Incentive Trip Costa Rica - Golf Vacation

Costa Rica’s Valle Central and its surrounding mountains are the cultural and geographical heart of the country. This is what makes it ideal for an incentive and meeting destination for groups from all over the world. The Central Valley is the home of two-thirds of Costa Rica’s population, since the upland basin is an extremely fertile land. At the same time, it harbors the country’s four most important cities: San José, Cartago, Heredia and Alajuela, each with its own personality and sense of identity. Due to this, the Central Valley is the most economically productive region.

The average temperature in this region of Costa Rica is 24ºC (77ºF) and the altitude varies from 2000 to 5000 feet (600 to 1500 m). The area is a huge inter-mountain plateau, where you will find that most of the surrounding mountains are volcanoes. These, in turn, are some of the main attractions: Poás Volcano in the Northwest, Irazú Volcano in the Southeast, and the Barva and Turrialba Volcanoes in the East.

Because of it’s strategically location in the middle of the country, the Central Valley allows the visitor to choose from plenty of activities. These include white water rafting, mountain biking and hiking in forest trails, as well as visiting places like butterfly farms, botanical gardens, picturesque towns, and coffee plantations. In addition, it offers excellent hotels, a wide selection of fine restaurants, great shopping opportunities, and modern facilities for conventions.

SAN JOSÉ CITY TOUR
In San José city there is a great cultural tour, which include visits to the National Theatre, built in 1897, the National Museum (located in the old Bellavista Fortress), historic pars and neighbourhoods. Keep in mind that some of the museums are closed on Mondays, just in case you are planning on visiting them on your own. The tours can also include a visit to suburb of Moravia, where you can find all different kinds of souvenir shops who sell keepsakes made of leather, wood, ceramics and many other artistic materials.

LA PAZ WATERFALL GARDENS
These breathtaking and splendid waterfalls are located on the skirts of the Poas Volcano. The project is blessed with an altitude ranging from 4300 to 5000 ft that provides an ideal climate for cloud and rain forests to coexist. It offers the largest enclosed Butterfly Observatory in the country, covering 18,000 sq feet and includes species of the most colourful butterfly species to be found in Costa Rica. There is also a Hummingbird Garden and a Snake Exhibit on the property and the trails leading to beautiful waterfalls offer one of the most alluring nature walks in the country.

POAS VOLCANO NATIONAL PARK
The Poas Volcano National Park is home to one of the world’s most easily accessible active volcanoes, with a history of eruptions that goes back eleven million years. It boasts one of the largest craters in the world, currently 1,500m (almost 1mile) wide and filled with milky turquoise water. The way up to the volcano is lined with coffee plantations and dairy farms. It is a short walk from the park entrance to the crater. Visitors to the park may also walk through cloud forest trails to the Botos Lagoon (1 km/0.6miles) which was formerly a crater but has turned into a picturesque lagoon ever since.

RAIN FOREST AERIAL TRAM
The Aerial Tram is located in the middle of a private reserve bordering Braulio Carrillo National Park. The reserve is a unique ecotourism and research facility and can be the perfect location for one of Costa Rica’s most fabulous incentive activities for the employee motivation travelling group. The aerial tram takes visitors on a 90 minute ride through the rain forest canopy for a relaxing and peaceful ride where plants and trees can be observed from the very treetops. The visit also includes the presentation of a video on the project and a short walk along the trails. If a group is looking for ecotourism as part of their motivational strategy, then this is one of the many activities that it can partake in.

DOKA ESTATE COFFEE PLANTATION
The Doka Estate is a private family-owed coffee plantation which produces Costa Rica’s finest Arabica coffee. At an altitude of 4.500 ft above sea level the volcanic soil, crisp clean mountain air and abundant sunrays create the perfect combination for coffee production. This tour is part of our relaxers and it gives the incentive traveller the opportunity to learn about the entire coffee process. At Doka, coffee is milled in an ancient “beneficio” (coffee processing plant). The milled coffee is dried on sun soaked patios using traditional methods handed down through the generations. The coffee roasting facility offers the chance to learn about the entire process from coffee seedlings to trees while delighting in the perfect balance between nature and science.

SHOPPING IN SARCHI & TOWN OF GRECIA
The picturesque town of Sarchi, renowned for being the cradle of Costa Rican craftmanship, offers a wide selection of souvenirs in leather, wood, clay, and other rustic materials, made by local artisans. The nearby town of Grecia is surrounded by coffee and sugarcane plantations. Here you can visit the historic metal church, which was brought piece by piece from Europe at the beginning of the last century.

COFFEE TOUR AT CAFÉ BRITT
Designed with the interests of ‘coffee lovers’ in mind, this educational trip around a plantation and roasting plant shows how coffee beans, the “grano de oro” (golden grain), are sown, grown, picked and processed. Professional actors take the group on an entertaining tour through the plantation, where they give a detailed explanation of the coffee growing and harvesting process. In the roasting facility, where coffee is processed, experienced coffee tasters point out the distinctive characteristics of each roasting process and explain the criteria for quality coffee. Some visitors even have the chance to participate in a coffee-tasting session.

IRAZU VOLCANO NATIONAL PARK
The name Irazu is an indigenous word meaning “mountain of tremors and thunder”. It is one of the highest volcanoes in Central America, rising 3432 m above sea level. What makes the Irazu such a special site is the fact that the volcano is one of the few in the world that can be easily viewed at close range (on a clear day). During the visit there will be time to explore the area and appreciate the high altitude vegetation. If a visit to this volcano is in your plans, Premio Incentives advises on dressing warmly since the highlands can be chilly.

WHITE-WATER RAFTING TRIP ON THE PACUARE RIVER
(CLASS III-IV)
This is an attraction for those who wish to experience the rush and thrill of nature’s power first hand. The crisp water’s of the Pacuare – Latin America’s top wild and scenic river – offers some of the finest white-water in the world. Providing the adventurous rafter with a ride of magnificent natural beauty through an impressive rainforest, participants can paddle along 32 km (20 miles) of intense rapids, stopping for a delicious picnic lunch on the banks of the river. The trip ends near the town of Siquirres, where participants are offered cold drinks while resting after an intense and breathtaking experience. Rating: Class III-IV (moderate to difficult).

WHITE-WATER RAFTING TRIP ON THE SARAPIQUÍ RIVER
(CLASS III)
This narrow, shallow river is perfect for white-water novices or families, offering a real treat while travelling along it moderately flowing rapids, interspersed with more relaxed stretches. The journey is also ideal for birdwatchers and other nature lovers since the river winds its way through lush vegetation, home to hummingbirds, toucans and other native bird species. A picnic-style lunch is provided on the banks of the river during the trip. Length of the ride: 14km/9mi; river time: approx. 2½-3 hrs, depending on water level; rating: class III. Due to the fluctuation of the seasons and the rain, this excursion is offered from June to December only.

TORTUGA ISLAND CRUISE
This pleasure cruise across the Gulf of Nicoya is one of the most accessible and beautiful sea rides the country has to offer. Leaving from San José, this tour travels to Costa Rica’s mid-Pacific coast, where you will board the relaxing ship on which you will travel to the island. On arrival, there is plenty of time to enjoy the sun, play beach volleyball and swim/snorkel in the ocean. A mouth-watering "ceviche" -a fish cocktail marinated in lime juice- and a barbecue buffet lunch are served under the shade of the island’s palm trees. You return to port mid/late afternoon.

VALLE DEL SOL GOLF CLUB
This outstanding 18-hole, par 72 golf course designed by Tracy May, is nestled in the valley of Santa Ana. The ecological course offers an integral experience combining a great game of golf with lakes, mountains, and wildlife. A golf tournament with exclusive use of the golf course may be arranged for groups of at least 80 participants.

CANOPY TOUR IN COSTA RICA
An exciting and enriching adventure in the cloud forest, where participants travel from platform to platform at the treetop level with the help of cables, secure harnesses, and a pulley. Specialized guides assist participants at all times during the excursion, making of it a memorable experience.

The system is built and operated to conform to the highest international standards of safety and quality.