Free day at leisure. Hotel Bougainvillea offers a free shuttle service to downtown San Jose every hour. Overnight at Hotel Bougainvillea.

Early morning pick up at the hotel for the 4 1/2-hour drive to Monteverde. Stop en route at the Carara Biological Reserve. Covering approximately 10,000 acres, Carara is one of the last remaining examples of tropical wet forest to be found on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica and is an important habitat for Scarlet Macaws, Chestnut-mandibled Toucans, Marbled Wood Quails, and Baird's Trogons as well as Collared Peccaries, Tayras (a black weasel), and Banded Anteaters. Crocodiles up to 10 feet long can be found along the Rio Grande de Tarcoles, on the western boundary of the reserve.

After the reserve visit the Waterfall Canopy, a tour certified for safety by the American Challenge Course Technologies (ACCT). You begin with a short walk along a trail leading toward the canopy adventure. As you walk, your guide will point out interesting facts about the flora and fauna you may encounter on the trail, including exotic fruit and hardwood trees, and birds such as toucans, the Aracari and Scarlet Macaw, which can often be seen and heard (especially early in the morning and around dusk). Also look for the stunning blue Morpho butterfly, found near the waterfalls, as well as White-faced Monkeys.

The walk ends just past the waterfalls, where you will then take to the trees. A three-story tree house is found at the highest point on the tour, 100 feet above the ground. Once there, you'll have plenty of time to enjoy the scenery. The Waterfall Canopy includes 13 platforms, seven cables of varying lengths, a tree house, Tarzan Swing, suspension bridge and 90-foot rappel down at the end (optional for the adventure seekers).

After the tour, drive to the Villa Caletas Hotel for lunch. The spectacular 360-degree panorama from this tropical jungle perch sweeps over the gulf islands of the Nicoya Peninsula to the crescent beaches of Jac, Herradura and Punta Leona, taking in the majestic mountains. After lunch, continue on to Monteverde. Dinner and overnight at Monteverde Lodge & Gardens.

After breakfast, join a guided excursion in the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve with a local guide. Founded in 1972, the Reserve extends down both slopes of the Tilaran Mountains (elevation 2,300 to 5,600 ft.), encompassing six different ecological life zones and protecting more than 100 species of mammals, 400 species of birds and 1,500 species of plants. From January to July, depending upon your luck and patience, you may observe in its natural habitat the Resplendent Quetzal (occasionally a dozen or more individuals at once). Other species include the Three-wattled Bellbird, the Emerald Toucanet, and White-faced and Howler monkeys.

Return to the hotel mid-day for lunch (not included in the tour price). Late afternoon guided sunset horseback ride through coffee and banana plantations. Visit a waterfall and end with a view of the Gulf of Nicoya and the sunset. Dinner and overnight at Monteverde Lodge.

After breakfast depart on a three-hour land and boat transfer to Arenal. Night visit to the Hidalgo Family Hot Springs. Several years ago, they discovered a hot spring at one of their ranches on the skirts of the Arenal Volcano and built a swimming pool using water from the spring. They have now built pools where you can sit and soak with the cascade of hot spring water and views of the Arenal Volcano (weather permitting). Dinner will be prepared by your hostess, Dona Mireya, in the tradition of local hospitality. Overnight at Hotel Volcano Lodge.

Free day at leisure. Optional activities available at extra cost. Overnight Volcano Lodge.

Early departure for the four-hour land transfer to Tamarindo Beach. Here, even during the rainy season, sunshine prevails for up to eight hours every day. Overnight at Hotel Capitan Suizo. Standard room with fan.

Full day to explore the area at leisure. Optional activities (available at extra cost) include: snorkeling, diving, birding, horseback riding, surfing, boat and kayak tours, and sailing. Overnight at Hotel Capitan Suizo.

Early morning transfer to the Tamarindo Airstrip for the 50-minute flight to San Jose. Transfer to the International Airport, arriving at least two hours before the departure of your flight back home.