Costa Rica is a small, biodiverse country in Central America, renowned for its lush rainforests, diverse wildlife, and commitment to environmental conservation. Bordered by Nicaragua to the north and Panama to the south, Costa Rica is also flanked by the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east.
Your day begins early with a morning departure, travelling by bus through the Braulio Carrillo National Park towards the Caribbean plains to enjoy the spectacular mountain scenery and quaint villages. Indulge in a tasty breakfast en route and continue through the jungle by boat, cruising the rivers and canals of Tortuguero National Park. Arrive at your eco-lodge and enjoy a tasty lunch. Board the boat again for a visit to Tortuguero village, where you will get to walk around town, stroll along the beach, and experience the locals’ way of living. During the turtle hatching season, we will look for the baby turtles trying to find their way down to the ocean. Nesting is from July to September and hatching from September to December. Enjoy the rest of the day relaxing at the hotel, surrounded by the beautiful tropical forest and wildlife. Lunch and dinner included Overnight in Tortuguero.
Today you will have some free time to relax by the pool and experience the Tortuguero National Park on a three-hour trip. Observe over 350 protected species of birds, monkeys, crocodiles, and sloths, as well as lush vegetation. During the July to September season, you can join an optional late night turtle nesting tour, purchasable directly at the lodge. Lunch and dinner included. Overnight in Tortuguero.
In the early morning, you will depart by boat back to Guápiles, followed by ground transportation to a restaurant for lunch. After a delicious meal, a shared transfer will take you to the Arenal area, where you will have free time to explore or take part in an optional activity. One exciting option is visiting the Ecotermales Hot Springs, a tranquil natural retreat surrounded by the rainforest and the majestic Arenal Volcano. Here, you can relax in thermal pools heated by the volcano, with temperatures ranging from 37°C to 41°C (99°F to 106°F), complemented by a cold water waterfall that provides a soothing massage. The experience includes transportation, a bilingual guide, entrance, and dinner, with the activity lasting around 6 hours, departing at 3:00 PM. Overnight accommodation will be in Arenal.
After breakfast, embark on a guided walking tour of Arenal Volcano National Park, where your guide will share insights into the volcanic activity of this once-active volcano. As you explore the lush landscapes, keep an eye out for local wildlife, such as sloths, howler monkeys, and anteaters. Following the tour, you'll return to your hotel with the afternoon free for an optional activity. Choose between two thrilling options: a Zipline Adventure through the rainforest at Ecoglide Arenal Park, where you'll zip across 13 cables and experience the Tarzan Swing, or a visit to the La Fortuna Waterfall, a stunning 60-meter cascade where you can swim or relax by its crystal-clear waters. Both options include transportation, a bilingual guide, and entrance fees, with the activities lasting around 3 hours. Overnight will be in Arenal.
Begin the day with an early breakfast at the hotel, followed by check-out and head towards Monteverde. Transfer down to Arenal Lake where you will board a boat that will take you across towards Monteverde. Once on the other side, a vehicle awaits to take you up to Monteverde. Admire the transition of the rainforest to the cloud forest where you will reach an altitude of 1,200 metres above sea level. Located in the Puntarenas province, Monteverde is a place of cloud forests and mist, coffee plantations, monkeys, and friendly locals. The town of Santa Elena is small and quaint, filled with inviting restaurants and folksy artisan shops, while the nearby rainforest hosts a remarkable amount of biodiversity. Enjoy the day at leisure to explore on your own or participate in an exciting optional activity like the Selvatura Treetop Walkway guided tour, which includes a 3-hour hike along a network of trails and suspension bridges in the cloud forest of Monteverde. Be on the lookout for birds, monkeys, sloths, insects, and interesting plants of all shapes and sizes. The Selvatura Treetop Walkway guided tour takes you through and above the rainforest. A series of eight suspension bridges, connected by trails for a total 3 km in length, provides a bird’s-eye view of the rainforest canopy! If adventure is not something you are interested in, join the interesting Coffee Tour to understand Costa Rica´s coffee, chocolate and sugar cane production (with an emphasis on coffee!). The tour offers an interesting opportunity to learn about coffee and its production as well as to get close to the fascinating Costa Rican folkloreThe optional tours are not included. Overnight in Monteverde.
After a nourishing breakfast at the hotel, enjoy a hike through the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. Founded in 1972, the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve is world-famous for its outstanding biodiversity, conservation actions and contributions, as well as scientific research. The reserve is home to 2.5% of the world’s biodiversity, and it is one of the most important private reserves, not just in Costa Rica but the world. It hosts hundreds of species of mammals, birds, butterflies, amphibians, reptiles, insects and arachnids, as well as a large variety of flora, such as mosses, vines or the autochthonous trees of the cloud forest. You can enhance today´s experience by joining one of the memorable tours you missed yesterday. Whether you choose to explore the cloud forest during the Selvatura Treetop Walkway guided tour, or you prefer getting closer to the fascinating Costa Rican culture while on the Coffee tour, your day will be unforgettable. Selvatura Treetop Walkaway and Coffee tours are not included. Overnight in Monteverde.
This morning after breakfast, head towards a stunning beachside destination, descending to Manuel Antonio National Park. On arrival, take the rest of the day to enjoy the surrounding areas, hotel facilities or the spectacular beach. Overnight in Manuel Antonio.
After indulging in a delicious breakfast, you will be picked up from your hotel to transfer to the Manuel Antonio National Park. During today’s tour, your knowledgeable nature guide will walk you through the park and explain the mysteries of the rainforest. The trail is flat, picturesque and loops through the park, making your course about two miles long. Throughout your hike, your guide will stop and narrate the park’s natural history, which includes thorough descriptions of the plants and animals that can be observed along the way. The park is a great place to take pictures or just to admire the impressive views. One of the highlights of this tour is that Manuel Antonio is home to three of the four existing tropical primates living in Costa Rica. Halfway through the hike, enjoy a leisurely stop at the world-famous ‘Third Beach’. Take a rest on the soft sand or play in the waves. The stop will last around 20 minutes. Throughout the hike, it is common to see sloths, birds, and reptiles, as well as admire wild orchids, butterflies, and tropical vegetation. Your guides are equipped with Pentax and Swarovski monocular/telescopes, so you can observe the wildlife and take pictures from a different perspective. Once the tour is over, transportation is provided back to your hotel. Overnight in Manuel Antonio.
Begin your last day in spectacular Costa Rica with a delectable breakfast. Then, at the appropriate time, transfer to Juan Santamaria International Airport to catch your flight back home or on to your next destination. Breakfast included.
Cities
SAN JOSE, TORTUGUERO, Arenal, Monteverde, Manuel Antonio