Winter Getaway - Costa Rica
9 Days: Feb. 11 - 19, 2025
This trip is closed.
If you have contacted Christina and put your name on the trip list prior to 7/21/24 you have a spot reserved and can register.
Join us for a relaxing 9 days at the beautiful RIU Palace Costa Rica. The resort is located in Guanacaste on the edge of the beach of Matapalo. Guanacaste, a province located in northwest Costa Rica, is known as the “Golden Coast” of Costa Rica. It is home to a very important section of Costa Rica’s cultural and natural heritage. It boasts a significant number of protected areas including water, land, mountain, and coastal ecosystems that are teaming with life and is the perfect location to vacation.
This trip is the perfect mix for those travelers who want a relaxing, beach vacation and for those who would like to explore Costa Rica. We are offering 3 optional excursions for the group, providing a variety of activities exploring this unique area. The descriptions and costs are listed below. You will also have the option of booking additional excursions upon arriving at the resort.
RIU Palace Costa Rica is a 24- hour, all-inclusive resort, all meals, snacks, drinks, minibar, accommodations taxes and gratuities are included. This winter getaway is the perfect trip for a relaxing, worry-free vacation.
Free Wi-Fi
24 Hour Room Service
4 Swimming Pools
Sun Loungers on the Beach
Multiple Buffet & Thematic Restaurants & Bars
Nightly Live Entertainment
Daily Entertainment Programs
Guided Activities in RiuFit Area, Beach Volleyball, Tennis Court, Snorkeling, Kayaking, Windsurfing, Stand Up Paddle Board
Optional Excursions for a fee (see information below)
Tour Activity Level: 3 (Click here to see our Physical Activity Scale)
Tour Includes
Transfer to and from O’Hare Airport, Airfare from Chicago, Transfers to/from the Resort and Liberia Airport, 8 Nights at the all- inclusive RIU Palace Costa Rica, Gratuities & Taxes.
Optional Excursions
Palo Verde, Liberia City Tour & Llanos Del Cortes - $150 per person
Discover the beauty of northwestern Costa Rica and take time to encounter its wildlife at Palo Verde, one of the largest national parks in Central America. Take a guided boat ride on the park’s river for a great look at its stunning landscapes and varied vegetation stretching across 15 natural habitats. Then take a refreshing break at the gorgeous Llanos del Cortes Waterfalls, where you can swim in its natural pools as you’re surrounded by breathtaking greenery. Finish the day with a stop in the city of Liberia for some great shopping and sightseeing in Guanacaste province’s capital. A homemade lunch prepared in a local community is part of this memorable experience.
Explore a variety of natural habitats at the amazing Palo Verde National Park
Take a boat ride along the floodplain and spot incredible wildlife such as crocodiles, monkeys and hundreds of bird species
Take a refreshing swim at the pools of the breathtakingly beautiful Llanos del Cortes Waterfalls
Visit the city of Liberia and learn about its history during a guided tour
Activity duration: 6 hours approx. (not including transportation time to and from the activity)
Hacienda el Viejo Wildlife & Traditions - $175 per person
Hacienda el Viejo is one of the most iconic Haciendas in Guanacaste. Surrounded by sugar cane, rivers, and wetland, this beautiful place has managed to preserve its original infrastructure since the 1870s. In this activity, you will see how the Sabanero lives in the countryside and how they prepared the tortillas, roquillas and tanelas. Take a boat to see all the wildlife that lives by Guanacaste’s largest river. This river is home to a menagerie of exotic species of iguanas, monkeys, crocodiles, as well as migrating birds that nest here. Have a delicious Costa Rican lunch in the Casona- the ‘mansion’ of the hacienda. See the sugar cane turning to rum, from the raw plant to how they produce sugar to processing rum. If you are staying in Guanacaste and are looking for a day excursion that offers nature, wildlife, culture, and food, then a visit to Hacienda El Viejo Wetlands must be on your list.
Visit a sugar cane plantation and a 5,000 acres private wildlife reserve
Cruise down the Tempisque River
Learn how the old-fashion rum-making process happens
Taste a traditional Costa Rican lunch
Activity duration: 4 hours (not including transportation time to and from activity)
Rio Celeste Rainforest Excursion - $180 per person
Experience the natural wonders of Costa Rica with our captivating Rio Celeste Rainforest Excursion. Journey through Tenorio Volcano National Park with expert guides, immersing yourself in a 1.5-kilometer (.93 miles) trail that leads to the mesmerizing Rio Celeste waterfall. Observe sloths, frogs, and toucans in their natural habitat with an unbeatable Costa Rica Sloth Excursion. Savor a delicious lunch of regional delights and learn all about Costa Rica's traditions in chocolate and coffee. A day trip of unforgettable experiences that showcase the landscapes and rich biodiversity of Costa Rica's rainforests.
Embark on a 1.5-kilometer (.93 miles) trail through Tenorio Volcano National Park and reach the awe-inspiring Rio Celeste waterfall, a breathtaking natural wonder.
Observe sloths in their natural habitat, offering a unique and unforgettable experience with these fascinating creatures.
Knowledgeable guides lead the excursion, providing fascinating facts, folklore, and insights into the flora and fauna of the renowned Costa Rican rainforest.
Enjoy a delicious lunch of traditional Costa Rican cuisine, including regional delights that showcase the flavors of the area.
Immerse yourself in the rich flavors and aromas of Costa Rican coffee and indulge in the exquisite taste of firewood-stove-prepared chocolate, all while learning about their cultivation and processing.
Activity duration: 8 hours approximately
Please consider that there are 254 stairs to climb down to appreciate the waterfall; and then have to climb up the 254 stairs to go back.
A passport is needed for this trip and must not expire before August 20, 2025.
GVG Tours, LLC. is the vendor of this trip.
Pricing
- Final payment for this trip is due by November 11, 2024
Trip Cost:
Jr. Suite Garden View :
Double: $3,980 per person Ins. $290 per person
Triple: $3,876 per person Ins. 280 per person
Single: $4,929 Ins. $355
Optional Excursions (see descriptions above):
Palo Verde, Liberia City Tour, Llanos Del Cortes - $150 per person
Hacienda el Viejo Wildlife & Traditions - $175 per person
Rio Celeste Rainforest - $180 per person
Deposit: $500 per person, plus the cost of insurance. See below for cancellation policy.
Pre-Trip Meeting: TBD
Cancellation Policy (based on date of cancellation):
Time of Deposit - Nov. 11, 2024: Refund of deposit
Nov. 12, 2024 - Feb. 11, 2025: Non-refundable, you may file a claim (for a covered reason) if you have purchased travel insurance.
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