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Tours
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The Costa Rican tourist boom of the last ten years has led to a proliferation of
tour operators
, and wandering around the city you face a barrage of tour agencies and advertisements: if you want to shop around it could take some time to sort yourself out. The following is not a comprehensive list of tour operators in San Jose, but all those that we've listed are experienced and recommendable, offering a good range of services and tours. They're all licensed (and regulated) by the ICT.
There are scores of others - be especially wary of fly-by-night operators, of which there are plenty. You often see, for instance, posters advertising cheap "packages" to Tortuguero or to Monteverde, both for about $80-100, less than half the price of a regular package. These cut-price tours are not packages at all, and never worth the price: in some cases you will be responsible for your own transport, accommodation will be the most basic, and no tours, orientation or guidance will be given - something you can easily arrange on your own, for the same price or less. Camino Travel , C 1, Av 0/1 (tel 257-0107, fax 257-0243, caminotr@racsa.co.cr ). Young, enthusiastic staff with high standards and a mainly European clientele. Experienced in both upmarket and independent travel, selling individual tours and booking good-quality accommodation from their range of country-wide contacts. Can also help with bus and transport information and car rental. Convenient downtown office. Costa Rica Expeditions , C Central, Av 3 (tel 257-0766, fax 257-1665, www.costaricaexpeditions.com ). Longest-established and most experienced of the major tour operators, with superior accommodation in Tortuguero, Monteverde and Corcovado, a superlative staff of guides and tremendous resources. Costa Rican Trails , Av 15, C 23/25 (tel 221-3011, fax 257-4655, www.costaricantrails.com ). Small, friendly and very professional agency who will visit you in your hotel room to discuss their range of tailor-made and flexi-drive holidays in all price ranges. They're also experts in adventure sports, including rafting and motorbike tours. Ecole Travel , C 7, Av 0/1 (tel 223-2240, fax 223-4128, www.travelcostarica.net ). Small agency, popular with backpackers, offering well-priced tours to Tortuguero and hiking trips to Chirripo (4 days) and the Osa Peninsula (3 days). They also run boats from Moin docks near Puerto Limon to Tortuguero. Expediciones Tropicales , Av 11-13, C 3 Bis (tel 257-4171, fax 257-4124, www.costaricainfo.com ). Well-regarded agency with knowledgeable guides which runs the popular "Four-in-One" day-tour of Volcan Poas and nearby sights ($79; 11hr), as well as a host of other trips from San Jose at competitive prices. Horizontes Nature Tours , C 28, Av 1/3 (tel 222-2022, www.horizontes.com ) Highly regarded agency concentrating on rainforest walking and hiking, volcanoes and bird-watching, all with an emphasis on natural and cultural history. Specialists in mountain biking and horse-riding too. OTEC , C3, Av 1/3 (tel 256-0633, fax 257-7671, gotec@sol.racsa.co.cr ). Large agency specializing in adventure tours including fishing, trekking, surfing and mountain biking, plus hotel reservations and car rentals. One of the few tour operators to offer student discounts. Serendipity Adventures , Turrialba (tel 556-2592, fax 556-2593, www.serendipityadventures.com ) Superior travel agency specializing in highly individual custom-made tours for self-formed groups with a sense of adventure. Serendipity make a point of searching out undiscovered parts of Costa Rica, are experts in canyoning and rappelling and the only company in Costa Rica to offer hot-air balloon trips. Tours are not cheap, starting at $2000 per person for eight days. Simbiosis Tours , Aptdo 6939-1000 San Jose, (tel 259-3605, fax 259-9430, cooprena@sol.racsa.co.cr ). Runs packages to six co-operatives composed of low-income rural families sharing a common goal of exploring new and sustainable land uses. Projects managed by the co-ops include private reserves, nature trails, horse-riding trips and organic farms.
SpECOps
(tel 232-4028,
www.specops.com
). Adventure education group, comprising US Special Forces veterans and expert Costa Rican guides, specializing in white-knuckle thrills, jungle-survival courses and adventure film and photography. Other useful information
for tourists (each section contains more specific sub-sections): |
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Costa Rica,
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