2025-03-03 CR-001 Costa Rica

<<< Summary >>>

Come join the like-minded adventurers for an active travel vacation in Costa Rica. This beautiful Central American country is known for its remarkable biodiversity with coastal beaches, opulent tropical rainforests, volcanoes, mountains, waterfalls, warm weather, abundant national parks, untouched and preserved wildlife.

Costa Rica often ranks at or near the top of the list of “happiest countries in the world,” according to various indexes measuring the overall well-being of their residents. “Pura vida”, the direct English translation “pure life” is the Costa Rican national slogan. It's a feeling and perception voicing how Costa Ricans appreciate life's simplest pleasures and find happiness in their everyday little things.

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<<< Itinerary >>>

We will purchase an active travel vacation package from an outfitter company Costa Rica Custom Trips (CRCT). CRCT has extensive experience in Costa Rica tourism.

Travel Info provided by CRCT

Day 1 2025-03-03 Monday. Take a flight to Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) in San Jose. We’ll stay at a mountaintop boutique hotel for the night.

Day 2 Transfer by a private van to La Fortuna. We’ll stop for a coffee tour, scenic hike, and lunch. We’ll have a good view of the iconic Arenal Volcano along the way. Two nights hotel in the La Fortuna area. (D2, 5 miles)

Day 3 Hiking in two of the top parks/reserves near La Fortuna including the Rio Celeste river and waterfalls. (D4, 8 miles)

Day 4 Morning hike for an up-close view of the iconic Arenal Volcano, followed by an afternoon boat ride and forest hike toward our next destination, Monteverde. Three nights hotel in the Monteverde area. (D5, 12 miles)

Day 5 Free day/no hiking. Sign up for any food, cultural, or adventure tours in the Monteverde area; or whichever way we want to spend our time. Today’s activity is not included in the package.

Day 6 Hiking in the famous Monteverde Cloud Forest, a well-known bio-diversified national reserve with numerous plant and wild life species. (D4, 8 miles)

Day 7 Transfer by a private van to Guanacaste Province, a World Heritage Site and the home for Rincon de la Vieja Volcano National Park. Two nights hotel in the dry tropical forest adjacent to the Rincon National Park. (D2, 5 miles)

Day 8 Hiking in the Rincon National Park with an active volcano featuring some of the most unique landscapes in Costa Rica. (D5, 10 miles)

Day 9 Transfer by a private van to the nearby Liberia (Daniel Oduber International Airport, LIR) for the afternoon flights back to Atlanta. NOTE: This departure airport is different from the arrival airport (SJO).

<<< Difficulty Level >>>

This active travel vacation trip will be at the AOC D5 difficulty level.

<<< How to get there >>>

Take a flight to San Jose (Juan Santamaria International Airport, SJO). Free shuttle service is available from the first hotel from 5am to 11pm.

Return flight from Liberia (Daniel Oduber International Airport, LIR). Private van transfer is included in the package.

<<< How to sign up >>>

This web page is designed so that you can only put yourself on the waiting list. Once you’re verified to be suitable for this trip, you will be moved to the participant list.

NOTE: Anyone on the participant list of another AOC Costa Rica trip starting February 3, 2025 is automatically disqualified for this trip due to limited spots available.

<<< How to qualify >>>

Group will be selected by:

History of social compatibility in the AOC group setting

History of participation in the AOC events

You can comfortably finish my Kennesaw 10 hikes in 4 hours, or personally I know your hiking ability and fitness condition is qualified.

Couples Participants

Gender match for hotel roommate assignment

The payment of $25 only covers AOC Service Fee. All costs (transportation, lodging, meals & drinks, and etc.) are paid by members on their own. All costs are non-refundable.

Travel Insurance is the only reliable way to protect our money for the trip.

Itinerary is subject to change at the discretion of the trip leader.

Expenses

$25 non-refundable AOC Service Fee

Payment for the outfitter package:

   Double Occupancy 8 persons Minimum: $1,850 per person

   Double Occupancy 10 or 12 persons discount price: $1,750 per person

   Single Occupancy 8 persons Minimum: $2,350 per person

   Single Occupancy 10 or 12 persons discount price: $2,250 per person

This will be for the following hotels:

   Alajuela: Buena Vista Chic Hotel, w/ breakfast (1 night)

   Arenal: Arenal History Inn, w/ breakfast (2 nights)

   Monteverde: Arco Iris Lodge, w/ breakfast (3 nights)

   Rincon de la Vieja: Hacienda Guachipelin, w/ breakfast (2 nights)

Hotel rooms will be assigned by me based on the hotel room configurations and couples-participants.

The payment for the outfitter package includes:

8-night hotel rooms with breakfast, private van transfers, guides, hikes, entrance fees, and all lunches, except for the arrival day & free day in Monteverde.

Dinners are not included. Dinners would be a la carte either at the hotels, or nearby restaurants.

Payment schedule to the outfitter

Double Occupancy Total Payment $1,850, or discount price $1,750

Single Occupancy Total Payment $2,350, or discount price $2,250

25% Deposit is due on May 1, 2024.

If you miss the payment date, you will be removed from the list.

   Double occupancy $462.50, or discount price $437.50

   Single occupancy $587.50, or discount price $562.50

Balance payment is due 100 days prior to the start of the trip. It is November 23, 2024 for this trip.

If you miss the payment date, you will be removed from the list.

   Double occupancy $1,387.50, or discount price $1,312.50

   Single occupancy $1,762.50, or discount price $1,687.50

Following items are not included in the payment for the outfitter package:

• Tips to guide & driver, hotels, restaurants. Both US Dollar and Costa Rican Colon work in Costa Rica.
• All dinners, beverages, and other foods purchased by ourselves. Most places accept credit card payment.
• Lunch on the arrival day & free day in Monteverde
• Additional tours booked by ourselves
• Airline tickets
• Souvenirs
• Travel insurance. This is the only reliable way to protect our money for this trip.
• Other personal expenses not mentioned

Cancellation Policy from the outfitter

All refunds have a 6% service fee. DEPOSITS: $200 is non-refundable, with the balance refundable minus the service fee. FINAL PAYMENTS: Refunds, minus the service fee, will be based on our ability to recover funds from our hotels, tour operators and transfer providers. In general, most cancellations made 60 days out [will incur no additional penalty], with sliding scales enacted as the cancellation gets closer to the arrival date. In every instance, we will work to recover the maximum amount of the payment possible."

If a qualified member can be found in time to fill the spot for a cancellation, the $200 non-refundable penalty will not be charged, but the 6% service fee will still apply.

Weather

March weather in Costa Rica is very pleasant with temperatures ranging from 64 to 82F. March is in its dry season with very little chance of rain. The average precipitation in March is about 0.54 inches.

The State Department travel advisory

The State Department has issued a level 2 travel advisory for Costa Rica; for more information go to Advisory (weblink).

Credit Statement

There are a lot of members wanted to take this Costa Rica trip when another AOC trip leader Jeff first opened his trip, but there are only 12 spots open.
I decided to buy the same package from the same outfitter Costa Rica Custom Trips(CRCT); and open this trip for the benefit of 12 more AOC members.
I want to give the credit and a special thank-you to the AOC trip leader Jeff for his idea of creating this trip in the first place.

Our vacation trip is an AOC paid event.

There is a non-refundable AOC Service Fee $25 required to pay to AOC by yourself.

As far as I know this is the only reliable income source for our club that we all enjoy to be one of its members. I am in full support of this requirement. 

Personally I see it as an opportunistic donation to support our club.

I hope everyone is very happy to contribute even if you had to cancel later on for whatever reason it may be.

When you login to your AOC account, there is a payment tag for you to make payment to AOC.

If you miss the payment date, you will be removed from the list.

There is no refund for cancellation.

There is no refund for cancellation.