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Douglass Payne
Douglass Payne
Senior Coordinator of Alumni Education and Travel
Catherine Nichols
Catherine Nichols
Senior Coordinator of Faculty Relations and Travel
Audrey Liles
Audrey Liles
Coordinator of Alumni Enrichment

2024 Costa Rica’s Natural Heritage

Jan. 11-21, 2024
Tour Operator: Odysseys Unlimited
Price: From $4,581 (airfare included)
Tour Length: 11 days
View Brochure (PDF)
View all UNC-Odysseys tours (digital catalog)

In this small Central American democracy kissed by nature, discover a nation’s wealth in four distinct regions, from cloud forest to rainforest, Central Valley to Pacific Coast, with a small group of no more than 18 travelers.

Enjoy a relaxed yet comprehensive 11-day exploration as Costa Rica presents its staggering biodiversity:  pristine landscapes, unique microclimates, exotic flora and fauna.  Setting out from the Costa Rican capital, San Jose, travel to Irazú Volcano National Park to view the country’s tallest volcano.  Then depart for the picturesque Arenal region, stopping to learn about Costa Rica’s prized export at the Doka Coffee Estate on Poás Volcano’s fertile slopes, and to explore Carrizal’s wondrous orchid garden.  Spend the next three nights at a hotel offering magnificent vistas of Arenal Volcano.  After meeting students at an elementary school, encounter the natural splendor of the remarkable Ecocentro Danaus Biological Reserve.  Experience the rainforest from the canopy level on Arenal’s hanging bridges Sky Walk.

Continuing on to the “green cathedral” of Monteverde, take a guided walk that reveals the amazing Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, followed by a tour of the Monteverde Bat Jungle.  Visit Monteverde’s delightful Butterfly Garden, home to a variety of species.  The Costa Rican adventure concludes with a three-night stay at a Guanacaste beachfront resort, and a Tempisque River float safari in an extraordinary ecosystem.  With a day at leisure in this beautiful setting, kayak, hike, or explore lively Tamarindo.  Discover more ecological wonders with a 4-day/3-night pre-tour option in celebrated Tortuguero National Park.

Schedule of Events

  • Day 1 : Depart U.S.
  • Day 2 : San Jose
  • Day 3 : San Jose / Arenal Region
  • Day 4 : Arenal Region
  • Day 5 : Arenal Region
  • Day 6 : Arenal Region / Monteverde Cloud Forest
  • Day 7 : Monteverde
  • Day 8 : Monteverde / Guanacaste
  • Day 9 : Guanacaste
  • Day 10 : Guanacaste
  • Day 11 : Depart for U.S.

Eligibility

We offer the Tar Heel Travel program as a service to our alumni and friends of the University. As travel is a Carolina Alumni member perk, we require one traveler per room to be a member of the General Alumni Association in order to be eligible to travel. For more information or to join the GAA, contact the membership office at (800) 962-0742 or become a Carolina Alumni member online.

Additional Information

Note: Tour schedule is subject to change due to local conditions. Many excursions in this program involve an element of walking as some of the finest attractions are located in areas not closely accessible by motorcoach.

Join Tar Heel Travel’s listserv, and don’t forget to connect with Tar Heel Travel on Facebook and Twitter.

All prices and itineraries (including port order) are tentative and subject to change; final pricing adjustments may occur after the release of marketing materials.

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