Costa Rica Highlights

Day 1: Arrive San José, Costa Rica

Saludos, welcome to Costa Rica. On arrival in San José you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel.  The rest of your day is free to spend at your own leisure.

San José is home to history and culture, outstanding architecture, friendly locals and bustling nightlife.  While San Jose sits in the middle of the country and is surrounded by untouched cloud forests, it is also the cultural center of Costa Rica with plenty of art galleries, museums, parks and dining.

Day 2: San José to Tortuguero

Travel from San Jose to Guápiles / La Pavona before taking a boat transfer to your lodge in Tortuguero in northeastern part of Costa Rica on the Caribbean side.

Tortuguero in the Limon province is known as one of the jewels of Costa Rica! Popular for its natural beauty, canals, small town and Afro-Caribbean culture that is a combination of Jamaican, Italian and Chinese immigrants. Temperatures and humidity are high year round, making the area wetter than other parts of the country. The extensive plains include the Pacuare, Estrella, Reventazon and Parismina rivers that join with the Tortuguero canals.

It is also a refuge for marine turtles to lay eggs. Note: September to early December is Green Turtle hatching season: This is when baby turtles emerge from the sand to make their way to the ocean. The best time to witness this is early morning or late afternoon.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 3: Tortuguero National Park

Explore Tortuguero National Park by boat.  This magical area is known as the Amazon of Costa Rica, there are no cars or roads, the town is an island surrounded by canals and the sea.

Tortuguero was largely destroyed by logging before the land and marine areas were protected and declared a national park in 1970. Today the rainforest has recovered and is home to an incredible biodiversity of plants and wildlife including over 60 species of mammals including Jaguar, Howler and Spider Monkeys, Sloths, Crocodiles, Iguanas and Caimans plus over 300 species of birds. The beaches of Tortuguero are an important nesting site for four species of turtles.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 4: Tortuguero to Arenal

Transfer by boat to La Pavona and then by road to La Fortuna/Arenal. San Carlos in the central part of the Alajuela province offers a landscape of exceptional beauty with forests, lagoons, fields of crops, rivers with hot springs and one of the most active volcanos of Costa Rica: Arenal.
Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch

Day 5: Arenal National Park

Today explore the trails of the Arenal Volcano National Park, hiking the tropical forest and areas that were devastated by the volcano. During your hike it is possible to observe a variety of flora and fauna as well as the impact craters and lava flows of 1992. At the end of the walk, visit thermal hot springs to soak and relax.
Meals included: Breakfast & Dinner

Day 6: Arenal to Manuel Antonio

Transfer by road from Arenal to Manuel Antonio, a small coastal village in the Central Pacific coast in the province of Puntarenas. (approximately 5.5 hours).  On arrival the rest of your day is free.
Meals included: Breakfast

Day 7: Manuel Antonio National Park

This morning you will explore Manuel Antonio National Park, one of the most famous in Costa Rica.  This is home to three of the four species of monkeys in Costa Rica.  You will hike one of the 3km trails that is flat and easily accessible, escorted by a naturalist guide. Upon reaching the third beach, take a break to rest, sunbathe or take a dip in the ocean. During this tour you can see sloths, birds and reptiles, as well as admire orchids and butterflies. Watch sloths and monkeys moving through the tree canopy, hunt for nocturnal silky anteaters, surprise iguanas resting on a tree and listen to the songs of the various birds. And if you are lucky, you might spot one of the 1,000 remaining endangered Mono Titi or squirrel monkey.  Your afternoon is free to relax or to explore more on an optional excursion such as kayaking or snorkelling (additional expense).
Meals included: Breakfast

Day 8: Manuel Antonio to San José

This morning is free until you depart Manuel Antonio and transfer by road to San José (approximately 4 hours).
Meals included: Breakfast

Day 9: Depart San José, Costa Rica

Today you farewell Costa Rica.  Your day is free before your private transfer to the airport for your flight.
Meals included: Breakfast