Back in the Saddle Again in Costa Rica

Horseback riders of all levels can explore the beaches, forests and wildlife of Guanacaste province on a six-night horseback riding vacation in Costa Rica. The riding vacations are offered on various dates from December through May.

Four to five hours are spent riding each day. In addition to riding, travelers can swim, snorkel, take a “canopy tour” of a forest in a harness traveling from tree to tree, or simply lounge in a hammock. Groups run from eight to 14, and are accompanied by English-speaking guides. During their stay, travelers explore the natural splendors of Costa Rica, including waterfalls, rivers, white and black sand beaches, mango and teak plantations, forests and volcanic “mud baths.”

Cost: $1,500 per person, including horses, all equipment, six-nights’ accommodations, all meals and taxes. Air fare is extra.

Contact: Cross Country International; telephone (800) 828-8768.

Panama Canal: Cruise

Sail the west coast of South America on Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Crown for 14 days starting Dec. 5. The ship sails from Port Canaveral in Florida near Orlando with stops at Key West, Fla.; San Andres Island, Colombia; a daytime transit of the Panama Canal; Salinas, Ecuador; Lima, Peru; Arioa, Chile; Antofagasta, Chile; and Santiago, Chile. An optional excursion to Machu Picchu and Cuzco is available.

Cost: $2,699 per person, double occupancy, including air fare from Los Angeles, all transfers and a deluxe outside ocean-view cabin. Port taxes are additional.

Contact: Whole World of Travel; tel. (800) 458-3636.

Southwest: Christmas

“A Scottsdale Holiday Jubilee Tour” to Arizona is available over two holidays. The Thanksgiving tour departs Nov. 25 and the Christmas Tour departs Dec. 23. Both tours are five days and offer similar itineraries.

Sites visited include the Desert Botanical Garden (Scottsdale), the Heard Museum of Native American Culture and Art (Phoenix), and the Arizona State Capitol Museum (Phoenix). Two short day trips are provided. One follows the Old Apache Trail past the Superstition Mountains to the former mining town of Goldfield. The second day trip features Ft. Verde State Historic Park, Montezuma Castle National Monument and the town of Sedona. The special event of the tours is admission to the Christmas Jubilee Show at the Red River Opry in Tempe, featuring traditional and country and western holiday music hits.

Eight meals are included on the tours, including a get-acquainted chuck-wagon dinner at Rawhide restaurant with Western stage shows and cowboy songs, and a traditional Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner.

Cost: $549 per person, double occupancy, including hotel accommodations at the 5th Avenue Inn in Scottsdale, eight meals, admissions, motor-coach transportation, airport transfers, baggage handling and taxes. Air fare to Phoenix is additional.

Contact: Corliss Tours; tel. (800) 482-4597.

Ecuador: Adventure

International Adventure Travel is offering a 16-day trip combining downhill mountain biking through ancient rain forests, river rafting and hiking through the rugged highlands of the Andes. Starting from the heights of the altiplano and descending to the rain forests of the Amazon Basin, this guided trip offers a unique opportunity to explore the biologically diverse ecosystems of Ecuador.

The group will be escorted by veteran guides, experts in wilderness travel and safety. The itinerary is designed to accommodate both novice travelers without prior rafting and biking knowledge and experienced adventurers. Instruction is provided during the trip.

Accommodations vary from small family-run guest houses to camping in the wilderness amid the Andes and a night of local culture in a Quechua Indian hut.

Equipment provided includes 21-speed full-suspension mountain bikes, six-person self-bailing rafts and high-quality camping gear. A support vehicle carrying all the supplies will shadow the group.

There are two departures: Nov. 27 and Feb. 27. Space is limited to 12 participants.

Cost: $1,950 per person, double occupancy, including lodging, some meals, outdoor equipment and guides. Air fare is extra.

Contact: International Adventure Travel; tel. (888) 805-0061.

Morocco: Kasbahs

Spend the end-of-the-year holidays on a camping and hiking trek in the Moroccan region of the Jebel Sarhro Mountains. A Christmas trip departs Dec. 20 for 14 nights. Other departure dates are available through May.

The trek starts in the green “Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs” in the heart of the Sarhro Range before heading into a rugged wilderness of mesas, deep canyons and rocky plateaus. Mini-oases are home to wading birds, chameleons and jewel-like frogs.

Cost: $1,095 per person, double occupancy, including 14 nights’ accommodations (three with breakfast and dinner in hotels in Marrakech, the remainder camping with all meals) plus group leader and Berber guide with a team of mules and drivers.

For those who don’t want to camp, a second walking tour, “Secrets of the Berbers,” explores the hidden parts of southern Morocco while staying in mostly three- and four-star hotels. Two nights are spent sleeping in traditional Berber tents on a Sahara Desert camel trip.

Cost: from $2,289 per person, double occupancy, including most meals, transfers, expert guides and air fare from London. Air fare to London is extra.

Contact: Breakaway Adventures; tel. (800) 567-6286.

Hungary: Budapest

Visit a city known for its medicinal spas, opera, museums and history on a trip to Budapest. Tours are available from November through March. The five-night trip includes a half-day guided historical city tour, a gourmet Hungarian dinner, a visit to one of the gambling casinos, ticket to an opera, ballet or classical music concert, tax and service charge.

Cost: from $963 per person, double occupancy, including round-trip air fare from Los Angeles, deluxe hotels in Budapest, daily breakfast, one dinner and sightseeing. Weekend departures and airport departure taxes are extra.

Contact: Tradesco Tours; tel. (800) 833-3402.

France: Provence

Tussle with a truffle, participate in the annual olive harvest and dance in the New Year in the Provence region of France on a tour from Dec. 27 to Jan. 3. The group will meet the locals, shop at farmers markets and sample regional wine and food. Tour highlights include a truffle hunt, a visit to a weekly truffle market where golf-ball size truffles are bartered and sold, and lunch at a restaurant with a special truffle menu.

Also featured is a New Year’s Eve celebration with music and dancing. Daily transportation will be by minivan.

Cost: $1,998 per person, double occupancy, including transfers from Nice, lodging with full breakfast, some additional meals and services of two American hosts who live in Provence. Air fare is not included.

Contact: Ellen Landy, Altour International; tel. (800) 878-5847.

Antarctica: Cruise

Experience the bottom of the Earth visiting Antarctica on Radisson Seven Seas’ Hanseatic. The sailing date is Jan. 27. Guests spend two nights in Buenos Aires, where the tour starts and ends. They then board the ship and travel to Antarctica, the Falkland Islands and South Shetland Islands. A Zodiac vessel will take guests from the ship to explore the shorelines of each stop.

Cost: $6,945 per person, double occupancy, including round-trip air fare, two nights at a luxury hotel, a day trip to a ranch to see gauchos at work, all transfers, gratuities, Zodiac excursions and complimentary Nikon compact binoculars to view penguins.

Contact: Carol Rochlin at Anderson Travel; tel. (800) 243-6011.

The Times is not responsible for changes in prices, dates or itineraries. These should be confirmed with cruise lines, travel agents or tour operators.