PUNTARENAS, COSTA RICA TOURS
I have looked forward to exploring the flora and fauna of the rainforests of Costa Rica for years (with a little shopping thrown in as well). While Bobs choice is always a marine excursion, we both enjoy experiencing the true culture and history of a place only found when we meet and speak with locals. The
DCL-offered excursions for Costa Rica just didnt meet all of our desires and we have found that offerings that require an official company cheerleader to count noses in a public room before being marched across the gangway to an enormous bus dont give us the experience we get from smaller private tours. We also think it is fun to go with a DISboard group we have been planning our trip with and have gotten to know. So I searched for a tour company that might meet all these wishes and found Odyssey Tours.
http://www.odysseytourscr.com
The Odyssey Tours and the Ramirez brothers, Alvaro and Diego, received the highest rating, 5 stars, on TripAdvisor with 59 reviews,
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attracti..._Tours-Puntarenas_Province_of_Puntarenas.html . Their experience not only qualifies them to package great group tours, it gives them the flexibility to create a small tour just for Wonder Disers. When we wrote to Alvaro of Odyssey Tours and explained our needs, he suggested a private tour, which would give us both what we were looking for. Thats what Alvaro has put together for us provided eight or more Castaways join us. Here is a possible schedule for our day.
7:30 a.m. pick up time (when ship is scheduled to dock)
Pick up and drop off is outside the dock; a free shuttle runs all day from gate to ship.
What helped convince us this was the company to trust with our only day in Costa Rica was their quick response to our many e-mails asking about features and services. When Valerie wrote that we really dont like being squeezed into a van to fill every seat belt, Alvaro pointed out that the several types of vans and the small Toyota bus they operate are chosen so they are almost never over about 60 percent capacity. The Odyssey fleet are Toyota Hiace 2008, full insured vans, with A/C, that hold 15 passengers with very good seats and plenty of room but to warrant the best comfort they like to have no more than 8 people on this kind of vehicle. If we have 10 or more people they will provide a 25 seat bus. Wow! If 13-18 of us get together, theyll book us on the 28-passenger Toyota Coaster. Cold beverages will be provided while on the trip.
Stops for bathrooms and some sightseeing on the way.
Riding in the air-conditioned large van or small bus, on the way to Costa Ricas most popular national park, Manuel Antonio, our guide will give us a narrative of the geologic features, national history, local botany, as well as exotic tropical birds, monkeys and sloths. He will answer our questions about Costa Rica in general and also about the towns and sights we will pass. Some of the spots we can expect to see are: Jaco beach, different plantations, crocodiles in the river of Tarcoles, Hermosa beach, scarlet macaws nesting area near Carara national park, the colonial village of Villa Lapas and others. While we will stop if a bathroom break is needed, as our primary interest is visiting the National Park, we plan to drive directly to the park. If time permits and we want to stop for pictures and sightseeing on the way home, this we can do. Remember, this is our private tour and our input into the day will be taken whenever it can be.
9:50 a.m. Hiking into rain forest national park of Manuel Antonio with a nature guide who will provide books, binoculars and a spotting scope we can share during our tour (Entry fees are included in our tour price.) http://www.costarica-nationalparks.com/manuelantonionationalpark.html
Manuel Antonio National Park is a forest, thick with massive ficus and two- and three-toed sloths,
green and black iguanas, agoutis, four species of monkey (including the highly endangered squirrel monkey, known locally as the mono titi), raccoons, deer, lizards, crocodiles and nearly 200 species of birds, including 2 species of toucans. It's one of Costa Rica's most-visited attractions and not to be missed. Rangers limit the number of guests allowed in at a time to help ensure a good experience for visitors and the park. You will see great wildlife that can be easily spotted from well-marked trails -- a luxury you won't find in the
Amazon. And because animals are so used to humans, this is one of the best places to see them up close.
10:50 a.m. Enjoying the beach.
After hiking through the forest we will have about an hour to relax and enjoy the beautiful Manuel Antonio beach. Weve read that its equally good for snorkeling, swimming and just laying on the beach. There we will find new clean restrooms, complete with both inside and outside showers to wash the saltwater off and change.
The beach is good for the usual beachy activities; bring a towel, hat, sunscreen, even snorkel gear. Air temperature is usually around 85F, and water at about 80F (the Goofy pool is usually between 82 and 84). They also suggest a raincoat or poncho and, of course, good walking shoes. Beverages are available in the van and on the beach.
12:00 p.m. Hiking out the park for lunch
12:30 p.m. Lunch time.
The tour includes a lunch stop (cost included in the tour fee) at a quality restaurant where we can choose among traditional Costa Rican favorites such as rice, beans, green salad, plantains with fish, chicken or beef, or maybe youd prefer rice with chicken or shrimp and a salad and French fries. If you would prefer more familiar foods, burgers and fries or sandwiches are available.
1:30 p.m. driving back to Puntarenas.
Stops for bathrooms, souvenirs, grocery store to purchase coffee, and sightseeing on the way.
On the way back to the ship we will have an opportunity to stop at a number of photo opportunities and souvenir shopping spots. These might include Villa Lupas and Santa Lucia, an eco-friendly resort within a tranquil rain-forest preserve for nature lovers. You can cross a suspension bridge to reach a small replica of a Costa Rican colonial village with a restaurant, cantina, church, and gift shops.
http://www.villalapas.com/index.html
People have mentioned they like to buy postcards and mail them from the country they are in in order to get the postmark and stamps from the country visited. Alvaro assures us they can make this possible by stopping at places we can purchase them and seeing we have a way to mail them from Costa Rica. So bring your address list and a pen.
5:00 p.m. drop off in Puntarenas back at the dock and shuttle to the ship.
6:30 p.m. Wonder departs.
The cost of this full-day tour, with park entry fee and lunch included is $85 per person plus tip. Children under 8 years old receive 15% off, under age 3 are free.
No deposit, credit card info or prepay is requested; payment is at the end of the tour in cash. Prepayments can be made and Odyssey Tours hopes to have the ability to pay by credit card available by January.
PM me if you would like additional information or sign up to be part of this exciting day.
ValBob89
trains! so, I'll pass the opportunity. 
