Costa Rica Highlights and Pacific Beach

San José City

Day 1: Welcome to Costa Rica!

Today you'll arrive at San Jose's Juan Santamaría International Airport. After passing through immigration, you will be met by a representative who will give you an introductory briefing about Costa Rica and review the itinerary. You'll begin you trip in San José.

San José City is home to dense culture and history, wonderful architecture, lively nightlife, and friendly locals. Considered both a traditional Central American city and cosmopolitan urban center, San José provides a wonderful range of activities and attractions. These include the National Theatre, a series of historical parks, and several museums. Spend some time in town before relaxing for the night.

Tortuguero national park

Day 2: Explore Tortuguero National Park

Your journey begins early in the morning when a naturalist guide will pick up the group at your hotel. You will then depart the capital and head out on the road to Limon province, on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica. Your drive will take you across the Braulio Carrillo National Park, making for a very scenic journey.

The boat departs from La Pavona dock approximately at 11am, taking you on a journey down the river canals. The journey makes for great wildlife spotting opportunities.  Lunch and dinner served at the hotel´s restaurant on this day.

In the afternoon, visit the village of Tortuguero which lies in the northeastern corner of the park, on a thin strip of
land between the sea and the main canal, the beach and the Caribbean Conservation Corporation’s visitor center
and the turtle museum. 

Tortuguero national park

Day 3: Wildlife Spotting in the River Canals

In the afternoon, there will be a boat tour along the Tortuguero Canals. Tortuguero is one of the most important nesting sites in the western half of the Caribbean for the green turtle from June to September each year. The park is formed by a navigable network of lakes and canals with a large variety of wildlife, including monkeys, crocodiles, iguanas, sloths, turtles and more than 300 species of birds.

Tortuguero is teeming with a great diversity of wildlife. This is particularly true when it comes to birds: over 375 species can be found within the park’s boundaries. The most famous include keel-billed, chestnut mandible, and collared aracari toucans as well as different fowl found on the forest floor and river banks (including crested guan, northern jacana, blue, green, tiger, and boat-billed herons).

Arenal Volcano National Park

Day 4: Discover the Famous Arenal Volcano

After lunch, you will meet a representative who will provide the transfer from Guapiles to Arenal. Located in the northern part of the Alajuela province, close to the Nicaraguan border, the Arenal region possesses beautiful and varied scenery.

Sitting within a National Park, Arenal Volcano is a stunning sight. It boasts a perfect conical shape, and although it has entered a resting phase, it is still a wonder to behold. The park’s primary rainforest is exuberant and includes four different microclimates, making it the home of an enormous amount of flora and fauna.

The number of activities you can participate in in this region is extensive. There is something for everyone, from the most adventurous to visitors who just want to relax away from it all. You will find canopy tours and white water rafting, nature walks and bike rides, hot springs, and spas.

Arenal Volcano National Park

Day 5: Canyoning, Trekking, and a Farm Tour

Today, embark on a canyoning tour. During this exciting tour, you will explore the secrets that lie hidden in the depths of a rainforest river canyon. After a short trek to the first waterfall, you will begin your adventure. There are four rappels available throughout the tour, all guaranteed to get your heart pumping! 

Later, you will take a Campesino Farm Tour. You will start this day with a quick drive to a beautiful private area dedicated to reforestation, located in the mountainous area around the Children´s Eternal Rainforest. Here you will take a short walk where you discover the rainforest typical of the region and some of the wildlife found in this area.

Arenal Volcano National Park

Day 6: White Water Rafting Adventure

Traveling through green pastures and fertile plantations, you will have the chance to see pineapple, ornamentals, and yucca plantations.

Soon, you'll get to the Sarapiqui River put-in where your tour guide will provide your gear and give you a safety briefing. You will paddle for around 2 ½ hours paddling more than 30 rapids in this unforgettable IV Class Rafting trip with gradients leading to big as you ride down the pristine, sparkling waters of the Upper Sarapiquí River.

You will stop in the middle of the trip for a fruit break to renew your energy for the rest of your trip. The rafting goes through some of the most beautiful rainforests in Costa Rica.

Monteverde Cloud Forest

Day 7: Explore the Monteverde Cloud Forest

Today, you will be transferred from Arenal to Monteverde across Arenal Lake. Drive towards the Arenal Lake Dam where you will board a comfortable and safe pontoon boat for a ride to Río Chiquito, a little town on the other side of the lake.

Once at Río Chiquito, we’ll ride to the Monteverde area. The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is a favorite destination for bird watchers, wildlife enthusiasts, and scientists alike. Walking through the reserve, among massive old-growth trees covered in moss and with the mist permeating the atmosphere, can be considered a transcendental experience.

There are a great number of activities you can enjoy while visiting Monteverde. The Sky Tram (a tram ride on an open-aired gondola above the forest canopy) and the Sky Walk (a nature hike among hanging bridges suspended high among the trees) are favorites.

Monteverde Cloud Forest

Day 8: Skywalk, Skytram, and Skytrek

Today, you will start off with the Sky Walk Tour. The tour gives you the opportunity to enjoy the flora and fauna of the area from a different perspective, in the company of a specialized guide.

Afterward, you will ride the Sky Tram, an open-air gondola, from the ground to the mountain heights. You will be dropped off at an observation platform, where you will drink in the fantastic views of the Gulf of Nicoya and the surrounding cloud forest. From this point, the Sky Trek begins. You will glide down on a zip line system stretching across canyons and between treetops. The exhilarating adventure of zip lining down the mountainside ultimately returns you to the starting point at the main building. This is one of the most thrilling canopy tours in the country.

Manuel Antonio National Park

Day 9: Venture into Manuel Antonio National Park

Today you will transfer from Monteverde to Manuel Antonio. Manuel Antonio National Park is located in Costa Rica’s Central Pacific coast, and it is filled with breathtaking landscapes of international renown. It is a unique blend of scenic rainforest panoramas, gorgeous white-sand beaches, deep blue lagoons, and extensive mangroves.

All these things combined make for some of the most bio-diverse habitats in the world. Over 184 bird and 109 mammal species make their home here. Additionally, Manuel Antonio is one of only two places where you can see all four species of monkeys that reside in Costa Rica (spider, howler, white-faced, and squirrel). Manuel Antonio boasts amazing beaches, deep blue waters, and a friendly population.

Manuel Antonio National Park

Day 10: Ocean Adventures in Ballena Marine Park

Your boat departs from Punta Uvita Beach and visits the famous “Whale’s Tail” rock formation, the islets of the “three sisters” (Tres Hermanas), and the Ventanas Beach sea caves. Meanwhile, you and your guides will be searching the ocean for humpback whales and dolphins. Other species that can be seen during this tour are Bryde’s Whales, Pilot whales, False Killer whales, and other marine life.

The last part of the experience is done in the coral and rock reefs of the area to observe the brilliant wildlife of the Ballena Marine National Park.

Manuel Antonio National Park

Day 11: Free Day in Manuel Antonio National Park

You will have one full day in Manuel Antonio at leisure. Explore the area, take optional activities, or just relax at your hotel and the beaches nearby.

There is plenty to do in Manuel Antonio National Park from hiking in the jungle to snorkeling, diving, and swimming. Your guide will be happy to suggest some ideas for you to make the most of your free day.

San Jose - San José International Airport

Day 12: Adios Costa Rica

Your trip to Costa Rica has come to an end. You will be now transferred to the airport to catch your flight home. We hope you had a wonderful trip to this amazing country and that you made memories to last a lifetime.