unique adventurous exotic WORLDWIDE HOLIDAYS Direct 01202

COSTA RICA
unique
adventurous
exotic
WORLDWIDE HOLIDAYS Direct 01202 606160
email: [email protected]
website: www.worldwideholidays.co.uk
costa rica - no
artificial ingredients
Temperature
Jan
April
Aug
Nov
24/14
26/17
28/16
25/16
Our aim is your perfect holiday in Costa Rica
Worldwide Holidays Direct are passionate
about Costa Rica. We offer a knowledgeable,
personalised and independent service with
the single aim of providing our customers with
the best possible holiday experience in this
beautiful country. Whether you would like to
explore the rainforest, walk the National
Parks, relax on a perfect palm fringed beach
or watch volcanoes erupting at night, we can
arrange it. Whatever you expect from Costa
Rica, we know how, when and where - we can
help you plan the perfect itinerary.
We have personal knowledge of this unique
country and work with our ‘hand- picked’ local
ground agents to tailor make your perfect
holiday. We will spend time to understand
your holiday needs and talk through our
thoughts and recommendations with you. We
regularly visit the country to inspect hotels,
spend time with our local agents and seek
feedback from customers to ensure our
knowledge is constantly up to date.
Health Protection
Required
None
Recommended Hepatitis A, Polio, Typhoid,
Tetanus and Malaria
Costa Rica is a country of surprises, it has
one of the safest and most stable
democracies of the Americas. Its army was
disbanded in 1949 and its funding redirected
to the nature reserves, arts and education.
The same size as Switzerland, Costa Rica is
set between Nicaragua and Panama in
Central America and is home to 4 million
Costa Ricans or “Ticos” who are very
passionate about their country. It is very
important to Ticos that guests to their country
love Costa Rica as much as they do.
This is a gentle wilderness where mammals,
birds, reptiles and insects live happily amongst
the forest, savannas and settlements. Costa
Rica has more nature reserves than cities.
With over 25% of the land officially protected,
visiting Costa Rica without getting involved in
nature is virtually impossible.
From the capital, San Jose, you can be walking
through lush rainforest within just a couple of
hours. In fact, you can travel overland to almost
any spot in the country within a day.
Experience the ever-changing panorama of
steaming volcanoes, forested mountains, dark
lowland jungle and rolling savannas. Sooner or
later you may want to make your way to the
tranquillity of the palm-fringed beaches. There
are dozens to choose from, all offering different
facilities and opportunities for fun and activity or
just simple relaxation. Costa Rica is a place for
adventure travel, white water rafting, surfing,
diving, horse riding, trekking, sea fishing and
every kind of boating activity are all embraced
by the natural wonders of this small, but
perfectly formed, country.
All the hotels that Worldwide Holidays Direct
suggest are of an excellent standard. Rather
than using hotels from the worldwide chains,
we prefer to use those that offer something a
little different and are in the very best
locations. The hotels mentioned here provide
an idea of what is available, but our staff
and ground agents sometimes discover
something new or renovated that we can
suggest at the time of your enquiry.
If you want to escape the stress of the
modern world and the monotony of more
conventional holiday destinations come to
Costa Rica with Worldwide Holidays Direct
where you can slow down, immerse yourself
in beauty and establish a link with nature.
WORLDWIDE HOLIDAYS Direct 01202 606160
costa rica - no
artificial ingredients
san jose
Many travellers use San Jose, the capital of
Costa Rica, as a base to explore the Central
Valley. Generally clients spend the night of
arrival and the night before departure here
due to its proximity to the airport. This
cosmopolitan city has a large assortment of
museums and cultural sights - including the
famous National Theatre built in 1879. There
are numerous international restaurants, from
Syrian to Thai, and street-side cafes. Set on a
high plateau, San Jose is surrounded by
three of Costa Rica’s most famous volcanoes,
Irazu, Turrialba and Poas.
San Jose is home to some of the most
beautiful rivers in the world and white water
rafting is a popular excursion. To the East is
the Braulio Carrillo National Park and the Rio
Sucio which runs orange from sulphuric
deposits of the volcano. A spectacular
rainforest aerial tram allows you to cruise for
almost a mile at different levels through the
canopy of the tropical forest seeing animals
and birds hidden from the ground in their
natural habitat.
Popular hotels in and around San Jose
include the beautiful Xandari Plantation &
Spa set overlooking the city and with
excellent views of the valley, San Gildar,
Hotel Grano de Oro, Peace Lodge, Hotel
Alta, Finca Rosa Blanca, Don Carlos and
Casa Turire.
tortuguero
Tortuguero
waterways
san gerardo de dota
The gorgeous town of San Gerardo de Dota
lies in one of the most beautiful regions of
Costa Rica just 85 km southwest of San Jose
on the western slopes of the Cerro de La
Muerte. At an altitude of 2200 meters, it offers
visitors crisp mountain air, lush cloud forests
and some of the best birding in the country.
An amazingly stunning habitat for a plethora
of bird and flora species, this region is most
well known for being the primary habitat for
the resplendent Quetzal, Costa Rica’s most
famous bird and considered to be among
Situated on the Caribbean Coast, Tortuguero
is the most wonderful introduction to your trip
to Costa Rica - famous for being the principal
nesting site for green, hawksbill, loggerhead
and leatherback sea turtles. No roads
actually extend to this area of Costa Rica, so
visitors travel through the rainforest by boat
along the rivers and canals that follow the
coastline north. During the 3 hour journey
from San Jose you’ll see herons, egrets,
spoonbills and sloths as well as reptiles like
the Jesus Christ Lizard - so called because it
runs along the surface of the water!
The turtles return to this same 22 mile
stretch of beach every year to lay their eggs.
No-one is quite sure why they prefer this
sandy coastline but local people believe that
a turtle-shaped volcanic hill at Tortuguero
serves as some kind of beacon guiding the
turtles back each year. In addition to the
San Gerardo de Dota is easily accessible and
is a wonderful place to relax in a picturesque
natural setting. Lodges we recommend in this
area include Trogon Lodge and Savegre
Mountain Lodge.
One of the few remaining areas in Costa
Rica that is the dwelling of the endangered
Green Macaw, Sarapiqui is also home to a
number of nature reserves and national
parks including the Braulio Carrillo
National Park and the Sarapiqui Protected
zone. It is an important agricultural sector of
the country and is a major banana producing
region. Coffee, cardamom, cacao, corn and
TE
CT
E
D
PR
O
Mawamba Lodge is a friendly lodge on a
sandy beach between the Tortuguero canals
and the Caribbean Sea. It is one of our
favourite places to stay in the area. Its 39
wooden cabins, each with a hammock
hanging under thatched umbrellas, adjoin a
private reserve rich in animal life and ginger
plants. Pachira Lodge is typically Costa
Rican and is set back from the river amidst
palms and heliconia. The lodges have
swimming pools and are offered on a full
board basis with tours included. Other lodges
Laguna, Mantatus Lodge and
include:
Evergreen.
the most striking birds in the world. Besides
the Quetzal, many other bird species are
found here including peccaries, tanagers,
woodpeckers and hummingbirds. This area is
truly a birdwatcher’s haven!
sarapiqui
T 7 0 29
turtles, Tortuguero National Park is a haven
for other creatures such as Indian manatees,
crocodiles and howler monkeys.
fruits are also grown here. The land in
Sarapiqui is very fertile mainly because the
Rio Sarapiqui flows through the region
irrigating the entire area, plus the climate
here is mild and moderate throughout the
year. Lodges we recommend include; La
Quinta de Sarapiqui Inn, Suenos Azul
Lodge, Centro Neotropico Eco Lodge and
Selva Verde Lodge.
www.worldwideholidays.co.uk
Travel Trust
Association
No. T7611
costa rica - no
artificial ingredients
arenal
No visit to Costa Rica would be complete
without a visit to Arenal Volcano - one of the
world’s most spectacular sights and sounds.
You can relax, swim and even have a cocktail
in the hot springs at the base of the volcano
and watch while it erupts with a magical
firework display of hot lava and gases.
The pools are reputed to cure any number of
maladies - they certainly soothe away any
aches and pains you may have after a day’s
walk in the National Park, horseriding or
Canopy tours. Trails and guided tours over the
massive lava fields are fascinating and provide
an insight into this dramatic landscape.
The Arenal Kioro Resort & Spa has the
very best view of the volanco and offer a real
luxury experience. Our tip is to make sure
you sleep with the curtains open to enjoy the
nightly pyrotechnics. The Lost Iguana Hotel
is set further round the lake in beautiful
surroundings. Other hotels include: Arenal
Springs Hotel, Manoa Hotel, Arenal
Observatory Lodge, Arenal Country Inn,
Montana de Fuego and Arenal Paraiso.
monteverde
Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is a lush
mountain habitat formed by a combination of
high humidity and low cloud cover. With over
three metres of rain each year, the plant
growth is incredibly abundant with huge ferns,
mosses, orchids and magnolia and the
enormous zapote trees. Animal life also
flourishes in Monteverde. Over 1200 species
of reptiles and amphibians, 400 types of bird
and 100 different mammals are found here.
There are approximately 74 miles of hiking
trails through the park and these can either be
explored by yourself or escorted with a guide.
Bird watching tours are also available.
Monteverde Village is a small but thriving little
town with several attractions of its own
including the Casem Gallery which displays
souvenirs and handicrafts made by local
artists. There is also a small coffee factory
where you can watch the roasting process
before buying some of the famous beans to
take home.
All the rooms at the delightfully rustic Fonda
Vela Hotel have been designed with nature in
mind, so large windows give guests the
feeling that the forest is right inside their room.
The hotel offers both international and local
menus, using their own organic vegetables.
Other hotels include: Trapp Family Lodge,
Belmar and El Establo.
rincon de la vieja
Rincon de la Vieja National Park is one of
Costa Rica’s best kept secrets. It has a wide
range of natural attractions, including an
active volcano, mud pools and hot springs, a
dry coastal forest and cloud forest and
myriad forms of wildlife. You can climb
Rincon de la Vieja Volcano and peer down
into its steaming caldera. This is a
wonderful area for clients wanting to do
some serious horse riding as most lodges in
the area are working cattle farms with their
own stables. Lodges that we recommend in
this area include Borinquen Lodge, Hacienda
Guachipelin and the Buena Vista Lodge.
WORLDWIDE HOLIDAYS Direct 01202 606160
costa rica - no
artificial ingredients
nicoya peninsula
The Nicoya Peninsula is one of Costa
Rica’s most secluded gems. From the hilly
interior the mountains sweep down to the
Pacific Ocean, creating some of the most
beautiful and solitary beaches of Costa Rica.
The peninsula is home to Nicoya, one of
Costa Rica’s oldest towns, and the Parque
Barra Honda, the country’s largest limestone
cavern system.
Deep sea fishing, surfing, windsurfing, white
water rafting, scuba diving, horseback riding,
mountain climbing and sea kayaking are only a
few on the adventures you can enjoy in this
area. The beaches of Playa Carillo, Playa
Samar and Playa Tambor are fabulously
beautiful, framed by palm trees and coral reefs.
Playa Tambor is a chic, sophisticated black
sand beach flanked by picture perfect strips
of shore and includes Tango Mar which is
one of the most beautiful strands in Central
America. Playa Montezuma is a sleepy,
seaside retreat that has both stunning
beaches backed by tropical forest and
fronted by coral reefs and reasonable
accommodation. It would be difficult to find a
more tranquil or laid-back place to spend a
holiday. Other lovely hotels include: Punta
Islita, Lagarta Lodge and Sugar Beach.
jaco and
manuel antonio
Situated 2 hours along the Pacific coast from
San Jose, Jaco has excellent beaches,
some superb hotels and the marvellous
Carara Reserve, where you will discover
anteaters, armadillos, lemurs, iguanas and
hundreds of species of birds, including the
magnificent scarlet macaw. In Jaco, our
favourite hotel has to be the eccentric Vila
Caletas, possibly one of the most special
hotels in the world. Set 1000ft above sea
level with panoramic views of the rain forest
canopy and the ocean beyond, you can sit on
the Victorian terraces and watch the
endangered scarlet macaws from dawn to
sunset. The swimming pool is designed so
that you feel as though you are swimming in
the sky. The hotel even has its own
amphitheatre with regular concerts.
Four hours drive from San Jose and reputed
to have some of the most superb beaches in
Costa Rica, Manuel Antonio Park is a place
of natural beauty. Here the virgin rain forest
meets a sandy white beach which gently
folds into a turquoise sea. One of the
smallest parks in Costa Rica, it is also one of
the most lively. The wildlife is easily viewed
here, so much so that hikers are advised to
hold onto their backpacks as the monkeys
may try to snatch their lunch! Giant iguanas
perch on fallen logs and spider monkeys,
sloths and white faced monkeys are easily
spotted in the trees and on the beaches. All
kinds of activities are available in the park
including nature hikes, sea kayaking, sailing,
fishing and horse riding.
The El Parador Hotel, is one of the most
comfortable places to stay with panoramic
views of the coast. Other hotels include: La
Mariposa, Tulemar Bungalows, The Costa
Verde, Makanda by the Sea and Arenas
del Mar.
osa peninsula
Osa Peninsula is the Southern tip of Costa
Rica and is relatively undiscovered. For this
very reason it is a very special place to visit.
The National Geographic Society has
described the Corcovado National Park,
which covers over 130,000 acres of land and
5,000 acres of marine habitat as “biologically
the most intense place on earth”.
Established in 1970, this is one of the last
Villa Caletas
dominical and
ballena marine park
This area, just a 2g hour drive south of
Manuel Antonio, is a wonderful area for
excursions to watch dolphins and whales in
their natural habitat. From here it is also
possible to take boat trips to Cano Island and
Corcovado National Park. The area has
unspoilt beaches and is a fantastic place for
bird watching. Hotels that we recommend
include the Cristal Ballena Hotel and Cuna
del Angel Hotel.
truly wild places in Costa Rica. It is difficult to
get to (which makes it all the more special!)
but it will captivate you with its isolation,
beauty and abundance of wildlife. The
closest lodges to the National Park include
the superb Casa Corcovado Jungle
Lodge, La Paloma and Corcovado
Adventures Tent Camp.
WORLDWIDE HOLIDAYS Direct 01202 606160
costa rica - no
artificial ingredients
activities
A trip to Costa Rica can be as active and
adventurous as you like. It is a wonderful
destination for those seeking an adventure
holiday. Try white water rafting, perhaps the
advanced grade rapids or a 2 day rafting trip
with a night in the jungle.
Take one of the numerous canopy tours,
where you are harnessed on to a zip wire to
fly through the forest canopies. Have a
gentle horse riding excursion or be on
horseback all day with the Costa Rican
cowboys on a working cattle farm.
Surf along the Pacific Coast, windsurf on
Arenal lake, gently trek within the numerous
national parks & private reserves or climb
Mount Chirripo; deep sea fish; scuba dive;
snorkel; play golf on one of the country’s
fabulous courses.
And at the end of each day relax in the
comfort that you have experienced the very
best that Costa Rica, and perhaps the world,
has to offer.
OUR SERVICE
Our aim is to provide your holiday as booked, but we have the right
to cancel your holiday in any circumstances, prices may also
change. If we cancel your holiday we will offer either a refund or
another available holiday.
CHANGES TO YOUR HOLIDAY
We try not to make any change to your holiday, but in exceptional
circumstances, we sometimes do need to make changes. We have
the right to do this at any time. We will let you know about any
important changes at the time of booking, or as soon as we can
before your departure.
Flight times quoted are for guidance only and may change. Actual
flight times will be shown on your tickets, which you should check
carefully as soon as you receive them. We reserve the right to
substitute a flight if necessary.
If you want to change any detail of your booking, we will do our best
to help. We charge an “amendment fee” of £50 per person named
on the booking and for each detail of the booking, which you change.
The price of your new holiday arrangements will be based on the
prices that apply on the day you ask for the change.
SUPPLIERS
We will arrange for you to have the services that make up the holiday
that you choose and that we confirm. These services will be provided
either directly by us or by independent suppliers contracted by us.
We have taken all reasonable care to make sure that all the services,
which make up the holiday, are provided by efficient, safe and
reputable businesses, and that they follow the local and national
regulations of the country where they are Payment provided. We
have no control over the way our suppliers provide their services.
DEPOSIT
You pay a deposit of £200 for each person when you book. For our
tailor made programmes the deposit required is £200 or 10% (which
ever is the greater) of the total holiday cost, per person. However,
some airlines, cruise companies and accommodation providers may
require non refundable payment immediately when a booking is
made and therefore full payment could be due at that time even if
Booking Details
this falls outside the required 12 week period. These special booking
conditions will be detailed in your invoice. Within two days of booking
we will send a holiday invoice showing how much you owe us.
Balance must be paid 12 weeks before departure. If not your holiday
can be treated as cancelled, and cancellation charges apply.
COMPLAINTS
If you have a complaint about your holiday, please tell your local
representative immediately. They have the power to deal fully with
your complaint. It is always easier to sort things out on the spot,
when your representative can see and understand the exact nature
of the problem. If they cannot sort things out, they will ask you to
record details of the problem. You must also report the problem to
the supplier of the service you are complaining about. If your
complaint was not sorted out abroad, you must then follow it up by
writing to the Customer Service Department at our office within 28
days of returning from your holiday. We do not have to look into
complaints which we receive after the 28-day limit, or which you did
not report to your local representative and to the supplier. We can
refuse to accept you as a customer or continue dealing with you if
your behaviour is disruptive and affects other holidaymakers. If we
do this, we will not be responsible for any extra costs, which you will
have to pay.
MAJOR CHANGES TO YOUR HOLIDAY
If we have to make major changes to your holiday we will pay
compensation on the scale shown. We will only make one payment
for each person in the booking.
If we offer you accommodation of the same, similar, or higher rating
in the same resort area - no compensation. If we offer you
accommodation of a lower rating or in a different resort area - see
the, attached scale. If a major change does become necessary, we
will inform you as soon as it is reasonably possible if there is time
before your departure.
COMPENSATION
The scale is based on how many days before your booked departure
we tell you of a major change.
Scale for each person
Number of days
0-7
£25
8 - 14
£20
15 - 28
£15
More than 28 days
£0
If the change is not acceptable to you, you can cancel your booking
without charge.
IMPORTANT NOTE
We will not pay compensation for changes made because of war or
threat of war, riots, civil disturbances, terrorist activity, industrial
disputes, natural and nuclear disasters, fire, epidemics or health
risks, technical problems with transport, closed or congested airports
or ports and similar events beyond our control.
CANCELLATION
If you want to cancel your booking or part of it, you must do so in
writing. The letter must be signed by the person who is booking the
holiday. To cover the cost of processing your cancellation and the risk
that we may not be able to resell the holiday, we make a cancellation
charge based on the scales shown. The person who booked the
holiday is responsible for paying this charge. The size of the charge
depends on when we receive your letter.
CANCELLATION CHARGES
These charges are based on how many days before your booked
departure we receive your cancellation. These charges are a
percentage of the total cost of your holiday, not including your
insurance premium.
Amount you must pay
Number of days
More than 83 days
Deposit and if applicable
additional sum if taken at time
of booking
56 - 82 days
29 - 55 days
1
- 28 days
0
50% of holiday cost or deposit
if greater
75% of holiday cost or
deposit if greater
100% of holiday cost or deposit
if greater
The total cost of your holiday
If some but not all parties members cancel, additional charges may
be payable by the remaining members.
Please note in some circumstances 100% cancellation charges will
apply from time of booking, this will be stated on your confirmation
invoice.
WE STRONGLY ADVISE THAT YOU TAKE OUT APPROPRIATE
TRAVEL INSURANCE AT THE TIME OF MAKING YOUR
RESERVATION.
WORLDWIDE HOLIDAYS Direct
D4 Arena Business Park Holy Rood Close Poole Dorset BH17 7FP Tel 01202 606160
email: [email protected]
website: www.worldwideholidays.co.uk
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BOOKING CONDITIONS
WWHD often act as retail agents on behalf of tour operators (ATOL
holders), in these cases the tour operators conditions are imposed.
When flight only and accommodation are booked on 2 invoices
each are subject to the appropriate tour operators & WWHD’s terms
& conditions.