Costa Rica Volcano Cloud Forest Beach

Upon your arrival at Daniel Oduber International Airport (LIR) in Liberia, you will pass through Immigration and customs. When you exit the building, you will look for a representative holding a sign with your name, who will take you to your Spanish-speaking driver for a private land transfer to your hotel in the Arenal Volcano area. The drive takes approximately 3.5 to 4 hours through scenic countryside landscapes. 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, rivers, lakes, and old volcanic lava fields. The area is home to a remarkable biodiversity and variety of habitats. After checking into your hotel, the remainder of the day is at your leisure to relax and enjoy the volcano views. No guided activities are scheduled for this day. Overnight stay at El Silencio del Campo.

After breakfast at your hotel, you will meet your guide and transportation for a shared tour to explore the highlights of the Arenal Volcano area. You will drive to the Arenal Volcano National Park and take a hike to discover the old lava trail, enjoying the interesting flora and fauna sightseeing along the way. Arenal Volcano is well known for its almost perfect conic shape and activity in the recent past. Later, you will head to the La Fortuna Waterfall Reserve, where over 250 inches of precipitation a year give you the chance to enjoy this 210-foot-high waterfall. After a good number of steep steps, you can enjoy the pristine waters, take a dip in the swim hole, or explore the surroundings and nature. After your swim, you will return through the same series of steps up to enjoy an invigorating lunch at a designated site, which is included in the tour. This tour is of moderate difficulty and has a duration of 4.5 to 5 hours. Included in this shared tour are a guide, transportation, entrance fees, water, and lunch. After returning to your hotel, the remainder of the day is at your leisure to explore and relax; your hotel has its own complimentary hot springs pools. Overnight stay at El Silencio del Campo.

After breakfast, you will meet your Naturalist Guide and Spanish-speaking driver for a shared tour to the Don Juan Coffee and Chocolate Farm, located just 1 mile from La Fortuna. Upon arrival, you will receive a briefing and be assigned a bilingual local guide. Don Juan Tours provides the history of coffee and chocolate while walking you through how the plant is processed. The farm features weather-proof walkways designed for easy transit. The coffee tour takes participants on a journey through history, where you will learn the importance of coffee to Costa Rica's past and current economy, walking through the farm and factory to see how the bean becomes coffee. The famous chocolate tour follows, where you will smell and taste diverse types of chocolate as your guide explains the cultural history behind the treat and walks you through how the plant goes from seed to pure ground cocoa. This tour lasts 2 to 3 hours and includes a Naturalist Guide, entrance fee, tour of chocolate and coffee, free sampling, and transportation. After the tour, you will return to your hotel, and the remainder of the day is at your leisure to relax. Overnight stay at El Silencio del Campo.

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 includes a Naturalist Guide, transportation, entrance fees, and a special flashlight. Overnight stay at Poco a Poco Hotel.

After breakfast at your hotel, you will meet your Spanish-speaking driver at the lobby 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. 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 Naturalist and Adventure Guides, transportation, entrance fees, equipment, 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 Poco a Poco Hotel.

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 for a shared nature walk. 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. After your tour, you will meet your driver at the lobby of the 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, and your driver will stop for these sightings whenever possible. Upon arrival in Tamarindo, you will check into your hotel and have the remainder of the evening at leisure. Overnight stay at Hotel Capitan Suizo.

After breakfast, you will meet your transportation and driver for a short ride to the embarking point for kayaks for a shared kayak snorkeling tour. With your guide, you will aim for Tamarindo Capitan Island. As you row through the ocean waters of Tamarindo Beach towards this tanned sand island, you will enjoy the intense colors of the water and observe underwater life. You may be able to see tropical fish such as major sergeant, globe fish, damsel fish, and some others. Brown boobies, pelicans, and terns can also be seen. Please note that this tour is entirely tide dependent, so departures are conditioned to high tide timing. Visibility for snorkeling is limited due to the high content of microorganisms and plankton in the waters, and rain may cause obstructions. You can normally see as far as 10 feet underwater. The open ocean from the shore to the island might be exhausting for beginners, and there is a chance of strong swell and wind that slows down kayaks from December to March. The snorkeling equipment provided may not fit as well as your own personal gear. The tour duration is 2.5 hours and includes snorkeling gear, kayaks, a guide, and water. After the tour, the remainder of the day is at your leisure to relax and explore on your own. Overnight stay at Hotel Capitan Suizo.

Today is entirely yours to enjoy at leisure in the beautiful Tamarindo 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. Tamarindo is the most popular beach in the province of Guanacaste, offering a long, wide swath of white sand with a laid-back vibe that surfers and beach lovers enjoy. Overnight stay at Hotel Capitan Suizo.