7 DAYS / 6 NIGHTS FROM VANCOUVER TO VANCOUVER
Journey through the awe-inspiring Canadian Rockies on two of our most popular rail routes and unleash your inner explorer on an exciting Icefields Parkway adventure.
DESTINATIONS
Vancouver, Kamloops, Banff, Jasper, Vancouver
ROUTES
Journey Through The Clouds
First Passage to the West
TRIP LENGTH
7 Days / 6 Nights Total
4 days onboard Rocky Mountaineer
MODE OF TRAVEL
Rocky Mountaineer Train
Motorcoach
ROUTE TYPE
Circle Journeys, Rockies Highlights
Activities & Tours
National Parks Pass
Ice Explorer
Glacier Skywalk
Dining
4 breakfasts, 5 lunches
Travel & Transport
4 days Rocky Mountaineer SilverLeaf or GoldLeaf Service
Luggage handling and rail station transfers in Vancouver, Kamloops, Banff and Jasper
Accommodations
6 nights hotel: Vancouver, Kamloops, Banff and Jasper
Travel to San Jose, capital of Costa Rica. After clearing Customs and Immigration, and claiming your luggage, you will be met outside by Maxine and transferred to HOTEL STUDIO BOUTIQUE, our home for the next two nights. Located in Santa Ana, 15km from the airport and 12km from downtown, our hotel features beautiful Costa Rican and international art and views of the surrounding Central Valley. Tonight, we enjoy a Welcome Dinner and get to know our travelling companions. D
Following breakfast, our adventure begins with a visit to DOKA COFFEE ESTATE located in the foothills of POAS VOLCANO. This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site where we will experience firsthand how a choice bean is transformed into our morning cup of coffee. We then continue our adventure as we travel to LA PAZ WATERFALL GARDENS AND PARK, a private animal sanctuary with over 100 species. We will hike with our guide along the La Paz River past five amazing waterfalls and enjoy a delicious Costa Rican lunch. Afterwards, you will not want to miss the cat and bird exhibits, the butterfly observatory, hummingbird gardens, snake and frog exhibits and much more. The balance of the day/evening is at leisure. B L
Your journey continues Eastward to the mighty Canadian Rockies and the province of Alberta. Once again you will see a spectacular array of scenery as you travel across ranchlands, along rocky lakeshores, over high mountain passes and through the remarkable tunnels that form part of the rich rail history of the Canadian Rockies today’s highlights include Craigellachie, where the last spike of the Canadian Pacific Railway was driven, the climb over Rogers Pass, Kicking Horse Canyon, the Spiral Tunnels and, of course, the glaciers and snow-capped peaks of the Canadian Rockies Your rail journey ends this evening in the resort town of Banff. Overnight in Banff.
Meals: breakfast & lunch
Following breakfast and check-out, we traverse the canals and rivers to continue our adventure. We will meet up with our chofer and coach and enjoy a typical lunch in GUAPILES. Next, we will experience the CARIBBEAN RAINFOREST AERIAL TRAM. You will travel through 2.6km of rainforest from forest floor to tree tops, accompanied by our own naturalist guide. We then head to SARAPIQUI region and check in to SELVA VERDE LODGE AND RAINFOREST RESERVE, our home for the next two nights. Keel-billed toucans, great green macaws, sloths and howler monkeys can be spotted in the lodge area so be ready and do not miss the experience of walking together with thousands of other species! Enjoy a group dinner tonight at the lodge. B L D
This morning is free to relax, enjoy the pool, lodge trails or take a local tour: white water rafting, river cruise or safari float on Sarapiqui River, horseback riding, chocolate or pineapple tour, La Selva bat tour and more. Midday we will take part in a “charla”. What better way to learn about rural community life than to visit a home and meet a member of that community. We will visit a local casa and discover how a Tico family makes cheese “arepas.” We will have the opportunity to ask questions about life in this area. Following dinner, you might choose to explore the rainforest on a night walk with our guide. B L D
Early morning , we cross the Sarapiqui River to enter the Primary Forest Reserve of old-growth and secondary forest to observe this unique ecosystem with a naturalist guide. Following breakfast, surprises are in store as we travel towards the northern region and one of the most famous volcanoes in the country. We will stop at the picturesque town of LA FORTUNA, a great place to take photos and shop for snacks, before making our way up the mountain to ARENAL OBSERVATORY LODGE. Boasting impressive views of the volcano and lake, this hotel is the only one within ARENAL NATIONAL PARK. It is our home for the next two nights. Tonight we enjoy a group dinner in the lodge restaurant. B D
Are you an early riser? Our alarm clock this morning might be a Howler Monkey or a Montezuma Oropendula bird. Enjoy breakfast overlooking the lake and viewing the mighty volcano. The morning is free. Arenal area is considered the adventure capital of the country loaded with activities including the famous canopy tour (zip lines), mountain biking, ATV, horseback riding, fishing, wind surfing or kayaking on Lake Arenal, volcano and hanging bridges hikes, rappelling, white water rafting, spelunking, bird watching, wildlife refuge tours and more. Later this afternoon, we visit TABACON GRAND THERMAL RESORT & SPA. If you are looking for the “Garden of Eden” – this is it! Enjoy time bathing in the hot springs, strolling through the lush, tropical gardens of this secret paradise, or sipping a cool drink at the pool bar. You will have time to enjoy all this before savouring an amazing buffet dinner. B D
This morning we leave the Northern Highlands and take a picturesque drive around the top of Lake Arenal, before heading southwest to the Pan American Highway – longest highway in the world! Our destination – the NICOYA PENINSULA. We will cross the GULF OF NICOYA by ferry from the port of PUNTARENAS to PAQUERA and continue on to TANGO MAR BEACH & GOLF RESORT. This intimate and exclusive small, deluxe resort is located on a 150-acre private beachfront reserve and boasts magnificent beaches and varied ecosystems. It offers the ultimate relaxation escape or an active eco-vacation – horseback riding, kayaking, canopy zip lining, hiking, bird watching, golf, incredible sunset cruises, nature and ecological tours to nature wildlife reserves and more – the choice is yours. The next few days are our time to enjoy the beach and pools. A group dinner is included tonight in the restaurant overlooking the stunning Pacific Ocean. B D
Two days at leisure to enjoy the resort. Our guide and driver will be available for local excursions if there is enough interest. B (each day)
Today we will return to the mainland and journey to the beautiful and mystical area of MONTEVERDE, where trees grow to heights of more than 100 feet! Enjoy the transition to cloudforest and be amazed by the emerald-green foliage and the symphony sung by Monteverde’s animal kingdom. We will check in to FICUS SUNSET SUITES HOTEL. Located in the heart of Monteverde and within walking distance of the tiny town of SANTA ELENA, you will find great local restaurants, shops and a grocery store close by. We will experience amazing sunsets and breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean. The remainder of the day is free to enjoy and explore. Later, a group dinner is included at our hotel. B D
Following breakfast, we head to SELVATURA HANGING BRIDGES – a reserve that abounds with wonderful trails, suspension bridges, and outstanding natural areas. Count on up-close encounters of Costa Rica’s famous forest ecosystems and possible close encounters with cloudforest inhabitants. If we are fortunate, we may spy the “resplendant quetzal” bird – the wish of many travellers who venture here. The afternoon and evening are free to relax or enjoy another of the many activities available in the area. B
This morning we leave the mountains of Monteverde Cloudforest behind us and journey back towards the Central Valley. We will visit the colourful town of SARCHI, Costa Rica’s main artisan town, before continuing on to San Jose. The brightly painted oxcarts that you have seen all over the country are made here. Oxcarts were once used to haul coffee beans over the mountains to the coast and remain a well known symbol of Costa Rica. We will visit an oxcart factory and see Guinness Book of World Records “largest oxcart in the world” located in the town square. This is the ideal place to purchase those last minute gifts. We will continue on to San Jose and check in to CROWNE PLAZA COROBICI HOTEL. The hotel is located 15 minutes from the airport and 5 minutes from downtown. B
This morning our guide will show us the culture, history and architecture of San Jose. We will begin with a bus tour of the downtown and surrounding area, including residential areas and SABANA PARK, location of the first international airport and very close to our hotel. We will visit the beautiful NATIONAL THEATRE, one of the capital city’s cultural gems, the impressive PRE-COLUMBIAN GOLD MUSEUM, and the lively maze-like historical CENTRAL MARKET which has been providing fresh produce and local goods to San Jose residents since 1882. At the end of the tour you will have the option of staying downtown to explore further on your own or returning to your hotel. We will make arrangements for our driver to pick you up later in the day at a specific area. Tonight we will gather together at FUJI RESTAURANT, located in our hotel, for a Farewell Dinner. Be prepared for an evening of fun as we raise a glass to shared experiences with new friends and bid “adios” and “pura vida” to our guide and driver. B D
Departure day. Following breakfast, there will be transfers to the airport for your flights home unless you are choosing to extend your stay. B
B = BREAKFAST L = LUNCH D = DINNER
Terms & Conditions: Tour is subject to availability. Itineraries are subject to change.
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