Uncover Costa Rica during this twelve-day amazing adventure. Beginning and ending in the capital, San Jose, this tour offers you the chance to discover different aspects of this emblematic destination. Spend precious time visiting the Tortuguero canals. Learn how Costa Rica’s unique climate and diverse landscapes provide perfect growing conditions for gourmet coffee beans. Enjoy the sweetest rainforest experience, discovering the ancient secrets of chocolate: from its discovery and use, in tropical America, to the processing of the product we know and enjoy today. Hike on the Arenal Volcano, with astonishing views, ear-catching information, unbelievable stories and the chance to meet the local wildlife, will remain your favourite memories of Costa Rica after this experience.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
Tortuguero: Tortuguero, is one of Costa Rica's most popular ecotourism destinations. This destination is your "must stop" while in Costa Rica. Discover its Network of canals, lagoons and dense rainforests.
Arenal: This region is considered by many to be one of the most spectacular ones in the country. La Fortuna area is recognized worldwide for being one of the most prominent wellness tourism destinations in the world.
Monteverde: A true nature lovers paradise with a marvellous diversity of wildlife and plant life. Monteverde Cloud Forest is a unique area to observe exotic highland bird species or to explore the cloud forest canopy.
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 (20km – 30min)
Welcome to Costa Rica! Our representative will greet you at the airport; assist you with your luggage and private transfer to the hotel in San Jose.
Overnight in San Jose.
Day 2: SAN JOSE
Wake up to breakfast at the hotel and then join our Classic Coffee Tour. The expert will 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. Next, the aromas of the roaster will enchant you where you will discover how different roasting techniques affect the beans and the brew. We will reveal our roasting and packing secrets that enable them to deliver the best coffee from the Costa Rican plantation to your cup. 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. Finally, surrounded by an outdoor tropical paradise and while listening to traditional music, you will have an option of savoring a buffet lunch featuring local ingredients at Don Prospero Restaurant (not included).
Overnight in San Jose.
Day 3: SAN JOSE – TORTUGUERO (120km – 3hrs)
At the agreed time in the morning, transportation will pick you up at the hotel to transfer you to your next destination, Tortuguero, one of the most famous conservation areas in Costa Rica, located in the north Caribbean. Breakfast included en-route. Arrive at the dock to board a boat that will take you to the lodge in Tortuguero. Around midday, have a delicious lunch at the lodge. During the afternoon, discover its network of canals, lagoons and dense rainforests through a boat tour guided by an expert naturalist guide. Abundant wildlife inhabits Tortuguero, including 57 species of amphibians, 111 species of reptiles, and 60 species of mammals. In the evening, savour dinner at the lodge.
Overnight in Tortuguero.
Day 4: TORTUGUERO
Meet your guide for a mid-morning walk along the trails and discover the tropical rain forest of Tortuguero. In the afternoon, visit the enchanting village of Tortuguero; the town a small population of around 500, no cars, and is located on a relatively narrow spit of land between the beach and a canal. Take a closer encounter with the Caribbean culture; discover its people and lifestyle walking through this colourful town.
Overnight in Tortuguero.
Day 5: TORTUGUERO – ARENAL (220km – 4hrs)
Breakfast included at the hotel and then proceed to checkout. Afterwards, be ready to continue your trip. Shared transfer by boat and land from Tortuguero to the Restaurant located in Guapiles, where you will enjoy the lunch (included). Then, a transfer will take you to your next destination, La Fortuna, home of the colossus Arenal Volcano and a place that gives to its visitors amazing views and a big range of attractions and beautiful nature. Afternoon at leisure to enjoy hotel facilities and relax.
Overnight in Arenal.
Day 6: ARENAL (1-3km hike - 2hrs)
Breakfast included at the hotel. Today enjoy the most extraordinary view of the Arenal Volcano on a hike along the base and flanks of this giant on the Arenal 1968 park. During the hike, the expert guide will explain to you all about the volcano: its activity periods, a little bit of history related to it and will show you some landmarks that have left over the years (approximately 2 hours of walking, medium difficulty. It varies and depends on the trails that are hiked, it could be 1 to 3 kilometres). Afterwards, enjoy the sweetest rainforest experience, discovering the ancient secrets of chocolate: from its discovery and use, in tropical America, to the processing of the product we know and enjoy today. Considered as "a gift of the Gods", the cacao tree was very important to the ancient culture, it was not only used as a ceremonial drink but its seeds were also used as currency because of its economic value, in many regions of Mesoamerica, including Costa Rica. In this “hands-on” program, you will have the opportunity to learn interesting aspects of cocoa and chocolate, from its origin and history, participating in all the production process, from the harvesting of the fruit, drying and grinding of the seed, also the developing of the traditional drink of our ancestors, and of course, enjoying high-quality organic chocolate.
Overnight in Arenal.
Day 7: ARENAL – MONTEVERDE (100km – 2.5hrs)
Breakfast at the hotel and then proceed to checkout. At the agreed time, continue to your next destination: the magical Monteverde cloud forest. This service, half tour – half-shared transfer is a scenic and fast way to go from La Fortuna to the Monteverde area. You will board into a very comfortable and safe pontoon boat for a 30 to 40 minutes (approx.) ride to Rio Chiquito, a little town on the other side of the lake. Once at Rio Chiquito, we will leave the boat and take a short break to stretch the legs, after, another 1.5hr bus ride to get to the hotels in the Monteverde area (during the rainy season this transfer could take longer) Duration approx. of 3.5 hours (Land and boat).The rest of the afternoon at leisure.
Overnight in Monteverde.
Day 8: MONTEVERDE
After breakfast spend your morning at Selvatura Park. Here you will experience closer the mysteries of the cloud forest by enjoying a great combination of suspension bridges and platforms that offers you an opportunity to explore the forest from the top in a safe and easy manner. Afternoon free at leisure.
Overnight in Monteverde.
Day 9: MONTEVERDE – MANUEL ANTONIO (190km – 4hrs)
Breakfast included at the hotel & Check Out. At the agreed time, transfer to the beach area of Manuel Antonio in the Central Pacific Coast. Rest of the day free to enjoy the hotel facilities.
Overnight in Manuel Antonio.
Day 10: MANUEL ANTONIO
Breakfast included at the hotel. Enjoy your free time to relax in this fantastic region.
Overnight in Manuel Antonio.
Day 11: MANUEL ANTONIO
Breakfast included at the hotel. Enjoy your free time to relax in this fantastic region.
Overnight in Manuel Antonio.
Day 12: MANUEL ANTONIO – DEPARTURE SAN JOSE (170km – 3.5hrs)
At the appropriate time, departure private transfer from your hotel to Juan Santamaria International Airport to take your flight back home.
Comfortable and light clothing is the most suitable for travelling in Costa Rica. Sun protection, sunglasses, bathing suit, hiking or tennis shoes, a hat and mosquito repellent can be very useful during your stay.
