Afternoon tours range in price form $25 to $50 and include:  guide, transportation, and entrance fees.  Here are some examples of the tours we offer in the afternoons at  CPI HEREDIA.
 

AFTERNOON EXCURSIONS
 

Volcán Poás and Catarata de la Paz  Poás Volcano, elevation 2,708 meters above sea level, is an active volcano with two primary cones, one active and the other inactive which now forms a lake.  While at the volcano students have the opportunity to walk to the edge of both cones and along the paths connecting the two.  After, the tour passes through some of the most important agricultural areas of Costa Rica and stops to visit the Peace Waterfall.

 

Boat Trip - Sarapiquí  This tour takes the students through the Braulio Carrillo National Park, a rain forest famous for its rich flora and fauna.  Once in the port of Sarapiquí the group boards a boat for a 3 hour jungle tour to observe the wildlife of the region - monkeys, iguanas, birds, sloths and more.

 
Horseback Riding
On this tour the group rides horseback through the large "fincas" located in the mountain range surrounding the Central Valley. From these heights enjoy the amazing views of the valley below.

Hiking through the Rain forest
The group hikes with a guide through the protected rainforests located in the Central Valley.
 

Butterfly Farm and Sarchi  All visitors receive a two hour guided tour in an enclosed tropical garden filled with hundreds of butterflies.  Topics discussed are:  natural history, farm operations and butterfly exportation.  After the butterfly farm the group will travel to Sarchi, a famous artisan center where you can see the artists work (mainly wood products - painted and unpainted) and buy their crafts.

 

Café Britt Café Britt is a large coffee plantation located in Santa Lucia, Heredia, which offers a lively presentation and theater show educating the public about the coffee process, as well as the socio-economic and historical importance of coffee as a major export crop.

 

Noches Tipicas  On Wednesday evenings students may go to a  restaurant and eat dinner while being entertained by musicians playing the marimba and actors performing in a mascarada and short play.

 
Aerial Tram
The Rain Forest Aerial Tram, 45 minutes from San José, is located in a 450 hectare private reserve of virgin forest that borders Braulio Carrillo National Park.  The tram tour provides a bird's eye view of the rain forest and lasts 3 hours.
 

Cartago y Orosi  Cartago, the original capital of Costa Rica, offers a historical mural where the students visit colonial churches, vast coffee plantations, and the National Cathedral of the Virgin of Los Angeles.  The group stops at the "Mirador" to find an amazing view of the impressive Valle de Orosi.

 
 
WEEKEND TOURS OFFERED FROM CPI HEREDIA
Prices range from $80 - $195 and include hotel guide, transportation and park entrance fees.
 

Manual Antonio  Leave on Friday afternoon.  Pass by Rio Tarcoles and receive a talk on the flora and fauna of the area; if you are lucky you may see "lapas" and "cocodrilos". Arrive in Manuel Antonio, check-in, eat dinner.  Manuel Antonio National Park is a dry, tropical forest which is bordered by the blue waters of the Pacific ocean. On Saturday enter the park where you may spend the day on the beach or hike along the trails and observe various species of wildlife such as white faced monkeys, sloths, birds, butterflies and iguanas.  On Sunday, the morning is free to go to the beach area outside of the national park entrance.

 
 

Puerto Viejo and Manzanillo  This three day tour begins Friday afternoon.  The journey takes you through the large banana plantations that are native to the eastern region.  At the port city of Limon head south and continue along the Atlantic coast until you arrive in Puerto Viejo.  The Caribbean coast is very unique in its culture where the food, music and way of life are greatly influenced by the indigenous, Chinese and African cultures.  Famous for its beaches, the group will spend Saturday on two of the most beautiful, Puerto Viejo and Manzanillo.  On Sunday visit the Cahuita National Park where you may hike along the trails and animal watch or simply spend the day relaxing on the beach.

 
 

Arenal and Monteverde  The first leg of this tour is Arenal Volcano, located in the northern part of the province of Alajuela.  On the road to the volcano stop in the small town of Zarcero to see the gardens.  Once in Arenal, bathe and relax at the Tabacon Hot Springs, natural water pools and falls heated by the volcano.  On Saturday morning hike to Catarata La Fortuna and in the afternoon hike along the base of the volcano to observe birds, monkeys and other animals.  Sunday morning the group moves on to Monteverde, in the province of Puntarenas, which is famous for its rain forest and protected reserves.  Here you visit the Sky walk, 5 connecting bridges overlooking the Santa Elena Cloud Forest.

 

Tortuguero and San Juan River  The group boards the boat in Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui early Saturday morning.  The boat tour travels along the Nicaraguan border, passes by Barra del Colorado fishing region and continues along the canals to Tortuguero National Park.  This park is famous for its tree-lined canals which are home to crocodiles, sloths, congo and spider monkeys, toucans, butterflies and the great green turtle (July - October) and Baulan turtles (June - July).  During the egg laying season there is a guided beach tour to observe the turtles.  On Sunday the group visits the Biological Station Caño Plama.

 
Cavernas de Venado and Caño Negro Reserve
After crossing the Upala route the group arrives at the Caño Negro Reserve; here you board a boat which takes you to the small island formations of Lago Caño Negro where hundreds of animals nest and live.  This area is also very will known for attracting migration birds.  The Cavernas de Venado are located one hour north of La Fortuna.  The 1 1/2 hour tour descends into the caves where the guide discusses the natural rock formations as well as the animals natural to this habitat such as bats, snakes, and spiders.
 

 





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