Hotel Irazu Best Western - San Jose

Km3 Autopista General Canas 

San Jose

Costa Rica

Tel: + 506 2 290 9300

San Jose - Poas Volcano, Doka Coffee Tour.  We begin our journey in San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica. Founded in 1737, San Jose is nestled in valleys filled with coffee and sugar cane. 

The pre departure meeting is held at 8am today, and we depart for our day tours at 8.30am.

The Poas Volcano is one of the world's largest geysers with an awesome crater, over 1.5 km. wide. The volcano is active, but completely safe for viewing. This tour begins with a beautiful drive through the lush coffee plantations and flower farms of the area. In addition to the volcano, the Poas National Park is a 9,884-acre reserve with rich tropical vegetation and animal life. The tour includes a hike through the surrounding forest that is teeming with typical plant life and exotic birds. If weather and time permits, the hike concludes at a restful, emerald green, tropical lagoon.

Next we take the Doka Coffee Tour. The main objective of the Doka Coffee Tour is to educate and inform tourists about the process that growing coffee involves. The tour takes you throughout our Doka estate and watermill. Your tour guides are very knowledgeable and full of information that will make the tour a special learning experience. You will hear about the history of the coffee farm, it's owners, it's geographic location, the traditional coffee growing methods, and also the coffee brewing tradition of 'chorrear'.

The tour takes you to almacigo, your first stop, where the process of growing and producing fine coffee is covered from planting the seed to picking the ripened coffee berries. The oldest working water powered mill in the country (beneficio) is the next stop. You will see the peeling machines, how they work and what we do with the coffee bean skins. The fermentation tanks and their importance in the resulting taste of the coffee follows. The bodega is where we store our coffee and where export ready coffee is kept. You will also visit the sun drying patios and the roasting hall where you will see and smell the different roasts we produce. Once the tour is concluded you can visit the souvenir store which is full of great coffee and Costa Rican crafts perfect for gifts or home decorations. 

Following the tour we return to San Jose to overnight.  (L)

Arenal, Titoku Hot Springs, Arenal Volcano National Park.  After breakfast, we transfer to the Arenal Area. Lunch is included at the Ceibo Restaurant, where your stored luggage can be retrieved.

A visit to Titoku Hot Springs with dinner is also included later in the day. Titokú, means water from the gods, in Maleku (Costa Rican native language). There are 8 different hot springs pools, with hydro-massage. Every pool is a different temperature and size (6-20 people). 

The following day after breakfast, we visit Arenal Volcano National Park. The Arenal Volcano, in Spanish Volcán Arenal, is an active andesitic stratovolcano in north-western Costa Rica, around 90 km north-west of San José, in the province of Alajuela, canton of San Carlos, and district of La Fortuna. Arenal is the youngest and most active of all the mountains in Costa Rica. Arenal rises 1657 metres above sea level and overlooks Lake Arenal; both are part of Arenal Volcano National Park. The country's most active volcano, Arenal's eruptions are strombolian in type, being frequent but moderate and can be viewed without danger as long as the viewers are behind the safety perimeter. This constant activity and minimal endangerment makes Arenal a popular tourist destination, especially at night, because the lava and incandescent rocks make a spectacular sight. The last major eruption of Arenal occurred on August 23, 2000. Most of the time, the volcano is surrounded by clouds near the tip, and it is touted as good luck to see the whole volcano without clouds.

The afternoon is at leisure to enjoy the hotel facilities, or explore further.  (B,L,D)  (B)

Manuel Antonio National Park.  Next we travel from Monteverde to Manuel Antonio, with a lunch stop en route (lunch not included).

The following day we visit Manuel Antonio National Park. The natural trails in the park will take you to the interior of the forest to observe the variety of flora and fauna, including white-faced capuchin monkeys, raccoons, species of rodents and birds. You will also have time to take a dip in the warm waters of the Pacific. Entrance fee to the park included.

See how many different kinds of flora and fauna you can spot just in the span of a 2 ½ hour nature walk or hike.

Note: Please bring water, a camera, sunscreen, insect repellant, and your binoculars while you hike in the Park.

The following day is a free day. You may like to head back to the park, or enjoy leisurely sun-bathing, swimming, or options such as diving and snorkelling or a short coastal tour of the adjacent offshore islands.   (B)  (B)

San Jose.  The tour ends after breakfast.  (B)

Please note that the hotel provides a free shuttle service to the airport, and you are advised due to security checks, to check in at the airport three hours prior to flight departure.

You may wish to stay a day or two after your tour ends to enjoy some of the sights of San Jose - don’t miss the fascinating Gold Museum or the beautiful National Theatre – Kumuka can book pre or post tour accommodation for you.

Please be aware that arrival times and the itinerary may change due to unforeseen delays or events such as festivals and public holidays. However, we shall endeavour to ensure all sites are visited and that your tour runs as smoothly as possible but please note that Latin America does not run like clockwork, therefore do not expect the streamlined travel arrangements associated with some other continents. Things do not always go to plan; there will be times when you will need to be patient and philosophical about your travels. Conditions in Central America can change rapidly and changes to the itinerary may be necessary. Be flexible, you will enjoy your tour much more. Kumuka makes a point of visiting the indigenous populations of each country you visit, in order to give a true reflection of the country; please treat the local people and their customs with respect. Lastly, your tour leader is always conscious of everybody's views, but sometimes he/she will have to make an unpopular decision and your understanding will be appreciated in these circumstances.

During your tour your Tour Leader and/or Guide will recommend a variety of optional activities operated by carefully selected ground handlers to make your tour even more enjoyable. These ground handlers and activity partners have been chosen for their standards in quality, professional ability and reputation. All optional activities are available at your own expense, and are undertaken at your own risk. Kumuka can not be held responsible for injuries or claims arising from adventurous activities by third party. To start planning and budgeting for any optional activities that you may chose on your tour, please visit:

http://www.kumuka.com/Central-America-Optional-Activities.aspx

IMPORTANT: Some tours depart from the starting city very early on Day 1, therefore you might not have enough time to enjoy the optional activities in that area. Furthermore, some tours end on arrival in the finishing city and your flight may leave early the following morning, therefore leaving no time to partake in any optional activities in that area.

The Pre-Departure meeting is held at 8am on THE DAY of the scheduled departure date at the meeting point. The pre-departure meeting is held to discuss the tour itinerary in more detail, meet your Tour Guide and fellow passengers.

In each departure city we have named a joining hotel from where the tour will leave. It is your responsibility to make your way to this hotel.

PLEASE ADVISE KUMUKA OR YOUR AGENT IF YOU WILL BE ARRIVING LATE AND ARE THEREFORE UNABLE TO ATTEND THE PRE-DEPARTURE MEETING.

In addition the crew will check that all passengers have the necessary travel documents, insurance and immunization certificates for the tour. It is IMPORTANT that you attend this meeting. Please advise KUMUKA or your AGENT if you CANNOT attend this meeting.

All passengers MUST bring:

1. Passport.

2. Vaccination Certificate.

3. Travel Voucher.

4. Travel Insurance Policy

Your passport is a valuable document and you should exercise extreme care in keeping it safe. We recommend that you keep your passport on you at all times, preferably in a money belt that is worn under your clothing. We advise that you take copies of relevant pages in your passport and any visas that you may purchase in case of loss or damage. Your tour leader will require your passport details at the pre-departure meeting. Again, we recommend that you have a photocopy of all passport details, kept separate. Your passport must be valid for six months after the END of your tour, and must have one blank page for each country to be visited.

When flying into Costa Rica some airlines are currently requesting proof of an onward ticket at check in, showing that you will exit the country. Unfortunately Kumuka tour vouchers are not considered sufficient  proof that you will exit Costa Rica. The Costa Rica embassy in London has advised that either bus or airline tickets should suffice, although some airlines are still insisting on proof of an actual airline ticket.

This information is provided in good faith and whilst we endeavour to keep abreast of the latest immigration and onward ticket requirements, Kumuka cannot be held responsible for any changes in immigration law or onward ticket requirements.

Prophylactic tablets are essential in some areas of Central America. They are prescribed by your vaccinating doctor and should be taken as directed. 

We suggest passengers budget for between US$25-30 per day for personal expenses, souvenirs, evening out, alcoholic drinks etc. Be aware that some countries are more expensive than others and that if you are travelling through several your expenses will vary enormously. Similarly there will be some days when you spend nothing at all and others when you exceed your budget.

Belize, Costa Rica and the Yucatan province in Mexico are more expensive than the other Central American Countries, in those areas you should budget on US$ 30 per day.

Take your money in US dollars only. This is the only foreign currency readily exchanged in Latin America.

Traveller’s cheques should be AMERICAN EXPRESS. American Express is the most widely accepted.

Cash is far easier to exchange than Travellers Cheques, but also more risky as once lost, is irreplaceable. However, we do recommend that you take some US dollars cash in small denominations ($10 and $20).

In many countries, you may exchange US Dollars traveller’s cheques for US cash, or retrieve US dollars cash from ATMs (with a credit card), usually for a small commission but please do not rely solely on this option.

Credit cards are accepted frequently, particularly in the larger cities. They can also be used to get money from ATMs.

Visa, MasterCard and American Express are the most widely accepted credit cards. Visa being the most useful.

Included Excursions - All activities mentioned in the brochure unless optional are included in your tour price. This also includes many extra things that the group does as a whole such as ruins site entrance fees, domestic flights, local guides at some attractions, National Park entrance fees.

How much should I take?

• Try to limit yourself to 15-20kg.  It will inconvenience you and your fellow passengers if you bring more.  If your luggage does not arrive at the airport, please inform your Tour Leader at the Pre Departure Meeting.  
• A good quality backpack is the best way to carry your belongings since it is easy to lift on and off vehicles.
• A small daypack is practical for keeping general items (e.g. camera, water, sunscreen) at hand when your main pack is out of reach. It is also handy for day trips and excursions.
• We also recommend that you keep your passport, credit cards, travellers cheques, etc., on you at all times, preferably in a money belt worn under your clothes.

IMPORTANT: We strongly recommend that you DO NOT BRING A SUITCASE due to the difficulty of carrying these and travelling with them on Central American transport. Please do not bring more luggage than you are able to comfortably carry without assistance.

Spanish is the language most widely spoken in the countries we visit in Latin America but English is spoken a little bit in the larger cities. In Brazil the main language is Portugese. Other languages you may encounter are; Quechua, spoken in Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador, Amyara spoken in Peru and Bolivia. Welsh is spoken in some of the old Welsh colonies of Argentinean Patagonia, with Guarani spoken in Northern Argentina. The Amazon region of Brazil is also home to many tribal languages, for example, Tupi.

You might like to take the time before your trip to read up on the country you will be visiting and perhaps learn a few words of the language. Your effort will always be welcomed and will make your trip all the more enjoyable.

Local Restaurants - Latin American food is delicious, nutritious and varied and local restaurants provide an important insight into local ways of life. There is always an excellent range of restaurants to choose from. An evening meal can range from US$1 up to US$20. Most travellers spend an average of US$5 to US$10 plus drinks. Local alcoholic drinks are generally inexpensive even in restaurants and bars.

Vegetarians or those with special dietary needs can also be catered for however in some countries the type of food may be limited. Please let the Reservations team know your special requirements as soon as possible so we can do all possible to assist your needs.

The variety of food will differ, as you will be visiting a number of different countries. We try to ensure that you get the most experience from your Kumuka trip and one of the ways to do this is by trying local cuisine.

If you wish to spend a few additional days in your starting or finishing city, then we can arrange accommodation for you. All our accommodation is carefully chosen, conveniently located, clean and comfortable. (All rates per person per night and subject to availability).

Whilst on tour you will probably want to stay in touch with family and friends. There are several ways of doing this:

Mobile Phone – Before departing your home country check with your phone supplier to see if it compatible with the mobile phone networks in the countries that you are traveling to, and how much will it cost to use abroad.

Email – Internet Cafes are very cheap and popular, and you are sure to come across several during your tour. If you haven’t done so already, set up a free Google Mail, Hotmail, or Yahoo email account which you can then access from any computer. Internet Cafes will charge a nominal fee for using their computers. Within Europe some hotels charge a wifi connection fee and we cannot guarantee a wifi connection at all hotels we use.

Twitter – A method of communication that is rapidly gaining in popularity on the Internet especially amongst travelers. Twitter allows you to send short messages and update your friends and family with where you are on tour and what you are doing. Create your free account at http://twitter.com. Visit Kumuka’s page on Twitter at http://twitter.com/kumuka

Facebook – Very popular website that allows you to upload stories, get in touch with fellow travellers before and after your Kumuka tour, upload photos and videos to share with other travellers, your family and friends. To create a free account, go to www.facebook.com and then become a fan of Kumuka’s Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/pages/Kumuka-Worldwide/26617121087?ref=ts

Postcards – The good ol’ fashioned postcard. But you will probably get home before the postcard does!

Under no circumstances are any illegal drugs allowed on any part of the trip. Anyone discovered in possession of any such drugs, will be asked to leave the tour immediately without question or refund.