Costa Rica Travel Ideas

Itinerary:

Day 1. San Jose

Arrival in San Jose. Meet and greet at the airport and transfer to the hotel.

Overnight at Hotel Fleur de Lys, Standard Room

Costa Rica's "Valle Central" and surrounding highlands form the cultural and geographical base of the country. It consists of a fertile upland basin inhabited by approximately two-thirds of the country's population. It is also home to the four most important cities in the country: San Jose, the capital city of Costa Rica, and the provincial capitals of Cartago, Heredia and Alajuela, each with its own character and sense of identity, together providing the most economically productive region.

The average temperature in the valley is 24ºC (77ºF) and the altitude oscillates from 2000 to 5000 feet (600 to 1500 m). Mountains and volcanoes enclose this land, and are, in turn, some of the main attractions. In just 20-40 minutes you can find yourself in the uplands, enjoying the beautiful view of San Jose and the fresh mountain breezes. Volcanoes are also well worth visiting: Poas and Barva in the northwest, Irazu in the southeast, and Turrialba in the east.

Due to its strategic location in the middle of the country, the Central Valley allows you to choose from a variety of activities, such as visiting the National Theatre, and museums (Gold Museum, Jade Museum, National Museum), white water rafting, kayaking, horseback riding, rain and cloud forest hiking and mountain biking, as well as visits to butterfly farms, botanical gardens, picturesque towns, and coffee plantations. Besides all this, the city also provides a good opportunity for shopping, sightseeing and enjoying the nightlife. Without a doubt, it is the perfect "base" for exploring the rest of the country.

The evening is free to explore.

Day 2. San Jose

Today, you will have the option of choosing one of the following day excursions according to your interest:

1. Rainforest Aerial Tram: the Aerial Tram was built in the middle a virgin rainforest reserve only 1 hour drive from San Jose. The tram takes visitors on a 90 minute guided ride over the canopy of a rainforest. The tour also includes a short-guided walk in the trails and a brief lecture on the forest and the project. The tour includes transportation, naturalist guide and the tram ride.
2. Pacuare River Rafting Class III-IV: the crisp clear water of the Pacuare, Latin America's first Wild and Scenic River, offers some of the finest white water in the world, providing the adventurous rafter with a ride of great natural beauty. Trip length: San Martin to Siquirres, 18 miles. The tour includes transportation, breakfast, lunch, gear and specialized bilingual guide.
3. Irazu Volcano, Lankaster Gardens and Orosi Valley: the Irazu, presently dormant, is the highest volcano in Costa Rica. It tops out at 3432 meters and features a windswept 100-meter-deep main crater with a mineral-tinted lake. On clear days, visitors might see both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts from the viewpoint at the summit. The second stop will be Lankaster Botanical Gardens, which offers a great variety of orchids and a colourful display of tropical plants.

The tour will end with a visit to the evergreen Orosi Valley featuring extensive coffee plantations and some remains of the colonial heritage of the country. The tour includes transportation, bilingual guide, entrance fees and lunch. Overnight at Hotel Fleur de Lys, Standard Room B

Day 3. San Jose - Tortuguero

Early in the morning, you will travel by bus through the mountains and rainforest of the Braulio Carrillo National Park until the village of Siquirres on the Caribbean lowlands. Once there, you will board the boat and continue along the canals that run parallel to the Caribbean Coast. Tortuguero National Park will be your final destination. During the afternoon visit to the Turtle Museum and the picturesque Tortuguero village. Overnight at Pachira Lodge, Standard Room BLD

Day 4. Tortuguero

After breakfast travel along the Tortuguero Canals which are ideal to spot the wildlife of the area. Afternoon at leisure to enjoy the private trails of the lodge, ride a boat through the canals (at an additional cost) or just relax by the swimming pool. Overnight at Pachira Lodge, Standard RoomBLD

Day 5. Tortuguero - Arenal

After breakfast, you will return by boat to Matina, from where you will be transferred by land to the Arenal Volcano area in the northern lowlands (4 hours drive).

Arenal Volcano is one of the world's most spectacular volcanoes. In addition to huge ash columns and eruptions of glowing rock, the volcano occasionally sets off pyroclastic avalanches- a dramatic flow of fast moving hot gas and rock. Arenal has maintained constant activity since the time it re-awoke, after a span of nearly 400 years, with a huge eruption in 1968.

Arenal eruptions are of the strombolian type - they are frequent and moderate.

There are a wide variety of to choose from in the Arenal area: rafting, hiking trails, horseback riding, mountain biking, waterfall rappelling, hot springs, hanging bridges, canopy tours, zip lines, wildlife viewing, and even cave tours.

Ask one of our experts for advice on any of these and other activities. Overnight at Hotel Arenal Springs, Junior Suite. BL

Day 6. Arenal

Free morning for optional activities. Late in the afternoon, our local guided will meet you for a tour to the Arenal Volcano National Park, where you will observe the impact of recent volcanic eruptions in the vegetation and pasturelands on the skirts of the volcano. The Arenal, which has been in constant activity for more than 30 years, is definitively the main attraction in this area. After visiting the volcano, you will have a chance to take a relaxing dip at Ecotermales Hot Springs. Overnight at Hotel Arenal Springs, Junior Suite. B

Day 7. Arenal - Tamarindo Beach

After breakfast, transfer to Tamarindo Beach, a superb swimming beach on the North-Pacific coast, located about 4 hours drive from Arenal. Overnight at Hotel Tamarindo Diria, Tropical Pool Side Room.

Tamarindo has all the amenities of a Costa Rican beach town: surf, sand and sun, sun, sun. But it offers much more. It is the ideal place for honeymoons and weddings, couples, and families, and wonderfully suited to eco-adventures.

Tamarindo offers first class sport fishing, sailing, surfing, golf, ATV tours, turtle watching, diving, horseback riding, canopy tours, jungle boat rides, beauty spa, an art gallery and crafts and pottery stores. A multi-cultural community, Tamarindo boats several bakeries, an outdoors vegetable market and more than 40 restaurants. Whether you like to eat Vegetarian, 'Tipico' Costa Rican, Italian or Sea Food, it is all here. B

Days 8 and 9. Tamarindo Beach

Days at leisure in Tamarindo for optional activities such as fishing, diving, horseback riding, hiking or just relaxing on the beach. Overnights at Hotel Tamarindo Diria, Tropical Pool Side Room. B

Day 10. Tamarindo Beach - San Jose

Around mid-morning you will return to San Jose by plane (50-minute flight). Upon arrival, transfer to Hotel. Overnight at Hotel Fleur de Lys, Standard Room B

Day 11. Onward travels

Today, based on your flights departure time you will be transferred to the airport for your onward travels. B

Additional nights are available on request.

PRICES FROM:

Exchange rates differ from time to time. For the most up-to-date prices of this holiday idea please fill out our Latin America Travel Quote form.

NOTES:

GOWAY VIP MEET AND GREET SERVICE

As part of your tour price you receive a VIP Meet & Greet Service which includes:

Meet & Greet service San José by an English - Speaking guide
The guide will do a general introduction of Costa Rica, pointing out the essential information for first time visitors, including tips, routes and recommendations. And will review in detail together with the clients their program, in order to clarify any doubt or question they might have.

Information Package:
Detailed program including the route descriptions and the activities included per day depending on the client itinerary. It includes also security tips and important information while traveling in Costa Rica and brochures of the different visited hotels.

VIP service San José Airport:
Upon arrival clients are welcome at the gate inside the airport terminal with a sign with their names on it. You will be given a sticker to wear through immigration and customs to speed up the procedures inside the restricted areas.

Please obtain your sticker which designates you as a Goway VIP from the person holding the sign. The sticker will also help our guides and drivers to identify you when you are outside the terminal.

Costa Rica Map
A full color Costa Rica map will be included in the information package of the client tourist attractions, national parks, pacific and Caribbean beaches, main roads and highways and GPS locations.

• Costa Rica international departure tax $26 USD
• Local currency is Colons
• Time Zone: GMT/UTC -6
• Dialing Code: 506
• Electricity: 120V, 60Hz
• Weights & measures: Metric

DEPARTURE:

Departs daily

HOTELS

San Jose: Hotel Fleur de Lys

Arenal: Arenal Springs

Tortuguero: Pachira Lodge

Tamarindo: Hotel Tamarindo Diria

PRICE INCLUDES:

• 2 nights at Hotel Fleur de Lys, San Jose, Standard Room
• 2 nights at Pachira Lodge, Tortuguero, Standard Room
• 2 nights at Hotel Arenal Springs, Arenal, Junior Suite
• 3 nights at Hotel Tamarindo Diria, Tamarindo Beach, Tropical Pool Side Room
• 1 night at Hotel Fleur de Lys, San Jose, Standard Room
• Taxes
• VIP Meet and Greet Service San Jose
• Domestic air Tamarindo to San Jose
• All tours as listed
• All meals as listed B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner

NOT INCLUDED

• Visa fees (if required)
• Passport & Visa Costs
• Vaccination Costs
• Personal Spending Money
• Meals where not listed
• Drinks
• International Flights
• Travel Insurance
• Airport departure taxes
• Border taxes or fees

OPTIONAL EXTRAS

• All Access Costa Rica
• San Jose City Tour
• Volcan Arenal by Night Tour
• Canopy Tours
• Monteverde Cloud Forest
• Land of Seas Sun and Volcanoes

Package Information

Costa Rica Optional Tours, Costa Rica (activities)

Package Departures

Please call us to inquire about departure dates