Costa Rica in Depth

Welcome to San Jose, Costa Rica! After clearing customs and immigration we will be met by our local representative and transferred to our hotel.

A full day excursion to see some of the highlights surrounding San Jose; Doka Coffee Plantation, Poas Volcano, and La Paz Waterfalls. On the way to the volcano, we will visit Doka Coffee Estate for a delicious breakfast and a coffee tour at the plantation where we will learn the techniques used by the experts to produce one of the best coffees in Costa Rica. The careful process involved in the cultivation, harvesting and roasting of the Golden Bean will then be illustrated, very hands-on, and then we will savour the delectable end product. After the coffee tour we will continue to the Poás Volcano where we will not only admire the impressive main crater with its sulphur fumaroles, but also learn about the different ecosystems in this unique and protected national park. Following the visit to the volcano we will continue to the La Paz Water Fall Garden for a scrumptious lunch and tour. As we arrive to La Paz, we will walk along a trail, leading to a spectacular waterfall in the middle of the rainforest. Inside the park we will also visit the hummingbird gallery, the serpentarium, the bird house, the butterfly garden and the frog exhibit.  Your tour ends at your hotel.  Dinner is served at the hotel.

Early departure (approx. 6.00am) from our hotel to Guápiles where we stop at a local restaurant for breakfast and then continue to an area where everyone is transferred to a river boat which will take the group through the river system of Tortuguero National Park and to our lodge.  The river cruise takes about 2 hours.  Upon arriving at the lodge, the local staff will welcome you with a delicious cocktail and lunch. Later in the afternoon visit the small and colourful town of Tortuguero to learn about renowned naturalist Archie Carr, author of the 1956 Book “The Windward Road,” who did much of his work on sea turtles at Tortuguero and was instrumental in establishing the Caribbean Conservation Corporation (CCC). His “Casa Verde” research station is still here. Dinner is included this evening at the Lodge

Early morning boat tour through the Tortuguero Canals and return for breakfast at the lodge. Get ready to travel along the well-known Tortuguero Canals and have the experience of your life in this unique paradise of magnificent flora and fauna. After breakfast, enjoy the hotel grounds and jungle trails at leisure, or simply relax. Lunch will be served at the Lodge. This afternoon spend your time relaxing at the lodge and its gardens or, if keen, our guide will organize a nature walk around one of the trails of the hotel to get a better understanding of the Rainforest. For those who want to really relax why not indulge in an afternoon at the spa with one of the lodge’s superior treatment options.

Dinner is included at the lodge this evening.

After breakfast we leave the lodge and make our way back to Guapiles by boat and vehicle. We will stop for lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, continue the drive for three hours to La Fortuna de San Carlos a small town located at the base of Arenal Volcano. Standing tall at 5,400 feet, the Arenal Volcano was once of the 10 most active volcanoes in the world. A few months ago its lava flowed and constant eruptions were visible. At the moment the volcano is in a resting phase. The perfect cone shape and world class hot springs make this place a must-visit! This will be home for the next 3 nights. Dinner is included at the hotel.

Breakfast is included at the hotel. After breakfast we will travel to the Sky Tram where we will enjoy extraordinary views of the Arenal Volcano. The slow-paced Sky Tram gondolas soar smoothly through the rain forest, offering endless views during its mountainous ascent. Accompanied by a bilingual guide, tour takers will be able to stop the tram at any point, a feature that allows for magnificent, one-of-a-kind photographs to be captured and tropical birds to be spotted. Lunch is included at the Sky restaurant and dinner at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel, followed by a morning at leisure. After Lunch get ready for your visit to Arenal Volcano National Park. The Arenal Volcano tour starts with a drive to the western side of the volcano, which is the one that has been mostly affected by volcanic activity since 1968. Once there, you will embark on a very informative walk on the Park trails. We can choose any one of the trails depending on the client’s preference. We have Las Coladas trail, which traverses the rainforest and crosses over a large lava flow from 1992 where we can observe all the impact of the past eruptions, or Los Tucanes trail which goes mostly through the recovered forest of the past activity and where we can see more wildlife. Lunch is on your (your guide will give you some options of great local restaurants in town). La Fortuna makes for a pleasant visit with lots of beautiful gift shops. Afternoon at leisure and drive back to the hotel. Late afternoon we visit Tabacón Hot Springs one of the best hot springs in the country. Relax in the thermal waters at your leisure. This evening a buffet dinner is served at Tabacón resort.

A free day to explore at leisure or pick an optional activity:

Full day Canyoning and White Water Rafting. Go canyoning and rafting near the Arenal Volcano all in the same day. This Costa Rica combo tour is one of the most popular tours in Costa Rica because you'll get to experience two of the best and most adrenaline-pumping adventures in one day. Rappel down tropical waterfalls and climb your way through the magical Lost Canyon. Then go rafting down one of the most beautiful rivers in the La Fortuna area. You will be guided by professional guides and be provided with the highest quality safety equipment. Plus you will get breakfast, lunch and transportation included. All you have to do is sit back, relax and be prepared for an adventure of a lifetime. NOTE: This full day excursion is shared, not private.

Arenal Sky Tram. On this half day tour you will be attended by a bilingual guide who will provide lots of interesting facts about the flora and fauna in the area. You’ll take the Sky Tram travel up the mountains to arrive in a wide observation platform on the highest point of the reserve, where you can enjoy the view and also have the possibility to walk a short trail. NOTE: This full day excursion is shared, not private.

 Enjoy the sights and the sounds of the rainforest and experience its peacefulness as we quietly paddle the Peñas Blancas river. Monkeys, sloths, iguanas, crocodiles and numerous tropical birds await us! Our professional bilingual guide will share with you educational and interesting explanations of the plants and animals we encounter on the float You will truly appreciate the wonders of Peñas Blancas river and the surrounding rainforest as we travel down the river without a motor, this way you will enjoy the journey quietly rowing and taking photos. Make sure to bring your camera and binoculars on this tour! This is half day tour specially designed for people with limited amount of time. NOTE: This full day excursion is shared, not private.

Breakfast is included at the hotel. This morning we travel overland from Arenal to Rincon de la Vieja National Park. This transfer will take us around 4 hours and 30 minutes. This 34,800 acre (14,084 ha) national park is home to an intriguing combination of volcanic geological wonders and pristine tropical forests that span six life zones. Of course the main attraction is the smooth cinder cone volcano, Rincon de la Vieja (6,217ft, 1,895m), comprising of nine contiguous craters that dot the volcanic national park. Lunch at a local restaurant and dinner at the hotel.

A full day to enjoy the magnificent facilities the lodge has to offer. We will enjoy exclusive use of the pool and Volcanic Treatment Areas. Rejuvenate and relax in the natural steam rooms, volcanic mineral mud baths and the thermal mineral pools.

Free day at the beach or, for the yoga aficionados, relax and rejuvenate at the retreat.

Free day at the beach.

Breakfast at the hotel, then transfer to Liberia with lunch at a local restaurant in Liberia.  In evening we will have a farewell dinner at the hotel.

We will be transferred to Liberia International airport for our flights home.