Essential Costa Rica with extension to Manuel Antonio National Park, Manuel Antonio Beach & San Jose City

Uncover essential Costa Rica during this 13-day exotic adventure. Beginning and ending in the capital, San Jose, this tour offers you the chance to discover different aspects of this emblematic destination. Visit the most predominant natural areas of Costa Rica, including the Arenal Volcano National Park, and the cloud forest of Monteverde. Spend precious time visiting the Manuel Antonio National Park, one of the most stunning conservation areas on the planet. During the trip, keep an eye out for a variety of animals, bugs, as well as plants and don’t forget to mingle with the friendly locals for a versatile experience. Enjoy a tropical nights at Manuel Antonio beach; a small Oceanside village with plenty of great places to stay tucked into nature. The region is a treasure for biodiversity, attracting nature buffs, eco-travelers and adventure-seekers alike.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:

San Jose: Costa Rica’s vibrant capital city was founded in the mid-18th century, boasting great cultural and historical landmarks. Visit its museums, the European-inspired National Theater, and stroll the charming alleys of its historic neighborhoods.

Tortuguero: This park is home to the nesting grounds of the green sea turtles, offering spectacular beaches and fantastic opportunities to spot wild animals and birds.

Arenal: Admire one of the most beautiful volcanoes in the country and its mesmerizing park, dotted with trails and rich in wildlife. 

Monteverde: Settled by American Quakers in the 1950s, this primary cloud forest is made out of six unique ‘life zones’, hosting many endangered species, as well as a variety of fascinating plants.

Manuel Antonio: This picturesque national park is the smallest one in Costa Rica but it is full of wild animals, lush vegetation, and beautiful beaches.

Day 1: ARRIVAL SAN JOSE

Upon arrival to bustling San Jose, our representative will meet and greet you and then direct you to your transport, which will drop you off at your hotel in San Jose for your the night in Costa Rica.

Overnight in San Jose.

Day 2: SAN JOSE – TORTUGUERO (135km – 4 hrs by road / 2 hrs by boat)

Your day begins early with a morning departure, traveling by bus through the Braulio Carrillo National Park towards the Caribbean plains to enjoy the spectacular mountain scenery and quaint villages. Indulge in a tasty breakfast en route and continue through the jungle by boat, cruising the rivers and canals of Tortuguero National Park. Arrive at your eco-lodge and enjoy a tasty lunch. Board the boat again for a visit to Tortuguero village, where you will get to walk around town, stroll along the beach, and experience the locals’ way of living. During the turtle hatching season, we will look for the baby turtles trying to find their way down to the ocean. Nesting is from July to September and hatching from September to December. Enjoy the rest of the day relaxing at the hotel, surrounded by the beautiful tropical forest and wildlife. Lunch and dinner included

Overnight in Tortuguero.

Day 3: TORTUGUERO NATIONAL PARK

Today you will have some free time to relax by the pool and experience the Tortuguero National Park on a three-hour trip. Observe over 350 protected species of birds, monkeys, crocodiles, and sloths, as well as lush vegetation. During the July to September season, you can join an optional late night turtle nesting tour, purchasable directly at the lodge. Lunch and dinner included.

Overnight in Tortuguero .

Day 4: TORTUGUERO – ARENAL (210km – 5 hrs by road / 2 hrs by boat)

Early in the morning depart by boat back to Guapiles. From there, take the ground transportation to the restaurant for lunch. After a tasty meal, you will be picked up in a shared transfer and taken to the Arenal area. Enjoy the day at leisure to explore on your own or join some of our optional activities.

The Tabacón hot springs

Live the Tabacón experience that has hot springs swimming pools and a river that come from the veins of the majestic Arenal Volcano. Explore the wonders of the tropical forest surrounding this beautiful resort and enjoy mineral waters with different temperatures, surrounded by warm waterfalls and tropical gardens. The Tabacón hot springs are recognized throughout the world, and without a doubt, immersing yourself in them will make you feel relaxed and rejuvenated, due to the minerals present in the volcanic waters.

Notes: Shared service. Includes Pick-up and Drop-off, Bilingual guide (Spanish and English), Admission to The Tabacón hot springs, and dinner

Ecotermales Hot Springs

Escape to the natural paradise, with all the necessary amenities to make your day a memorable experience, surrounded by the peace and serenity of the rainforest and protected by the impressive Arenal Volcano, which heats and nourishes the waters of Ecothermal. During your stay, you will enjoy the pleasure of feeling the natural energy coming from the veins of the Arenal Colossus; heats the fountains where thermal water pools are born, ranging from 37 ° C to 41 ° C (99 ° F to 106 ° F). That when combined with the pool and the cold-water waterfall, they perform a relaxing massage throughout the body.

Notes: Shared service. Start time: approx. at 15:00. Duration 6 hours. Includes Pick-up and Drop-off, Bilingual guide (Spanish and English), Admission to Ecotermales Hot Springs, and dinner

Overnight in Arenal.

Day 5: ARENAL VOLCANO NATIONAL PARK

Today after breakfast, take a guided walking tour in Arenal Volcano National Park. During the tour, the guide will explain the periods of activity the once very active volcano experienced. Enjoy the verdant landscapes and the backdrop of the now-dormant volcano, as you keep a lookout for the wild animals living in this national park. You have the chance to spot sloths, howler monkeys, anteaters, and many others. Afterward, return to the hotel and enjoy the afternoon at leisure or join one of our optional activities.

Zipline Adventure

Costa Rica zip line tour is a genuine must in a vacation. You will have doses of fun and adrenaline-filled adventure that you will remember forever. You will start the tour as you arrive at the base of the Ecoglide Arenal Park and your professional guide give you the instructions and some safety tips. The zipline tour consists of 13 cables of two wires traveling in parallel and 15 platforms, most of which are in the trees so that visitors can have more contact and closeness with nature, flora, and fauna of the rainforest. Within the tour, you will also discover the Tarzan Swing where you will swing from a platform into the forest feeling the adrenaline-raising levels.

Notes: Shared service. Start time: 07: 40/ 09:40/ 11: 40 / 13:40 / 15:20. Duration 3 hours. Includes Pick-up and Drop-off, Guide, Entrance fee, and equipment

La Fortuna Waterfall

This tour begins by descending the 500-meter trail to the magnificent Waterfall, renowned for its 60 meters (197 feet) high falls and its crystal-clear waters. Along the trail, you will observe plants, trees, and animals, which inhabit the area. You can choose to swim in its refreshing waters, take amazing photographs, or simply relax and take in all the beauty of the La Fortuna Waterfall. When you visit the La Fortuna Waterfall you not only get to enjoy this marvelous natural wonder, you will be helping to Support the Development Association of the community 100% of the entrance fee goes towards social projects to benefit schools, nutritional centers, the orphanage, our roads and more.

Notes: Shared service. Start time: 08:00/ 13:00. Duration 3 hours. Includes Pick-up and Drop-off, Guide, Entrance fee

Overnight in Arenal.

Day 6: ARENAL – MONTEVERDE (60km – 2.5 hrs by road / 45 min by boat)

Begin the day with an early breakfast at the hotel, followed by check-out, and head towards Monteverde. Transfer down to Arenal Lake where you will board a boat that will take you across towards Monteverde. Once on the other side, a vehicle awaits to take you up to Monteverde. Admire the transition of the rainforest to the cloud forest where you will reach an altitude of 1,200 meters above sea level. Located in the Puntarenas province, Monteverde is a place of cloud forests and mist, coffee plantations, monkeys, and friendly locals. The town of Santa Elena is small and quaint, filled with inviting restaurants and folksy artisan shops, while the nearby rainforest hosts a remarkable amount of biodiversity. Enjoy the day at leisure to explore on your own. Enjoy the day at leisure to explore on your own. Enjoy the day at leisure to explore on your own or join our optional activities (not included).  

Selvatura Treetop Walkway guided tour

Selvatura Treetop Walkway guided tour takes you to a 3-hour hike along with a network of trails and suspension bridges in the cloud forest of Monteverde. Be on the lookout for birds, monkeys, sloths, insects, and interesting plants of all shapes and sizes.

Notes: Shared service. Duration 3 hours hike. Includes Pick-up and Drop-off, Guide, Entrance fee

Don Juan Coffee Tour

Take our coffee tour and take a glimpse of Costa Rica´s coffee, chocolate, and sugar cane production (with the emphasis on coffee!). The tour offers an interesting opportunity to learn about coffee and its production as well as to get close to the fascinating Costa Rican folklore

Overnight in Monteverde.

Day 7: MONTEVERDE

After a nourishing breakfast at the hotel, enjoy a hike through the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. Founded in 1972, the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve is world-famous for its outstanding biodiversity, conservation actions and contributions, as well as scientific research. The reserve is home to 2.5% of the world’s biodiversity, and it is one of the most important private reserves, not just in Costa Rica but the world. It hosts hundreds of species of mammals, birds, butterflies, amphibians, reptiles, insects and arachnids, as well as a large variety of flora, such as mosses, vines or the autochthonous trees of the cloud forest. Whether you choose to explore the cloud forest during the Selvatura Treetop Walkway guided tour, or you prefer getting closer to the fascinating Costa Rican culture while on the Don Juan Coffee tour, your day will be unforgettable. Selvatura Treetop Walkaway and Don Juan Coffee tours are bookable as an optional extra and are not included.

Overnight in Monteverde.

Day 8: MONTEVERDE – MANUEL ANTONIO (185 km – 3 hrs)

This morning after breakfast, head towards a stunning beachside destination, descending to Manuel Antonio National Park. On arrival, take the rest of the day to enjoy the surrounding areas, hotel facilities, or the spectacular beach.

Overnight in Manuel Antonio.

Day 9: MANUEL ANTONIO

After indulging in a delicious breakfast, you will be picked up from your hotel to transfer to the Manuel Antonio National Park. During today’s tour, your knowledgeable nature guide will walk you through the park and explain the mysteries of the rainforest. The trail is flat, picturesque, and loops through the park, making your course about two miles long. Throughout your hike, your guide will stop and narrate the park’s natural history, which includes thorough descriptions of the plants and animals that can be observed along the way. The park is a great place to take pictures or just to admire the impressive views. One of the highlights of this tour is that Manuel Antonio is home to three of the four existing tropical primates living in Costa Rica. Halfway through the hike, enjoy a leisurely stop at the world-famous ‘Third Beach’. Take a rest on the soft sand or play in the waves. The stop will last around 20 minutes. Throughout the hike, it is common to see sloths, birds, and reptiles, as well as admire wild orchids, butterflies, and tropical vegetation. Your guides are equipped with Pentax and Swarovski monocular/telescopes, so you can observe the wildlife and take pictures from a different perspective. Once the tour is over, transportation is provided back to your hotel.

Overnight in Manuel Antonio.

Day 10: MANUEL ANTONIO BEACH

Get to know Manuel Antonio Beach, in the Central Pacific Coast of Puntarenas Province. Spend free time under the sun, playing with the waves or having some cultural encounter with the locals walking around the beach town. Manuel Antonio offers a wide variety of restaurants with exquisite local and international cuisine. 

Overnight in a hotel in Manuel Antonio.

Day 11: MANUEL ANTONIO

Enjoy a full day at leisure to discover Manuel Antonio and its secluded beaches; take an optional excursion available on the spot. 

Overnight in Manuel Antonio.

Day 12: MANUEL ANTONIO – SAN JOSE (175KM - 2.45hrs)

After breakfast, transfer to your hotel in San José. Arrival and check-in. If you are inching to learn more about this fascinating metropole, we recommend you to join our optional San José City Tour.

San José City Tour

You will visit the National Theater, also known as “The jewel of San José”, a masterpiece in art and architecture built by Costa Ricans and completed in 1897. Then visit the Museum of Gold (an archaeological interest site), then the Central Market, place full of the Costa Rican cultural heritage and traditions, where you will be able to browse and buy some local art crafts. Admire the Metropolitan Cathedral. As you travel around the city, we will point you out several historically important or main buildings in our city, for example The Costa Rica University, The Old Train Station, The National Liquor Factory, The National Supreme Election Bureau, the Asamblea Legislativa (equivalent to The Congress), The Metallic Building, some parks and various sites of interest. This will be an introduction to our Capital City, and information about our economy, cultural, politics, religion and general current events. Also, we will visit an Art Gallery, where you will be able to get some souvenirs to take back home.

Notes: Shared service. Start time: 12:30. Duration 4 hours. Includes Pick-up and Drop-off, Billingual Guide, Entrance fee

Overnight in hotel in San José.

Day 13: DEPARTURE SAN JOSE

Begin your last day in spectacular Costa Rica with a delectable breakfast and if you want more of this amazing city, you can join the optional Britt Coffee Tour (not included), if your flight schedule allows. Then, at the appropriate time, transfer to Juan Santamaria International Airport to catch your flight back home or on to your next destination.

Britt Coffee Tour

Experience the original Costa Rican coffee tour at a farm located in Barva de Heredia. The experts guide you through the lifecycle of gourmet coffee. Begin in the nursery and follow the beans starting with their growing cycle through careful collection and selection of the finest beans. Learn how Costa Rica’s unique climate and diverse landscapes provide perfect growing conditions for gourmet coffee beans. Next you will be enchanted by the aromas of our roastery where you will discover how different roasting techniques affect the beans and the brew. Learn how experts “break the cup” by using techniques to taste or “cup” coffee to identify and grade the characteristics that qualify a gourmet coffee.

Notes: Shared service. Start time: 09:45. Duration 4 hours. Includes Pick-up and Drop-off, Bilingual Guide, Entrance Fee, Coffee Tasting

Breakfast included.

Comfortable and light clothing is the most suitable for travelling in Costa Rica. Visitors should not wear sleeveless shirts, shorts, short skirts or skimpy clothing when visiting temples, religious or official buildings. Sun protection, sunglasses, a hat and mosquito repellent can be very useful during your stay.