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COSTA RICA PURA VIDA NEW TOUR
COSTA RICA PURA VIDA
This is a review of the very first Costa Rica tour called Pura Vida
We have been to Costa Rica twice before on two previous Tauck tours. The first, I think was called National Parks of Costa Rica, and the second similar to the current Jungles and Rainforests, but not a Bridges tour. There is some overlap in sight seeing but also new places and 3 out of the 4 hotels were new to us.
There were 23 of a potential 35 people on our tour. A super bunch of people!
Highlights for us and possible suggestions for improvements.
It was a great tour, marred in the first few days by an unusual weather pattern of torrential rain and high winds and in addition it was much colder throughout our stay than when we have been here before at almost exactly the same time of year. Jan 9th to 16th.
Our tour guide, Wendy was a truly exceptional Tauck tour guide. Her care and attention to every detail was so impressive. Her daily information sheet was the most impressive we have ever encountered on a Tauck tour.
Our first hotel the Grano D'Oro was a boutique type, old mansion. The service and food were outstanding. One important caution is several small staircases of just a few steps on the way to our room. My husband fell flat on his face when we were being escorted there for the first time, the corridor was insufficiently lit and the steps unmarked. I suggest this being rectified as soon as possible before another Tauck guest might fall too. Maybe a different color for the carpet on the stair, better lighting, sign or a caution from the person escorting you to your room for the first time, especially as you are carrying hand luggage that blocks some of your downward view.
Our room had a small enclosed patio with a fountain, charming! There was a small garden patio on the roof with two small hot tubs. Though we liked this hotel, especially the food and service, we feel it is in an unsuitable location for the first night hotel. We have been to San Jose before and know it is complicated to find your way around because the streets have no signs. As most people arrive a day early, there should be more to do in and around the hotel, I suggest switching hotels so that the last hotel of the tour becomes the first and visa versa. You could get a massage, but there is no spa, you cannot get a couple's massage for instance. We had planned to do little for our early arrival day, which is what we did, we had massages at different times and were relaxed and ready for the beginning of our tour.
The first day of the tour was long, a visit to the excellent Gold Museum, but not the beautiful National Theatre that was right next door! We have been in the theater, its worth a visit for sure--- OK you say, why couldn't people visit there the day before the tour began, some people tried, it is closed on Mondays! Then on to the Toucan Rescue center, a new place for Tauck to visit, an excellent place, Toucans of several species, about 8 different types of owls. Sloths, including tiny baby ones! A few animals I had never seen in the flesh before, very good visit.
Then lunch and a long drive to the Arenal area, we arrived very late, maybe two hours late, partly because of weather issues but also because I don't think the timing worked on the itinerary which is so unusual on a Tauck tour. So we drove almost two hours of that time in the dark and could not even look at the beautiful scenery that we so love about Costa Rica. We are suggesting skipping the Gold museum, heading straight for the Toucan center and taking in the Gold museum on the return to San Jose instead of having a free afternoon, and, if it is not a Sunday, visiting the National Theater.
The Tabacon Springs hotel had large, gorgeous rooms. You had to walk or get a golf cart ride to the reception or restaurant, needed for us because of the torrential rain on the first day there. The Hot Springs were down the road, quite a hill, you could again hitch a ride there. Note, there are many 'Naturalistic' pools, some of which have gravel/stone bottoms, uncomfortable on bare feet, suggest having water shoes. The pools vary in temperature. There were a couple of more traditional style swimming pools, we did not try those. There is a large spa at the resort, we did not give it a try.
The float trip to the Penas Blancas river had to be cancelled, the river waters were far to high. Wendy did an excellent job finding a 'Plan B' and had a plan C and D up her sleeve if necessary. So instead we were given the option and had a two hour bus ride to the Cano Negro Reserve wetlands and River, took a guided boat ride and the weather cleared just as we got there. We saw similar wildlife to what you would see at the Penas Blancas river, we are lucky we had already been there twice before, though it is a favorite! The return ride was 2 1/2 hours. Some people found it too long, we were fine, enjoyed the scenery. But it did leave the scheduled 'Free afternoon' much shorter and some people had to rush to their spa treatments and the time at the Springs was only just long enough for us to enjoy before dinner.
By the time we arrived at Monte Verde, the weather became as expected, light rain, though remaining windy and cool. Layers, you know the drill.
Tauck has extended the stay at the Monte Verde Lodge to 3 nights, a very good idea. But we would have preferred another adventure or rainforest experience than the free half day built into the schedule. The guides from Forest Alive who took us through the rainforest are wonderful. We were especially pleased to have Andres as our guide, we have met him before, seen him on Nature TV shows and just love his vast knowledge and enthusiasm. The Nightwalk in the rainforest was a new Tauck inclusive and we loved it. Would have liked a longer Nightwalk experience.
Note the Monte Verde Lodge has a lovely very warm swimming pool, a pleasure to hang out in with quite a bit of shade.
Ziplining
we loved the zipline with spectacular views over Lake Arenal. I felt much safer on this zip line experience than the previous Tauck one in Costa Rica, that had us hurtling towards narrow wooded platforms surrounding trees. The platforms at this place were long metal 'runs' and I felt much more secure and that I might not fall off a ledge, as I felt I might when they unclipped me on the wood platform.
Shopping opportunities--- the best place for souvenir choice turned out to be the rest stop on the return to San Jose on the last day. A big choice of the usual stuff in Costa Rica, coffee, chocolate, wooden jewelry and boxes etc etc, paintings, painted ox carts, t shirts. Some people liked the leather and wooden rocking chairs that could be bought here and at the airport that could be broken down for carrying or shipping. No idea how much they cost, if you have a western style home, they could look great.
Do buy a bottle of Salsa Lizano condiment, a Costa Rica answer to things like ketchup, great on eggs and rice and beans. We have been getting this ever since our first trip to Costa Rica, thank you Amazon!
Food, please try all the traditional Costa Rican dishes, they are very tasty. Occasionally I make authentic recipe rice and beans and would make it more often if I thought my doctor would not shout at me, as he probably will when he sees I have put on weight from this vacation when I visit him next week.
Butterfly farm---been here before. An excellent presentation by the owner, who should be on TV as A great comedienne. If you like watching someone enthuse about bugs and putting large stick insects on her head and face or even larger giant cockroaches fully in her mouth and then crawl out, you will love it. Oh yes, plus the butterflies.
Excitement!--- when we got onto the small bus for our return, the group discovered that there was a tarantula on the bus, or maybe it came on with one of the group, it started to crawl up one of the men's legs. So another man scooped it up and took it into the butterfly place, it was not the one we had been shown there. Later on, he realized it had bitten him. He survived!
Coffee tour and chocolate tasting, both excellent.
Last day to San Jose and Intercontinental hotel--- Large International hotel. Tauck guests accommodated in the Tower block where we could access a small private dining area for breakfast. As mentioned, we would have preferred the free afternoon after arrival to be switched to a visit to the Gold Museum/ National Theater. The hotel had two large pools, way too cold to swim in, a spa. There was a largish indoor shopping Mall and supermarket just across the street from the hotel you could access via an overhead walking bridge nearby, familiar clothing and shoe stores, no bargains. The food and service on this entire tour was possibly the most consistent and best we have ever had on a Tauck tour.
Clothing--- no need to bring dressy clothes, no men in jackets. Some people needed 4 layers to keep warm and dry for the freaky weather experienced during this particular tour, I do not remember it being like this before, quite the opposite. I noted at the Monte Verde hotel that the laundry list of prices was extremely reasonable. You are there for 3 days. So should be the best place to get any laundry done.
I decided to buy some ponchos for this tour instead of taking our usual small packable and lightweight nylon raincoats; mistake, Tauck provided us with ponchos and for most of the tour after the first couple of days, our own, left at home rain coats, would have been sufficient.
Hair--- women, forget your hair looking decent, it fluffs out within minutes of being washed, even humidity in cool damp weather does the trick.
Thanks to Wendy, Alan, our local Costa Rican guide who traveled with us on the bus and filled us in on everything Costa Rican. And to Gaston, the Tauck tour guide who was learning the new tour to lead it in the future. PURA VIDA!
If I could be of any other help, please leave a message.
Tauck people, please start a PURA VIDA option on The forum. Please transfer my post to it. Thank you.
This is a review of the very first Costa Rica tour called Pura Vida
We have been to Costa Rica twice before on two previous Tauck tours. The first, I think was called National Parks of Costa Rica, and the second similar to the current Jungles and Rainforests, but not a Bridges tour. There is some overlap in sight seeing but also new places and 3 out of the 4 hotels were new to us.
There were 23 of a potential 35 people on our tour. A super bunch of people!
Highlights for us and possible suggestions for improvements.
It was a great tour, marred in the first few days by an unusual weather pattern of torrential rain and high winds and in addition it was much colder throughout our stay than when we have been here before at almost exactly the same time of year. Jan 9th to 16th.
Our tour guide, Wendy was a truly exceptional Tauck tour guide. Her care and attention to every detail was so impressive. Her daily information sheet was the most impressive we have ever encountered on a Tauck tour.
Our first hotel the Grano D'Oro was a boutique type, old mansion. The service and food were outstanding. One important caution is several small staircases of just a few steps on the way to our room. My husband fell flat on his face when we were being escorted there for the first time, the corridor was insufficiently lit and the steps unmarked. I suggest this being rectified as soon as possible before another Tauck guest might fall too. Maybe a different color for the carpet on the stair, better lighting, sign or a caution from the person escorting you to your room for the first time, especially as you are carrying hand luggage that blocks some of your downward view.
Our room had a small enclosed patio with a fountain, charming! There was a small garden patio on the roof with two small hot tubs. Though we liked this hotel, especially the food and service, we feel it is in an unsuitable location for the first night hotel. We have been to San Jose before and know it is complicated to find your way around because the streets have no signs. As most people arrive a day early, there should be more to do in and around the hotel, I suggest switching hotels so that the last hotel of the tour becomes the first and visa versa. You could get a massage, but there is no spa, you cannot get a couple's massage for instance. We had planned to do little for our early arrival day, which is what we did, we had massages at different times and were relaxed and ready for the beginning of our tour.
The first day of the tour was long, a visit to the excellent Gold Museum, but not the beautiful National Theatre that was right next door! We have been in the theater, its worth a visit for sure--- OK you say, why couldn't people visit there the day before the tour began, some people tried, it is closed on Mondays! Then on to the Toucan Rescue center, a new place for Tauck to visit, an excellent place, Toucans of several species, about 8 different types of owls. Sloths, including tiny baby ones! A few animals I had never seen in the flesh before, very good visit.
Then lunch and a long drive to the Arenal area, we arrived very late, maybe two hours late, partly because of weather issues but also because I don't think the timing worked on the itinerary which is so unusual on a Tauck tour. So we drove almost two hours of that time in the dark and could not even look at the beautiful scenery that we so love about Costa Rica. We are suggesting skipping the Gold museum, heading straight for the Toucan center and taking in the Gold museum on the return to San Jose instead of having a free afternoon, and, if it is not a Sunday, visiting the National Theater.
The Tabacon Springs hotel had large, gorgeous rooms. You had to walk or get a golf cart ride to the reception or restaurant, needed for us because of the torrential rain on the first day there. The Hot Springs were down the road, quite a hill, you could again hitch a ride there. Note, there are many 'Naturalistic' pools, some of which have gravel/stone bottoms, uncomfortable on bare feet, suggest having water shoes. The pools vary in temperature. There were a couple of more traditional style swimming pools, we did not try those. There is a large spa at the resort, we did not give it a try.
The float trip to the Penas Blancas river had to be cancelled, the river waters were far to high. Wendy did an excellent job finding a 'Plan B' and had a plan C and D up her sleeve if necessary. So instead we were given the option and had a two hour bus ride to the Cano Negro Reserve wetlands and River, took a guided boat ride and the weather cleared just as we got there. We saw similar wildlife to what you would see at the Penas Blancas river, we are lucky we had already been there twice before, though it is a favorite! The return ride was 2 1/2 hours. Some people found it too long, we were fine, enjoyed the scenery. But it did leave the scheduled 'Free afternoon' much shorter and some people had to rush to their spa treatments and the time at the Springs was only just long enough for us to enjoy before dinner.
By the time we arrived at Monte Verde, the weather became as expected, light rain, though remaining windy and cool. Layers, you know the drill.
Tauck has extended the stay at the Monte Verde Lodge to 3 nights, a very good idea. But we would have preferred another adventure or rainforest experience than the free half day built into the schedule. The guides from Forest Alive who took us through the rainforest are wonderful. We were especially pleased to have Andres as our guide, we have met him before, seen him on Nature TV shows and just love his vast knowledge and enthusiasm. The Nightwalk in the rainforest was a new Tauck inclusive and we loved it. Would have liked a longer Nightwalk experience.
Note the Monte Verde Lodge has a lovely very warm swimming pool, a pleasure to hang out in with quite a bit of shade.
Ziplining
we loved the zipline with spectacular views over Lake Arenal. I felt much safer on this zip line experience than the previous Tauck one in Costa Rica, that had us hurtling towards narrow wooded platforms surrounding trees. The platforms at this place were long metal 'runs' and I felt much more secure and that I might not fall off a ledge, as I felt I might when they unclipped me on the wood platform.
Shopping opportunities--- the best place for souvenir choice turned out to be the rest stop on the return to San Jose on the last day. A big choice of the usual stuff in Costa Rica, coffee, chocolate, wooden jewelry and boxes etc etc, paintings, painted ox carts, t shirts. Some people liked the leather and wooden rocking chairs that could be bought here and at the airport that could be broken down for carrying or shipping. No idea how much they cost, if you have a western style home, they could look great.
Do buy a bottle of Salsa Lizano condiment, a Costa Rica answer to things like ketchup, great on eggs and rice and beans. We have been getting this ever since our first trip to Costa Rica, thank you Amazon!
Food, please try all the traditional Costa Rican dishes, they are very tasty. Occasionally I make authentic recipe rice and beans and would make it more often if I thought my doctor would not shout at me, as he probably will when he sees I have put on weight from this vacation when I visit him next week.
Butterfly farm---been here before. An excellent presentation by the owner, who should be on TV as A great comedienne. If you like watching someone enthuse about bugs and putting large stick insects on her head and face or even larger giant cockroaches fully in her mouth and then crawl out, you will love it. Oh yes, plus the butterflies.
Excitement!--- when we got onto the small bus for our return, the group discovered that there was a tarantula on the bus, or maybe it came on with one of the group, it started to crawl up one of the men's legs. So another man scooped it up and took it into the butterfly place, it was not the one we had been shown there. Later on, he realized it had bitten him. He survived!
Coffee tour and chocolate tasting, both excellent.
Last day to San Jose and Intercontinental hotel--- Large International hotel. Tauck guests accommodated in the Tower block where we could access a small private dining area for breakfast. As mentioned, we would have preferred the free afternoon after arrival to be switched to a visit to the Gold Museum/ National Theater. The hotel had two large pools, way too cold to swim in, a spa. There was a largish indoor shopping Mall and supermarket just across the street from the hotel you could access via an overhead walking bridge nearby, familiar clothing and shoe stores, no bargains. The food and service on this entire tour was possibly the most consistent and best we have ever had on a Tauck tour.
Clothing--- no need to bring dressy clothes, no men in jackets. Some people needed 4 layers to keep warm and dry for the freaky weather experienced during this particular tour, I do not remember it being like this before, quite the opposite. I noted at the Monte Verde hotel that the laundry list of prices was extremely reasonable. You are there for 3 days. So should be the best place to get any laundry done.
I decided to buy some ponchos for this tour instead of taking our usual small packable and lightweight nylon raincoats; mistake, Tauck provided us with ponchos and for most of the tour after the first couple of days, our own, left at home rain coats, would have been sufficient.
Hair--- women, forget your hair looking decent, it fluffs out within minutes of being washed, even humidity in cool damp weather does the trick.
Thanks to Wendy, Alan, our local Costa Rican guide who traveled with us on the bus and filled us in on everything Costa Rican. And to Gaston, the Tauck tour guide who was learning the new tour to lead it in the future. PURA VIDA!
If I could be of any other help, please leave a message.
Tauck people, please start a PURA VIDA option on The forum. Please transfer my post to it. Thank you.
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