Circle tour; The Poas Volcano / Waterfall Garden Park / Sarapiqui River (ALL DAY TOUR)
Roads are pretty good the whole way, and you will experience several different mini-climatic zones on this circle route. Leave The Irazu Best Western Hotel early to take advantage of the best time of day to experience the Poas Volcano. Head north through Heredia, driving basically uphill which will lead you up the interior mountain slopes past coffee plantations and thousands of acres of ornamental flowers that are exported all over the world. It is a pleasant drive, passing little villages splashed over the landscape, each with views down into the Central Valley, and the Escazu Mountains beyond. As you approach 2704 meter high Poas Volcano, the temperature will noticeably fall, and you will be happy you remembered your waterproof windbreaker.
Poas has the second largest volcano crater in the world. It's an easy kilometer walk along a paved path through the dense original-growth cloud forest to a lookout area peering over the cratorial expanse, deceivingly a mile across and a quarter mile deep. Far below is the bubbling and smoking pool and the very occasional geyser shooting muddy water high into the air. The last major blow out was in 1953 which created the crater you see today. In 1989 the park was briefly closed after a small eruption blew volcanic ash a kilometer in the air. Recently, there has been no imminent threats, but more will come in geologic terms. The sheer vastness of the lifeless area helps you to imagine the power of an eruption. Before leaving, visit the information center with an informative little volcano display, videos every hour, and photos and footprints of a variety of indigenous animals.
Descend back down the same road, heading towards the mountain village of Varablanca. Six kilometers past the Village of Varablanca you will see La Paz Waterfall Garden Park on the left side. They claim to have the world's largest butterfly farm, an orchids garden with a sampling of the fourteen hundred indigenous species to Costa Rica, and a funny hummingbird station with all sorts of the little guys zipping in and out sampling the sugar water. From the bus, you will see the La Paz waterfalls at the bottom of the park. Step out and take your Photos and maybe walk behind the falls.
Continue down the Cordillera Central mountain range and bottom out at the beginning of the Northern Plains that stretch north to Nicaragua and east to the Caribbean. Enjoy the beautiful scenery, as the road twists and undulates through thousands of acres of banana, pineapple and palm plantations. You will pass through several little hamlets exuding the layed back vida tipica, typical life in the countryside. Follow the main road through San Miguel, La Virgen, Chilamate and stop in Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui. Head down to the town dock on the bank of the Sarapiqui River, and jump on a boat already hired for you. You will see lots of wildlife along the banks of the Sarapiqui including the occasional cayman or crocodile, giant iguanas (the males turn orange during breeding time), lots of monkeys clamboring in the riverside trees, you may see a sloth or two and hundreds of exotic birds.
From Puerto Viejo head in the direction of Rio Frio for about forty kilometers (twenty-five miles) until you t-intersect with the busy Hwy.32. Turn right and start to climb the Cordillera Central over a mile vertically through scenic Braulio Carillo National Park with dense vegetation, poor man's umbrellas, and endless waterfalls along the way, especially in the wet season.
Once you cross the continental divide and descend into San Jose, you will be taken to your Hotel The Irazu Best Western.
The Central Pacific Coast
Your drive and tour will take you from The Irazu Best Western Hotel in
San Jose to the Hotel Parador in Manuel Antonio. You will
pass through Palm Tree plantations, Coffee Plantations and
Teak forests. We will stop at the Tarcoles River Bridge,
under which you will see as many as 30 Crocodiles, some over
16 feet long. This area with the crocodiles was featured on
T.V. by The National Geographic Magazine.
This region of the country stretches from the city of
Puntarenas to the mouth of the Rio Baru in the area known as
Dominical de Osa. These ecosystems provide habitat for
numerous plant and animal species that are protected in
several wilderness areas.
The region’s main attractions are its coast and
protected wilderness areas.
The coast is made up of numerous beautiful beaches.
With regard to wilderness areas, the regions features
wildlife refuges, national parks and biological preserves.
Also worthy of note is the scenic beauty along the
coastal highway that connects the Caldera area with the
Quepos and Manuel Antonio region.
Manuel Antonio Rain Forrest/Manuel Antonio National Park
One of the finest Rain forests preserves in Costa Rica, with various ecosystems, numerous plant and animal species. The area is inundated with coves, beaches, palm trees and many animals, including birds, monkeys, Sloth’s, Iguanas, butterflies and others