Real Affordable Costa Rica (2012)

San Jose • Sarapiqui • Arenal • Guanacaste • Pacific Coast
  • 13 days
  • from only:
  • $1595
  • $123 per day
    Land Tour Only
  • 13 days
  • from only:
  • $2095
  • $162 per dayIncludes international airfare and government taxes
RAP Map T26
IN THIS SECTION:
Detailed Itinerary
Video: Travelers' experiences of Costa Rica
NEW-Private Departures
Is This Adventure Right for You?
It's Included
Unique Accommodations
Extend Your Adventure
Optional Tours
Local Team & Insider Tips
Grand Circle Foundation
Your Travel Handbook
Air information
LearnMore
Interested in learning more? Our Travel Counselors are ready to assist you
CT

Customize your trip

Learn how to customize your adventure, or view standard air routing and travel times. The choice is yours with our True Choice program.

CT

Customize your trip

With our True Choice Program, you can choose to stay longer before or after your trip on your own, or combine two adventures to maximize your value. Here are more ways to create the OAT adventure that’s right for you:

  • Choose our standard air routing, or work with us to select the airline and routing you prefer
  • Make your own international flight arrangements directly with the airline, applying frequent flyer miles if available
  • Stay overnight in a connecting city before or after your trip
  • Request to arrive a few days early to get a fresh start on your adventure
  • Choose to “break away” before or after your trip, spending additional days or weeks on your own
  • Extend your adventure with our optional pre- and post-trip extensions
  • Combine your choice of OAT adventures to maximize your value
  • Upgrade to business or premium economy class

The air options listed above will involve an additional fee of $100 per person for confirmed requests (as well as incremental airfare costs based on your specific choice). This service fee will be waived for Inner Circle/Sir Edmund Hillary Club members.

Or, when you make your reservation, you can choose our standard air routing, for which approximate travel times are shown below.

GATEWAY

TRAVEL TIME*

Atlanta

6hrs

Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles

8hrs

Denver, New York (JFK), San Francisco

9hrs

Detroit, Philadelphia, Washington, DC (Dulles)

7hrs

Miami

3hrs

Minneapolis

11hrs

Portland, OR

17hrs

Phoenix, San Diego

14hrs

Seattle

12hrs

* Estimated total time, including connection and layover. Actual travel time may vary.

The information above reflects approximate flight times from the gateway cities listed to San Jose, Costa Rica. Routing is based on availability and subject to change. You will receive your final air itinerary approximately 14 days prior to departure.

REFER and EARN

Earn increasing rewards as a Vacation Ambassador

REFER and EARN as a Vacation Ambassador with
the BEST referral program in the industry

Inspiring new travelers to join the OAT family is a rewarding experience—both for you and your new travelers.

Share your love of travel with others and, for each referral who embarks on an OAT trip, you will earn $100 in CASH or credit. With your 4th referral departing on a 2012 departure, your reward increases to $200 in CASH or credit per person. And once you refer 8 travelers departing in either 2012 or 2013, you'll earn a FREE trip valued up to $4,500 per household—which will bring the total value of your earned rewards up to $5,600.

And you are also passing along savings to your new traveler: We'll instantly deduct $100 off the cost of their reservation when they mention your name and Customer Number while reserving.

To learn more about the benefits of our Vacation Ambassador Referral Program, please call us toll-free at 1-800-955-1925 or click here.

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Optional Tours


Expand your discoveries with our optional tours

Day 3:
Pineapple Farm $40 per person

You've probably savored some of this sweet, delicious fruit from Costa Rica—now see where it's made! Join us on an in-depth tour of an organic pineapple finca (farm) to discover how the region's fertile, volcanic soil nurtures these tropical plants, learn about their past and present cultivation techniques, tour the finca's fields and facilities, and enjoy a taste of the "Fruit of Kings."

Day 6:
Arenal Amphibian and Reptile Center $65 per person

While Costa Rica is home to a staggering variety of animal species, many of its more exotic treasures can be quite difficult to spot. This visit to the Arenal Amphibian and Reptile Center lets you get an up close look at some of Costa Rica's rarer creatures, including the Red-Eyed Tree Frog, the Glass Frog (so called for its translucent skin) the colorful Poison Dart Frog, and the curiously-named Chicken-eating Frog, which is the largest known frog in Costa Rica.

Day 9:
Forest Canopy Ride $60 per person

Take a thrilling ride through Costa Rica’s lush forest canopy. A moderate, 20-minute uphill hike is followed by a safety talk at the departure point. Then, strapped into your harness and wearing thick leather gloves, you walk to a platform where the instructor sends you off on the ride of your life. Whizzing from tree to tree on a zip-line, you experience the thrill of flight while being safely suspended. For those more comfortable with a little assistance, a “taxi ride” is also available. This means that you and an instructor zip through the canopy together—the instructor handles the braking while you enjoy the ride.

Day 10:
Ocean Outrigger Canoe $55 per person

Venture to Agujas Beach, a beautiful protected cove. Here, after a safety briefing, you'll embark on an outrigger canoe to catch the spirit of pre-Columbian Costa Rica as you paddle along the ocean, passing steep cliffs and sandy beaches. Keep watch for dolphins, pelicans, and other wildlife along the way. You’ll disembark at Limoncito Beach and enjoy a snack of fresh tropical fruit and leisure time to stroll the white-sand beaches before returning to the hotel.

Please note:Due to scheduling, if you choose this tour you will not be able to participate in the Pacific Aerial Tram optional tour.