Hike, ride horses and fly over the top on a canopy tour while discovering beautiful Costa Rica.

Volcanoes, rainforests and the Pacific coast

From mountain tops to ocean shores, we'll discover and play in this natural paradise. Costa Rica has a vast richness and beauty offering plenty of opportunities to explore by hiking, horseback riding, swimming, and flying over the tops of trees on a canopy tour. It is also a very gay friendly destination with many opportunities to socialize and relax.

Highlights:

• See the great Arenal Volcano and watch for lava flow at night.
  
• On trips between January through April, ride from Arenal up to the Monteverde Cloud Forest by horseback, and cross three rivers during the four-hour ride (optional).
  
• On trips between May and December, take a whitewater rafting trip in the mountains above Manuel Antonio National Park (optional).
  
• Enjoy an over the top canopy ride above the cloud forest of the Continental Divide.
  
• Explore the coastal forests by horseback or mountain bike.
  
• Feel the warm sand and crystal clear waters of Central America's most famous gay beach.
  
• Hike through the lush Manuel Antonio National Park with a naturalist-guide.
  
• Watch for playful white-faced capuchin monkeys and sleeping sloths in the mangrove forests.
  
• Explore the active gay life of San Jose, Costa Rica's bustling capital.
  

Dates and Price:.

• December 19-27, 2006: $2,195.00

• December 28-January 5, 2007: $2,195.00

• February 10-18, 2007: $2,195.00 

**Ask about our $25.00 rebate offer!

Prices are per-person, based on double occupancy. Tours often fill up months before departure. We regularly update our travel schedule to show the status of this and other trips.

Travelling Alone?
So are most of the people who travel with us. You do not need to pay extra to travel by yourself. Prices are per-person, and the single supplement applies only if you'd like a room by yourself.

Location: starts and ends in San Jose, Costa Rica,

Price includes: Accommodations every night; Most meals (all breakfasts, four lunches, four dinners); Transportation between destinations shown in the trip itinerary (airport transfers not included); Forest canopy tour; Visit to hot springs spa below an active volcano; Horseback ride in the forest near Manuel Antonio; Snorkeling and sunset cruise.

Not included: Airfare to San Jose; Airport transfers; Meals not listed above; Optional boat and horseback ride between Arenal and Monteverde (January-April trips); Optional whitewater rafting trip near Manuel Antonio (May-December trips); Other optional activities; Gratuities for guides.

1: Welcome to Costa Rica!

Fly into San Jose's Juan Santamaria International Airport, then transfer on your own to our Costa Rica hotel. (We will send hotel details closer to departure.) Our tour officially begins in the early evening when you'll meet your Alyson Adventures tour director, your local Costa Rican tour guide, and other group members at a special welcome dinner at gay-owned Café Mundo. After dinner there'll be a Night Out City Tour to explore San Jose's nightlife, visiting the most famous gay spots of the San Jose area.

2: Hot stuff: Arenal Volcano

In the morning, we depart for Arenal Volcano. We follow a scenic route, which leads us to a magnificent view of this perfect cone as we approach our hotel. Along the way, we will get our first taste of Costa Rica's diverse natural environment with a hike to a beautiful waterfall. Later in the afternoon we visit the nearby Tabacon Hot Springs where you can swim in natural hot tubs and under waterfalls heated by the volcano, and relax in this unforgettable paradise. After dark, from this enchanted spot, if we get a clear night, we may get to see volcanic activity, including red incandescent lava flowing down from the crater on the upper slopes.

3: Into the Clouds: Monteverde

After breakfast, we start our trip to Monteverde. The four hour ride follows roads carved out from the mountains and jungle through some amazing scenery. During the drier season, January through April, we will offer an arduous but rewarding optional tour. It starts with a short boat trip across Arenal Lake, then continues with a three-hour horseback ride that fords a river three times while climbing 3500 feet to the Monteverde Cloud Forest, and passes through several unique ecosystems. (During May through December, parts of the trail may be impassible due to mud, so we offer whitewater rafting near Manuel Antonio instead - see below.)

In Spanish, Monteverde means "green mountain" and it is one of the most interesting and popular destinations in Costa Rica. The world famous Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is one of the most outstanding wildlife sanctuaries in the Americas and includes eight distinct ecological zones. It protects more than 400 species of birds and over 100 species of mammals. There will be plenty to see and we will use every mode of transportation we can find to explore this wonderland.

4: Over the Top

After breakfast we will literally be swinging above the trees. The Sky Trek is a system of several platforms suspended above the ground in the midst of tree boughs. Zip line cables securely anchored to each platform allow us to slide from one to the next a total of nine times. The trained guides start us out with a short "zip," then we experience longer and longer slides as we gradually ascend the mountainside on a series of paths connecting the platforms. The peak experience starts from an observation platform at the top of the Continental Divide. On one side, you can see a panoramic view towards Arenal Volcano and the Atlantic lowlands, and on the other, you can see the many bays of the Pacific coast. If you have made it this far, you probably don't want to walk all the way back down, so the only remaining way off the platform is to hang onto your pulley, and soar out above the trees. This may be as close as you ever get to experiencing what a bird feels! And if you would rather not fly alone, you may be able to share the experience in tandem with a friend or one of the strong, young Sky Trek guides. For those who would rather not fly through the air, a series of suspended bridges throught the canopy also give a great view of the inner forest.

In the afternoon we will have the opportunity to take a look at the town of Santa Elena and its art galleries and butterfly garden.

5-7: Manuel Antonio National Park

After our visit to Monteverde, we gradually descend on the gravel "highway" past farmland and villages to the Pacific lowlands, then along the coast to the famous Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica's gay beach Mecca. Along the way, we'll have lunch at Steve and Lisa’s, a pleasant family-run restaurant on a quiet stretch of beach, with constant natural air-conditioning from the sea. After we check in at our hotel there will be free time to relax and enjoy the hotel’s facilities. This evening we'll explore the rich gay life of the Manuel Antonio area and have dinner in a local restaurant.

The daily itinerary for our time in Manuel Antonio will vary with the season and the weather, but the following gives an idea of the activities we are likely to enjoy there.

On one day you can choose between mountain biking and a half day horseback ride, featuring an abundance of colorful birds and a double waterfall that invites you in for a jungle swim. Beginning at the Finca Valmy ranch in the mountains near Manuel Antonio, our guide will help you discover the richness of the land and the wildlife as you ride through primary and secondary rainforest; the home of toucans, parrots, beautiful butterflies, and animals of many species. The views of the valley and the surrounding tropical forests are spectacular. Afterward, we will return to the Finca Valmy ranch for a swim in their pool and a home-cooked traditional Costa Rican meal in the typical Costa Rican style.

For those on trips between May and December, when there is more rainfall in the mountains, we will offer a full-day optional whitewater rafting trip. It is a bit of a drive from Manuel Antonio, but the experience is well-worth the ride to the headwaters of the river. The rapids are typically Class II or Class III, but vary based on water levels.

One afternoon, we will embark on a sunset sail. Our shipboard adventure begins as we sail along the scenic coast, past the beautiful beaches and islands of Manuel Antonio National Park. As the boat glides quietly under sail we may see dolphins which frequently swim in the boat’s wake. Occasionally whales and giant sea turtles are also a special thrill, and the ever present abundance of sea birds is enjoyed by even the most avid wildlife enthusiast. After dinner onboard, you may view one of the often spectacular sunsets. It is truly a romantic ending to a memorable day in paradise.

We will try to keep some time unscheduled, during which you may wish to visit "La Playita", the exclusive gay beach in the area. (This secluded beach can only be reached during low tide, unless you want to stay several hours!)

8: Manual Antonio to San Jose

This morning we will offer a guided tour into the National Park, which protects an amazing variety of plants and animals in its tiny coastal preserve. In the Park are enchanting white-sand beaches ideal for swimming, and monkeys and iguanas who share the park with you. In the afternoon,we transfer to San Jose where we spend our final night in Costa Rica with a Farewell Dinner and tour of the nightlife.

9: Departure Day

Our tour ends after breakfast, so you can book flights for anytime today. We hope you have enjoyed your adventure and look forward to seeing you again soon!