Experience Costa Rica: Arenal & Guanacaste

Wander rainforest trails to La Paz Waterfall before travelling from San Jose to Arenal.
Drift above the canopy on the sky tram with serene views of the Arenal volcano.
Feel the rush of sky trek zip lines sweeping over forested canyons and Lake Arenal.
Spot gentle sloths and colourful wildlife with expert naturalist guides in Arenal, Costa Rica.
Unwind on Tamarindo’s Pacific coast with snorkelling and a calm sunset catamaran cruise.

Days

from C$3,535 - C$4,456

55 Years of Expertise in Tailor-Made Travel

ExcellentBased on 5,327 Reviews

55 Years of Expertise in Tailor-Made Travel

ExcellentBased on 5,327 Reviews

Trip Features

Active Elements

Includes light adventure or movement for added discovery.

Epic Scenery

Showcases landscapes that elevate parts of the journey.

Near the Beach

Situated conveniently close to coastlines for sun and relaxation.

Wildlife Encounters

Offers chances to observe animals responsibly in their natural habitats.

Active Elements

Includes light adventure or movement for added discovery.

Epic Scenery

Showcases landscapes that elevate parts of the journey.

Near the Beach

Situated conveniently close to coastlines for sun and relaxation.

Wildlife Encounters

Offers chances to observe animals responsibly in their natural habitats.

Trip Itinerary

At a Glance

DAY

Welcome to Costa Rica

DAY

San Jose to Arenal with La Paz Waterfall

DAY

Sky Tram & Sky Trek Experience

DAY

Spotting Sloths in Arenal

DAY

Arenal to Tamarindo

DAY

Sunset Catamaran Cruise

DAY

At Leisure in Guanacaste

DAY

Depart from Liberia

Travel Itinerary

Trip Starts

Trip Stop

Trip Ends

Detailed Itinerary

DAY

Welcome to Costa Rica

Transfer

San Jose Juan Santamaria Airport to San Jose

Your Accommodation

Hotel Autentico

Hotel Autentico is located 15 minutes away from the Juan Santamaria International Airport, 10 minutes from downtown, and within walking distance of the Costa Rican Art Museum and La Sabana Park. The hotel features 84 guest rooms with air conditioning or ceiling fan, cable TV, coffee maker, bathroom with hairdryer, hot water, a direct dial telephone, a radio alarm clock, and a safe deposit box.

Duration

1 Night Stay

Meal Plan

Full Breakfast

Show on Map

DAY

San Jose to Arenal with La Paz Waterfall

Day Tour

San Jose to Arenal with La Paz Waterfall

Today you will be privately transferred from your hotel in San Jose to Arenal, a journey that will take approximately seven hours due to the scenic activity along the way. After hitting the road and driving for approximately one hour, you'll arrive to La Paz Waterfall. Upon arrival to La Paz, meander through the nearby trails that lead to a series of five waterfalls, La Paz the most famous among them. You'll also pause for a buffet lunch (included) and have the opportunity to explore some of the nearby butterfly, frog and hummingbird gardens. Total travel time, including the visit La Paz Waterfall, is approximately seven hours.

Your Accommodation

Arenal Manoa Resort Hotel and Hot Springs

Arenal Manoa Hotel is a beautiful place to rest, relax and enjoy the marvelous view of Arenal Volcano. Surrounded by gardens, pastures and animals, our rooms have been designed so that each one offers you a panoramic view of the volcano. Our visitors can take advantage of our spacious gardens for walking and meditation as well as the opportunities to see the daily operations of a typical Costa Rican farm.

Duration

3 Night Stay

Meal Plan

Full Breakfast

Arenal Manoa Resort Hotel and Hot Springs

Show on Map

DAY

Sky Tram & Sky Trek Experience

Day Tour

Shared Arenal Sky Tram & Sky Trek Tour

After a shared transfer to the Sky Tram & Sky Trek grounds, the tour begins with the Sky Tram, a delightful activity for people of all ages. Before leaving the main building to start the tour, you will be given the necessary equipment (harness, helmet, gloves), which the guides will be responsible for adjusting correctly. You will then participate in a brief safety talk regarding the proper way to fasten the cables and to use the braking system. From there, the gondolas of the Sky Tram rise delicately above the rainforest, offering beautiful landscapes during the journey. The walk starts at the reception and ends at the highest point of the reserve, on a lookout with an excellent view of the forest, the volcano, and the lake. The gondola ride lasts approximately 20 minutes during which a local guide will explain the vegetation and fauna of the forest canopy. Then, the Sky Trek will take you back to the starting point. From this area, you will begin to slide on a track of zip lines that extend through canyons in the middle of the treetops. So begins the exciting adventure in zip lines descending the mountains and returning to the starting point in the main building. You will be able to experience and observe the rainforest from a bird's eye view, admiring the wildlife from the heights. This adventure includes eight cables with a distance of almost 3 km (2 miles) in length, all while enjoying panoramic views of the forest, lake and Arenal Volcano.

DAY

Spotting Sloths in Arenal

Day Tour

Shared Sloth Tour

Arenal is well known for its impressively diverse range of fauna, however, the most popular species among them is quite likely the sloth. During this activity, you will have the opportunity to admire two or three finger sloths, and to do so in a completely natural setting. Pioneers in wildlife tours in the region, you'll set out alongside the expert guides with Callidryas Tours to explore the nearby countryside in search of sloths. Thanks to the knowledgeable and eagle-eyed guides (paired with the relatively limited movements of sloths) you are all but guaranteed to spot a few sloths throughout the tour. Along the way, you may also see other incredible creatures like toucans, poison dart frogs, iguanas and monkeys, among others. At the end of the tour, you will be returned to your hotel.

DAY

Arenal to Tamarindo

Transfer

La Fortuna - Arenal to Tamarindo

Your Accommodation

Tamarindo Diria Beach Resort

Tamarindo Diria Beach and Golf Resort is the only hotel located on the white sands of the world famous Tamarindo Beach. Spread out over 5 acres and featuring a large outdoor swimming pool overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Tamarindo Diria Beach and Golf Resort offers the best of Costa Rica's natural beauty. This large resort has 3 restaurants, a spa and a casino. Playa Conchal and Playa Flamingo are within a 25 minute drive of the hotel.

Duration

3 Night Stay

Meal Plan

Full Breakfast

Show on Map

DAY

Sunset Catamaran Cruise

Day Tour

Shared Sunset Catamaran Tour

This amazing activity begins with an introductory speech about the experience that you will enjoy, then the anchor is pulled and you will be sailing to one of the many pristine beaches in the area. On the way you will be able to admire marine wildlife specially turtles, dolphins, flying fish or whales. The crew will provide snorkel equipment, and you will have the chance to search the waters for one hour approximately, looking for exotic sea life. You will also enjoy a varied food offerings available on board as well as an open bar including sodas, juices, beers and some liquors. Soon after the snorkeling experience you will go back across the bay to finally arrive when the sun goes down. Important: It is recommended that you bring your own beach towel.

DAY

At Leisure in Guanacaste

Day Tour

At Leisure in Guanacaste

Spend your day at leisure soaking up coastal charm. Relax on powdery golden sands or poolside at your hotel, or consider participating in a catamaran cruise to nearby coves. Snorkeling and paddleboarding reveal colorful marine life, while charming towns offer aromatic taquerias and boutique shopping. For a more local touch, visit a resident art gallery, a coastal cafe, or explore trails at a nearby nature reserve. As evening arrives, a relaxing dinner by the water as the sky glows pink and gold is highly recommended.

DAY

Depart from Liberia

Transfer

Tamarindo to Liberia Airport

What to Expect

Explore what moves you.

La Paz Waterfall Garden

Arenal Volcano

National Theatre of Costa Rica, San Jose

Nicoya Peninsula

Know when to go.

Place

Conditions

Daily max temperatureMonthly rainfall

San JoseRainy

27°C / 81°F

135mm / 5.3"

Weather data is based on monthly averages.

Popularity rating

ExcellentBased on 5,327 Reviews

Verified

Brooke Theron has booked 3 trips for us, France and Tunisia in 2025 and we have just returned from a 2 week trip from China. The entire trip was flawless, from the research to the booking Brooke is always soo helpful in whole process. Brooke always works with us to answer any questions and make sure any request we have can be added. Our tour guides James, Helen, Felicity and Keira and drivers were all top notch with lots of information on each stop and sent us onto our next stop with no problems. The hotels, trains and tours were all excellent. We couldn't have asked for more I look forward to working with Brooke and Goway tours on our next vacation.Maddie

Verified

Bijal and Martin (tour guide in Kenya) made this the trip of a lifetime. I felt safe every minute of the trip. I did not care for the travel from the Serengeti to Ngorogoro Crater. I felt the last hotel was too far from the crater i was exhausted not wanted to travel to the crater. The travel was absolutely brutal for 6 hoursKathie Becker

Verified

Josie was incredible to work with. She replied to all emails quickly and effectively. She was very knowledgeable and always willing to help. Would definitely work with Josie again!! Clients had an incredible 14 days in Italy with no complaints. A dream vacation!!Chattell Blue

Verified

Our safari in Tanzania was excellent. Brooke Theron, our Goway representative, was easy to work with, responsive and knowledgeable. Our guide in Tanzania, Anwar Razak, was outstanding. His knowledge and his driving ability was impressive. He was also engaging. We enjoyed our time with Anwar. The camps that Goway recommended were comfortable, welcoming and surprisingly luxurious while capturing the essence of the Serengeti and Ngorongoro. We had a wonderful trip. Jack B.

Verified

My agent Lisa made the booking process easy. Her expertise on the Azores was extremely helpful. Final documents were precise and thorough. Transfers were on time, tours were informative and fun, and the lovely accommodations were well suited to our needs.Christine Hosty

Verified

I am so happy to use Goway for my tour experience while visiting Vietnam during Oct 15 through October 29, 2026. We had 3 very good, thoughtful, and caring guides in Hanoi, Danang, and Ho Chi Minh City. They were very knowledgeable for each of their respective areas. they all fulfilled every part of our itinerary. I wish to give an extra acknowledgment to my guide in Danang and Hoi An. Mr. Phung Van Hung was very friendly and caring for me. During my stay in Hoi An, I became sick and required a visit to the local hospital in Hoi An. I contacted Mr. Phung, and he graciously offered to take me and stay with me to interpret during my visit for medical care even though he was not working that day. I really appreciate his extra above and beyond service he provided. I really must let Goway know, he is a wonderful guide!George C.

Verified

Suzzette and her team provided exceptional support throughout our year‑long planning process for our Bali group. Despite multiple changes, updates, and last‑minute cancellations, she remained organized, responsive, and solution‑focused. Asia Trails Indonesia delivered a seamless experience from arrival to departure, and our guides, Dayu and Adit, were outstanding; prompt, knowledgeable, and attentive to every detail. The coordination across multiple departure cities, the curated excursions, and the overall flow of the itinerary were executed beautifully. My group thoroughly enjoyed the trip and is already asking about returning. I highly recommend Suzzette as a group coordinator for her professionalism, dedication, and high‑quality service.Anchored Memories Travel

Verified

Mike K. graciously provided us with a perfect itinerary, offering us flexible high quality options for our trip. We added in a few complex details and he maneuvered around them creating smooth transitions. Planning an overseas 11 day trip can be overwhelming and Mike made everything feel easy. I highly recommend!Amy Challgren

Verified

Goway staff was available to us throughout our entire trip to Costa Rica. Their involvement was seamless and surprisingly smooth between them and all of our hotels and tours. We have been totally impressed with their involvement with our travel agent and their complete resolution of the only problem we had during the 2 different international trips that we have taken.Diana McCrory

Verified

Thank you to Goway for a great and enjoyable 7 day tour in China, for our Canadian group of 14! Very special thanks to the local guides in Shanghai, Xi’an and Beijing ( Richard, Richard and James) who were second to none! Each was a knowledgeable ambassador for their home city, working hard to ensure our enjoyment and comfort, and to showcase the beauty of each area and its current and historical sites. They very kindly and patiently assisted everyone, and especially accommodated 2 of our group who encountered unexpected wellness challenges. The local bus drivers for our group were experts too, keeping us on time and safe on the roads and highways. Hotels were beautiful, welcoming, well located and appointed, quiet, comfortable and clean. Additional travel arrangements by air and high speed train went off without a hitch. KATHLEEN LLOYD

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What do the experts say?

Virginia Dameno

Destination Specialist

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Costa Rica is not just all about the beaches. There is so much more to discover, including volcanoes, lush rainforests, and abundant wildlife.

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Virginia Dameno

Destination Specialist

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Costa Rica is also globally admired for its environmental values. The country’s commitment to sustainability and eco-friendly practices is deeply ingrained in its DNA.

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Kajal Gadhia

Destination Specialist

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If your main interest is beach time, December to April offers the best weather. However do not discount visiting during the Green Season in September, which reveals a different side of the country, full of wildlife and vibrant scenery.

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