Exploring the canals of Tortuguero; Soaking in Baldi Hotsprings; Monteverde Cloud forest walk; Hummingbirds, sloths & butterflies!; Boiling mud pots, fumaroles and thermal streams; Manuel Antonio's spectacular beaches
On our Costa Rica tour you will discover how Costa Rica earns its reputation as a natural wonderland on this two-week adventure through one of the most exciting and striking countries in Central America, and indeed, the world.
Literally translated as the 'rich coast', Costa Rica is a land of varied topography and broad spectrum of ecosystem.
Between its borders, Costa Rica encompasses white-sand Caribbean beaches, volcanic mountainscapes, lush, velveteen jungle, low-lying plains and swampland.
We head to Tortuguero Park, where we take to the waters to glide along canals that are lined with virgin wilderness on both shores.
The mist-encircled trees in Monteverde Cloud Forest provide a setting that seems as though it was taken straight out of a fairytale and Rincon de la Vieja National Park yields hidden lakes, hot-springs and beautiful volcanic landscapes.
Yet more wildlife awaits us in Manuel Antonio National Park before enjoying some sightseeing in San Jose.
Prices below are per person, twin-sharing costs in US Dollars (USD). Pricing does not include airfare to/from the tour and any applicable taxes. For single supplement rates and taxes (if any), please refer to below Prices & Dates table. For general information on flights to/from the tour, click here.
Select a date below to reserve your spot:
Optional Single Supplement: $900 USD (number of singles limited).
Day 1 Arrival in San Jose
Today we arrive in San Jose, Costa Rica.
San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica, is on a plateau in the Central Valley at 1200 m (3,700 ft), ringed by lush green mountains and valleys. The population of this city is probably half of the whole country! The main downtown area is a bustling collection of well-laid-out streets filled with bustling traffic and lined with eclectic, historic architecture. On the surface, it is a gritty downtown area, but you'll also find friendly people, quirky spots, and the historic side of San Jose which might just change your initial impression.
Overnight in San Jose.
Included Meal(s): Dinner
Day 2 San Jose - Boat to Tortuguero
This morning we travel by bus from San Jose through Braulio Carillo National Park, one of Costa Rica's largest. If season/harvest time permits, we will visit a working banana plantation and then pass through a region known for its cocoa production. We then board our riverboat* and spend the afternoon journeying through myriad interconnecting rivers and canals that take us finally to the Caribbean coast and Tortuguero Park.
The park is a water thoroughfare which is a 160 km (100 mile) stretch of natural rivers, lagoons and estuaries, and connecting man-made waterways that run almost to the Nicaraguan border. The canal is the main "highway" of the northern coastal region, complete with directional signs and branches from the main trunk route.
As we go along the canal, keep a keen lookout for views of pastel-coloured toucans and monkeys of various type; if we're lucky, a lazy sloth hanging from a branch, and maybe a coati or two roaming the forest. Stands of mangroves and water hyacinth appear here and there. Scattered along the way are people, too -- fishers and farmers whose dugouts serve all the purposes of pickup trucks elsewhere. Mostly the banks remain wild, and the calls of monkeys and whistles of birds predominate over the noises of humans.
* We strongly recommend that travellers bring a smaller bag to take to Tortuguero due to limited sapce on the boat and the lack of personnel to help you with baggage. Your luggage will be securely stored until we are reunited with it upon departure from Tortuguero.
Overnight in Tortuguero.
Included Meal(s): Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 3 Tortuguero: Forest Walk & Village
Tortuguero Park is a fascinating place to explore. An early morning boat ride offers an opportunity to observe an awakening coastal rain forest full of lush vegetation and unique bird life.
After lunch we visit the village of Tortuguero accessible only by river boat; you may choose to walk on the Caribbean beach where several turtle species lay their eggs each year. We will visit the Tortuguero Museum with its excellent displays pertaining to the ecology of the area and an informative video presentation specific to turtle conservation in Tortuguero and the entire Caribbean region (the Green Sea and Hawksbill turtles' nesting season runs from July to October with the peak in August, and the Leatherback turtles nest from February to April. It is possible to see individual turtles at any time of the year).
NOTE: The exact order of our activities in Tortuguero may vary depending on weather and other variables.
Overnight in Tortuguero.
Included Meal(s): Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 4 Tortuguero - Baldi Hotsprings - Arenal Volcano
After an early breakfast we travel by boat 1½-hour to reunite with our land transport and then continue by road to the La Fortuna/Arenal area.
We travel through rolling hills covered with sugar cane fields to overnight near Arenal Volcano. We make a stop at the Baldi Hotsprings (located near Arenal and outside the Risk Zones established by the National Prevention of Risks and Emergency Commission). Here a geothermally-heated river flows through beautifully landscaped grounds featuring many plant and tree species and great birdlife. We will have time to relax in or around the various pools (bring a towel). The springs feature several hot pools with different temperatures fed by individual springs and three swim-up bars.
This evening (weather & volcanic activity permitting) we can view the volcano.
Overnight at Arenal / La Fortuna.
Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Dinner
Day 5 Arenal National Park
This morning we include a guided walking tour (+/- 3 hours) through Arenal National Park.
Our tour occurs around the base of Arenal Volcano, where you will see some of the evidence that remains of the massive 1968 eruption. Along the way our guide will point out the wildlife that has persevered through the tumultuous mid-century period of volcanic activity. In 1968 lava covered huge swaths of the jungle, and has since hardened into black lava flows, smothering miles of rainforest growth. Now the base of the volcano is host to several different ecosystems, including secondary rainforest and clear, open spaces with relatively thin vegetation.
Along the trail our guide will point out to you volcanic boulders that the volcano shot out during the eruption. We’ll also walk along the edge of Arenal Lake, the largest dammed lake in Central America. During the hike we'll come to a few viewing points where you will have an excellent view of the volcano. At the end of the trail we'll reach an observatory with an optimal view of the volcano (weather-permitting!).
* Our activities are leisurely in nature, with undulating terrain on a well-maintained track. By this point on the trip, your group leader will have a good sense of your abilities and can discuss your suitability for the excursions a day or two prior.
Overnight in Arenal/La Fortuna Area.
Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Dinner
Day 6 Arenal - Monteverde Cloud Forest
Today we travel through a rustic rural countryside to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve area (+/- 4 hours).
Covered in a mantle of moss, ferns and orchids, this private reserve is home to over 400 species of birds and a great number of animals. The forest is created by the winds, particular temperature and moisture conditions, and mountainous topography which combine during the dry season to hold a steady cloud cover along the continental divide. The rains and the moisture in the air nourish trees and plants rooted in the ground, as well as many plants
that live at the upper levels of the forest, and take their nutrients directly from the mist and dust that pass through the air. The result is an enchanted fairy-tale environment where trees are laden with orchids, bromeliads, mosses and ferns that obscure their branches, where the moisture and mild temperatures and sunlight filtered by the forest canopy encourage the exuberance of begonias, heliconias, philodendron and many other tropical plants in every available space on the ground.
This afternoon we have a guided tour of the "Butterfly Garden" where butterflies and other endemic insects are raised and protected in a controlled environment allowing scientists to study them -- their place in the food chain and their response to things like increased pollution and climate change.
Overnight in Monteverde.
Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Dinner
Day 7 Monteverde Cloud Forest
We have a full morning exploring the cloud forest reserve with the help of a local naturalist guide. There is more to the forest than the trees and lesser plants. Of over 320 bird species, the most notable is the quetzal with its long arc of tail feathers. Assorted trogons in addition to the quetzal inhabit the reserve, along with more than 50 varieties of hummingbird. About 500 kinds of butterfly are found at Monteverde. Among the more than 100 mammalian species are howler, white-faced and spider monkeys, coatis and their cousins, raccoons; as well as the rarely observed pumas, ocelots, jaguars, tapirs, and kinkajous.
This afternoon you may choose to go on an optional "Canopy Walk" excursion, located within the cloud forest. Suspension foot-bridges are strung across deep gorges allowing one to get a bird's eye view of the forest from a totally different perspective than we experienced this morning. At a leisurely pace, one can complete this easy and fascinating walk in about 90 minutes. Your Tour Leader can help you plan this activity (your Tour Leader will advise re the current price while on tour).
REMEMBER: This can be a wet and windy place by definition; you should be prepared for varied conditions.
Overnight at Monteverde.
Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Dinner
Day 8 Monteverde - Rincon de la Vieja
An early departure takes us down to the Pan-American Highway on which we travel north to Rincon de la Vieja National Park.
The Rincon de La Vieja National Park is located in the mountain range of Guanacaste, province of Guanacaste and Alajuela. The active volcano's slopes are covered with both wet and dry forests that contain hidden lakes, rivers and waterfalls and an abundance of wildlife -- the resplendent quetzal, three-wattle bellbirds, morpho butterflies, tapir, coatimundis and three kinds of monkeys. Known for its stunning diversity of flora and fauna, this national park is home to two volcanoes, the Rincon de la Vieja and the Santa Maria, as well as six different volcanic peaks and thirty two rivers and streams. The park has small geysers, bubbling mud pots and mineral hot springs that have earned it the name, "Costa Rica's Yellowstone".
Overnight near Rincon de la Vieja National Park.
Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Dinner
Day 9 Rincon de la Vieja National Park
Known for its stunning diversity of flora and fauna, this national park is home to two volcanoes, the Rincon de la Vieja and the Santa Maria, as well as six different volcanic peaks and thirty two rivers and streams. The park has small geysers, bubbling mud pots and mineral hot springs that have earned it the name, "Costa Rica's Yellowstone". One more thing that is unique from Rincon de la Vieja Volcano is the Vrizea Vulcanicola bromeliad, endemic to this
park and Costa Rica.
We will have a full morning with a somewhat CHALLENGING walk (undulating, uneven terrain -- talk to you Tour Leader re your suitability) along Las Pailas Trail to view the best volcanic activity you can see in the country. The trail takes us through cloud forest, open grassy slopes and near a wide array of volcanic features including impressive boiling mud pots, fumaroles and thermal streams.
This afternoon you can continue your on-foot exploration on your own or take part in a number of optional activities, including river tubing, horseback riding and/or hot springs soaking. Or you can simply relax and enjoy the birdsong and magnificent views.
Overnight near Rincon de la Vieja National Park.
Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Dinner
Day 10 Rincon - Crocodile Safari - Quepos
This morning we continue southward to the town of Quepos, gateway for the Manuel Antonio National Park, an unspoiled haven of natural beauty on the shores of the Pacific. En route we'll enjoy an informative crocodile safari.*
The safari provides visitors with an exciting opportunity to enjoy one of Costa Rica's most beautiful ecosystems. The tour takes place along the Tarcoles River and is accompanied by a bilingual guide, who will share interesting information and spot an assortment of critters. Most notably, the Tarcoles River is known for its abundance of crocodiles, some of which can grow up to 15 ft in length. Other animal sightings include over 50 species of bird -- including the rare scarlet macaw -- as well as an assortment of iguanas and lizards. Heading downstream, the boat will also pass through Estero Guacalillo, an extensive mangrove system which houses four different types of mangrove trees.
We continue to Quepos.
* Occasionally, due to tides and logistical considerations, we may accomplish this sightseeing on the day we travel from Quepos back to San Jose.
Overnight in Quepos.
Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Dinner
Day 11 Manuel Antonio National Park
This morning we enjoy a leisurely walk through part of Manuel Antonio Park. While strolling the forest trails and the white sand beaches, we'll likely encounter monkeys, iguanas, sea creatures and bird life of amazing variety. After our morning walk, you may like to continue to explore the park and return to the hotel by taxi on your own.
Manuel Antonio National Park is an area of sand curving around a bay strewn with islands of rock, and shaded by green bordering forests. All are backdropped by dramatic cliffs. Manuel Antonio beach is one of the few places in Costa Rica where unspoiled primary forest grows right to the high-tide mark, allowing visitors to bathe at times in the shade.
South Espadilla is the northernmost of the park's beaches, followed by calmer Manuel Antonio beach, offshore of which are some coral spots. Third Beach has tidal pools where brightly coloured fish and eels are temporarily stranded. Last is Puerto Escondido, access to which is made difficult by the bordering rocky promontory.
Overnight in Quepos.
Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Dinner
Day 12 Quepos Area
Today is at leisure to enjoy this charming area.
There are several optional activities, including boat trips and nature walks, or returning to Manuel Antonio. Your Tour Leader will provide information on any optional activites available throughout our tour (costs, durations etc) at our Day 1 orientation. S/he can then make reservations if necessary on your behalf (we caution you against making any bookings in advance from home, as your Tour Leader may elect to switch our included content around due to variables such as weather and other logisitical considerations).
Overnight in Quepos.
Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Dinner
Day 13 Quepos - San Jose
Today we head back to the capital.
Time permitting, we recommend a visit to the Gold Museum in downtown San Jose (optional), easily the country's best with thousands of different examples of Pre-Columbian gold artifacts (the museum closes at 16:30).
Overnight in San Jose.
Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Dinner
Day 14 Departure
Departure from San Jose.
BUEN VIAJE!
Included Meal(s): Breakfast
Inclusions
Breakfast and dinner daily (hotels and local restaurants). All transport, accommodation, sightseeing and entrance fees for sites noted as 'visited' in the detailed itinerary. Gratuities for local guides, drivers, restaurant staff, hotel porters (if available). Airport transfers for land & air customers and for early arriving/late departing land & air customers who book their extra hotel nights through us.
Exclusions
International airfare to/from the tour. Tour Leader gratuity, lunches, drinks, personal items (phone, laundry, etc), departure taxes, and international air taxes (if applicable). Airport transfers for Land Only customers. Optional trip cancellation insurance. Our post-reservation trip notes offer further guidance on not included meal costs, shopping, and locally paid departure taxes.
Seasonality and Weather
This tour is offered throughout the year. In the Central Valley, where the main centres of population are located, the average temperature is 22C (72F). In the coastal areas the temperature is much hotter and humid. The "green" season runs May-November. The warm dry season is Dec-May, though temperature differences between summer and winter are slight.
If you're considering visiting over Christmas/new Year's, please refer to tour code CR10.
Transport and Travel Conditions
Road transport by private air-conditioned motor coach, 12-30 seats depending on ultimate group size (see 'group size'). Costa Rica's roads are generally good though we do have some long (though scenic) road journeys. Numerous nature walks and walking tours on uneven surfaces.
Our difficulty level "2" rating refers to the above-mentioned busy days, walking tours on uneven terrain, lack of handrails (public and elsewhere, ie shower stalls), and fatigue that can be caused by heat and humidity and unfamiliar food and drink.
Am I suitable for this tour? Please refer to our self-assessment form.
Accommodation
Well-located, heated/air-conditioned, mid-range (3 star) hotels with en suite toilet and bath throughout (probably shower only). Single rooms are limited and likely smaller than doubles. Hotel porter service is sometimes available (see 'inclusions') though you should be independent with your luggage. Some hotels have outdoor swimming pools.
Staff and Support
Tour Leader, driver/s, and local step-on guides at various locations.
Group Size
Maximum 18 plus Tour Leader
Tour Extensions
This tour is part of a series that can be upgraded to make for a longer trip. For more options, please refer to tour code/s:
Regions visited: Central America
Countries visited: Costa Rica
*The red tour trail on the map does not represent the actual travel path.
The following is a list of sample hotels at some locations included on this tour. The hotels shown here are meant to provide a general sense of the standard of hotel we usually aim for; they are not necessarily confirmed for your chosen departure.
We encourage you to get trip cancellation and interruption insurance to protect against unforeseen events.