Classic Costa-Rica

The best experience in the country

Itinerary

Package details

Our driver will meet you outside the terminal to take you to your hotel.

Overnight at hotel Real Intercontinental (superior), deluxe room or similar or hotel Casa Roland (standard), standard room or similar or hotel Colonial (budget), standard room or similar

NOTE: estimated driving time 20 minutes.

(Breakfast, lunch) A visit to Poas Volcano, large geysers and awesome crater- over 1.5 km wide. Then go to the Doka coffee tour, the famous Costa Rican coffee in making. Next visit is the famous metal church with its rare and beautiful architecture at Grecia and the fascinating craftsman factories of Sarchi; where they build the famous oxcarts.

Overnight at hotel Real Intercontinental (superior), deluxe room or similar or hotel Casa Roland (standard), standard room or similar or hotel Colonial (budget), standard room or similar

(Breakfast, lunch, dinner) Early morning departure to Tortuguero, arriving to the small port of Matina / Caño Blanco. Boat tour on the river and the canals all the way to Tortuguero National Park, an excellent chance to get a close look of the wildlife. Enjoy a refreshing cocktail and a delicious lunch at the lodge in Tortuguero and in the afternoon, visit the picturesque Tortuguero village located on the thin strip of land between the sea and the main canal, experience the Caribbean laid-back style of the local people and the reggae roots music in this colorful village. The evening is the perfect time to enjoy dinner in the lodge restaurant and the facilities.

Overnight at hotel Manatus (superior), standard room or similar or Pachira Lodge (standard), standard room or similar

NOTE: bus & boat transportation on a shared basis.

Estimated driving time 6 hours (including breakfast and boat cruise).

Maximum weight allowed on the boat per person: 25 pounds / 13 kg.

(Breakfast, lunch, dinner) Depending on weather, a guided walk in the forest or a boat tour through Tortuguero canals. Lunch at the lodge and in the afternoon enjoy a walk along the hotel private trails, or a boat tour through the secondary canals.

Overnight at hotel Manatus (superior), standard room or similar or Pachira Lodge (standard), standard room or similar

(Breakfast, lunch) After breakfast you will return by boat to the docks of Caño Blanco and continue on ground to Guapiles. After lunch you will pick up your car and go to Arenal in the northern part of the Alajuela province, close to the Nicaraguan border. This area offers beautiful and varied scenery refreshed by gentle tropical rain that keeps the land green almost all year round while the lowlands host gushing rivers, hot springs, lagoons, remote national parks, and plentiful wildlife. In the evening enjoy the hotel plentiful luxury amenities.

Overnight at hotel Royal Corin (superior), standard room or similar (including the use of the hotel’s hot springs) or hotel Arenal Springs (standard), junior suite or similar or hotel La Pradera (budget), standard room or similar

NOTE: estimated driving time 5 hours (including the boat cruise and lunch break).

(Breakfast) A free morning to relax at the hotel. In the afternoon you will visit Arenal Volcano National Park all the way to the lookout point which offers amazing views of the forest, the Arenal lake and the volcano.

Overnight at hotel Royal Corin (superior), standard room or similar (including the use of the hotel’s hot springs) or hotel Arenal Springs (standard), junior suite or similar or hotel La Pradera (budget), standard room or similar.

(Breakfast) Breathtaking views of the Gulf of Nicoya and the islands below will accompany you while ascending the hill to Monteverde and Santa Elena, the famous wildlife sanctuary. The Monteverde community was founded in 1951 by a group of North American Quakers who did their best to keep the natural surrounding which led to the foundation of a biological nature preserve that hosts one of the richest ecological systems in the country.

Upon arrival, a night walk in the cloud forest trail going into the thick jungle to see sleeping birds, tarantulas, spiders, grasshoppers, crickets, lizards, frogs, sloths, porcupines, white nose coatis, olingos, kinkajous, snakes and more.

Overnight at hotel El Establo (superior), deluxe room or similar or hotel Montaña Monteverde (standard), superior room or similar or hotel Montaña Monteverde (budget), standard room or similar

NOTE: estimated driving time 4.5 hours.

(Breakfast) Start with 1.9 mile trail and bridges hike through the forest. These bridges vary between 170 and 560 feet in length and between 40 and 260 feet height. After that, experience the forest from above through 15 cables and 18 platforms in an exciting adventure experience.

Overnight at hotel El Establo (superior), deluxe room or similar or hotel Montaña Monteverde (standard), superior room or similar or hotel Montaña Monteverde (budget), standard room or similar

(Breakfast) After early breakfast, continue to the central pacific coast to Manuel Antonio, which is one of the most luxuriant sites in Costa Rica, with spectacular white-grey sandy beaches fringed by thickly forested green hills. A free afternoon to enjoy the beautiful beaches and surroundings.

Overnight at hotel Parador (superior), superior room or similar (5 km from the national park) or hotel Playa Espadilla (standard) standard room or similar (500 m from the national park) or hotel Verde Mar (budget), standard room or similar (600 m from the national park).

NOTE: estimated driving time 4.5 hours.

(Breakfast) In the morning you will visit Manuel Antonio National Park to enjoy a guided walk in one of the world’s finest parks. Spectacular natural beauty and peaceful atmosphere, beautiful beaches, the unique formation of Punta Cathedral, mangroves, a setting of islands and a humid tropical forest. The park has four different beaches, each with its special characteristics. Follow a professional guide to watch numerous species of butterflies, monkeys, raccoons, coatis, agoutis, two-toed sloths, snakes, orchids, etc.

Overnight at hotel Parador (superior), superior room or similar (5 km from the national park) or hotel Playa Espadilla (standard) standard room or similar (500 m from the national park) or hotel Verde Mar (budget), standard room or similar (600 m from the national park).

(Breakfast, lunch) An amazing Catamaran island adventure begins at Quepos Harbor. Cruise through the aquamarine waters to the spectacular and scenic coastline of Manuel Antonio Park. In open water look for dolphins, migrating humpback whales, sea turtles and manta rays. Don’t miss the sight of dolphins frolicking in the boat’s wake, or the inimitable sound of the whale’s song. Watch mysterious islands jagged cliffs and unique rock formations as you make your way down the coastline. These are also the nesting grounds and home for numerous species of marine birds, pelicans, boobies and ibises. Later anchor in a protected cove within the pristine Biesanz bay for spectacular snorkeling.

Overnight at hotel Parador (superior), superior room or similar (5 km from the national park) or hotel Playa Espadilla (standard) standard room or similar (500 m from the national park) or hotel Verde Mar (budget), standard room or similar (600 m from the national park).

(Breakfast) Early in the morning you will drive to San Jose to the international airport.

Estimated driving time 3.5 hours.

NOTE: check in for international flights must be made three hours prior to departure. 

END OF JOURNEY!

Included in the package

Accommodation and meals

  • As specified in the program (breakfast is not included in hotel Verde Mar)

Transportation

  • Private transportation from the international airport to San Jose on day 1
  • Shared bus & boat transportation San Jose – Tortuguero on day 3
  • Shared boat & bus transportation Tortuguero – Guapiles on day 5
  • Rented car, Daihatsu Bego, full insurance, extra driver, zero deductions.
    pick up in Guapiles on days 5-12 – click for upgrade

Tours & Tours Packages

Up to 15 pax per tour (seldom there will be more), including roundtrip transportation from the hotels

  • Poas – Doka – Grecia – Sarchi
  • Tortuguero village
  • Tortuguero canals boat tour
  • Tortuguero guided trail tour
  • Tortuguero National Park (entrance fee)
  • Arenal hike
  • Night walk
  • Salvatura park hanging bridges + canopy
  • Manuel Antonio National Park
  • Catamaran

Not Included

Talk to our travel expert

Our Managing Director, Alon, has been to over 40 countries in his quest for the perfect adventure. He has biked the death road in Boiliva, trekked 500 miles across northern Spain on the Camino de Santiago, cycled from Brussels to Florence and hiked the five sacred mountains of China. Pygmy Elephant is how he spreads his love for adventure and self discovery in the world.

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