Enjoy the Beauty of Costa Rica!
Feb 10 -20, 2027
Join Us for an Unforgettable Tour for Families or Individuals!
YouTube Link: Costa Rica Tour Video – What You’ll See!
This Christian and Creation-Based specialty tour is reserved for a smaller personal group. You will see many popular sights that nobody would want to miss. More than that, you will go off the beaten track to places that will make you say,
“This is why I came to Costa Rica!”
~ See volcanoes, beautiful rainforests, and birds galore – toucans-macaws-quetzals-hummingbirds. Marvel at tropical mammals – monkeys, coatimundis, sloths, and tapirs. Jaguars? (We haven’t paid jaguars to appear in the wild, but you will get to safely see them and other wild cats at Lapaz Waterfall Gardens.) Enjoy brightly colored frogs, iguanas, and amazing butterflies such as the Blue Morpho that defy evolutionary explanations and point to God’s amazing wisdom!
~ Take coffee and cocoa “plantation-to-cup” experiences.
~ Enjoy a safe aerial tram over rainforests (and/or try a more adventurous multi-course zip line).
~ See fabulous waterfalls.
~ Board a nice boat to explore off the beaten track to fabulous mangrove swamps on our way to the Drake Bay destination.
~ If you want, sit back and relax at picture-postcard beaches. Others will want to snorkel at the famous Caño Island and/or hike in the fabulous Corcovado National Park which is really off the beaten track and on the bucket list of many international travelers and even Costa Ricans. Perhaps, charter a deep-sea fishing trip.
Experienced Costa Rican naturalists will join us on several locations to supply fascinating information and point out what most of us would miss without that expertise.
Call 970-523-9943 to register.
Itinerary
Note: This is subject to change.
Not too early to reserve!
Day 1: 10th Arrive in San Jose early enough for a 6:30 PM dinner and program
Arrive plenty early at the International Airport (SJO) in San Jose where your shuttle driver transports you to your hotel. Our first official activity is our welcome dinner and program at 6:30 PM. Hint: Arrive plenty early so that you do not miss anything. Let us know if you wish to have us book an extra day(s) for you on Feb 9 (or other). If you arrive a day or two early, there are great options close to your hotel to enjoy. Lodging: Villa Tournon
Day 2: 11th Peace Waterfall Gardens + La Fortuna
Early breakfast at hotel. Board the bus to visit Peace Waterfalls and Gardens. See lush green farmland and countryside on the way. Experience large waterfalls, famous gardens with a multitude of exotic plants and flowers, hummingbirds galore, amazingly beautiful frogs, and live animals (including the jaguar). Feast at a delicious buffet in the Gardens. Find out why the “Blue” Morpho butterfly (which may land on your hand) is not blue and defies evolutionary explanations. Re-bus and head to La Fortuna through more amazing scenery to a great restaurant dinner. Lodging: La Roca Lodge (2 nights)
Day 3: 12th Optional Zipline, Suspension Bridges
After taking a bunch of pictures of the spectacular Arenal Volcano, enjoy a leisurely breakfast and birdwatching for a multitude of bird species including Toucans. We first head to the Don Juan Ed/Ag Center to 
experience their amazing sustainable and productive gardens. Take part in pressing out cane sugar juice direct from the cane stalk. For lunch, sample their food choices grown right on their property. Re-bus to the adventure locations where you can choose from fun options (included) such as the zipline thrill, horseback riding or walking on nature trails and over suspension bridges above and in the canopy! All of this has the amazing Arenal Volcano in the backdrop. That evening, enjoy a gourmet meal! Lodging: La Roca lodge
Day 4 – 13th Onward East
After breakfast and more pictures of birds and Arenal Volcano, re-bus to Braulio Carrillo National Park. Board a Rain Forest Tram to experience the rainforest from above and in the canopy. Tour their grounds with birds, hummingbirds, butterflies, and wildlife. You may want to stay, but we need to get into Gaupiles for Dinner and lodging. Lodging: Hotel Suerre
Day 5: 14th Coffee Tour and Guayabo Pre-Columbian Archaeological site
Wow! Breathtaking scenery as we travel through lush rain forests on our way to a great Costa Rican Coffee plantation tour. Find out what is involved from the bush to your cup! After sampling their coffee, we re-bus and head to the Guayabo pre-Columbian archaeological site. Amazing fact: It was occupied during the same time frame as King David reigned in Israel. There you will wonder in amazement at what the ancient people had accomplished — miles of cobble stone roads, water systems, entrance corridors and buildings, etc. These ancient people were very intelligent! Afterwards we follow the flank of the Turrialba Volcano Lodging: Turrialba-Cartago area.
Day 6: 15th Irazú Volcano and South!
Amazing scenery as we bus up the Irazú Volcano to over 12,000 feet in elevation as we pass highly productive farmland on the slopes. Take a short stroll to see the crater of Irazú. Busing down gives stunning views of the valley far below. From there we head south, ascending high to the rain and cloud forests. In past years, our fellow explorers were enthralled with the huge number and variety of hummingbirds. We also hope to get great pictures of the prized and gorgeous quetzal. Lodging: TBA
Day 7: 16th Stone Spheres Park, Ditch the Bus & Board a Boat Downriver to the Pacific!
You think the days before couldn’t be beaten, but just maybe! After breakfast, we head south toward Sierpe with a stop to see the amazing, carved to perfection, stone spheres that some say must have been made by aliens. No, the ancient indigenous inhabitants were actually quite intelligent! When we get to Sierpe, we ditch our bus for a couple nights and head down river by boat to Drake Bay along the Pacific coast. Along the way, we explore the mangrove lined river and likely enjoy the antics of monkeys. lodging: Drake Bay
Day 8: 17th Beach & Tour Corcovado National Park & Snorkeling at Caño Island
Re-boat to go 30 minutes south along the ocean. Disembark on a beach for a guided 2-3 mile slow walk in Corcovado National Park with lots of stops to see flora and fauna. This area is on the bucket list of many adventurous travelers. Corcovado boasts more biodiversity than the entire United States: 400 bird species, 140 mammals, and 500 tree species. After lunch, re-boat to Isla Del Caño Biological Preserve located at a small island about 6 miles off the coast for snorkeling (equipment provided). This site is home to tropical fish, eels, rays, dolphins, and occasional sea turtles or whales. Recently, a huge number of dolphins and pilot whales entertained us for 45 minutes coming close enough to touch. This is a great place to enjoy God’s awesome Creation! OR … Perhaps, just relax and soak in the beauty? Grab a hammock or lounge chair at the hotel and veg! Keep your eyes open for the gorgeous red/yellow/blue, Scarlet Macaws! Beach comb and frequent the restaurant. Maybe, charter a fishing boat and go deep sea fishing (*Extra cost). Lodging: Drake Bay
Day 9: 18th Pacific Coast and Chocolate
After breakfast, re-boat up-river through mangrove swamps, see more monkeys and then re-bus along the Pacific coast past amazing ocean scenery. We will stop for lunch along the way and enjoy making chocolate at the cocoa plantation. After lunch we continue to Punta Leona and our hotel. From here, walk to the beach to swim or relax and soak in the “beauty and the beach.” If the tide is low enough at Punta Leona, we may see a huge number of fossil spiral shells – a reminder of the Flood. After a bountiful buffet dinner, debrief the day with a PowerPoint Creation presentation. Lodging: Punta Leona
Day 10: 19th Crocodiles, Souvenir Shop, & Special Evening Dinner and Costa Rican Entertainment.
Enjoy Punta Leona, photograph the macaws, monkeys, and other birds and wildlife. Take an early morning beach walk or swim in the ocean or hotel pool. Don’t miss the fabulous breakfast buffet! Re-bus and head to San Jose. Along the way we will stop at the crocodile bridge to see crocs feeding or sunning themselves. We will stop at a great souvenir shop in route. Head to the hotel to freshen up for a great evening with a buffet dinner and native Costa Rican entertainment at a fantastic restaurant high above the city lights of San Jose. Lodging: Villa Tournon
Day 11: 20th ¡Adiós! (Sadly):
Transport is included from your hotel to the airport. Head home with unforgettable memories or extend your stay to see more of beautiful Costa Rica. If you want to extend your stay, call us so we can book extra hotel night(s) for you, and point you in the right direction for additional great sites with or without a guide. — Take fond memories home of Costa Rican culture, volcanoes, intense coloration and God’s Creative design everywhere you look, for the people you met, and the friends you have made.
What is included?
- ALL meals!
- Quality hotels!
- Transportation in the country and airport/hotel transfers.
- Entrance fees to National Parks, boat transportation, tram costs, zipline, and all other sights.
- Highly qualified and experienced bilingual naturalist guide at many sites.
- AOI’s Native Costa Rican “on-board” tour coordinator who keeps things running smoothly.
- Creation teaching with veteran Creation speakers, Dave & Mary Jo Nutting and some of our AOI Costa Rica team.
- Tips (These can be a great expense, but we have them all covered.)
What is not covered?
- Air travel to/from San Jose, Costa Rica (SJO).
- Snacks, alcoholic beverages, personal items, etc.
- Camera and plenty of memory cards and batteries.
- Even though most activities are covered, some activities like deep sea fishing and horseback trips likely will incur an extra fee.
- And you can’t bring the sloth, or frogs, or monkeys home – sorry!
Cost:
$3570. This is per person for Double Occupancy (Usually 2 Double or Queen beds).
(Single Occupancy: Please Call.) Children 3- 10 (in same room): $3170
To register, express your interest, ask questions, and/or hold your place:
Call: AOI 970-523-9943 9AM – 5PM (MST) Tues – Fri
And email: DaveNutting@DiscoverCreation.org
After the Tour… Talk to us if you are interested in the possibility of joining Dave and Mary Jo Nutting’s creation-outreach ministry after the tour or participating in a service project.
Call AOI if you wish us to send you a pdf of this information so you can present it to your friends or family. This PDF printout would be a great way to present this trip as a gift to a loved one! (Don’t wait for Christmas!) AOI can also furnish you with a Gift Certificate if desired!
