COLOMBIA, COSTA RICA, HONDURAS & PANAMA, VIA EL SALVADOR; Airports & Museums DAY 1: SATURDAY, 18th APRIL Depart London Heathrow Airport at 22:35 hrs. on the scheduled services of Avianca to Bogota, Colombia. DAY 2: SUNDAY, 19th APRIL Arriving Bogota at 04:00 hrs. we stay air-side in the terminal until our onward flight with LACSA to San Jose, Costa Rica departs at 08:05 hrs. Arrive 09:05 hrs. and transfer the 1 mile to the Holiday Inn Express, the nearest suitable hotel to the airport where we stay of 3 nights on a bed and breakfast basis. Remainder of the day is at leisure. DAY 3: MONDAY, 20th APRIL At 09:00 hrs. we depart and set up ‘base camp’ at the Restaurant La Candela which overlooks the main runway of Juan Santamaria International Airport (see photograph in our 2015 brochure). Also at the restaurant is the Museo de Aviacion which includes a DH4A Caribou. Website: foodieinternational/in-costa-rica-an-airport-bar-on-the-sjo-runway.html#more-1499 Midday we depart for Tobias Bolanos Airport; Naturair’s fleet of Twin Otters fly from Juan Santamaria during the day but park overnight here. We visit local operators Aerobell and ATASA. This is also a general aviation airfield and we have requested permission from the airport authorities to be taken air-side to take photographs. DAY 4: TUESDAY, 21st APRIL At 09:00 hrs. we depart for a full day at Juan Santamaria International Airport, calling in at the various operators, including the COPENSA aircraft maintenance company and National Police Air Unit (visits to be confirmed). The remainder of the day is spent at the Restaurant La Candela; or our coach will drop you off in the city for sightseeing etc.. DAY 5: WEDNESDAY, 22nd APRIL At 09:30 hrs. we transfer to Restaurant La Candela, which opens at 10:00 hrs., and remain there until late afternoon. At 16:00 hrs. we transfer to the airport and check in for our AVIATECA flight to Tegucigalpa, Honduras departing at 19:51 hrs.. Arriving at 21:46 hrs. our awaiting coach transfers us the 3.2 miles to the Honduras Maya Hotel where we staying 2 nights on a bed and breakfast basis. There are no hotels of an acceptable standard nearer to the airport. DAY 6: THURSDAY, 23rd APRIL Leaving the hotel at 08:30 hrs. we spend the day at Toncontin International Airport (TIA); we have requested visits to all the operators based here, e.g. SETCO and Rollins Air (to be confirmed). We will also ask the Fuerza Aerea Hondurana to see their C-130A, Arava and 2 stored Electra’s; and the large collection of aircraft in the Fundacion Museo Del Aire, all of which are located on Base Aerea Teniente-Coronel Herman Acosta Mejian Airbase, at TIA. Remainder of the day will be spent on the threshold of TIA’s runway, outside on the airport’s perimeter, which is a good location for both spotting and taking landing shots. DAY 7: FRIDAY, 24th APRIL This morning we depart at 05:00 hrs. for the airport and check in for our AVIATECA flight to El Salvador departing at 06:50 hrs. and arriving at 07:45 hrs.. In Salvador we change airlines, flying to Panama with TACA departing at 08:55 hrs.. At 11:55 hrs. we arrive at Panama Tocumen International Airport and spend the rest of the day at various locations on the perimeter. At 17:00 hrs. we check in at the Hotel Rui Panama in the city for 3 nights on a bed and breakfast basis. DAY 8: SATURDAY, 25th APRIL Leaving at 08:30 hrs. we set off for Howard International (Panama Pacifico) Airport; this ex-American airbase is now mainly used by charter airlines. There is also a National Air & Sea Service (coast guard) unit here. We then return to Panama-Tocumen International Airport; visits have been requested to COPA Airlines, DHL Aero Expreso, Florry Panama Aviation Corp, National Aeronaval Service, Penair Caro, Panavia etc.. DAY 9: SUNDAY, 26th APRIL Free day. Alternatively, we will offer an optional sightseeing excursion to see the Panama Canal and locks. DAY 10: MONDAY, 27th APRIL At 08:30 hrs. we drive to Panama-Albrook-Marcos A Gelabert Airport which is the city’s domestic airport; we plan to call in at Air Panama, Aeroperias etc. By 15:00 hrs. we are back at Tocumen International Airport, ready to check in for our AVIANCA flight to Bogota, departing at 17:53 hrs. and arriving at 19:20 hrs.. Overnight at an airport hotel. DAY 11: TUESDAY, 28th APRIL Boarding our coach at 08:30 hrs. we depart for Villavicencio, descending down the Andes Mountains to the forest below; a stop to stretch your legs (and optional lunch), will be made en-route during the 2½ hour drive. At 12:30 hrs. we arrive at Villavicencio Airport and proceed airside; we start with a walk along the ramps, then take up position immediately outside the passenger terminal looking out over the ramp, taxiway and runway. With the light beginning to fade, at 17:00 hrs. we transfer to our hotel. DAY 12: WEDNESDAY, 29th APRIL Leaving the hotel at 08:00 hrs. we return to the airport and repeat what we did yesterday afternoon. At 14:00 hrs. we board our coach and depart for Bogota (with leg-stretch (and optional lunch) stop en-route). At 17:30 hrs. we arrive at our airport hotel. DAY 13: THURSDAY, 30th APRIL We check out of the hotel and at 09:30 hrs. depart for our visit to the Colombian Air Force Museum. Lunch, at your own expense, can be taken at the airport. This afternoon we visit Air Caribe who own and/or maintain a good number of civil and military operated Antonov An-26 and An-32 propliners; we will request a flight in one of their An-26s, as enjoyed by our group in 2013. Early evening we arrive at the airport terminal, ready to check-in with AVIANCA for our flight to London which departs at 21:59 hrs.. DAY 14: FRIDAY, 1st MAY We are scheduled to arrive at Heathrow Airport at 14:40 hrs.. ESTIMATED TOUR PRICE PER PERSON TOUR: 227505 From: £2,598.00 Package price based on sharing a twin bedded room on a Bed and Breakfast basis From: £230.00 Single room supplement On request Land-only (NO flights) PLEASE SPEAK WITH ONE OF OUR CONSULTANTS BEFORE BOOKING TOUR PRICE WILL INCLUDE Flights to/from Bogota on the scheduled international services of Avianca from London’s Heathrow Airport, as stated Flights on the scheduled international services of Avianca, LACSA, AVIATECA and TACA: Bogota-San Jose-Tegucigalpa-San Salvador-Panama City-Bogota UK, Colombian, Costa Rican, Honduran, Salvadorian and Panamanian airport taxes, and UK Passenger Service Charge, currently £156.00 (subject to change) All coach transfers as stated 12 nights hotel accommodation with en-suite facilities, as stated Continental breakfast each morning Admission to aviation museums/collections, as stated Local national sales taxes Services of local English-speaking guides throughout Services of an Ian Allan Tour Manager throughout NOT INCLUDED Meals, other than those as stated above Departure Tax of US$40.00 per person, payable locally, when departing Panama City Travel insurance Visas, if required Personal expenditure, e.g. telephone calls, laundry, drinks, etc. Gratuity for coach drivers (we recommend a total of US$15.00 per person, to be collected by our tour manager on tour) Tips and gratuities
Posted on: Thu, 08 Jan 2015 12:53:01 +0000
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