Day 1
Arrival in San Jose
Upon arrival, you’ll be transferred to your hotel, and general information about the area and country will be provided. Check-in at the hotel, and the rest of the day is free to relax after your long flight – we recommend wandering around one of the beautiful historic districts or enjoying a delicious meal at one of the many restaurants in this small but vibrant capital; or the facilities at your hotel are wonderful, and the food served in its Las Tejas Restaurant is lovely too.
Your hotel is a colonial style property, set 15 minutes from downtown San Jose.
Overnight: Doubletree Caiari Hotel by Hilton (Standard Room)
Day 2
Irazu Volcano National Park – Orosi Valley – Lankaster Gardens
After breakfast at the hotel, you’ll be picked up by your private guide to commence today’s tour – a combination of the Irazu Volcano National Park, the Orosi Valley & Lankester Gardens. The tour will start with a trek along the Panamerican Highway to the indigenous village of Iztaru. As you descend to the city of Cartago, you’ll stop at the Virgin of the Angels Basilica – a famous peregrination site for many believers. The Irazu Volcano sits at 3432m above sea level, your trip begins ascending the breathtaking summit, passing through coffee plantations and all forms of vegetation depending on the elevation. Admire spectacular views of the crater, home to a lagoon with a mystical green hue surrounded by jageed rocks. On a clear day see as far as the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean!
Next, you’ll visit the Lankester Gardens, which protects over 800 species of plants, before continuing to the Valley of Orosi; an area that overflows with spectacular beauty. Visit one of the few remaining colonial churches and stop to enjoy lunch at one of the local restaurants.
Breakfast and Lunch included.
Overnight: Doubletree Caiari Hotel by Hilton (Standard Room)
Day 3
San Jose – La Paz Waterfall Gardens – Arenal Manoa Hotel
After breakfast, a guide will pick you up to drive you to La Fortuna, making a stop at Laz Paz Waterfall Gardens along the way to enjoy a scenic hike to the hidden waterfalls, and observe a huge butterfly facility. There are also other presentations to enjoy, from the small hummingbirds and monkeys to big cats and snakes. After lunch, continue towards La Fortuna, best known as the base from which you can explore the magnificent Arenal Volcano and National Park, you'll spend the next couple of days here.
Breakfast and Lunch included.
Overnight: Arenal Manoa Hotel (Junior Suite)
Day 4
Day Tour to Cano Negro
Awake to spectacular vistas of the Arenal Manoa Volcano from your suite this morning, before enjoying breakfast and being picked up to traverse to the northern part of the country, close to the border of Nicaragua. Costa Rica is famous for its biodiversity, and this tour allows you to immerse in the beautiful scenery and massive variety of animal species that name this region home.
The tour starts in Los Chiles, a tiny village set 4m from the Nicaraguan border. Here, your boat will await you for a river adventure – a 2 ½ hour floating safari through tropical rainforest and pastures until you arrive at the marsh. There is ample birdwatching opportunity on this tour, in addition to the chance to see howler, spider and white-faced monkeys, in addition to the three-toed sloth, caimans, Jesus Christ lizard and turtles.
Breakfast, Water and Lunch included.
Overnight: Arenal Manoa Hotel (Junior Suite)
Day 5
Tour to Don Juan Ecological Farm
Today’s tour is a great chance to get-to-know a local family and learn about sustainable agriculture and traditional sugar processing first hand. Local farmer and former teacher Don Juan leads the tour through his plantation and garden, sharing his knowledge into local preparations, health benefits and unique fruits that you may have never seen in a supermarket before. The farm does not use pesticides and attracts a variety of bird species. This 2 ½ hour walking tour includes a visit to an original trapiche sugar press, with the chance to sample local sugar cane liquor named ‘guaro’.
The tour will end with a delicious, healthy lunch prepared with the fruits and vegetables found on Don Juan’s farm.
Breakfast and Lunch included.
Overnight: Arenal Manoa Hotel (Junior Suite)
Day 6
Lake Crossing from Arenal to Monteverde
Your day will begin with a transfer to an amazing environment - the cloud forest. Then you’ll cross the Arenal Lake, which allows amazing views of the volcano, and once on the other side, a minivan will be awaiting your arrival to take you to your hotel in Santa Elena, Monteverde.
Breakfast included.
Overnight: Fonda Vela Hotel (Standard Room)
Day 7
Sky Tram & Sky Trek Adventure
Your tour starts today with the Sky Tram, which will lead you up to the Continental Divide and to one of the highest mountains in Monteverde. This is a guided tour, and you’ll have the opportunity to intermediate the ride with short stops to observe the cloud forest’s biodiversity, the Arenal Volcano, Tenorio, Miravalles, Rincon de la Vieja volcanoes, the Nicoya Gulf and the Guanacaste Plain (if weather allows). The gondolas have been adapted for easy access, even for those with a disability.
Then you’ll enjoy the Sky Trek, a system of zip lines reaching from mountain to mountain, opening the opportunity to fly over the incredible panoramas below at 40mph, reaching heights of 524ft – an incredibly adventurous and adrenaline-fuelled activity.
Breakfast included.
Overnight: Fonda Vela Hotel (Standard Room)
Day 8
Monteverde Reserve – Bat Jungle Tour
You’ll enjoy a beautiful scheduled hike today to the famous Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve – learn about the enchanting cloud forest and explore its incredible biodiversity with over 130 mammal species, 500 bird species, 120 amphibians and reptiles, and more than 3,000 species of plants. Embark on a 2 ½ hour walk with an experienced nature guide, traversing through stunning trails and spotting incredible wildlife sightings.
In the afternoon, you’ll have a scheduled visit to the Bat Jungle, where you’ll learn about their huge significance within their ecosystems. This captivating experience offers visitors the chance of close-up encounters with these special creatures, with 11 species of free-flying tropical bats.
Breakfast included.
Overnight: Fonda Vela Hotel (Standard Room)
Day 9
Monteverde – Rincon del la Vieja
Say goodbye to the cloud forest and be transferred to Guanacaste Province, your next destination for a 3 night stay next to Rincon de la Vieja National Park, a real cattle and horse ranch. The property has beautiful extensive lands dedicated to conservation of the tropical dry forest or reforested with species in danger of extinction. You'll stay in a ranch style room with air conditioning and a gorgeous veranda with views of the volcano and Hacienda. Relax and enjoy your surroundings today as there is plenty of activities ahead of you.
Breakfast included.
Overnight: Hacienda Guachipelin (Superior Room)
Day 10
Adventure Tour
Today the family may choose from a selection of varied activities, including tubbing, horseback riding, mud baths and more.
Your morning will begin with a canopy tour, rock climbing, tarzan swinging and hanging bridges; enjoy a hearty lunch to gain your energy back for the next activity – horseback riding through the dry forest and beautiful pasture land. End your day relaxing in the hot water pools, flowing with water sourced directly from the volcano Rincon de la Vieja. Covering yourself in volcanic mud is incredibly therapeutic too, and the panoramic views from the volcano are a highlight of the entire day.
Breakfast and Lunch included.
Overnight: Hacienda Guachipelin (Superior Room)
Day 11
Horseback Riding, National Park & Oropendola Waterfall
Today you’ll delight in a wonderful tour in Guanacaste, spent hiking the scenic trails found in Rincon de la Vieja National Park, horseback riding through the gorgeous scenery, and visiting the spectacular Oropendola Waterfall. From Hacienda Guachipelin, you will ride 45 minutes on a pleasant forest trail to Las Pailas entrance of the National Park, translating to ‘The Cauldrons’ in Spanish. This area highlights the incredible power of the Park’s Volcano, the largest and most active volcano in Guanacaste; steam and sulphur pour out of the yellow-coloured ground at natural fumaroles, clay pools boil with volcanic waters, and smooth grey volcanic mud bubbles explode in large pits – an experience like no other in Costa Rica.
Breakfast included.
Overnight: Hacienda Guachipelin (Superior Room)
Day 12
Rincon de la Vieja – Plays Hermosa
Transfer to your last destination, Papagayo, home to warm tropical waters and sublime beaches. Enjoy the luxury feel of your beachfront hotel in an area that not only offers incredible sunsets, but wonderful restaurants to delight in the local fare and refreshing cocktails.
Breakfast included.
Overnight: Playa Hermosa Bosque Del Mar Hotel (Garden View Suite)
Days 13 & 14
Free Days in Playa Hermosa
Today is at leisure to enjoy the hotel facilities, relax on the beach or tuck into a good book by the pool. Lounge in a comfy hammock surrounded by lush palm trees and emerald gardens, indulge in a plethora of divine cuisine at the restaurant with views of the coast, sip on cocktails in the Jacuzzi, explore the beautiful gardens and delight in the warm, friendly service at the resort.
Breakfast included.
Overnight: Playa Hermosa Bosque Del Mar Hotel (Garden View Suite)
Day 15
End of Tour
After breakfast at the hotel, you’ll be transferred to the Central Valley where Juan Santamaria International Airport is located. From here, catch your return flight home.
Breakfast included.
* All direct flights to Europe depart in the afternoon. If you’re taking an early flight, an additional night has to be added in San Jose. If you’re taking a return flight from Daniel Oduber International Airport (Liberia), the transfer will be to this airport instead.
