 
|
 • Enjoy the history, nightlife & cuisine of San Jose • Traverse volcanoes and dip in geothermal hot springs in Arenal • Dance the night away and swim in the warm waters of Manual Antonio National Park • Encounter whales & dolphins on a boat excursion • Learn to cook with a local family • Fly through the forests on a zip line and gondola ride. The first thing you'll notice upon arrival to Costa Rica is a certain freeness and excitement in the air, which is know as Pura Vida, or Pure Life. The jewel of Central America, Costa Rica's environment is world-renowned as one of nature's most vibrant and diverse. One minute you'll be experiencing hip dining, colonial streets and hopping gay nightlife in San Jose and the next you'll find yourself hiking around a volcano and dipping in a hot spring near Arenal.
We recommend you relax and go with the flow because soon enough you'll be in the cloud forests of Monteverde where you'll zip-line from tree to tree on an action-packed adventure. But don't worry, we've left plenty of free time for you when you arrive to Manuel Antonio where the beaches are vast, the monkeys plentiful and the adventures endless.
This is a list of included activities on this trip. All other activities are optional and at your own expense. If you choose not to participate in these activities, the cost will not be refunded.
• Group leader from beginning to end of tour
• 9 Breakfasts, 1 Lunch, 4 Dinners
• Arrival airport transfer to joining point hotel
• Orientation walk in San Jose, led by your group leader
• Zip-line & Aerial Tram tour
• Local cooking class & dinner
• Whales & Dolphins Encounter boat excursion
• Manuel Antonio National Park Walking Tour
• Travel insurance package covering medical, trip interruption & baggage loss.
Meals:
While travelling with us you will experience the vast array of wonderful food available in the country you are visiting. To give you the maximum flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat, generally not all meals are included in the trip price. This also gives you more budgeting flexibility. Although our groups tend to eat together, you are welcome to break away at any time.
Accommodation:
3.5-4 Star locally owned properties and resorts (9 nights)
• International Airfare
• Departure Transfer
• Meals and activities not outlined in itinerary
All optional activities are entirely your choice and are not included in price of this trip. The following is not an exhaustive list, and should be used as a guide only. Prices are subject to change.
La Fortuna/Arenal:
• Rafting (Full day) $85 (incl. lunch)
• Cave tour $45
• Cano Negro Reserve $50 (full day leave at 6:30am)
• Volcano hike $25
• Safari Adventure $40
• Horse trip to waterfall $45
• Tabacon Hot Springs $65 (entrance with dinner)
• Baldi Hot Springs $28
• Fishing, half day on Lake Arenal, $120 for boat (holds 3 pax)
Manuel Antonio:
• Mangrove tour (kayak) $65 (incl. lunch)
• Mangrove tour (boat) $70 (incl. lunch)
• Rafting (Rio Naranjo) $90
• Rafting (Savegre) $80
• Sea Kayak tour $70 (incl. lunch)
• Dolphin watch $70 (sunset tour also)
• Manuel Antonio Park $20 (entrance)
• Guided tour of park $45 (incl. entrance)
San Jose:
• Irazu Volcano $43
• Grecia & Sarchi $31 (oxcart • handicrafts)
• City tour $30
• Poas Volcano $43
• Rafting (Pacuare) $95
• Rafting (Sarapiqui) $75
• Braulio Carara Reserve including breakfast and lunch $88
• Coffee Tour $52
• Butterfly Farm $25
3.5-4 Star locally owned properties and resorts (9 nights)
We have carefully chosen these gay-welcoming properties with you in mind. They have the right balance of comfort while still being locally owned.
Joining / Finishing Point Hotel
Colours Oasis Gay Resort
 Conveniently near the airport in San Jose, Colours Oasis Resort is close to Amusement Park San Jose, Multiplaza Mall Escazu, and Costa Rica National Stadium. Also nearby are Estadio Nacional and La Salle Natural Science Museum.
Colours Oasis Resort has an outdoor pool, a spa tub, and a fitness center. Complimentary high-speed Internet access is available in public areas. Dining options at this San Jose hotel include a restaurant, a poolside bar, and a bar/lounge.
The 16 guestrooms at Colours Oasis Resort include safes and bathrobes. Guests can use the in-room complimentary wireless and wired high-speed Internet access. Televisions are equipped with premium cable channels, first-run movies, and DVD players. Additional amenities include ceiling fans and complimentary toiletries.
If you have pre-booked an airport transfer, please clear Customs, then walk out to the "Arrivals Hall". Please make sure you walk out through the right door, instead of the left door. The left door is exclusively for airport taxis. Your driver will be holding a sign with your name on it. and have not made contact with our representative within 20 minutes of clearing customs and immigration, we recommend that you make your own way to the Joining Point Hotel.
No refund is available on missed transfers or portions of your trip owing to a different flight arrival or delayed flight arrival. Any additional cost incurred in order to meet up with your group is at your own expense.
Physical Rating
You are required to carry your bags on and off of our private transportation, up hotel steps, etc. Your itinerary may include easy paced walks or bike rides, but these are on mainly flat ground.
Group Size
Maximum of 16 travellers per group. Departure is guaranteed, subject to 4 people travelling.
Budget
We typically recommend budgeting between $500-750 USD, depending on your personal spending preferences (e.g. meals out, drinks, optional activities, etc).
Day 1
 Get a feel for San Jose on a guided orientation walk through the city. There are plenty of museums, cafes and shops to visit, and we'll have an optional dinner at one of San Jose's most gay-welcoming restaurants, followed by drinks for those interested.
You are met on arrival at San Jose airport and transferred to your hotel (please advise flight arrival details at least 14 days prior to departure if you wish to have this transfer provided).
Arrive in San Jose for a group meeting at NOON. Following the meeting, there will be an afternoon orientation tour of San Jose's the major sights and an optional dinner and evening out, for those interested.
San Jose sits in the middle of the fertile Meseta Central, ringed by volcanoes and jagged mountains begging to be explored. The city itself has all the sights and modern conveniences you would expect from a capital city. Although not the favoured spot for many tourists, the city is a great place for OUT Adventures. Not only are there great restaurants (such as Cafe Mundo) but also great shopping and nightlife (El 13!).
Day 2, and 3
 A 4.5 hour trip takes us to La Fortuna, our base for exploring the Arenal Volcano and surrounds. Set in the plains of Costa Rica, the volcano sits on the shores of Lake Arenal, a large artificial lake. The volcano has recently become quite quiet, but there are plenty of daytime activities to make up for it!
Set beneath Arenal Volcano with waterfalls and hot springs dotted throughout the forests, La Fortuna is the ideal spot to soak up the Costa Rican vibe. Head into the beautiful surrounds to explore the emerald countryside by bike or on foot. Discover the cool waters of the La Fortuna Waterfall or perhaps join a white water rafting excursion for a rush of adrenalin.
Take a dip in the Tabacon Thermal Spa hot springs, and enjoy a cooking class & dinner with a local family from Chachagua town. Top off your Arenal adventure by flying through the trees on a zip line & aerial tram.
Day 4, and 5
 In the heart of Puntarenas province lies Dominical Beach, a beach combers paradise! Look out for whales & dolphins on a sea excursion, take a walk down the gorgeous 4km long beach, and dine on fresh lobster and shrimp.
About 27 mi (44 km) south of Quepos is the quaint and growing beach town of Dominical. Along the coast, before arriving in this popular surf town, the cascading cliffs converge with the deep-blue ocean, producing a scenic landscape full of small coves for truly precious views. The laid back beach town is surrounded by plantations, estuaries, mangroves and marshes. Birder beware, you may not want to leave!
With perhaps the most consistent waves in Costa Rica, Playa Dominical is a haven for surfers. Swimming, however, can be dangerous due to the strong riptides that are found throughout the 2.5 mile (4 km) strip of beach.
The pleasant town of Dominical is relatively small but offers the beach-lover a wide variety of nearby beaches to choose from. Playa Dominicalito is just south of Dominical and is a great spot for beginner surfers and swimmers. At Punta Dominical, on the southern end of Playa Dominicalito, you'll see the lush green land merge with the rich blue Ocean. It is a great spot to watch the ocean's waves crash onto the rocky shore below and see a near perfect sunset almost year round. Other activities include treks to nearby waterfalls including the Nauyaca Waterfalls (7.5 mi from Dominical on Hwy 243), canopy tours, horseback riding, deep sea fishing, sea kayaking, scuba diving and snorkeling.
Days 6, 7, and 8
 Discover the white sand beaches, tropical vegetation and gay-welcoming vibes of Manuel Antonio National Park. Hike along the trails to spot some of the abundant wildlife or take to the ocean to swim, kayak or surf. With clearly marked trails, secluded bays and rocky headlands, this is the ideal location to explore the best of Costa Rica!
Day 5 is a day of travel to Manuel Antonio (4-5 hour approximately). The town is laid back but has a fairly vibrant nightlife. Spend your time enjoying the best of the park. If you have jungle on the brain, head straight to Manuel Antonio National Park for a hike along its many trails. Keep one eye on the great views and the other looking out for the abundant wildlife. Spot monkeys, armadillos, sloths and hundreds of birds. The park also boasts turquoise seas and white sand beaches (including a good gay beach); it would be easy to spend your time here in or by the water. Go swimming, fishing, kayaking, boogie boarding, sailing or surfing. Which activity will you choose?
Days 9, and 10
By midday on day 9 we travel back to San Jose (4 hours approximately) in time for a shower, farewell dinner and a final night on the town. Good food, great company, and hopefully even better stories to share! The perfect way to end our adventure.
You can depart at any time on day 10 as there are no activities planned.
|
|
Trip Style - Comfort
Dive into the real world with a soft landing. Comfort trips are all about variety: the places, the people, the activities and the culture. If you want a few little extras, but don't want to compromise on a true grassroots travel experience, this trip style is for you.
Culture Shock Rating: 2
The trip includes a range of accommodation, such as simple, but clean and comfortable hotels or bed and breakfasts. Days of being on the move are well interspersed, communication with the outside world is ever-present and a wide variety of food is commonly available.
Gay Rating: 2
This trip travels to a somewhat conservative area. We encourage you to experience the destination and culture with the following in mind.
Public Display of affection are not common in this area however in some cases holding hands is acceptable.
Gay-specific activities and gay-hosted events, meals or day tours may be included as part of this itinerary.
Physical Rating: 2
You are required to carry your bags on and off trains and buses, up hotel steps, etc. Your itinerary may include easy paced walks or other physical activity, but these are on mainly flat ground.
Joining Instructions:
If you have pre-booked an airport transfer, please clear Customs, then walk out to the "Arrivals Hall". Please make sure you walk out through the right door, instead of the left door. The left door is exclusively for airport taxis. Your driver will be holding a sign with your name on it. and have not made contact with our representative within 20 minutes of clearing customs and immigration, we recommend that you make your own way to the Joining Point Hotel.
No refund is available on missed transfers or portions of your trip owing to a different flight arrival or delayed flight arrival. Any additional cost incurred in order to meet up with your group is at your own expense.
Spending Money:
Every traveller is different and therefore spending money requirements will vary. Some travellers may drink more than others while other travellers like to purchase more souvenirs than most. Please consider your own spending habits when it comes to allowing for drinks, shopping, participating in optional activities and tipping.
Emergency Funds:
Please make sure you have access to an additional USD 400, to be used when unforeseen incidents or circumstances outside of our control (eg. a natural disaster or civil unrest) necessitate a change to our planned route.
Meals Not included:
We recommend budgeting approximately $500 for meals not included in this itinerary. This budget will vary based on your eating and drinking habits.
Money Exchange:
With ATMs being widely available in Costa Rica, credit and debit cards are the best way to access money - note though that charges are made for each transaction. Please check with your bank before departure that your card is accepted in the countries you are travelling to. Also ensure your bank is aware of your travel plans as - suspecting fraud - they may cancel your cards after the first few international transactions.
Be aware that your withdrawing limit may vary from country to country (regardless of your withdrawing limit in your home country) and it can be as low as the equivalent to US$100 per day.
It is also advisable to carry some cash in small denominations bills, for those times when ATMs may not be available. US dollars are the most readily changeable currency.
VERY IMPORTANT: US $100 bills with serial number CB or BE and any other USD bills that are old, torn, written or stamped on will not be accepted by local banks.
Tipping - Costa Rica
If you are happy with the services provided a tip - though not compulsory - is appropriate. While it may not be customary to you, it is of great significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels, inspires excellent service, and is an entrenched feature of the tourism industry across many OUT Adventures destinations.
The following amounts are based on local considerations and feedback from our past travellers:
Restaurants: Tipping is not expected in local markets and basic restaurants. However if you wish to tip, round your bill up to the nearest 5%. More up-market restaurants we suggest up to 10%-15% of your bill. Some restaurants already include tipping on the final amount, which should be shown on the bill as: propina, servicio o cubiertos.
Local Guides: Throughout your trip you may at times have a local guide in addition to your leader. We suggest USD 2 per person per day for local guides.
Drivers: You may have a range of drivers on your trip. Some may be with you for a short journey while others may be with you for several days. We would suggest a higher tip for those more involved with the group however a base of USD 1-2 per day is generally appropriate.
Your Group Leader: You may also consider tipping your leader for outstanding service throughout your trip. The amount is entirely a personal preference; however as a guideline $5-10 USD per person, per day can be used. Of course you are free to tip more or less as you see fit, depending on your perception of service quality and the length of your trip. Remember, a tip is not compulsory and should only be given when you receive excellent service.
Your OUT Adventures Group Leader
All OUT Adventures group trips are accompanied by one of our gay or gay-welcoming group leaders. The aim of the group leader is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best vacation possible.
Your leader will provide information on the places you are traveling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the places visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects. OUT leaders aim to support local guides who have specialized knowledge of the regions we visit - and who better to hear it from than the locals themselves? If you were interested in delving deeper into the local culture at a specific site or location then your leader can recommend a local guide service in most of the main destinations of your trip.
What to Take: Generally speaking, we recommend that you pack as light as possible. On this trip you will be expected to carry your own luggage from time to time, and you should keep the weight of your main bag under 20kgs/40lbs. You may also want to bring a daypack for any items that you'll need throughout the day when you won't have access to your main bag. There will be opportunities during the trip to do laundry, so there is no need to overpack.
Keeping In Touch
If you need to be contacted while travelling we recommend email. Wifi is generally available throughout the regions we visit, although it is possible you may be without email contact for several days on some itineraries. If someone wishes to contact you in an emergency while you are on one of our trips we recommend that they contact your local booking agent, or refer to our emergency contact details. We don't recommend that family and friends try to contact you through hotels, as they are subject to change and the reception staff may not speak English.
Health
All OUT Adventures travelers need to be in good physical health in order to participate fully in the group travel experience. If, in the opinion of our group leader, any traveller is unable to complete the itinerary without undue risk to themselves and/or the rest of the group, OUT Adventures reserves the right to exclude them from all or part of a trip without refund. We therefore ask that you read the itinerary in these Trip Notes thoroughly and then realistically self-assess your physical ability to complete the trip as described. Please consult with your doctor if you have any doubts. If you have a pre existing medical condition, please make sure you discuss the trip with your doctor.
Please contact your doctor for up-to-date information and prescriptions for vaccinations, anti-malarial requirements and any reasonably foreseeable illnesses whilst travelling. We recommend that you carry a First Aid kit as well as any personal medical requirements (including a spare pair of glasses/contacts). Please be aware that we are often in remote areas and away from medical facilities for some time during this trip, and for legal reasons our leaders are prohibited from administering any type of drug. Please ensure that you are adequately prepared.
Vaccinations:
Based on the entry requirements for countries visited on this trip, there are no vaccinations needed for entry. However, for more detailed information and to determine if you should take preventative measures to reduce the risk of illness, we recommend you consult your doctor or a travel medical clinic. OUT Adventures cannot provide vaccination recommendations.
Issues on your trip
While we always endeavour to provide the best possible holiday experience, due to the nature of travel and the areas we visit, sometimes things can and do go wrong. Should any issue occur while you are on your trip it is imperative that you discuss this with your group leader or our local partner right away so that they can do their best to rectify the problem and save any potential negative impact on the rest of your trip.
Your Fellow Travellers
You will be travelling with other gay travellers and occasionally their friends or family. As you travel on a group trip you will be exposed to all the pleasures and maybe some of the frustrations of travelling in a group. Your fellow travellers will probably come from all corners of the world and likely a range of age groups too. We ask you to be understanding of the various needs and preferences of your group - patience with your fellow travellers is sometimes required for the benefit of everyone's travel experience. Remember too that you have responsibilities to the group. If you are requested to be at a place at a certain time, ensure that you don't keep the rest of the group waiting. We have found time and time again that the very best trips we operate are those where the dynamics within the group work well - this takes just a little effort on your part.
Please note that due to privacy reasons we are unable to provide you with contact details and any personal information about your fellow travelers booked on your trip prior the the pre-trip email approximately one month prior to departure.
Single Travellers
Our group trips are designed for shared accommodation although a single supplement is often available for an additional charge. For no additional cost, single travellers share with a roommate of the same sex for the duration of the trip in a twin room (2 beds).
A couple of Rules
We believe in having fun exploring new cultures, while being responsible travellers. On our trips, generally there are only two rules: No drugs and no prostitution. These two activities can put the entire group at risk, and will result in removal from the trip by our group leader. We appreciate your cooperation.
|
|
