Exciting Costa Rica adventure

Below is the basic tour package included for the AOC itinerary. This trip is a slight variation from the one that Lisa M. planned. You can add on or subtract activities based on your preference and budget. Speak with AAA travel agent Vicki Strong (770-939-7520, ext. 2233) for specifics for your trip after you make your initial $200 non-refundable deposit by Friday, Dec. 30. (Vicki's email: vstrong@aaasouth.com)

Special note: Vicki will be in Costa Rica Dec. 10-18. She will not be able to answer phone calls or collect your deposit during this time. She knows Costa Rica quite well and will serve as a great resource for the AOC!

Cost - $1,060.00 a person without airfare (If you are in a double room.) The cost is $1,549 a person without airfare if you are in a single room. We can try to pair up singles into a double room to help you save money.

Here is the basic AOC trip package (all included in your payment):

March 3: Welcome to Costa Rica! Upon arrival to Juan Santamaria International Airport in San Jose, you will be greeted by a Brendan vacations representative. Private transportation will then be provided to Arenal Paraiso Hotel resort and spa. (http://arenalparaiso.com/app/cms/www/index.php). (A typical example of the vehicle used for transportation is a Toyota Hiace van with air conditioning.) The hotel is located right in front of the Arenal Volcano and 2 1/2 hours from San Jose. The hotel has 14 swimming pools, two saunas, spa, gym, nature walking paths and two restaurants. Spa treatments cost extra money and reservations must be made separately from the group.

During your four night stay, you will enjoy a standard room with two beds. Breakfasts are included in the package. You'll spend your first day in Costa Rica getting settled into the hotel and exploring the area around it.

March 4: Transportation provided to the Sky Tram and Sky Trek Costa Rica tour. (http://www.arenal.net/tour/skytram-skytrek) You'll take a slow paced sky tram gondola through the rainforest with endless views during the mountainous ascent. Accompanied by a bilingual guide, tour takers will have the ability to stop the tram at any point, a feature that allows for magnificent, one-of-a-kind photographs to be captured and tropical birds to be spotted. Once the top is reached, visitors are invited to explore the observation deck, where they'll enjoy magnificent views of the Arenal Volcano's southern face. From here, one can also see Lake Arenal and the rolling hillsides that surround it. Visitors can spend as much time as they please on the observation deck before heading back down. There are two ways to return to the Sky Tram's base. You can ride the tram down the same route that you ascended or sign up for a fast-paced zip line tour to the bottom. Those seeking an adrenalin rush would be wise to choose the second option, which will have them flying along a series of secure cables connecting one mountain to another. At the tram's base there is another large observation deck as well as a restaurant. The views from this deck compliment and contrast the one from the mountain's peak.

The rest of the day can be spent as you like. You could book another trip with AAA or the hotel - or just relax at the hotel.

March 5: Transportation is provided to your Arenal Volcano Hike. For this walk to the Arenal Volcano you will follow the El Silencio path. A local tour guide, professional and bilingual will join you and share with you all his knowledge related to rain forest. During your walk you will be able to watch primary and secondary forests, and impressive fauna of the area in a completely safe way thanks to our expert tour guides. This walk up to the observation point takes about 1.5 hour. There you will observe falling lava. After this thrilling experience you will be able to go to the thermal waters (Tabacon Hot Springs) where you will be able to get a relaxing and well deserved bath. Dinner is also included with admission.

The rest of the day can be spent as you like. You could book another trip with AAA or the hotel - or just relax at the hotel.

March 6: Day on your own to relax and do what you want. For an additional cost, you can reserve one of these excursions through AAA or the hotel: Horseback Ride to the Arenal Volcano, rafting, river safari, explore venado caves, bike ride and more.

March 7: Transportation provided to Casitas Eclipse Hotel (http://www.casitaseclipse.org) where all breakfasts are included in your price. Hotel Casitas Eclipse is an exuberant Mediterranean - style hotel, located in Manuel Antonio, Quepos, Costa Rica. Just in front of the hotel, the main road heads to Manuel Antonio National Park (http://www.manuelantoniopark.com/mapk/english/park.html) and to the Manuel Antonio world famous beach. The hotel is surrounded by exotic gardens which combined with their strategic location to park, enables guests to enjoy within premises, the occasional visits of White Fcaced Capuchin monkeys, Squirrel monkeys and the noisy Howler monkeys; green iguanas, sloths, exotic birds, colored frogs and other wildlife.

Standard rooms at this hotel have cable TV, telephone, private bathroom with hot water, refrigerator, hair dryer, air conditioning, living room, ceiling fans, safety box, roofed terrace, coffee maker.

The hotel's restaurant is one of the most popular and well known in the area specializing in Mediterranean cuisine. The hotel also features a relaxing pool.

You'll spend this day getting settled into the hotel and exploring the national park and beach.

March 8: Transportation to kayaking at Damas Island. Spend a few luxuriously indulgent hours paddling with the currents as your highly trained, bilingual naturalist guides reveal the protected inland waterways of the Damas Estuary and mangrove habitat. Explore an unforgettable plethora of flora and fauna as you learn about, experience, and participate in our magical Costa Rican mangrove and tropical rain forest ecosystem -- but don't forget your camera. Paddle comfortably as an intimate group under the shade of several tall species of mangroves, which grow only in select areas of the world and in Costa Rica. The pace of this adventure is determined by your abilities and interests, and the abundance of wildlife you want to stop and observe (or learn about) - all in its natural and breathtaking habitat. Watch sloths and numerous species of monkeys travel through the tree canopy, hunt for nocturnal silky anteaters and several types of non-poisonous snakes resting in the mangroves, and listen to the songs of the various marine birds as they glide over your kayak curiously looking for adventure. And whenever you want, stop and enjoy some local fresh fruits and refreshments as you pause to savor your adventures thus far. This kayak tour is an unforgettably memorable experience that will help you understand and explain the exotic secrets and treasures of our Costa Rican tropical rain forest.

The rest of the day can be spent as you like. You could book another trip with AAA or the hotel - or just relax at the hotel.

March 9: Day on your own to relax and do what you want. For an additional cost, you can reserve an excursions through AAA or the hotel or explore the Manuel Antonio National Park.

March 10: Private transfer will bring you back to Juan Santamaria International Airport. Your shuttle needs to be scheduled to arrive 3 hours prior to your departing flight.

Your payment (if you just pick the basic AOC trip package) covers these costs:

. Travel Assistance before and while you are in Costa Rica with Vicki Strong (AAA travel agent)
. VIP Airport Greeting
. All private transportation between airport/hotels/activities 
. Baldi Hot Springs Admission
. Volcano Hike Tour
-Tabacon Hot Springs
. Canopy Zipline Adventure & sky tram gondola ride
. Kayaking
. Casitas Eclipse Hotel (3 nights)
. Arenal Paraiso Hotel resort & spa (4 nights)
. Visit to Manuel Antonio National Park and beach
. 7 Breakfasts & 1 dinner

**Additional excursions beyond this agenda will cost you more money. Ask Vicki for details if you want to do more.

Notes: Registration is NOT COMPLETE until you've signed up and paid your $200 (per person) deposit by Friday, Dec. 30. Make ALL payments over the phone or in person to: Vicki Strong, AAA travel agent in Tucker, Georgia. 770-939-7520, ext. 2233. Vicki's email: vstrong@aaasouth.com

No money will be handled by the Atlanta Outdoor Club. Vicki will be in Costa Rica Dec. 10-18. She will not be able to answer phone calls or collect deposits during this time.

Final payment to Vicki is due by January 18, 2012.

$200 deposit with AAA is NOT refundable = important note!