Costa Rica: Rainforests, Volcanoes & Wildlife

Fly to Costa Rica and settle in to your hotel in San José.

Drive through the Costa Rican countryside. Then, boat through jungle-lined canals to beachside Tortuguero, the Land of Turtles, for a guided tour of the tropical area.

• Pass through Braulio Carrillo National Park, home of many dormant volcanoes and placid crater lakes
• Take a scenic drive through local banana plantations
• Enjoy an included lunch of local cuisine
• Learn about endangered turtles at the Sea Turtle Conservancy

(Please note: Sea turtle nesting season is from June–September. Turtles may not be on the beaches for the remainder of the year.)

Later, get to know your group at a welcome dinner.

Learn about Tortuguero National Park’s diverse habitats, including mangrove forests, swamps, and beaches.

• Walk and boat through the park, seeking out monkeys, tapirs, caimans, and more
• Enjoy an included lunch featuring local cuisine
• View the freshwater creeks and lagoons, home to endangered turtles and over 50 species of fish

Sit down for an included dinner of traditional Costa Rican food.

Transfer to the Arenal region today.

• Pass by banana plantations
• Stop in Guapiles for an included lunch of local cuisine
• Visit an organic pineapple farm to learn how the sweet fruit is grown using compost fertilization, natural herbicides, and crop rotation
• Try some fresh-cut pineapple, homemade empanadas, pineapple juice, and a piña colada
• Catch your first glimpse of Arenal Volcano National Park’s lush landscape, shaped by the majestic volcano and massive lake of the same name

Then, enjoy a free afternoon in the Arenal region or add an excursion.

Hike through Arenal Volcano National Park on a guided tour.

• View the mile-high volcano, a near-perfect conical shape that emerges from the Sierra de Tilarán mountain range
• Gaze at the placid Lake Arenal, watching for northern jacana, woodpeckers, and kingfishers by its shores

Please note: Travelers should be able to hike around two miles over uneven terrain and hardened lava.

Spend a free afternoon in the Arenal region or add an excursion.

Sit down for an included dinner this evening.

Get another look at the spectacular Lake Arenal as you travel to Monteverde by boat and bus. There, learn about Costa Rica’s diverse ecology and vibrant culture.

• Help with reforestation efforts by planting a native tree at Heliconia Ranch
• Have lunch at a local farm and enjoy coffee and dairy products cultivated on-site
• Watch traditional Costa Rican dances performed by children from the community
• Head to a nearby coffee plantation to learn about the history and production of coffee beans
• Sample some of the locally sourced coffee
• Discover how cocoa is produced and turned into chocolate before sampling the sweet treat
• Enjoy a tasting of raw sugarcane as you hear how it’s harvested

Take a guided tour of what may be the world’s most stunning cloud forest reserve. 

Then, enjoy a free afternoon in Monteverde or add an excursion.

Sit down at a local restaurant and enjoy an included dinner.

Travel to San José and get to know Costa Rica’s capital city on a guided sightseeing tour.

• Stop at the Plaza de la Cultura, site of many performances and celebrations, and admire the National Theater of Costa Rica
• Pass Bellavista Fortress, home of the National Museum
• Marvel at the steel exterior of the century-old Edificio Metálico

Head to a local restaurant to enjoy live music and scenic vistas as you celebrate your trip during a farewell dinner.

Transfer to the airport for your flight home or extend your stay in Costa Rica to explore Manuel Antonio.