Natural Wonders of Costa Rica
If you were the type of kid who always colored outside the lines, this bold tour of Costa Rica is just the escape for you. Wide-open spaces, multi-hued creatures, and bright, vivid scenery welcome you with open arms and a no-holds-barred spirit. As you make your way through Costa Rica, lava trails, cloud forests, and high-in-the-sky suspension bridges invite you to take a walk on the wild side while scenic boat rides, nature walks, and natural hot springs beckon you to leisurely soak in the views. Frolic among hundreds of species of butterflies, birds, reptiles, and wildlife in the most colorful rainforests, and feast on your own delicious Costa Rican creations in an authentic cooking class. With visits to an active volcano and exotic fruit plantations, plus several meet-and-greets with the native macaws and monkeys, this vacation to Costa Rica is bananas!
Pricing
Standard group tour starting at $2,999* CAD per person, based on double occupancy
9 Days – San José to San José
Notes
Prime viewing season for endangered green turtle nesting and egg laying in Tortuguero National Park occurs mid-July to mid-October.
Meals
- Breakfast daily
- 5 lunch
- 5 dinners
Day
Day 1
Location(s)
San José
Meals
Description
Welcome to San José!
Accommodation: Cariari Hotel San José (or similar)
Day 2
San José – Tortuguero National Park
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
SAN JOSÉ Scenic drive past banana plantations en route to the Caribbean shore to board your cruise to the Tortuguero Canals.
TORTUGUERO NATIONAL PARK Guided cruise on the canals with a Local Guide and boatman includes watching for freshwater turtles, caimans, herons, toucans, egrets, and monkeys. Free time at your lodge before a slideshow presentation about the park.
Accommodation: Evergreen Lodge (or similar, 2 nights))
Day 3
Tortuguero National Park (National Park Tour & Canal Cruise)
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Guided boat cruise with a Naturalist through remote areas of the park, followed by a rainforest walk. Presentation by a local Naturalist this afternoon.
Day 4
Tortuguero National Park – Sarapiqui – Arenal
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
TORTUGUERO NATIONAL PARK Boat trip en route to the Sarapiqui area.
SARAPIQUI Guided Tour of a local family-owned pineapple farm highlights the history and cultivation of the pineapple industry.
ARENAL Free time this afternoon at your resort’s pool, hot-spring-fed Jacuzzi, or on a nearby nature trail. Dinner at your hotel.
Accommodation: Volcano Lodge & Gardens (or similar, 2 nights)
Day 5
Arenal – Excursion to La Fortuna & Arenal Volcano National Park
Breakfast, Dinner
Free time this morning before a guided visit to Arenal Volcano National Park includes lava trails and nature that has recovered from past lava flows. Walking tour of the town of La Fortuna de San Carlos includes spectacular views of the active Arenal Volcano. This evening, drive to nearby famous Tabacón Hot Springs for a dip in the curative and relaxing pools before dinner at the hot springs.
Enhance your free time in Arenal with a float trip to watch for native flora and fauna.
Day 6
Arenal – Monteverde
Breakfast, Lunch
Scenic drive to Monteverde, followed by a guided tour with a Naturalist on the Sky Walk Hanging Bridges, which combines trails and suspension bridges through the canopy of Monteverde Cloud Forest, to search for flora and fauna.
Accommodation: El Establo Mountain Lodge (or similar, 2 nights)
Day 7
Monteverde
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Guided walking tour with a Naturalist in Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve (home to over 600 species of butterflies, 400 species of birds, with 100 reptile and 120 mammal species). Visit to a family-owned Ecological Sanctuary includes a tour, cooking class, and lunch. Farewell dinner this evening.
Day 8
Monteverde – Sarchi – Grecia – San José
Breakfast
SARCHI Visit the local village known for its artists and their famous hand-painted oxcarts.
GRECIA See the metal church—imported from Belgium to Puerto Limon in 1897—transported by oxcart from its previous site in the plaza and reconstructed here.
SAN JOSÉ Free time this evening.
Accommodation: Cariari Hotel San José (or similar)
Day 9
San José
Breakfast
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.
*Hotel rooms are subject to availability and are confirmed by the supplier at time of booking; they may be replaced by other hotel rooms of similar category at the sole discretion of the supplier.
Interested in the itinerary above? Click on the “START PLANNING” button below and reference “Natural Wonders of Costa Rica” in the form, or give us a call at 587.997.5969 to book.
An adventure designed specifically for you
Let us work with you to tailor a journey based on your travel style and interests. We can use the existing itinerary above as a foundation, or build one from scratch to create your ideal vacation. Connect with us to start the conversation.
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*Prices are per person, based on double occupancy and subject to change and availability.