Airfare Volcano

airfare volcano
Big Island Grand Volcano Tour

Searching for good advice from savey Costa Rica travelers?

We are considering taking an inexpensive vacation to Costa Rica in late March. Being rather independent and valuing our privacy at times, should we avoid the package deals and rent a car? We recently returned from Crete, where we stayed in a historical villa in a small village, and were able to explore as needed once we got use to the roads/stick shift,ect.. We want to hike in the rainforest and see the best of Costa Rica for $2000- $3000 including airfare, but not necessarily meals.. Two meals a day are more than adequate, and 7-10 days would be about right. We don’t particularly care about the beaches but want to see the volcano, butterflies and exotic flora/fauna/animals. It will be our 7th anniversary, and we are in our mid-50′s , so nothing TOO strenuous. Any suggestions, itineries, recommendations towards places to stay, tour, or eat, will be very much appreciated. We LOVE nature, natives, walking, coffee and chocolate!

We went on our honeymoon and had a great time. we rented a car – (a very rugged jeep and took out full insurance on the car so we would not have to worry about scratches)it was AWESOME

I would advise this route –
start at Arenal Volcano area – we stayed at http://www.tabacon.com/
we took an excursion on a little river boat and saw so much wildlife. this area is LOADED with natural hotsprings – it is just amazing.

Drive to Cloud Forest, Monteverde. We stayed at http://www.fondavela.com/
we did a canopy tour. This area is so cozy and you will truly feel like you are in the middle of nowhere but it is beautiful. It is the rainforest

Finally drive to Jaco area, we stayed at

http://www.centralamerica.com/cr/hotel/caletas.htm

you will be a short drive to Manuel Antonio which has a beautiful conservation park with tour guides. The park is the most famous in the country. And Jaco is a cute little beach town even if you do not go in the water.

By doing this you will see all CR has to offer – the volcano part, the rainforest, and the beachy part.
Even if you do not stay at these hotels, you can use them as a way to map out the trip and stay at less expensive ones

Three Countries, One Airfare!

What is it about the unknown that makes it, at times, seem so exciting?  Is it the thought of standing at the foot of where the ocean breaks, staring up on the crescent moon and wondering what is on the other side of it?  I often find myself thinking about visiting the far side of the world; places like Australia, Fiji and New Zealand for starters.
 
With flights heading out to Australia from LA, you can catch some Z’s and wake up literally on the other side of the planet!  With its over 2.9 million square miles of land, this country is filled with history, underwater treasures and, for the nature lover, some of the most amazing creatures to ever roam the wild. If you’re a wine lover, or one that occasionally enjoys a nice glass, Australia, with its average temperature of 67F (19C), has some of the world’s best Chardonnay. Some major spots to visit might be a no-brainer but as simply obvious as it might be to some, the Great Barrier Reef is not a simple attraction.
 
The largest coral reef system in the world is composed of 2900 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching approximately 133,000 square miles. If the mere size is hard to comprehend, take into account that you can see this massive structure from outer space! 

Fiji, a skip and a jump from Australia, is an island nation in the South Pacific and another major stop of interest for the adventurer.  Consisting of 322 islands, the islands are mountainous with peaks of up to 1300 meters and are covered with tropical forests; thus making it a haven for the outdoorsman who likes hiking.  Located on Fiji is the Yasawa Group, where one of Fiji’s most famous resorts lies, Nanuya Levu also known as Turtle Island.  The name might sound a bit familiar to those of you 1980 movie buffs, the filming of The Blue Lagoon was shot there; so if Hollywood has known about this place for 20 plus years, it must be worth checking out.
 
Then there is New Zealand.  The indigenous Maori (the people of New Zealand) named this country Aotearora, which translates to The Land of the Long White Cloud.  This ‘cloud’ island country has got nothing to be ‘gloomy’ about.  Located about 1250 miles southeast of Australia across the Tasman Sea, New Zealand is a cornucopia of nature and beauty. This country has a wide area of mountains, and of course that ‘little’ barrier reef.  Some of the most breath taking mountains are located here, such as the Southern Alps that reach 12,320 feet. Volcanoes are also located in New Zealand, some of which are active, like Mount Ruapehu which stands 9,177 feet.
 
Any one of these countries are worth at least putting on your radar for your next trip, but all three?  With the economy woes, can any regular person afford to go and ink up their passport?  What if I was to tell you that you could fly to all of these places for as little as $1199?  This is not longer just something to read about, you can actually experience it.
 
Take life a little bit less seriously and find those answers that have been bothering your soul.  3 countries for the price of one air pass…it’s like the Euro Rail, only in the air.