Costa Rica Ultimate Adventure

Upon your arrival at Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO), you will pass through Immigration and customs before meeting your local guide, who will be waiting to transfer 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 driver at the lobby of your hotel for a land transfer to the Caribbean coast. By midday, you will board a shared boat that will take you through the canals of the Tortuguero River to your lodge. Tortuguero is where you are likely to see lots of wildlife and experience the tropical rainforest in its full glory; this secluded and hard-to-access area will make you feel as though you have traveled to an ancient town. Many guests see three species of monkeys, sloths, river otters, caiman, iguanas, and river turtles. Later in the afternoon, you will visit the Tortuguero Village and the Caribbean Conservation Company to get a taste of the Afro-Caribbean culture and the preservation philosophy of Tortuguero. After returning to your lodge, you will enjoy a delicious dinner. Overnight stay at Manatus Hotel.

After breakfast, you will embark on a morning boat tour through the Tortuguero National Park, exploring the park's beauty and its great variety of water canals. Tortuguero is characterized by its stunning landscapes and rich biodiversity, with the canals offering excellent opportunities to spot wildlife in their natural habitat. You will return to the lodge for lunch before heading out again on an afternoon boat tour, which will take you through different areas of the river to give you more opportunities to see a wider variety of wildlife, including monkeys, sloths, birds, and reptiles. Both tours are shared and led by experienced local guides who will help you spot and identify the diverse flora and fauna that make this region so special. After a full day of exploration, you will return to your lodge and enjoy dinner. Overnight stay at Manatus Hotel.

After breakfast, your captain will take you to the local airstrip, and you will board a domestic flight to Arenal. Upon arrival, your driver will be waiting to take you to your hotel in Arenal. The Arenal Volcano National Park is located within the much larger Arenal Conservation Area, which protects more than 500,000 acres of rainforest, rivers, lakes, and old volcanic lava fields. This area contains a great wealth of geologic and biological complexity, and the volcano itself is approximately 5,500 feet high. The area is home to a remarkable biodiversity and variety of habitats, and Lake Arenal, which rests at the base of the volcano, supplies a high percentage of the country's hydroelectric energy. After checking into your hotel, the remainder of the day is at your leisure to relax and enjoy the volcano views. Overnight stay at El Silencio del Campo.

After breakfast, you will drive from your hotel to the Arenal National Park. 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, and a hike through the Coladas Trail will let you experience former lava flows. You will enjoy nature, geology, and volcano history during this moderate-difficulty tour, which has a duration of 3 to 4 hours. Included are bottled water, a guide, hotel pickup and drop-off, transportation by air-conditioned minivan, snacks, and national park fees. After returning to your hotel, the remainder of the day is at your leisure. Your hotel has its own hot springs and an adorable little farm with exotic birds, peacocks, pheasants, ducks, Japanese hens, goats, pigs, horses, and hens, most of which are free to roam. Overnight stay at El Silencio del Campo.

After breakfast, the driver and transportation will pick you up at your hotel in Arenal for a 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. 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 includes a Naturalist Guide, transportation, entrance fees, and a special flashlight. Overnight stay at Monteverde Lodge & Gardens.

After breakfast, you will meet your nature guide at your lodge and drive for a few minutes to the entrance of the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. The reserve was established in 1972 and encompasses a great number of species, including the elusive Resplendent Quetzal. After clearing your access, you will walk the trails of this cloud forest in search of birds, mammals, insects, and reptiles. With the aid of your nature guide, you will spot birds like trogons, guans, thrushes, toucanets, and many more. The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve initially covered some 810 acres of forested land, and nowadays its protective reach extends over 35,089 acres, with over 8 miles of trails available for visitors to explore. The tour duration is 2.5 to 3 hours and includes a Naturalist Guide, transportation, and entrance fees. Overnight stay at Monteverde Lodge & Gardens.

After breakfast, you will meet your driver at the lobby of your hotel for a land transfer to the Manuel Antonio National Park. Along the way, you will stop to stretch your legs, use restroom facilities, and have the opportunity to purchase food as needed. 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, you will discover white-sand beaches, cliffs, promontories, rainforests, and varied wildlife that make Manuel Antonio one of Costa Rica's most popular beach destinations. Please note that the beaches within the national park are closed on Tuesdays. After checking into your hotel, the remainder of the day is at your leisure to relax and enjoy the beautiful Pacific coast surroundings. Overnight stay at Hotel Parador Resort & Spa.

After breakfast, you will take a leisurely hike with a Costa Rican naturalist guide through a biodiverse tropical rainforest at the Manuel Antonio National Park. During this shared nature walk, you will experience firsthand the beauty of one of Costa Rica's main parks while surrounded by abundant wildlife, including monkeys, sloths, birds, and butterflies. Your guide will help you spot and identify the diverse flora and fauna that make this park famous. Please remember to bring what you may need for the beach and swimming as you enter the park, and note that no food is allowed inside the park, though you may bring water. Included in this excursion are a bilingual naturalist guide, entrance fees, and a refreshing mixed fruit plate and natural fruit juice. This medium hike requires moderate physical condition. After your tour, you can spend the rest of the day enjoying the beach or relaxing at the resort. Overnight stay at Hotel Parador Resort & Spa.

Today is entirely yours to enjoy at leisure in the beautiful Manuel Antonio 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. The resort also offers a complimentary shuttle to Manuel Antonio beach at certain times, which you can inquire about at the front desk. Overnight stay at Hotel Parador Resort & Spa.