silvestre Caño Negro, Monteverde Cloud Forest Lodge, Monteverde, Panama City, Panamá, Canalbank
Tour operator:
Tour code:
TTNCR
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
12 - 24
Age range:
16-99
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians, Please contact Titan with any specific dietary requirements
Tour operated in:
EnglishInterests:
Tour Overview
A tangled jungle of eco-wonderland swathed in palm-fringed beaches and enchanting cloud forests - Costa Rica is perfect for those with an appreciation for the natural world. Our Costa Rica and Panama tours combine unforgettable wildlife-watching opportunities, typical coffee culture in San Jose, the colonial splendour of Panama City and the astonishing engineering marvel of the Panama Canal. This magical land certainly dances to the beat of its own drum - but you’ll pick up the rhythm in no time.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1
Location: San José
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Park Inn by Radisson, San Jose (4-star)
Titan’s VIP door-to-door travel service collects you from home for your flight to San Jose.
Day 2
Location: San José
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Park Inn by Radisson, San Jose (4-star)
Meals Included: Breakfast
This morning we’ll take on this cosmopolitan city on a guided tour. We’ll explore both business and residential neighbourhoods, so you’ll get a real insight into the diverse and beautiful architecture that decorates the city. We’ll admire colonial mansions, many of which have now been converted into trendy museums and galleries. We’ll also see the bright yellow turrets of Bellavista fortress - the bullet marks a reminder of Costa Rica’s past, but today it is the home of the National Museum.
Right in the city centre, we’ll visit the beautiful National Theatre. You might think it looks familiar - and if you’ve visited Paris, it may well be. Completed in 1897, the theatre is modelled after the Paris Opera House.
Day 3
Location: San José
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Park Inn by Radisson, San Jose (4-star)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today’s journey is a scenic feast and an adventure in itself. We’ll drive through the cloud-enshrouded landscapes of Braulio Carrillo National Park all the way to Tortuguero. We’ll pass volcanic mountains, travel through untouched tropical rainforest and drive by sprawling banana plantations. Before you’ve had the chance to catch your breath, we take to the waters of the Tortuguero Canals and as we weave through these sinuous canals, we’ll pass by rare and unusual flora and fauna.
Finally, we arrive at our eco-lodge hotel; nestled in an area of rivers, lakes, wetlands and lush, exotic jungle. Later, we’ll head out to explore Tortuguero village and visit the Turtle Preservation Centre. Turtle nesting season is usually July to October and they hatch from September to December, so we may catch a glimpse if we’re lucky.
Day 4
Location: Tortuguero
Accommodation: Laguna Lodge Tortuguero (3-star)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
We waste no time in exploring the breathtaking paradise of the Tortuguero Canals. With its unique system of natural and man-made waterways this is a haven for a wide variety of birds, monkeys, sloths and toucans along with a dazzling array of orchids.
The afternoon is yours to spend as you please; perhaps relax in the unique location of our eco-lodge, or head out on a guided walk for even more exciting discoveries.
Day 5
Location: Parque Nacional Tortuguero
Accommodation: Laguna Lodge Tortuguero (3-star)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
This morning we leave our lodge by boat, before continuing by coach through the plains of the San Carlos region, the heart of Costa Rica, thriving with agricultural and livestock smallholdings, to Arenal and its famous volcano.
Day 6
Location: Arenal Volcano
Accommodation: Hotel, Volcano Lodge (3-star) or The Tilajari Resort (4-star) Arenal
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Watch on as we whizz by local communities on the way to the pueblito (small village) of Los Chiles; gateway to the Rio Frio and the Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge. From here, our boat takes us on a floating safari through the tropical rainforest and pastures.
The Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge is considered to be one of the richest in biological diversity in Costa Rica, so keep your eyes peeled for a variety of resident and migratory birds including roseate spoonbills, green-backed herons and wood storks, to name just a few. Plus, there are spider and howler monkeys, sloths, ocelots and more…
Day 7
Location: Refugio de Vida Silvestre Caño Negro
Accommodation: Hotel, Lodge, Resort, Volcano Lodge (3-star) or The Tilajari Resort (4-star) Arenal
Meals Included: Breakfast
This morning we depart Arenal for Monteverde, located along the continental divide at 5,000 feet above sea level. We visit the Butterfly Gardens, to observe and learn about these beautiful winged insects, before free time to explore.
Day 8
Location: Monteverde Cloud Forest Lodge, Monteverde
Accommodation: Hotel, Lodge, Montana Monteverde (3-star) or Monteverde Country Lodge (3-star)
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today is free to relax and explore this tropical haven, or take an optional excursion for an adventure into the cloud forest canopy. A Sky Walk of hanging bridges, trails and platforms above the forest floor, taking you to all the different layers of the forest for a great opportunity to see how the forest works.
Day 9
Location: Monteverde
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Hotel Montana Monteverde (3-star) or Monteverde Country Lodge (3-star)
Meals Included: Breakfast
This morning we venture through the Cloud Forest private reserve to witness the wide array of flora and fauna. This is one of the few places you may be able to glimpse a strikingly coloured quetzal. Then, leaving the magnificent cloud forest behind, we travel back to San Jose via the picturesque town of Sarchi, famous for its elaborately painted oxcarts.
Day 10
Location: San José
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Park Inn by Radisson, San Jose (4-star)
Meals Included: Breakfast
We travel to the airport this morning for our flight (which may be indirect) to Panama and Panama City. On arrival we check in at our hotel for a three-night stay. The remainder of the day is yours to spend as you please.
Day 11
Location: San José, Panama City
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Global Panama Hotel, Panama City (4-star)
Started by the Spanish in 1534, the mighty Panama Canal was completed some 370 years later by the American Government in 1904. It is an engineering and economic marvel, offering travellers a unique and highly sought-after experience, cruising through the huge system of locks.
We board our vessel for our cruise along a section of the canal. Massive ocean-going vessels will share the journey with us today and you’ll have the opportunity to view them up close as we progress through the Miraflores and Pedro Miguel lock systems. We’ll also pass through the Gaillard Cut, one of the most spectacular parts of the entire length of the canal. Surrounded by lush tropical rainforest, you’ll spot native wildlife as we cruise by.
Day 12
Location: Panamá
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Global Panama Hotel, Panama City (4-star)
A world away from San Jose, Panama City is a cultural hub and bustling metropolis; it is the most cosmopolitan city in all of Central America. The canal has made the city a regional hub for trade and the result is a deliciously diverse and dynamic culture.
This morning we dive in on a guided tour, taking in the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Panama Viejo Historical Monument Complex, the Historic District, the Palace of the President and the cathedral. Our final stop is at the Causeway, which provides wonderful views of the Miraflores locks of the Panama Canal.
Day 13
Location: Canalbank
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Global Panama Hotel, Panama City (4-star)
Today we transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK.
Day 14
Location: Panamá
Accommodation: In flight
Upon arrival, your Titan vehicle will be waiting for the journey home.
What's Included
-
12 nights in hotels and 1 in flight
-
International and regional flights as detailed. Prices are based on return flights with British Airways, Iberia, Lufthansa, Air France or United Airlines from London Heathrow or Gatwick via Madrid, Frankfurt, Paris or Houston/New York.
-
Titan tour manager
-
19 meals: 12 breakfasts 5 lunches 2 dinnersundefined excursions and visits
-
Tours of San Jose and Panama City
-
Visits to Braulio Carrillo National Park; Tortuguero Turtle Preservation Centre; the San Carlos region to view Arenal Volcano; Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge; Monteverde Butterfly Gardens and Cloud Forest private reserve
-
Tortuguero Canals wildlife cruise, Tortuguero National Park
-
Stop at Sarchi
-
Partial transit of the Panama CanalPlus
-
false
What's Not Included
Check out our Q&As
-
Are airport transfers included in this tour?
Yes
-
What is the maximum group size?
24
-
What is the standard of the hotels on this tour?
3-4 Star
-
Are children permitted to take part in the tour?
Ages 16 years & over can join this tour.
-
Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes
-
Do I have to pay a Single Supplement?
In most cases a single supplement will apply. If the price for a Single room for sole occupancy is not shown, please ask our team for details and we will be able to check the details for you.
-
Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
-
How long has the tour company been trading?
We've been taking our customers across the world on escorted tours for more than 40 years
-
What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Our commitment to sustainable travel is part of our ethos. We love exploring the world and hope that, alongside our customers, we can be part of a bigger change in respecting the people and wildlife on our planet and minimising the impact we have on our environment.
-
What policies are in place for Covid-19?
With some COVID-19 rules and restrictions still in place there are a few details that you need to know. This information is subject to change. It’s your responsibility to monitor changes and ensure you fulfil all relevant criteria for travel. Rest assured that we’re on hand to help and answer any questions you might have.
-
What documents will I receive before I travel?
You’ll receive your Final holiday documents via email approximately 14 days prior to your departure.
Reviews of this operator
Book with Confidence
-
Free Date Changes
Titan Travel allows you to make 2 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 75 days before the start of the tour.
-
Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Titan Travel allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform titan travel, 75 days before departure.
-
Low Deposit
Titan Travel requires a minimum deposit of 395 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 75 days before departure.
-
Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of titan travel charges.
Up to 75 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 74 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 42 days before tour starts: Forfeit 75% of booking price.
At 28 days before tour starts: Forfeit 90% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.