Coast to Coast, Highlights of Costa Rica - 13 Days

Right after you go through immigration and customs one representative will meet you at the Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) exit to load the luggage into the vehicle and transfer you to the hotel. The hotel for tonight is close to San Jose city, located 25-15 minutes away from the airport.

Costa Rica’s capital and the largest city in the country, San Jose is considered to be among the most cosmopolitan cities in Latin America. Downtown San Jose is the busiest part of town. A maze of streets and avenues, here you can find most of the city’s museums as well as several hotels and plazas. In the center of the city, several attractions can be found, such as the National Theater, the National Museum, and the Jade Museum. Also, several parks like Plaza de La Cultura and Parque Morazan are interesting places to visit. In San Jose exist a wide variety for gastronomic, each corner of the city has great restaurants or the famous Barrio Escalante, a gastronomic center where high-quality food is offered. But for more local and typical food the central market offers tasty food.

Park Inn by Radisson San Jose / Standard Room / Breakfast included / 4 Stars

The best natural expedition awaits you today. Your expert guide will meet you early at the hotel. You will start traveling northeast to the Caribbean lowlands. You will stop for breakfast at a local restaurant in Guapiles town. After breakfast, you will continue to La Pavona dock, there you will board the special boat that will take you to the lodge immersed in the jungle.

This afternoon, you will have a guided tour to the Village of Tortuguero and walk around the town to learn about the relaxed way of life in the Caribbean. Your guide will explain to you how this village developed and why they changed their minds about turtle conservation. Tortuguero is located in the north Caribbean of Costa Rica. Tortuguero is one of the most remote places in Costa Rica and is only accessible by boat or plane.

This little village with strong Afro-Caribbean roots is best known for attracting hordes of sea turtles such as Leatherback, Loggerhead, and Hawksbill turtles. While peak turtle season is in July and August, the park and village have begun to attract travelers year-round. Tortuguero is great for families and adventure travelers to go on jungle hikes, do a boat tour in the canals of the National Park, or just relax at the lodge. The Canals of Tortuguero are known as Costa Rica’s Amazon-like rainforest there are more of 800 species of wildlife, especially many types of birds.

Lunch and dinner are included at the hotel.

This morning, after breakfast, you have a boat tour on the Tortuguero National Park with the company of a local expert nature guide. The small boats go deep into the canals of the national park, further beyond where other boats can go. Due to the ability to explore further into the canals, you will have the opportunity to find rarer species of wildlife.

NOTE: The entrance fee to Tortuguero National Park is not included. It is $15 USD per person.

This afternoon, your guide will take you to a private nature trail where you have an exploring guided walk inside the jungle. The walk is relaxed and slow pace as this is a flat trail. The rest of the day is at your leisure; you can relax at the swimming pool, take a cocktail admiring the river lagoon or spend the afternoon on the beach.

Today after breakfast, the guide will meet you at the main dock of the hotel to return by boat to Pavona’s dock; from there continue with land transportation to Guapiles town where you will have another delicious Caribbean lunch. The transfer normally takes around 3 hours. After the meal, a representative will pick you up to take you to the next destination of this journey.

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca is located in the south Caribbean, it´s a perfect destination for beach lover and travelers that want to know about culture and traditions. Puerto Viejo was a small fishing village, that has become a popular destination offering a wide variety of restaurants and bars for vivid nightlife.

With its relaxed atmosphere and its unique blend of Latino, Afro-Caribbean and Bribri indigenous cultures. Popular activities are snorkeling, hikes, cooking classes, surfing or just relax at the white sand beach. In the area, you can find the Cahuita National Park and the Gandoca Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge both places are ideal to admire the wildlife and the beautiful beaches.

It is said that the best way to understand a culture is through food, so let´s get cooking in beautiful Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica! You will learn new culinary skills that will leave you understanding the healthy and fresh ways that the native Afro Caribbean culture eats at home. Learn some recipes you can take home with you, a taste of the Caribbean. Using fruits and veggies typical to Coastal Talamanca learn to cook patacones (fried plantains), breadfruit, rice and beans in coconut milk, fruit smoothies, chicken in Caribbean Sauce and more! There is also a vegetarian option. NOTE: Transportation from your hotel is not included.

You will be picked up from your Puerto Viejo area hotel to the rafting center, located in Siquirres, where you’ll enjoy the traditional Costa Rican breakfast. After breakfast and changing into rafting gear, you will go to the private rafting put-in on the banks of the Pacuare River. Here, the professional rafting guides will outfit you with all necessary equipment, give you a comprehensive rafting safety talk, and instruct you on paddling basics. Then, you and your group will launch your raft and begin to paddle deep into the heart of one of Costa Rica’s most impressive primary rainforests. It’s an adrenaline-packed day running the Pacuare’s renowned rapids. You will raft through the incredible rainforest on 19 miles of Class III-IV whitewater. Cascading waterfalls, lush forest, exotic plants, birds and other animals, and exciting rapids make this a tropical adventure packed with rich experiences that you’ll remember forever.

At the end of your rafting trip, you’ll return to the operations center for a delicious lunch, and time to shower and change clothes. Then, you will take transportation to your next destination.

La Fortuna is home to the greater Arenal recreation area, the entire region is paradise on Earth for outdoor adventurers. Volcanic views grace the landscape and heat several geothermal hot springs. A lake and rivers beckon you toward aquatic adventure. Refreshing waterfalls reward you after hikes, offering crisp pools and spectacular views.

Arenal Volcano is one of Costa Rica’s most notable natural features. Standing at 5,437 feet (1,657 meters), this volcano has been resting (i.e. not active) since 2010. However, it is no less majestic to behold, as it’s practically a behemoth against the region’s perfect skies. Rising above the rainforest that surrounds its base, Arenal Volcano frames the skyline with near-perfect symmetry.

Start your day as you walk across the Arenal Hanging Bridges and see the jungle from high above the forest floor. These trails bring you as close as you would ever hope to see the rainforest and its inhabitants, as well as give you access to see stunning views of the rainforest and mountains. After your adventure on the hanging bridges, you will head to the Arenal Volcano National Park. The trails are generally flat and not very strenuous, perfect for a leisurely and informative guided walk. Enjoy a delicious lunch at this point.

Then, you will finish the day at the stunning La Fortuna Waterfall. When you reach the entrance, you will have time to change into your bathing suit in case you want to cool off in the cool pools that flow from the waterfall. This is sure to be a good workout as there are 500 steps to get to the down to the waterfall, and 300 to get back up! When you reach the bottom, you'll have an opportunity to take lots of pictures and swim in the cool waters of one of the largest and most breathtaking waterfalls in Arenal!

The trip combines comfortable door to door minivan transfers with a fun and scenic cruise across the tranquil Lake Arenal, where you will experience beautiful views of the majestic volcano and the forested Tilaran Mountain Range. You will also have the chance to see a variety of wetland birds such as kingfishers, flycatchers, waders and other exotic species that abound on the lakeshore.

You will be picked up from your hotel in Arenal and be driven to the Lake Arenal dam, where you will board a covered boat. This is where the scenic 45-minute cruise across the lake begins. Next, you will begin the impressive 1.5-hour journey up the mountainside on a steep road offering stunning views of the lush, green valley. You will be driven directly to your Monteverde area hotel.

This afternoon you will learn more about the production of coffee, chocolate and sugar cane candy. During the tour, you will walk around a real Costa Rican farm. Your guide will show you all the steps of how the coffee, chocolate and sugar candy are made. You will even have the opportunity to make your candy!

IMPORTANT: Passengers should expect to carry their bags/luggage to and from the boat. Drivers will do their best to help if you have any problems with carrying heavy bags. Just let them know in advance.

Home to cool, misty cloud forests, and deep green foliage almost everywhere you look, there’s no mistaking that you’ve stepped away from everyday life. If spending time in nature is at the top of your travel to-do list, then you’ll get your fill of adventure in this part of Costa Rica’s Central Highlands. From zip-lining across a canopy to tours of coffee plantations, there are plenty of activities to keep you moving in the fresh air.

Monteverde is translated as “green mountain”, and once you’ve reached the mountaintop, you’ll first come upon the quaint town of Santa Elena. Here you’ll find gift stores, accommodations, a bus stop, restaurants, cafes, a supermarket, banks and much more. Though Monteverde proper does not have a town center, it is comprised of a dirt road that leads to the Cloud Forest Reserve. Spread out along this walkable road are hotels, cafes, restaurants, galleries, and excellent views

Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, Guided Walking Tour

The tour is essentially a natural history walk in which you will learn about the incredible diversity of flora and fauna and many of the unique relationships various cloud forest species have with each other. Guides are equipped with a spotting telescope as well as binoculars and several informational guidebooks. Be sure to bring your cameras, as you can take pictures through the guide's scope. This walk normally takes about 3 hours.

The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is where some of the best-kept cloud forests in all of Costa Rica can be found. It is a cloud forest, not a rainforest, due to its elevation of 4,724 feet (1,440 meters) above sea level.

In the afternoon you have one of the areas famous canpoy tours. The tour is located in a private reserve created in 1994. It starts with a short guided walk through the private 70-acre reserve of the cloud forest. The first part of the tour will take you through primary (old growth), and secondary (new growth) forest. You will fly through the treetops listening closely to the vast variety of birds that can be seen throughout the reserve. Then, just when you think you have become one with the canopy the tour ends with an exhilarating rappel down from the “Scary Tree”. The tour has 14 cables, 17 platforms, 1 rappel, and 1 Tarzan swing.

This morning, you'll have a transfer to the Manuel Antonio area. On the way, you will have a safari boat tour at Tarcoles River. This is a great way to break up the long, 5-hour drive from Monteverde to Manuel Antonio Beach because you are bound to see a multitude of wildlife including the famous, huge, 20-ft American crocodiles that inhabit the Carara Biological Reserve area of the Tarcoles River.

Keep your eyes peeled for a rare sighting of the Scarlet Macaw and over fifty other species of birds you can see there. Your guide will point out the often difficult-to-see wildlife along this two-hour boat tour of the Tarcoles River and into the Guacalillo Mangrove Estuary. A delicious lunch is included at the end of the boar tour.

From there you will continue your way to the amazing Manuel Antonio area.

Manuel Antonio is home to a namesake national park full of unspoiled beaches and world-class views. Enjoy adventures as diverse as snorkeling and jungle hikes. A great destination for families, there’s something for everyone whether you have young children or college-bound teens. See a variety of Costa Rica’s animals when you peek into tide pools and hike through forests; experience the subtle thrill of birding when you cross a variety of species off of your ‘seen’ list.

Accommodation choices are plentiful, with some of the country's most inspired lodging options to choose from. Imagine the glittering, warm sand of a pristine beach; shimmering blue water laps along the shoreline, as the fresh ocean breeze dances across your skin. Rediscover what it means to have free time, and then spend it with your favorite people.

Today you will have a guided walk in Manuel Antonio National Park.

The pace of this adventure is determined by the consensus of your group’s abilities and interests. There is an abundance of wildlife you will want to stop and observe, all in its natural and breathtaking habitat. Watch sloths and numerous species of monkeys travel through the tree canopy as they hunt for nocturnal silky anteaters and several types of non-poisonous snakes resting in the tropical rainforest. Listen to the songs of the various birds as they glide above your group, curiously looking for adventure. At your convenience and leisure, you can stop and enjoy some local fresh fruits and refreshments as you pause to soak in the beautiful aesthetics. Enjoy some leisure time to swim at the pristine water of the virgin beaches inside of the national park, consider the most beautiful beaches of Costa Rica.

After a last morning by the coast you will transfer back to the capital, San Jose. The transfer time is roughly 4 and a half hours.

All the good things come to an end. Say good-bye to beautiful Costa Rica and its people! One driver will pick you up at the hotel and take you straight to the Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO). In Costa Rica, you must be at the airport 3 hours before the departure time.