Costa Rican Adventure

Day 1: Arrive San Jose

On arrival in San Jose, you will met the driver and transferred to your chosen hotel for a 1 night stay.

Day 2: San Jose – 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 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 3: Tortuguero

After breakfast, explore the Mawamba Park. This guided visit includes the butterfly farm, the frog farm and garden, the iguana farm, the biodigestor combined with a nice walk along the lodge's private trails. Lunch is included at the pool restaurant. In the afternoon, enjoy a boat tour in the Tortuguero Canals.

Tortuguero is a network of navigable lakes, rivers and canals (both natural and man-made) that are used for transportation and are a great place for observing local wildlife such as birds, monkeys, two an three-toed sloths, American crocodiles and caimans. The Park also provides shelter to endangered animals such as manatees, tapirs and jaguars.

Free time before dinner is served. 

Day 4: Tortuguero – Arenal

After breakfast, shared boat transfer back to the pier, where the trip will continue by bus to your next destination. Lunch is included on route. Then, continue by ground in a three-hour private transfer with an English-speaking driver to Arenal, one of Costa Rica’s main attractions.

At 1633 meters above sea level, the infamous Arenal Volcano has been until recently the most active in Central America and was considered to be one of the world's ten most active volcanoes! As you can imagine this is a popular spot for anyone wanting to visit Costa Rica therefore you should be aware, in peak season especially, this is by no means the peaceful area it once was.

Please note since Dec 2010 Arenal has stopped erupting but remains a popular place on anyone´s visit to Costa Rica.

On arrival, check into your hotel for a 2-night stay.

  

Day 5: Arenal

Today you will have a full day at leisure to enjoy the area and the optional activities available in the Arenal region, which include hikes to the volcano, canopy tours, mountain biking, horse riding to La Fortuna waterfall and a visit to the local hot springs at Tabacon.

Day 6: Arenal – Monteverde

Today you will travel by boat on Lake Arenal to Rio Chiquito, before being transferred by jeep or minibus to your chosen hotel in Monteverde, your base for the next 2 nights. The town of Monteverde is set in humid and temperate cloud forest and was founded in the 1950s by a group of Quakers who still produce quality cheeses and other dairy products in the region.

The protected Biological Reserve is home to many species, including the endangered golden toad and the colorful Quetzal bird, along with almost 500 butterfly species. 

  

Day 7: Monteverde

Today you will have a day at leisure to take one of the many optional excursions available in the area.

You can explore the cloud forest reserves of Monteverde and Santa Elena, visit hummingbird, orchid and butterfly gardens, see the forest canopy from the bridges of the Sky Walk, or take an exhilarating harness and zip line ride through the treetops.

Day 8: Monteverde – San Jose

After  breakfast  at  your  hotel,  you  will  have  a  private  transfer  back  to  San  José  for  an  overnight  stay. Alternatively continue onto one of Costa Rica’s lovely beach resorts.

Day 9: Depart San Jose

Today you will have the transfer to San Jose International Airport on time to board your onward flight.