Classic Costa Rica

Day 1: Arrival

Meet and greet at Juan Santamaría International Airport. Transfer to your hotel.

Day 2: Poas Volcano – Doka Coffee Tour – La Paz Waterfall Gardens

Breakfast included in the hotel. Guided visit to Poas Volcano, Doka Coffee Plantation and La Paz Waterfall Gardens. To get to the different attractions included during this tour, we will drive by the city of Alajuela passing by the Agriculture Monument, the Monument to Juan Santamaria and the famous Mango Park. First stop, will be in Doka, a third-generation coffee plantation to learn how coffee is picked, milled, ground and roasted. As we continue towards the Poás Volcano, we will notice the change in temperature and vegetation; we will see coffee plantations, fern, flower and strawberry farms along the way, creating a colorful landscape. The Poas is one of the most spectacular volcanoes in the country, with its enormous crater measuring one kilometer in diameter and 314 meters deep. We will also hike to the beautiful Botos Lagoon. The tour continues to discover La Paz Waterfall Gardens, a natural park where we will walk through some spectacular trails leading to the White Magic Waterfall. We will also visit the largest butterfly observatory and the impressive hummingbird gallery, the serpentarium, the old house, the bird house and the frogs’ exhibit. After lunch, we will head back to San José.

Day 3: San José – Tortuguero

After an early departure from San Jose, driving through the spectacular Braulio Carrillo National Park, stop in Rio Danta private restaurant for a delicious typical breakfast. The bus ride continues through banana plantations to the pier. A two-hour boat ride through the canals will take you to Mawamba Lodge… just in time for lunch. In the afternoon, departure by boat to the nearby private trail, next to the National Park, for a guided walk into the tropical rainforest. A visit to the small town of Tortuguero is included before walking back to the lodge by the beach. Before dinner, free time to enjoy the pool or just to relax in a hammock. Dinner is served in the pool restaurant from 7:30 pm.

Day 4: Tortuguero

After breakfast, guided visit to Mawamba Park’s private trails, visiting the butterfly gardens, and the iguanas and a frog gardens. The Bio-digester, a system where the sewage waters are treated and converted in a natural source of gas to heat up the kitchen stoves. After lunch, in the afternoon, enjoy a canal boat tour through Tortuguero National Park.
About Tortuguero National Park:
Created to protect the most important nesting site of the green turtle in the Western Hemisphere, Tortuguero National Park extends along 14 miles (22 Km) of shoreline and 19 miles (30 Km) out to sea.

Day 5: Tortuguero – Arenal Area

After breakfast, shared boat transfer back to the pier, where the trip will continue by bus to your next destination. Lunch is included in Rio Danta Restaurant.

Day 6: Arenal Area

Breakfast. In the morning, natural history walk in the Hanging Bridges. Located within the corridor followed by birds migrating between North and South America, the trails and bridges of this project will bring the visitor as close as any person could ever imagine observing the birds, the flowers and the lush vegetation of the primary rainforest. In the afternoon, see from up close the activities of the Arenal Volcano. At 5437 feet, its tall and conical shape stands imposing over the pastured green hillsides that surround its base. Although currently in a resting phase, Arenal remains Costa Rica’s most active volcano for the past 43 years. This tour takes approximately 2 ½ hours.
Included: Entrance fee, guide and transfers

Day 7: Arenal – Monteverde

After breakfast, transfer to Monteverde according on selected mean of transportation:

  1. Regular boat transfer through Arenal Lake
  2. Drive your rented car around the lake
  3. Private boat transfer through Arenal Lake
Day 8: Monteverde

Breakfast. Morning visit to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. Costa Rica is one of the most biologically diverse countries in the world, having 4% of all the known species of plants and animals in only 0.04% the earth’s surface. Due to its altitudinal variation and climatic factors that vary between the Pacific and Caribbean slopes, Monteverde is perhaps one of the richest regions in the country where there are 3,021 known species including a total of 755 species of trees. One of the main attractions of Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve is its 13-kilometer network of trails.
Includes: Entrance fee, tour with a bilingual naturalist guide, transportation and a 15 minute-stop at CASEM. (Local women’s handcraft cooperative).
Afternoon at leisure to enjoy the area or to take optional tours.

Day 9 to 12: Tamarindo Beach Stay

After breakfast, transfer to the North Pacific coast.

Day 12: Tamarindo – San José

Breakfast. Transfer back to San José.

Day 13: Departure

Breakfast. Private transfer to Juan Santamaría International airport.
Check in at airline counter must be done three hours prior to flight departure.

PACKAGE INCLUDES:
  • Private arrival transfers with English speaking assistance
  • Daily breakfast
  • All meals, tours and entrance to the National Park while in Tortuguero
  • Guided visit to Doka Coffe Plantation, Poas Volcano and La Paz Waterfall Gardens – lunch included
  • 3 nights in Studio Hotel
  • 2 nights in Mawamba Lodge
  • 2 nights in Arenal Springs Hotel
  • 2 nights in Trapp Family
  • 3 nights in Tamarindo Diria Hotel – poolside room
  • Lodging taxes
  • Private departure transfers
  • According to selected mean of transportation
  • Natural history walk in the Hanging bridges
  • Guided hike near Arenal Volcano
  • Guided visit to Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve
NOT INCLUDED:
  • Air tickets to/from Costa Rica
  • Departure tax (US$29 per person)
  • Tips
  • Optional tours
  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Personal expenses