Welcome to Costa Rica!

Upon your arrival at the San Jose Airport, clear Customs and Immigration, where you will be met by a member of the National Chamber of Tourism to receive an identifying sticker. At the airport exit terminal, you will be greeted by a local representative, who will present you with all of the information and details you will need during your trip. You will then be transferred to the Grano de Oro Hotel in San Jose. Transport service will be in a minivan with AC, approximately a 30-45 minutes transfer. Enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure and let the adventure begin!

San Jose

Historic neighborhoods in Costa Rica are laced with delicious international restaurants and bustling shopping streets. The city's art scene is popping and huge colorful murals blend harmoniously beside small unique art galleries. Like many Latin American capitals, it's the colonial architecture that truly gives the streets of San Jose their charm, and is a welcome break from the ever-modernizing city attributes. As a city that primarily hosts travelers arriving and departing from Costa Rica specifically, San Jose fills its role perfectly. An introduction, a gateway and a welcoming!

Tortuguero Arrival & Exploration

Early this morning, you will be picked up at your hotel in San Jose by a local guide, to embark towards your hotel in Tortuguero.

First, you will drive through the magnificent Braulio Carrillo National Park on the Limon Highway. Once in the town of Guapiles, you will stop at a local Restaurant for a delicious breakfast. The drive in total will be approximately 3 hours. After breakfast, when you have reached the main port lining the canals, you will board a boat for the remainder of the transfer to your hotel in Tortuguero. The boat ride will be approximately 1 hour and when you arrive at the lodge, a fresh and tasty lunch will be served.

In the afternoon, your local guide will take you to the town for a leisurely walk where you will get a taste of the local living. (This service is on a group basis.)

Tortuguero

This national park is the world's most important breeding ground for the green sea turtle, which lends its name to this region's moniker. With over 240 inches of rain every year, this is also one of the wettest places in the country. The canals that form most of the protected land flow into the Caribbean, which is also protected, forms hundreds of square miles of aquatic national park in this region. Other than the canals, most travelers will come here for the turtles, whose hatching grounds are closely monitored, insuring the continual growth of the green sea turtle population.

Rainforest Adventure by Boat

Enjoy a free morning to lounge at the pool, walk a forest trail or simply relax before lunch. In the afternoon, you will enjoy the Wildlife-rich tour through the rainforest canals by boat. This tour will allow you the chance to see a large diversity of bird species, monkeys, sloths, crocodiles, and iguanas.

Tortuguero National Park is known as Costa Rica’s "little Amazon". There are no roads - travel is by boat along a series of rivers and canals or by foot on forest paths. The park consists of a network of waterways surrounded by a vast tropical rainforest and is one of the best places to observe wildlife in Costa Rica. Here, you will likely see 2 or 3 species of monkeys, iguanas, crested basilisk lizards (they look like miniature dinosaurs!), sloths, lots of water birds, toucans, parrots, parakeets, caiman (cousins of alligators), and possibly crocodiles, as well as colorful tropical forest birds.

You will want to have lightweight clothing, water shoes, sunscreen and protective sun gear, camera, binoculars, insect repellent, a light rain jacket for this excursion. (This service is on a group basis.)

This morning after breakfast, you will board a shared boat, for a ride back to the docks lining the Tortuguero Canals. At the docks, a private car will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel in Arenal. You will stop for lunch along the way at a local restaurant. Total transfer time will be approximately 4.5 hours (including the boat ride), plus any additional stops on the way.

Check into your room, and enjoy the rest of the day in Arenal!

Arenal Volcano National Park

Though it has remained dormant since 1968, Arenal Volcano is the highlight of one of Costa Rica's most popular national parks. Beautiful trails, volcanic hot springs, and ample adventure activities abound, all interspersed with rare rumblings from the sleeping mountain. Plenty of lodges and hotels are built into the countryside with views of Arenal Volcano to take advantage of this picturesque region. It won't take you long to see why this is such a hot spot! From rain clouds, to clear blue skies, it's a beautiful and unique site to behold no matter what.

Hanging Bridges Tour

Today, you will embark on an unforgettable guided tour of the Arenal Hanging Bridges! You will be picked up from your hotel and driven to the start point to begin the adventure. This is a complex of suspension bridges and trails that take you through the beautiful rainforest. As the terrain winds about, the trail crosses ravines with small waterfalls and travels over bridges with panoramic vistas over the treetops. You will even catch glimpses of Arenal Volcano, itself. As you walk, you may encounter wildlife including toucans, poison dart frogs, howling monkeys, spider monkeys and white-faced capuchin monkeys. The 1.5 mile trail is an easy walk for people in good condition and loops back to the starting point.

This morning, you'll be met at the Tabacon Grand Spa and transferred up the mountain to the Monteverde Cloud Forest area and your overnight accommodations at the El Establo. Transport service will be in a minivan with AC for your comfort.Approximate transfer time is 3.5 hours, plus any stops en route.

Upon arrival, enjoy the remainder of the day at your leisure.

Monteverde Cloud Forest

This biological reserve has been a source of inspiration since it was first colonized, and has continued to be advocated for by different conservation groups through the 19th and 20th centuries. Only 160 tourists are allowed within its borders at a time, insuring that the healthy rivers, blooming trees, and intense biodiversity remains protected. Though it does rain often (bring your raincoat), and the trails do get a bit muddy (don't forget your boots), this is a chance to witness the wilderness for which Costa Rica is famous, and maybe even learn a thing or two about the importance of conservation of beauty, and the value of nature.

Sky Tram & Trek Excursion

Get ready for an adventure that is sure to be a highlight of your trip!

The Monteverde Sky Tram and Sky Trek combines a ski lift ride and a zip line adventure in a cloud forest. The Sky Tram is a guided ride with short stops to observe the wonders of the cloud forest. The Sky Trek zips above the trees and give exhilarating panoramic views. The tour begins with the Sky Tram bringing you up the mountain on the Continental Divide, before gliding down on the Sky Trek zip lines. Hold on tight as the breeze rushes past your face and you hear the calls of the wild!

In the morning, you will be picked up at the El Establo Hotel in Monteverde and transferred to the Tamarindo Diria Hotel in Playa Tamarindo. Transport service will be in a minivan with AC. The ride will be approximately 4 hours, plus any stops on the way. (This service is on a private basis.)

Tamarindo

For decades, Tamarindo has hosted explorers seeking ideal surf waves and beach parties. Thus, it enjoys the benefits of one of the country's most developed and pristine beaches. Luxury resorts and lodges keep the beaches clean, while international restaurants cater to every imaginable requirement. Located in a broad bay in the warm and sunny northwest Guanacaste Province, the activities on offer expand far beyond the beaches though. Travelers can also enjoy coastal bird watching and estuary tours, sports fishing, snorkeling, diving tours and sailing, among others.

Catamaran Sunset Tour

This afternoon at 12:45 pm, you will head down to the beach to board the boat for your Catamaran Sunset Tour. Enjoy the views, while also having the opportunity to snorkel under the beauty of the Costa Rican night sky.

Silently, glide along Costa Rica’s Gold Coast while passing some of Guanacaste’s exotic bays, white sand beaches and tropical jungles. Gaze off the bow with a cold tropical drink prepared by the crew, as you scan the seas for dolphins, sea turtles, flying fish or even a breaching whale. Stop in a tranquil bay, drop anchor and frolic in the blue Pacific. Snorkel in the bay or run down the deserted white sand beach, while the crew prepares a feast of chicken or pasta salad, fruit, chips, pico de gallo, guacamole and homemade chocolate chip cookies. The Marlin Del Rey Sailing Catamarans will set sail and you will hear the waves slide along the giant catamaran as the sun sets, illuminating the clouds left in the sky. Bring your camera and capture these moments that no words could ever explain.

This evening, return to the hotel around 6:30pm.

Sadly, it is time to say goodbye to the beautiful country of Costa Rica today. You will be picked up at the Tamarindo Diria this morning, to continue the journey on to the Liberia International Airport, located just outside the city of Liberia. The transfer time for this drive should be approximately one hour. (This service is on a private basis.)

We hope you had an amazing trip and we wish you safe and pleasant travels onward!