PURA VIDA (Pure Life) COSTA RICA: December 1-14 2020 A beautiful adventure spanning the Caribbean to the Pacific! Day 1: International flight to San José, Costa Rica Transfer to hotel. Check-in and get ready for a lovely evening group dinner.

Day 2: San José City Tour and Authentic Costa Rican Lunch This day will be dedicated to a wonderful exploration of some of the highlights of San José. We will visit the must-see Museo de Arte Costarricense that features the top artists representative of Costa Rica as well as other reknown international artists. We will also visit the famous Museo de Oro Pre Colombino that houses one of the most extensive collections of Pre-Columbian gold in the Americas, and is the pride of Costa Rica. Then, on our stroll through the main pedestrian and shopping areas near the Plaza de La Cultura, we will view the beautiful architecture of the Teatro Nacional and spend some time at the Central Market which boasts of colorful fruit and vegetable stands as well as elaborate artesania (hand-crafts). From there we go to a lovely authentic Costa Rican restaurant to enjoy a savory late group lunch.

Day 3 & 4: San José to Tortuguero

After our delicious breakfast at the hotel, we will be picked up and private van transported to Tortuguero. While difficult to access, this park is definitely worth the trip. Our van will take us to La Pavona dock where we can only reach our final destination by taking a 45-minute boat trip down the Río Suerte (the Lucky River). Once in Tortuguero, we will explore the habitat of local turtles and many other animal species (herons, white-faced monkeys, sloths, frogs, iguana, etc.) by boat and canoe. We will do some hiking in the Tortuguero National Park and spend some time on the lovely Caribbean sand and in its stunning waters.

The little town of Tortuguero is really quite remarkable. There are no cars or streets and nature is literally bursting into a town. On one side of the village, rivers and waterways beckon you to paddle deep into the jungle and experience nature unperturbed. On the other side, the Caribbean awaits you and the thousands of sea turtles that come to nest each year. The lodge where will stay has front door access to the beautiful Tortuguero Lagoon, and backdoor access to stunning Caribbean beaches.

Coffee n Jungle night tour (see CR links document) We get picked up

While in Monteverde we will be doing such things as an evening coffee and jungle tour and a tour through the incredible Curi Cancha Reserve in search of the resplendent Quetzal. We will also be able to observe some of the over 200-species of birds as well as the frequently sighted mammals: armadillo, coati, agouti, kinkajou, ocelot, two-toed sloth and three species of monkey: mantled howler, white-faced capuchin, and spider monkey.

In addition to partaking in several nature activities, we will mix with the locals at one of their most popular hangouts to listen to some classic Costa Rican music and dance. We will also do a charitable event for the adorable (yet quite poor) school kids.

Day 5 & 6: Monteverde

After our enjoyable breakfast at the lodge, we will get picked up by our van and head to our next amazing destination of Monteverde – a magical place that is famous for its mystical and biodiverse cloud forests. Here we will be staying in some cozy cabins nestled in the mountains that have their own private walking trails and a hydrophonic garden where we can get our own organic vegetables and spices to prepare in our cabins.

Days 7, 8 & 9: La Fortuna & Arenal

After our breakfast at our secluded cabins in Monteverde, we will be picked up for a jeep-boat-jeep trip to get to our next destination in La Fortuna. Because this area is so mountainous, there isn’t a direct route between the two places. We therefore will be taking an alternative, fun and efficient way to get between Arenal and Monteverde by crossing Lake Arenal.

These days in Fortuna and Arenal will be devoted to many adventurous activities (both group and individual) that include, hiking, biking, jungle safari, canopying (zipline), river rafting, hanging bridge walk, canyoning/rapelling, quading and more!!

Day 10 & 11: Brasilito & Conchal beaches. After our final delicious breakfast at the lodge in La Fortuna, we will be picked up by our private van to head to Brasilito – a wonderful little beach town where we will have access to the gorgeous and secluded beaches of Brasilito and Conchal. Since we will be

passing through the cowboy region of Guanacaste which is famous for its Rodeo festivals, we will stop to see one of these fun, festive and energetic rodeos and meet some authentic Costa Rican cowboys. Once in Brasilito, we will be staying in an adorable authentic Costa Rican boutique hotel that is situated within 5 minutes walking distance from the beach. We will have some relaxing time on the beach and swimming in the very warm waters. Suggested activities: Surfing (or surfing lessons), quading along the beach, or taking an evening catamaran tour.

Within the Arenal National Park lies the Volcán Arenal (1600m) – one of the most beautiful (and active) volcanoes in the world. We will be staying at a gorgeous volcano lodge that has spectacular views of this impressive volcano as well as an environment that reflects its beauty with its amazing grounds and gardens. An added bonus is it’s thermal hot spring pool whose waters come from underground layers of earth that are at a higher temperature, which are rich in various mineral components and allow their use as therapeutic baths, inhalations, irrigations, and heating.

Day 12 & 13: Manuel Antonio

After an amazing breakfast at our boutique hotel, our private van will pick us up for a beautiful drive through palm plantations along the coastal road, over single-track bridges and through small villages to our final destination of Manuel Antonio where will stay in a beautiful hotel with the most spectacular beach view. Here we will explore the beaches, rainforest, hiking treks, coral reefs and amazing wildlife of the Manuel Antonio National Park - one of Costa Rica's best known and most often visited park, despite the fact that it is also the smallest. The park is an island of verdant wildness in a rapidly developing area with a relatively intact wet tropical forest and abundant wildlife. There is a remarkably long list of species inhabiting it: brown pelicans, brown boobies, tyrant hawk-eagles, gray-headed chachalacas, solater's ant bird, coatimundis, two and three toed sloths, toed anteaters, and ocelots, amongst others.

Day 14: International Flight home. We will be picked up early for a transport back to San José for Our flight back to Seattle.

Total price for the 14-day trip + airfare: $4250 (3 available payment plans)

Included in the price : International round trip air fare (Seattle - Quito), All private van shuttle trips (San José – Tortuguero, Tortuguero – Monteverde, La Fortuna – Brasilito, Brasilito – Manuel Antonio, Manuel Antonio – San José), airport-hotel transfers in private transportation, excursions and overland tours as mentioned above, hotel accommodation based on double occupancy, 6 group excursion activities with guides, all breakfasts except for at the cabins, 5 group lunches and 5 group dinners, national park entrance fees, bilingual guides for group excursions, boat transports, two informational potluck gatherings with the group.

Not included in the price: International airport tax from San José, check bag fees, meals not mentioned, beverages, personal items, tips (driver, guides, hotel servers, meals) and travel insurance.

Registration / Sign-up for 2020 Pura Vida (Pure Life) Costa Rica: December 1-14 2020

14-day trip $4250

*Please include your $500 deposit with your registration (This deposit is non-refundable)

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( $3750 balance AFTER the $500 sign-up deposit):

Full payment Upon sign-up (deposit + $3750)

2-payments: $1,875 upon sign-up (or by January15th 2020) and $1875 by July 20th 2020

11 monthly payments: $341by the 15th of each month for January 2020 – October 2020 and a final payment of $340 due on/by November 15th 2020

Accepted are: checks, money-orders, cash, credit card (3.5% processing fee). Checks and money orders should be made out to: La Única.