In this 10-day package you will journey from one side of Costa Rica to the other, stopping in the middle to experience our biggest and most popular volcano! Costa Rica offers two coastlines, over 60 volcanoes (5 active), five climate zones, and with nearly a quarter of its national territory dedicated as national parks it is home to an estimated 5% of the planet’s biodiversity. With this package you will have the opportunity to experience the capital city of San Jose, the Caribbean Coast, the Pacific Coast, and the Arenal Volcano all in just over a week. Choose a mix of adventure and nature tours as you travel Costa Rica from one coast to the other!
San Jose International Airport (SJO)
Trip may include activities like jungle walks, hiking, boat rides and stairs.
Fly into Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) where we will meet you inside the airport as you reach the Immigration Hall holding a sign with your name on it. We will guide you through the immigration process and out to baggage claim, then deliver you to your waiting private driver. Spend your first night in the capital of San Jose and enjoy a delicious dinner and restful sleep before the real adventure begins!
Your day starts early as you travel by van out of the Central Valley up and over the mountains then down to the Caribbean lowlands. You will enjoy a stop for breakfast and to stretch, then you will finish off the drive until you reach a point where the roads end. Here you will transfer over to a covered boat and finish your journey off with a 1.5 hr ride through the freshwater canals of the Tortuguero National Park. This is as much a tour as it is a transfer, so keep an eye out for monkeys, sloths, crocodiles, caiman, and birds that live in this lush canals. You will arrive at our eco-lodge, where after checking in you can enjoy a buffet lunch, then take a guided walking tour of the town of Tortuguero itself. Known as a world-famous turtle nesting site, see where and how the local population of nearly 1,000 people live off eco-tourism.
After breakfast you and your naturalist guide will board a boat and explore the miles of freshwater canals that slice through the Tortuguero National Park. Full of both land and marine life, on this tour you will have the opportunity to view monkeys, sloths, caimans, crocodiles, tree frogs, and hundreds of species of birds as you slowly cruise through the canals. If luck is really on your side, you might be able to catch a glimpse of a jaguar or even a manatee. The rest of the afternoon is yours to kayak, hike, or relax at the pool on your own. After dinner join a licensed guide and head to the beach in hopes of seeing the sea turtles that gave Tortuguero its name. Tortuguero is one of the world’s most important nesting sites for sea turtles so depending on the time of year you may be able to see them digging holes and laying eggs or hatching and making their way to the ocean for the first time.
After breakfast you will travel back through the canals the way you came and board your waiting private transfer to take you over to the Arenal Volcano. The biggest and most popular of Costa Rica’s volcanoes, Arenal has become one of Costa Rica’s “must see” destinations for its abundant wildlife, wide variety of adventure tours, and of course it is soothing thermal hot springs. There is nothing for you to do today other than travel from Tortuguero to Arenal, so after dinner enjoy a nice long soak in the thermal hot springs!
An early morning will have you traveling north near the border with Nicaragua to visit the remote Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge. Created in 1991 as a “Wetland of International Importance”, Caño Negro spans 800 acres and is home to some incredible wildlife, especially birds. Enjoy a gentle river cruise in a covered motorboat throughout the reserve as you search for over 200 species of birds, three different species of monkeys, as well as iguanas, Jesus Christ lizards, three-toed sloths, turtles, and caimans! The dense rainforest, lagoons and marshes provide shelter to a few endangered species such as jaguars, cougars, and tapirs as well as thousands of migratory birds in the dry season.
You cannot leave the Arenal Volcano without experiencing a guided walk through the rainforest on the iconic hanging bridges. Walk amongst the rainforest canopy with your trained naturalist guide as you learn about the diverse flora & fauna in this region. Next, you will hike (horseback riding is also an option) to the La Fortuna Waterfall, one of Costa Rica’s most picturesque natural wonders. The 200 ft waterfall crashes into a large pool below, where you can go for a swim to refresh yourself and cool off after a morning of hiking. The rest of the day is yours to relax and enjoy the hot springs or explore the quaint town of La Fortuna.
After sleeping in and enjoying a leisurely morning, you will be picked up in a private transfer so you can end your vacation on the beach. You will head to the northwest corner of Costa Rica, known as Guanacaste, which is home to the best beaches and sunniest weather in the country. Whether you prefer an all-inclusive resort with amenities, a quiet boutique hotel with more charm, or your own private villa we will hand pick the right spot for you so you can end your holiday on a high note. You will arrive at the coast by mid-afternoon, leaving you plenty of time to check in, unpack, and then head down to the beach to catch your first Pacific sunset!
Today you’ll enjoy a free morning to relax and stroll on the beach, then after lunch we will pick you up and take you on a scenic coastal cruise aboard one of our large catamarans. In addition to the gorgeous coastline, keep an eye out for dolphins, rays, and whales as Costa Rica’s warm tropical waters are home to an incredible amount of marine life. You can relax on the boat all afternoon if you choose, otherwise grab a mask and snorkel, and jump into the warm waters see the amazing marine biology up close!
Sometimes one of the best vacation activities is simply doing nothing at all! Enjoy your last full day in paradise on the beach doing as much, or as little, as you please. If you can’t sit still and sunbathe like an iguana all day that’s no problem, we offer a huge list of activities in the area like canopy zip-line, white water rafting, ATVs, horseback riding, kayaking, mangrove tours, the active Rincon de la Vieja Volcano and it’s spewing fumaroles, or the beautiful Palo Verde National Park for even more wildlife viewing via a calm river safari float.
Take a private ground transfer to the local airstrip where you will take a 50-minute flight back to San Jose for your international flight home.
