Costa Rica Eco Adventure Coast

Upon your arrival at Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO), you will pass through Immigration and customs before meeting your local guide, who will go through your itinerary for the following days and deliver important documents you may need. Your guide will then take you to your hotel. After checking into your comfortable accommodation, the remainder of the day is at your leisure to relax and acclimate to the tropical climate of Costa Rica's capital city. No guided activities are scheduled for this day, allowing you to rest after your international flight. Overnight stay at Hilton Garden Inn San Jose La Sabana.

After breakfast, you will meet your guide and driver at the lobby of your hotel for a private land transfer to the Arenal Volcano. The ride should take no more than 3 hours, but you will stop at Pierella Gardens for an exciting hike and lunch. The story behind Pierella Garden began with one of Costa Rica's famous butterflies, the Blue Morpho. What started as a family business plan to breed these iconic butterflies ended up creating something much more significant. When the family planted the host plants butterflies needed, bird species came along, dropping new seeds throughout the area. Today, Pierella Ecological Garden has become home to an incredible variety of animals, including more than 200 bird species. You might spot tanagers, honeycreepers, hummingbirds, parrots, toucans, aracari, woodpeckers, or dancing white-collared manakin. You may also spot sloths, monkeys, porcupines, bats, iguanas, and lizards. The dining area viewing platform makes an excellent spot for observing hummingbirds and toucans up close. A delicious lunch is included during your visit. After this immersive experience, you will continue your journey to the Arenal Volcano, arriving in the afternoon. The Arenal Volcano is approximately 5,500 feet high and is located within the much larger Arenal Conservation Area, which protects more than 500,000 acres of rainforest. After checking into your hotel, the remainder of the day is at your leisure to relax and enjoy the volcano views. Overnight stay at Arenal Manoa Hot Springs Resort.

After breakfast, you will meet your guide for a shared horseback riding tour inside a private farm surrounded by primary and secondary forest. This tour offers excellent panoramic views of the canyon and the rainforest and is recommended for adults and children. During the journey, specialized nature guides will provide important information about the different species of animals and vegetation found along the tour. The tour lasts approximately 3 hours and includes a helmet, poncho, bilingual guides, and transportation. Please note the following restrictions: minimum age required is 10 years, sandals are not allowed during the tour, pregnant women are not allowed, maximum weight allowed is 224 pounds (110 kilos), and people with recent operations or spine problems are not allowed. After the tour, you will return to your hotel, and the remainder of the day is at your leisure to rest and relax. Your hotel has its own natural mineral hot spring pools with complimentary and unlimited use for guests. Overnight stay at Arenal Manoa Hot Springs Resort.

After breakfast, you will drive from your hotel to the Arenal National Park for a shared tour. This tour starts with a short boat ride from the Arenal Lake Dam to the entrance of La Península. This path will take you through the forest in the most recent national park trails area, where you will hike with views of Arenal Lake and enjoy the lookouts. You will then go to areas that were once destroyed by volcanic activity and are now in the process of regeneration. A hike through the Coladas Trail will let you experience former lava flows while enjoying nature, geology, and volcano history. This tour has a moderate difficulty level and lasts 3 to 4 hours. Included in this tour are bottled water, a guide, hotel pickup and drop-off, transport by air-conditioned minivan, snacks, bottled water, and national park fees. After the tour, you will return to your hotel, and the remainder of the day is at your leisure. Overnight stay at Arenal Manoa Hot Springs Resort.

After breakfast, the driver and transportation will pick you up at your hotel in Arenal for a shared land-boat transfer to Monteverde. You will board the Lake Crossing Boat that will take you to Rio Chiquito, and while you cross, there are opportunities to observe birds like cormorants, herons, egrets, and more. When you arrive at Rio Chiquito, land transportation will meet you to drive you along rural roads to Monteverde. Please note that the road between Rio Chiquito and Monteverde is quite steep, bumpy, and muddy. The boats have a canopy, but rain can still get in occasionally, and there are no docks at the embarkation sites. Upon arrival, you will check into your hotel. Later in the evening, you will meet your Naturalist Guide at the night tour site after a short ride from your lodge for a shared night tour. You will enter the trails, always assisted by your guide, to explore, discover, and spot wildlife. You may find sleeping birds, bats, spiders, reptiles, and amphibians, all within a short distance. Mammals like sloths, anteaters, porcupines, and more can be spotted occasionally. The tour lasts 1.5 to 2 hours and includes a Naturalist Guide, transportation, entrance fees, and a special flashlight. Overnight stay at Monteverde Lodge & Gardens.

After breakfast, you will meet your Spanish-speaking driver at the lobby of your hotel and drive to the Sky Park for a shared adventure experience. You will start at a slow pace as the Sky Tram gondolas soar through the cloud forest, offering views during their ascent. You will be accompanied by a Naturalist Guide who will point out and explain more about the wild species found; the tram stops at some points on the way, allowing you to take photographs or spot native wildlife. The Sky Tram ends in a wide observatory located at 6,000 feet, which is also part of the Continental Divide in Costa Rica, where you can observe the Nicoya Gulf, the mountain range, and the cloud forest. Once at the top of the hill, you will commence the second part of your experience. The Sky Trek will let you travel along 1.7 miles of cables slung between towering trees as you ride down on a zip line stretching across canyons and between treetops. Ultimately, you will return to the starting point at the main building. Once at the visitor's center, you will continue with the Sky Walk experience, where your Naturalist Guide explains and interprets aspects of the cloud forest flora and fauna. During the walk, it is possible to observe species of birds like trogons, thrushes, wrens, and bush tanagers, among others. A delicious lunch is included during the tour. The tour duration is 4 to 4.5 hours and includes Adventure and Naturalist Guides, all necessary gear, transportation, and lunch. Please note that the minimum age to participate in the canopy zip line is 5 years old, children might need to share their ride with a guide depending on their age and weight, and the maximum weight for adults is 300 pounds (136 kg). After the tour, you will return to your hotel, and the remainder of the day is at your leisure. Overnight stay at Monteverde Lodge & Gardens.

After breakfast, you will meet your driver at the lobby of your hotel for a private land transfer to the Pacific North, approximately 4 hours. Along the way, you will stop to stretch your legs, use restroom facilities, and have the opportunity to purchase food, which is not included. The road often offers chances to observe wildlife such as monkeys, sloths, exotic birds, and coatimundis, and your driver will stop for these sightings whenever possible. Upon arrival in Nosara, you will check into your hotel and have the remainder of the day at leisure. Nosara is a secluded long wide beach with hard-packed sand, perfect for walking. The Ostional Wildlife Refuge borders Nosara and is the largest Olive Ridley turtle nesting site in Central America. Overnight stay at Olas Verdes Hotel.

After breakfast, you will meet your Adventure Guide for a shared snorkeling tour in San Juanillo. You will be driven to San Juanillo, where your guide will lead the way to find coral reefs and several species of tropical fish. You have good chances to observe sergeant major, damsel fish, parrot fish, eels, and spotted rays. The visibility in the area is usually limited due to the presence of materials like plankton and organic debris from the rivers, with visibility commonly between 10 and 15 feet. The tour duration is 3.5 to 4 hours and includes an Adventure Guide, equipment, transportation, water, fruit, and a light snack. After the tour, you will return to your hotel, and the remainder of the day is at your leisure to relax and explore on your own. Overnight stay at Olas Verdes Hotel.

Today is entirely yours to enjoy at leisure in the beautiful Nosara area, with no organized activities scheduled to allow you complete flexibility. You can rest and relax by the pool or beach or explore the local area. Nosara offers a wide array of activities for those seeking adventure or relaxation. Overnight stay at Olas Verdes Hotel.