Costa rica

January 21-28, 2022

Price: $3099 pp/double                                                               $4058 pp/single

Includes roundtrip airfare

Day One:   Depart the USA for San José, Costa Rica. Upon arrival you will be met by a representative of Mayflower Cruises & Tours who will assist with your transfer to the hotel. Flights should arrive by 4:00pm.

Relax before the included dinner as your busy schedule eases into Costa Rica’s mystical tropical lifestyle. Meal: D

Day Two:   En route from San José to the Arenal area, visit the Doka Coffee Estate where members  of the Vargas Ruiz family have been involved with coffee production for more than 70 years. Tour the plantation, learning how this famous product of Costa Rica is produced from the harvesting of the beans to the roasting and packaging processes. And of course there is a sampling of the final product! Continuing towards Arenal, with an included lunch along the way, a sweet treat awaits. Coffee beans aren’t the only ones Costa Rica is famous for. Discover the ancient secrets of chocolate, considered a “gift of the Gods”, as cacao beans were used for ceremonial drinks and even currency. During this hands-on experience at a cacao plantation, learn

the whole process of creating sumptuous chocolate from the fruit of the cacao tree. The day ends with arrival at the hotel, providing awe-inspiring views of Arenal Volcano from every room. Meals: B, L

Day Three:   This morning, enjoy a gentle walk along the base of Arenal Volcano, a magnificent natural

phenomenon, during a visit to Arenal National Park. Your Tour Manager takes you through the forest, over the lava flows, and to the destroyed area now in the process of regeneration. Continue on to the Misico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park where you can walk across a variety of bridges,  6 of which are hanging, for wonderful views of the flora and fauna of this highly diverse forest. Return to the hotel for an afternoon at leisure to relax in the springs, wander around the lush gardens, or simply enjoy the view from your patio. This evening, meet the Mendez Family at their farm for a cultural dining experience. After a brief orientation of the farm, assist the locals with the dinner preparation, while the main course is cooking over a wood-burning stove. Dine with the locals in a rural setting, learning about their life, culture and traditions. Meals: B, D

Day Four:  While in the Arenal area, enjoy a full day excursion to Caño Negro National Wildlife Refuge, a remote “everglades” type wetlands, teeming with different species of flora, fauna and birdlife. Enjoy a boat ride on the Rio Frio, where you’ll have an opportunity to see a plethora of wildlife: snake-birds, heron, comorants, howler, spider and white-faced monkeys, three-toed sloth, basilik lizards (also known as Jesus Christ lizards), turtles and much more. This unique experience showcases the natural beauty of Costa Rica. A typical lunch is provided during the excursion.   Meals: B, L

Day Five:   After breakfast, travel to the Manuel Antonio area, famous for its national park.  En route, relax on a boat trip along the Tarcoles River located near Carara National Rain Forest Park. This adventure combines nature with the breathtaking experience of viewing American crocodiles at near proximities. Home to one of the world’s largest crocodile populations in the wild, some of these “local residents” are up to 15-feet-long!  As your boat ride takes you inside the mangrove canals and along the Tarcoles River, you also have the opportunity to spot many different species of birds, including the rare scarlet macaw, amongst the lush foliage. Upon arrival at the hotel in Manuel Antonio, the remainder of the day is at leisure until the included dinner. Meals: B, D 

Day Six:    Today’s included tour visits nearby Manuel Antonio National Park, the smallest of the parks in Costa Rica but one of the most popular. There is a magic to this park that is hard to explain. Perhaps it’s the

park’s forest, mangroves, lagoons and beach vegetation that supports 109 species of mammals and 184 species of birds (with migrants bringing the bird species to some 270) that make it so amazing. Among the inhabitants that can be easily seen are sloths, iguanas, agoutis, armadillos, raccoons, coatimundis

and the adorable squirrel monkey. After the excursion, return to the hotel where the remainder of the day is at leisure to enjoy the beautiful grounds and amenities. Meal: B

Day Seven:   This morning, depart by coach for the short journey to the Nauyaca Waterfalls. Upon arrival,  board smaller vehicles for a ride through the beautiful landscape and wonders of the tropical rain forest to the lower falls. Take a dip in the refreshing water at the base of the falls, or simply relax as you take in the sights, sounds and smells of this magical area. Return to the hotel in time for lunch and a final afternoon

at leisure before the farewell dinner. Meals: B, D

Day Eight:  After breakfast, your tropical get-away comes to an end as you return to the San José airport for your flight home. Flights should depart after 1:00pm. Fond memories of the beauty of Costa Rica and the warm hospitality of its people are sure to be treasured for a lifetime! Meal: B

February 4-10, 2022

Price:  $1495 pp/double                                                          $1995 pp/single

Airfare is additional 

Day One:   Arrive at Ciudad de Mexico and transfer to hotel Marquis Reforma. Welcome dinner and overnight. (D) 

Day Two:   Tour of San Angel and Coyoacan, visit to Bazaar del Sabado and Frida’s Museum with lunch at Casa Azul. Return to hotel for dinner. (B L) 

Day Three:   After breakfast depart for Tlalpujahua, Michoacán and the City of Toluca to visit the Botanical Museum and the Candy Market. Lunch on your own. Arrive at Tlalpujahua by early afternoon and check in at the Mansión San Antonio hotel for happy hour and Michoacán folkloric presentation. Dinner and overnight. (B D) 

Day Four:  Breakfast at the hotel and then visit the Sanctuary of El Rosario for our first Monarch experience. Lunch at the park and then return to the hotel for a relaxing afternoon. Dinner and overnight. (B L D)  

Day Five:   Breakfast at the hotel and then depart for the Sierra Chincua Santuary for our second Monarch experience. Lunch at the park and then visit the town of Tlalpujahua to learn about its historical mining industry and its world famous Christmas ornaments sold across the globe. Return to hotel for dinner and overnight. (B L D) 

Day Six:    Travel back to Mexico City for a city tour of the historical district with visits to the Cathedral, National Palace and the Templo Mayor, Museum Del Tequila and Plaza Garibaldi. Dinner at the Sanborns Restaurant at Casa de los Azulejos. (B D) 

Day Seven:    Breakfast is included at the hotel.  Transfer to the airport and fly home.  

February 12-19, 2022

February 21-28, 2022

March 7-14, 2022

Price:  $1950 pp/double                                                          $2250 pp/single

Day One:    Arrive in San Diego today. Transfer from the airport or arrive via motorcoach with pickups in Phoenix and Yuma. Join your tour manager this evening for a welcome cocktail and briefing at the hotel. 

Day Two:    Depart this morning for Northern Baja California, Mexico. Bienvenidos! Welcome to Mexico, crossing the border into Mexico via Tijuana, the world’s busiest land border crossing. Visit Tijuana’s bustling Mercado Hidalgo before continuing on scenic Highway 1 to Ensenada for lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, return to Highway 1 traveling south through Northern Baja’s tomato, strawberry, and pepper fields along the way to San Quintín and tonight’s Welcome Dinner. (B, L, D) 

Day Three:    Continue on Highway 1 to Guerrero Negro, Baja California Sur, through the Desierto Central de Baja California with its unique desert vegetation. Stop in Cataviña along the way to take a short walk through this fascinating desert with rock formations and granite boulders to nearby caves to view cave paintings that offer a glimpse into the indigenous human and animal life that once populated the region. After lunch at a local restaurant, continue to Guerrero Negro, which will serve as base camp for our next days’ whale watching. Dinner this evening at the hotel. (B, L, D) 

Day Four:   Early this morning depart for Guerrero Negro’s nearby lagoon, Ojo de La Liebre. These lagoons serve as the magnificent Gray whale’s first calving stop on the journey from the Bering Strait. Aboard small, non-intrusive boats captained by local guides, experience an up-close encounter with these gentle and curious giants. Lunch at a local restaurant after today’s excursion before returning to the hotel for a short relaxing time before taking an afternoon excursion to the salt works, the largest evaporative salt production facility in the world. Back to the hotel. Dinner is on your own this evening. (B, L) 

Day Five:    Mid-morning departure back to Ojo de La Liebre, also known as Scammon’s Lagoon, for the second time to experience this unique opportunity to enjoy close encounters with these magnificent and curious sea creatures. Home to more than just our giant friends, the nearby lagoons are teeming with sea life, such as dolphins, sea lions, and seals, as well as surrounded by giant osprey nests, and frequented by a variety of other migratory birds. Return to town to board the motorcoach, returning north for an overnight in the village of Cataviña. Dinner this evening at the hotel. (B, BOX LUNCH, D) 

Day Six:     This morning, continue north to the bustling port city of Ensenada. Lunch along the way, arriving this afternoon to your hotel and after checking time permitting join your Tour Manager for an orientation walk of downtown Ensenada. This evening is yours to relax or explore the charming shops, cafes, and taquerias this charming town has to offer. (B, L) 

Day Seven:     Today after breakfast we will travel to the famous La Bufadora (Blowhole), the world’s 2nd largest marine geyser. After this picture stop continue to the heart of Mexico’s premier wine country, the Guadalupe Valley and its wineries that nowadays rival those of Napa Valley in the USA, here we will visit a locally owned and operated winery. After lunch return to Ensenada. This evening join your fellow travelers for a farewell dinner at a local restaurant. (B, L, D) 

Day Eight:   After breakfast, return to the USA crossing through Los Algodones Port of Entry. Next stop will be in Yuma. After an optional lunch, continue on the motorcoach to Phoenix. (B) 

February 27 - March 7, 2022

Price:  $4199 pp/double                                                          $4958 pp/single

Includes roundtrip airfare

Day One:    Fly from Phoenix to Fairbanks,  the Golden Heart City and transfer to your hotel. Meet your Tour Manager in the lobby for dining suggestions. This evening an optional journey is available for some Aurora Borealis viewing.

Day Two:    A guided city tour of Fairbanks shows you the “Golden Heart City.” Visit the Morris Thompson Cultural Center and the Trans-Alaska Pipeline. This afternoon will be at your leisure for optional tours such as dog mushing tours, Arctic Circle flightseeing, as well as many others to choose from. After our included dinner you’ll have another chance to view the Aurora Borealis at a different location.  Meals: B, D

Day Three:   Today, take the George Parks Highway south to Denali National Park. En route, enjoy an included visit to the town of Nenana, home of the Nenana Ice Classic! Upon arrival into Denali, enjoy an included

visit to the Murie Science and Learning Center which acts as the Denali Visitor’s Center in the wintertime. See the National Park film, Heartbeats of Denali, hear from a local ranger about the park, and even have a chance to snowshoe! A box lunch is included today.  Meals: B, Box Lunch

Day Four:   After breakfast you are transferred to the Healy Rail Stop to board the world-famous Alaska Railroad, (Adventure Class) for your scenic journey south to Anchorage, Alaska’s largest city. Keep an eye

out for views of Denali from the north face to south face. Upon arrival in Anchorage you will be transferred to your hotel. Meal: B

Day Five:    Today, enjoy a city tour of Anchorage featuring the historic downtown area, Lake Hood where 190+ floatplanes take off and land daily, and Earthquake Park to learn about the 1964 Earthquake. There will

be time for lunch on own today. Later, travel along the scenic Seward Highway and enjoy an included visit to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center where you will have a chance to see Alaska’s Wildlife up close and personal. Tonight, enjoy Iditarod festivities and dinner at the Musher’s Banquet. Meals: B, D

Day Six:     This morning, head to Happy Trails Kennel. Here, meet four-time Iditarod Champion Martin Buser. Hear personal stories and see his dogs while viewing a glimpse of the grandeur Alaska has to offer

along the Iditarod Trail. Later, return to Anchorage with an included stop at the Iditarod Headquarters en route. Meal: B

Day Seven:     After breakfast, you head to 4th Avenue to get a great spot at the Ceremonial Start of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. Spend time cheering on mushers from all over the world. Mushers will depart the starting gate every two minutes. Watch each of them depart or take off early and enjoy other Iditarod festivities in Anchorage. This afternoon, visit the Anchorage Museum, a large art, history, ethnography,

ecology, and science museum in the heart of downtown Anchorage. Dinner will be included this evening. Meals: B, D

Day Eight:   This morning, depart Anchorage and venture north to Willow for the restart of the Iditarod Sled Dog Race. Be sure to dress in layers to maximize staying warm as the entire day will be spent outside cheering on your favorite dog teams. En-route, stop at a local grocery store in Wasilla to pick-up on own snack and lunch items. Prepare for a bit of a walk to find the perfect spot along the fence line of the race.

Mushers take off across Willow Lake on their 1,049-mile journey by dog sled to Nome. The Willow Community Center is open and offers a break from the cold with vendors selling food and drink as well as local crafts. Don’t miss out on snacks throughout the day! Your Tour Director will have more information on this edible portion of the program! The departure time from Willow will depend on weather conditions and guests’ comfort level. It is our goal to see as many of the Mushers depart as possible while still arriving back into Anchorage by 6:00/6:30pm. Upon returning to Anchorage it will be time to say goodbye to your local Tour Manager as you are transferred to the Anchorage Airport for your evening flight. Meal: B

Day Nine:  Arrive back at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport.  

July 10-15, 2022

Price:  $3299 pp/double                                                          $4399 pp/single

Includes roundtrip airfare

Day One:    Fly from Phoenix to Calgary, Alberta’s cosmopolitan city. Meet your Tour Director and depart for Banff National Park and the charming town of Banff, and check into your hotel a 5-night stay. Nestled in the beautiful Bow Valley, the town of Banff’s main thoroughfare is cut off at one end by a mountainous rock wall and at the other end by a rock garden. Banff is a year round resort town featuring majestic scenery, a lively Main Street of shops and restaurants and an abundance of outdoor activities. Tonight enjoy a Welcome Dinner with your fellow travelers at a local restaurant in Banff. (D)

Day Two:    Today’s Canadian Rockies tour features a panorama of snow-capped mountain peaks, glaciers, waterfalls and canyons, and you should also be on the lookout for moose, deer, big-horn sheep and bear. Visit two of the crown jewels of the Canadian Rockies: Moraine Lake and Lake Louise. First stop to view spectacular Moraine Lake and the Valley of the Ten Peaks. Then journey through Kicking Horse Pass into Yoho National Park to see the Natural Bridge, the Spiral Tunnels and stunning Emerald Lake, named for its deep green color surrounded by towering peaks. Later free time to explore the grounds of the historic Chateau Lake Louise, located within a UNESCO World Heritage site offering spectacular views of Lake Louise and Victoria Glacier. Enjoy a dinner this evening at the magnificent Chateau Lake Louise. (B,D)

Day Three:    Today enjoy a Banff Area Tour featuring the Banff Springs Hotel, Mt. Rundle, Bow Falls, Tunnel Mountain and the Hoodoos, also referred to as the “Land of Sleeping Giants”. This afternoon is at leisure to

explore the town of Banff on your own, shop or visit the incredible Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel. An optional tour will be available this afternoon featuring a Lake Minnewanka Cruise & the Sulphur Mountain Gondola.

(B)

Day Four:   After breakfast, set off along the Icefields Parkway, which winds its way through Alberta’s Banff and Jasper National Parks and offers more than 600 glaciers, six icefields and snowcapped mountains featuring jaw-dropping views of spectacular rocky peaks, waterfalls and snowfields around every turn. First Scale Bow Pass with a stop to see turquoise blue Peyto Lake.  Continue along the Icefields Parkway, watch

for wildlife including bears, moose, elk, bighorn sheep, and mountain goats. Next take a memorable ride across the surface of the 1,000 foot-thick Athabasca Glacier on an Ice Explorer, a specially designed glacial

vehicle, for a close look at the glacier’s geological features, another highlight of your tour & adventure. On the way back to Banff we retrace our route along the Icefields Parkway keeping an eye out for more wildlife

and an opportunity to appreciate the region’s spectacular scenery from several perspectives. The rest of the evening is at leisure in Banff. (B)

Day Five:    Today is yours to explore Banff National Park as you please. You may wish to check out the village of Banff with its spectacular scenery and trendy shops and boutiques. There are also many optional activities to choose from in Banff National Park itself. Take a nature walk, go horseback riding, canoeing on the Bow River or play a round of golf at your world-famous Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel. An optional tour is available to the cosmopolitan city of Calgary including a Calgary city tour featuring a visit to the Calgary Tower offering a panorama view of the city and Rocky Mountains. See Stampede Park, the Saddle Dome, Canada Olympic Park, one of the main sites of the 1988 Winter Olympic Games. Later visit Heritage Park Historical Village, one of the Calgary’s most visited attractions. This evening enjoy a Farewell Dinner at a local restaurant in Banff. (B,D)

Day Six:     Today transfer to Calgary and fly home filled with wonderful memories of your Majestic Canadian Rockies Adventure. (B)