Dates: March 31 - April 8, 2027

*The program aligns with the dates of the Central America expedition (April 9 - 26, 2027)

Duration: 9 days / 8 nights

Number of participants: 8 – 12

Cost per person:

• 3 890 USD for 11 to 12 participants, or
• 4 050 USD for 10 participants, or
• 4 350 USD for 8 to 9 participants.

*10% early booking discount (in case you book before October 31, 2026)

Everything is included, except for:

• international flight to Panama City (Panama) and back from San Jose (Costa Rica),
• international flight from Panama City (Panama) to San Jose (Costa Rica),
• medical insurance for travelling abroad,
• Panama and Costa Rica visas (not required for citizens of Russia and some other countries),
• partial lunches and dinners.

Approximate cost of flights Istanbul - Panama City and San Jose - Istanbul: from 1400 USD (usually self-purchased. We advise on ticket purchase).

Approximate cost of flights San José - Managua: 200 – 300 USD (usually self-purchased. We advise on ticket purchase).

Approximate cost of flights Panama City - San José: 270 USD (usually purchased independently. We advise on ticket purchase).

Single supplement in hotels: 910 USD (single occupancy is available throughout the itinerary).


TRAVEL PROGRAM: tour to Costa-Rica, tour to Panama


Day 1. March 31, 2027 (Wednesday). PANAMA CITY (PANAMA)

Arrival in Panama City, the capital of Panama. Meet-and-greet with a Russian-speaking guide at Tocumen International Airport.
Transfer to the hotel in Panama City (transfer included for the two flights specified in the itinerary; Uber is also available in Panama). Hotel check-in and free time.

Meals: None
Accommodation: hotel Riu Plaza Panama 5* (or similar)

* Recommended flights to Panama City:
– Turkish Airlines departure from Istumbul on March 31 at 09:40 AM, arrival in Panama City on March 31 at 18:25; or
– Any other flight from any city arriving in Panama City at any time on March 31.


Day 2. April 1, 2027 (Thursday). PANAMA CANAL (AGUA CLARA LOCKS) – FORT SAN LORENZO

This morning at 8am, after a hearty breakfast, we depart for Panama's Caribbean coast with its beautiful wild beaches, islands and coves that preserve the history of great conquistador conquests and daring pirate attacks. The names of Francis Drake, Henry Morgan, Edward Vernon, and other flibusters are inextricably linked to the fortresses of San Lorenzo and the town of Portobelo. In order to protect his treasures from sea robbers, King Philip II of Spain ordered the construction of a series of fortresses on the Caribbean coast, most of which have survived to this day: San Lorenzo, San Jerónimo, Santiago de la Gloria, San Fernando and San Fernandin.

In 1980, all the colonial buildings and fortresses of the 17th and 18th centuries on the Caribbean coast of Panama were inscribed on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List.
We will first visit the new Agua Clara locks on the Caribbean side of the Panama Canal. The Agua Clara locks are new locks that began operations in 2016. Large ships called POSTPANAMAX or NEOPANAMAX pass through them. The visitor centre is located on a cliff, from where it is very convenient to watch the movement of the ships. You can see Lake Gatun and see the ships that are in it waiting their turn to enter the locks. The visitor centre shows a 20 minute film about the canal and the construction of this lock.

There is only one lunch spot here, at the former US base of Shelter Bay. It's now a sports port where yachtsmen replenish their supplies, fix their boats, and relax on land. There is a decent restaurant here. If desired, tourists can stop by, have a coffee or a full meal. Payment on the spot.

After that we will go to the fortress of San Lorenzo. A tour of the fortress, where work has been done to preserve its historical appearance, and which is still in progress, a small museum is open.
Return to Panama City. On the road about 2,5 hours.

Meals: breakfast
Accommodation: hotel Riu Plaza Panama 5* (or similar)


Day 3. April 2, 2027 (Friday). PANAMA CITY - EMBERA INDIANS IN CHAGRES PARK - PANAMA CITY - SAN JOSE (COSTA RICA)

After breakfast at the hotel, we leave at 8am for an exciting journey to Chagres National Park, to the village of Tucipono, home to the Embera Indians. We go to the origins of Panamanian culture, to a place where man coexists peacefully with nature, and where nature can be so unpredictable.
We will learn about the pre-Columbian history of Panama and Mesoamerica, the origins of the Embera tribe, their traditions, crafts and life. Indians make amazingly beautiful and complex wicker baskets, sculptures made of mahogany Coco Bolo, statuettes made of the tahua fruit and much more. We will see Indian dances and even participate in them.

A special treat is a trip down the full-flowing Chagres River on an Indian pirogue and a swim in the Chorro del Mono waterfall, to which capuchin monkeys and howler monkeys sometimes descend. Traditional dances, traditional Indian lunch - fried tilapia and fried bananas.

For this excursion, we recommend lace-up sports shoes with a back that you don't mind getting wet. Depending on the season and the weather, sometimes the waterfall must be reached via a jungle trail, fording a rivulet. The water can be knee-deep.

Transfer to Tocumen airport and evening flight to Costa Rica.
Around 7 pm arrival in San Jose. Meeting the guide and transfer to the hotel in San-Jose, the capital of Costa Rica.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch
Accommodation included: hotel Wyndham San Jose Herradura Hotel 5* or similar.

* Recommended flights from Panama City to San José:
– Direct Copa Airlines flight departing from Panama City on April 2 at 18:34 and arriving in San José on April 2 at 19:02.


Day 4. April 3, 2027 (Saturday). POAS VOLCANO – COFFEE PLANTATION – SAN JOSE

Costa Rica is a country that is rapidly developing and adapting to constant societal changes. San José, the capital and the primary economic engine of the nation, leads Central America in the service sector, technological innovation, and economic progress, all while remaining mindful of its cultural heritage.
Breakfast at the hotel. Excursion to Poás Volcano National Park, home to the world's second-largest active volcano—featuring a crater 1.5 km in diameter—which is also jokingly referred to by scientists as the "world's largest geyser" due to the vast amounts of gas and steam it constantly emits. Poás is surrounded by a tropical cloud forest, where ancient trees grow alongside beautiful orchids and bromeliads. We will hike two trails, visiting first the active crater and then the emerald-green Botos Lake, located in an inactive crater at an altitude of 2,700 meters above sea level.
Next, you will visit the Doka Estate coffee plantation, where you will learn about the coffee-growing process and its impact on Costa Rica's history.
After the plantation visit, we will enjoy a lunch featuring local Costa Rican dishes.

On the way back, we will stop in the capital, San José, for a brief panoramic city tour, followed by dinner at one of the city's restaurants.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch
Accommodation included: hotel Wyndham San Jose Herradura Hotel 5* or similar.


Day 5. April 4, 2027 (Sunday). BAJOS DEL TORO – BLUE FALLS – LA FORTUNA

After breakfast, we leave our cozy hotel and head north. We will travel along a scenic route winding through the slopes of the Central Cordillera to the Bajos del Toro Valley, home to numerous stunning waterfalls. A hike across rugged terrain awaits us, but the effort will be richly rewarded by the sight of breathtaking waterfalls with turquoise waters, where we can enjoy a refreshing dip. Be sure to bring a swimsuit and a towel—this is an opportunity you won't want to miss.

In this park, we will have a unique opportunity to observe and photograph dozens of tiny hummingbirds visiting the dense clusters of flowers. Afterward, we will travel through picturesque rural landscapes to the San Carlos Valley, where we will stay for the next two nights.

Transfer to the town of La Fortuna and check-in at Hotel Los Lagos Spa & Resort—the best thermal spring complex in the area. Thermal springs are one of the region's main highlights, and they are located right at our hotel.

Meals included: breakfast
Accommodation included: hotel Los Lagos Spa & Resort 4* (deluxe rooms) or equivalent


Day 6. April 5, 2027 (Monday). SAN CARLOS VALLEY – CAÑO NEGRO RESERVE – LA FORTUNA

After breakfast, we depart from the hotel at 7:30 a.m. We will head to the northern part of the country, to a fishing village that serves as the gateway to the Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge. This reserve is a sanctuary for a multitude of birds and caimans. Caño Negro spans an area of ​​nearly 10,000 hectares—comprising navigable rivers, wetlands, and forests—and is home to approximately 350 bird species, 78 mammal species, and over 300 fish species.

One of the most famous inhabitants of this reserve is the tropical gar (*Atractosteus tropicus*), considered a living fossil; its appearance has remained virtually unchanged since the time of its ancestors, which lived during the age of dinosaurs more than 150 million years ago. This fish possesses unique characteristics: it has a swim bladder connected to the esophagus that functions like a lung. The gar periodically surfaces to take in air.

It also has a long snout resembling that of an alligator, equipped with several rows of sharp teeth. The fish's meat is highly sought after by the local population; fishermen typically salt and sun-dry the meat before selling it in the villages. Freshly cooked gar meat tastes similar to shrimp. A two-hour boat trip through the park's waterways awaits us at the reserve. We will look for wildlife along the riverbanks, including the famous sloths and howler monkeys.
After the tour, we will enjoy a rustic-style lunch in a fishing village.
We will then return to the hotel to relax in the thermal springs.

Meals included: breakfast
Accommodation included: hotel Los Lagos Spa & Resort 4* or equivalent


Day 7. April 6, 2027 (Tuesday). LA FORTUNA – MONTEVERDE CLOUD FOREST PARK – NICOYA PENINSULA

Early this morning, we will head to the famous village of Monteverde, situated in the "cloud forest" zone—a unique tropical forest preserved thanks to the efforts of expatriates who settled there in the 1950s. Today, we will visit the Selvatura Hanging Bridges, a marvel of engineering and design that adheres to impeccable safety standards. We will walk through an enchanting forest blanketed in mosses and epiphytes.

The excursion includes eight bridges of varying lengths, ranging from 62 to 146 meters, covering a total distance of approximately 3 kilometers. For those interested in more active pursuits, there is an option to add a zipline or canopy tour (costing approximately $100 per person); one of the cables on this tour spans a full kilometer, setting a record for the region. Afterward, the tour proceeds to the hotel on the Nicoya Peninsula, located on the Pacific coast.

Meals included: breakfast
Accommodation included: Tango Mar Beachfront Boutique Hotel & Villas 4* or equivalent


Day 8. April 7, 2027 (Wednesday). BEACH RELAXATION – THE WORLD OF BIOLUMINESCENCE

We will spend a day in paradise. Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula is renowned for its beaches, surfing, and status as a "Blue Zone" home to long-lived residents. Its western and southern coasts are washed by the Pacific Ocean, while the eastern side borders the gulf. We’ll spend the first part of the day relaxing—as we’ve truly earned it—on the country’s most beautiful beach. Picture snow-white sand, towering palms, and the gentle whisper of the surf. While we soak up the sun and swim in the turquoise waters, a fresh tropical lunch will be prepared for you right on the shore. It is a time for absolute tranquility and a deep connection with nature.

*For an additional fee, you can choose to visit Tortuga Island—the embodiment of a tropical dream. We will speed across the waters of the Gulf of Nicoya to the legendary island. Once there, we’ll enjoy snorkeling near volcanic rock formations: in the crystal-clear water, we’ll encounter schools of vibrant tropical fish and—with a bit of luck—spot graceful stingrays and sea turtles.

In the evening, the magic of bioluminescence awaits us—a rendezvous with the stars in the water. As the sun begins to set, we will return to the shore near Pakera to prepare for a truly mystical spectacle. Once twilight deepens, we will head out onto the water again (by kayak or boat). The bay comes alive in the darkness of night; every stroke of your paddle or touch of your hand triggers a burst of neon-blue light. It is bioluminescent plankton that transforms the ocean into a mirror image of the starry sky. You will find yourself at the heart of a light show created by nature itself—a sight that feels surreal and leaves an indelible mark on your heart.

After this magical finale, a comfortable transfer will take you back to your hotel, where you can reflect on the experiences of this incredible day.

Meals included: breakfast
Accommodation included: Tango Mar Beachfront Boutique Hotel & Villas 4* or equivalent


Day 9. April 8, 2027 (Thursday). TARCOLES RIVER - SAN JOSE AIRPORT

After breakfast, we check out of the hotel and head out for a cruise on the Tárcoles River, which flows near the Carara Reserve. During the cruise, we will have the opportunity to observe tropical birds nesting in the mangroves, rare scarlet macaws, and the local celebrities—American crocodiles. Transfer to the San José airport for your international return flight.

Transfer to San Jose airport for the return international flight.

For those continuing their journey through Mesoamerica, the flight to Managua (Nicaragua) departs either on the evening of April 8 (with a layover) or via a direct flight on the morning of April 9 (in which case an additional night in San José and an airport transfer will be required).

Meals included: breakfast
Accommodation included: no


* Recommended return flights from San Jose to your town:
– Any flight departing from San José no earlier than 18:00 on April 8.

* Recommended flights from San Jose to Managua, Nicaragua:
– A direct Sansa Airlines flight departing from San José on April 9 at 7:00 AM and arriving in Managua on April 9 at 8:20 AM (this option requires an additional night in San José), or
– A direct Copa Airlines flight departing from San José on April 9 at 9:17 AM and arriving in Managua on April 9 at 10:24 AM (this option requires an additional night in San José).



* Visits and excursions are subject to change depending on local conditions (road conditions, ferry/airline schedules and actual weather). If some visits and/or tours could not be realised due to external reasons, they will be replaced if possible.