The “Costa Rica Bucket List” Experience

Day 1: San Jose
Arrival at Juan Santamaria Airport in San Jose (SJO). Meet and greet outside the airport terminal and transfer to the hotel.
Overnight at Gran Hotel Costa Rica

Day 2: San Jose – Tortuguero 
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Your first excursion of the trip takes you to the Caribbean side of Costa Rica. Depart early in the morning for a transfer that takes you through the tempestuous Braulio Carrillo National Park to the placid lagoons of Tortuguero National Park. You’ll navigate through the park until you reach Tortuguero Village, a carless community bordered by the lagoon on one side and the beach on the other.
Overnight at Pachira Lodge

Day 3: Tortuguero
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today you’ll return to the water for a guided boat tour through the canals. Your guide will point out the flora and fauna that can be seen in both the lagoon and the rainforest beyond. This is an early morning tour, as this is when the forest awakens.
Afterwards, you’ll visit the local village, where you’ll learn about the sea turtles that come to lay their eggs on the beach and give Tortuguero its name.
Overnight at Pachira Lodge

Day 4: Tortuguero – Arenal
Breakfast, Lunch
Take a boat transfer back to the docks, where you’ll continue on by coach to a private lunch spot in the rainforest. From there, you’ll take a private transfer to La Fortuna, nestled at the base of the majestic Arenal Volcano. You’ll notice the difference from the rainforest on the Caribbean coast to this lowland rainforest, where roaring rivers, natural hot springs, and diverse wildlife abound.
Overnight at Arenal Manoa

Day 5: Arenal 
Breakfast, Lunch
This morning you’ll be invited into the home and farm of a Costa Rican family from the countryside. Here, you’ll be greeted with fresh fruit juice and a tour of their traditional farm, where the family seeks to promote the sustainable use of natural resources and local farming customs. You’ll also learn to milk the cows, try fresh milk and chocolate, and extract juice from sugar cane. Finish off the visit with a homemade lunch with fresh products from the farm.
When you return to the hotel you can enjoy a relaxing soak in volcanic thermal springs.
Overnight at Arenal Manoa

Day 6: Arenal – Monteverde 
Breakfast
In the morning, you’ll hike along the base of the Arenal Volcano to the 1968 lava flows. This is one of the only places where you’ll be this close to the looming volcano itself.
In the afternoon, a car-boat-car transfer will take you across the lake, from the rainforests of Arenal to the cloud forests of Monteverde. As you ascend these mountains, you’ll either see valleys full of impenetrable clouds and mist or breathtaking views of the Gulf of Nicoya below.
Overnight at Senda Monteverde

Day 7:  Monteverde 
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
In the morning, you’ll get to know the cloud forest covered hills of Monteverde up close and personal. First, you’ll set off on a 1.5 mile (2.5km) hike through the cloud forest, crossing hanging bridges that take you eye level with the vibrant canopy. After that, open-air gondolas will take you up the side of the mountain, which will either be surrounded by mysterious clouds or clear under the sun. Once at the top, you’ll get a spectacular view of the mountains, canyons, and treetops that are so unique to this area.
During the afternoon, you can choose to join one of the many optional tours in the area or relax and enjoy the hotel’s facilities, which include complimentary hiking access to the neighboring Aguti Wildlife Reserve.
Overnight at Senda Monteverde

Day 8: Monteverde – Manuel Antonio
Breakfast
It’s back to the rainforest, but on the Pacific coast this time. A private transfer will take you from Monteverde to Manuel Antonio on the mid-Pacific coast. Upon arrival, enjoy the rest of the day to get to know the area or relax at the resort, which overlooks the Pacific Ocean.
Overnight at Parador Resort

Day 9: Manuel Antonio
Breakfast
This morning, you’ll get a chance to visit the favorite Manuel Antonio National Park. This protected land forms around the Punta Cathedral, which often looks like a whale’s tale. Here, you’ll find three unique beaches and a wide variety of protected flora and fauna. There’s a trail to the highest point in the park, where you can see the ocean and rainforest from up high, before enjoying some time relaxing on the beach.
In the afternoon, you’ll be able to choose to go back to the national park, unwind at the hotel, or explore the surroundings on your own. (Note that the national park is closed on Mondays. This activity will be rescheduled to another day, if necessary.)
Overnight at Parador Resort

Day 10: Departure transfer
Breakfast
You’ll depart on a transfer from Manuel Antonio to the Juan Santamaria Airport in San Jose (SJO).
For those with early morning flights, we’ll gladly extend or adjust your itinerary to return to San Jose the night before and book an extra night at a hotel closer to the airport.

• Meet & Greet and private arrival transfer from San Jose Airport (SJO)
• Accommodation as specified:
  • 1 night at Gran Hotel Costa Rica, Curio Collection by Hilton
  • 2 nights at Pachira Lodge Tortuguero
  • 2 nights at Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs
  • 2 nights at Senda Monteverde
  • 2 nights at Parador Resort & Spa
• Meals as specified
• Guided tours/activities:
  • Tortuguero National Park (3-day/2-night package, including local tours)
  • Campesino Farm Experience
  • Arenal Volcano Hike
  • Monteverde Sky Walk & Sky Tram
  • Manuel Antonio National Park
  • Hike in Aguti Wildlife Reserve (self-guided)
• Coach and boat transfer from San Jose to Tortuguero
• Transfer from Tortuguero to Arenal
• Transfer to Monteverde on a shared car-boat-car logistic across Arenal Lake (approx. 3.5 hrs)
• Private transfer from Monteverde to Manuel Antonio (approx. 3.5 hrs)
• Private transfer from Manuel Antonio to Juan Santamaria Airport in San Jose (SJO) (approx. 3 hrs)
• Current taxes
• Dedicated 24/7 in country support and emergency assistance
• Flexible change/cancellation policies
• Optional activities are not included

Important notes:

• Accommodations will be in the above-mentioned hotels or alternative properties of similar style and ambience, according to availability at the time of booking.
• Tours on the package may be adapted according to traveler preference.
• The itinerary can be adjusted based on the arrival and departure airports (San Jose/SJO or Guanacaste/LIR).

• Tortuguero: It doesn’t get more remote than Tortuguero, a national park, beach, and community on the northern Caribbean coast of Costa Rica where you either have to fly in on prop planes or take a boat ride through their tranquil canals and rivers to get there.
• Arenal: A lush rainforest rich in wildlife surrounds the perfectly conical Arenal Volcano, where you can walk amongst lava flows, spot sloths hanging in the trees, and relax in natural hot springs to the sounds of toucans and other birds.
• Monteverde: This peaceful, mountainous bit of land hides precious treasures, such as forests where the clouds dance among the trees and nourish over 400 species of orchids, including the smallest in the world.
• Manuel Antonio: Pristine beaches, jungle-covered hills, and abundant wildlife. This popular destination boasts a fun-loving beach town, plenty of beaches to choose from, and a truly incredible national park.