Costa Rica Detailed ItineraryPrint this page


Costa Rica Discovery

You pick the season and the date.


Day 1 Arrive San Jose Airport:
Meet & greet at the airport and transfer to your hotel.
Overnight at Le Bergerac Hotel or similar.

Day 2 Tortuguero:
Early in the morning you'll be picked up from your hotel for the 4-hour drive to
the Atlantic coast, traveling through the lush tropical rainforest of Braulio Carrillo National Park, which is one of the largest in the country. Banana plantations line the highway en route to Caño Blanco (or La Pavona), where you will take a scenic boat ride on the La Suerte River, Tortuguero River, and through the Tortuguero Canals. The boat ride offers lovely views of the Costa Rican forest and mangrove swamps, which are teeming with such exotic wildlife as sloths, howler monkeys, spider monkeys, coatimundis, raccoons, crocodiles, egrets, parrots, and jaguars-just to name a few! Arriving in the island
village of Tortuguero, you'll enjoy lunch at Turtle Beach Lodge, and then a free afternoon to relax and explore on your own. You'll be spending the next two
nights at the lodge, which offers optional tours, a refreshing pool, and nightly turtle-watching tours. Overnight at Turtle beach or similar.(B,L,D)

Day 3 Canal boat excursion:
This day you will enjoy and boat tour giving you the opportunity to explore the canals winding through the rainforest, which is home to exotic wildlife, from egrets to crocodiles to monkeys to butterflies. And keep your eyes open for turtles! Tortuguero has many highlights, but it is best known for the four species of sea turtles that nest in the region. Tortuguero's coastline is considered one of the Western Hemisphere's most important nesting sites of the green sea turtle, which can be found by the thousands in the summer months. The baby turtles hatch from July through early November, emerging from their nests to scrabble across the sand to the waiting waters of the Atlantic. Also be sure to take advantage of the miles of beach and jungle trails in Tortuguero National Park. Overnight at Turtle beach or similar (B,L,D)

Day 4 Rainforest Walk:
Start the day off early with a boat ride back to dock, then a 1 ½ hour shuttle
transfer to Guapiles where you'll have lunch at a restaurant en route. After lunch you'll take a private ground transportation to Sarapiqui (2 hours), and spend the afternoon exploring your new surroundings. This evening you visit the Tirimbina Biological Reserve for a night walk. During this 2-hour walk, you will learn about the natural history of different rainforest species, with a focus on nocturnal species such as: frogs, insects, spiders, sloths, kinkajous, porcupines, opossums, and others, revealing a completely different
perspective of the rainforest (a Bat Tour is also an alternate option). Located within the rainforest and river environments of Costa Rica, this 750-acre
tropical science resource combines education, research, and stunning beauty to give visitors an outstanding encounter with nature. The Tirimbina Rainforest Center was founded primarily to preserve one of the few remaining stands of intact, mid-elevation tropical forest in Central America. Through education, the Center has gone further into the process of incorporating the local communities in their conservation challenges. Tonight, enjoy dinner at the hotel.
Overnight at Selva Verde Lodge or similar (River room) (B,L,D)

Day 5 River rafting on the Sarapiqui River:
Rise and shine! This morning enjoy some classic river rafting on a
seven-and-ahalf-mile stretch of the clear waters of the Sarapiqui River. You'll begin in the small community of La Virgen, and raft down through some exciting class II and III rapids- Hueco Gringo, Confusion, Superman, Montana Rusa y Fuerza Aerea, among others. The rapids alternate with crystal clear still-water pools, where you may get the chance to stop for a refreshing swim (if you're not wet enough already!) and a bite of lunch, savoring whatever delicious tropical fruits are in season. You'll then continue your rafting trip, able to fully
enjoy the intricacies of the landscape with the help of the naturalist guides. You'll leave the river at Chilamate, another small community. In the
afternoon transfer to the Arenal area, with the rest of the day free to relax. Enjoy dinner at your hotel. Spend the evening swimming in the pool or relaxing in the Jacuzzi. Overnight at Arenal Manoa or similar (Junior Suite) (B,L, D)

Day 6 Arenal Volcano:
Today you visit Costa Rica's celebrated Arenal Volcano, beginning with a 90-
minute walk along the Silencio Trail. As you move through the forest, watch out for howler monkeys, bright tropical toucans, and listen to the rumbling sounds of the distant volcano. The walk ends with a magnificent view of Arenal, one of the most active volcanoes in the world since its massive eruption in 1968. With a bit of luck, you may see lava plummeting down the mountain's slopes. Enjoy the rest of the afternoon and evening free in the area! Overnight at Arenal Manoa or similar (Junior Suite) (B, D)

Day 7 Optional Zip line Sky Tram - back to San Jose:
This morning will be free to relax or take an additional excursion (e.g. Sky Trek & Sky Tram Tour at an extra cost). A In the afternoon you will take a private 3 1/2 hour transfer back to San Jose. Overnight at Le Bergerac Hotel or similar (Superior Rooms).

Day 8 Departure home:
Private 30-min transfer from your hotel to Juan Santamaria Airport (SJO) in time
for your flight back home. (B)

IMPORTANT NOTE: This is a sample tour dossier. The tour can be operated in different order other than as described above. If you have younger children we will have a river float trip instead of the river rafting.

Min 2 People: $1075USD per person. $575 USD per child under 12 sharing with parents

SERVICES INCLUDED:
- Meet & greet service upon arrival (01 Service).
- Airport Transfers (one arrival transfer and one departure transfer) from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO).
- Transportation in a combination of shared basis (pooled transfers) and private transfer as noted.
- Meals (B= Breakfast, L= Lunch, S= Snack/light lunch & D= Dinner) as specified in the itinerary..
- Specialist Bilingual guide services during local excursions on shared basis (LG) **Locally hosted activities**
- Activities included: Whitewater Rafting on Sarapiqui River; Boat transportation in Tortuguero, Hike to El Silencio Trail and Sky-tram and Sky-trek tour.
- Entrance fees to:
Tirimbina Rainforest Reserve.
El Silencio Nature Trails and Look-out Point.
- 7-nights accommodation in Tourist class, based on double room occupancy and hotels as indicated above.
- Government Taxes (10% VAT/sales tax and 10% Service charge on restaurant meals)

Duration:

Max Group Size: you decide

Accomodations: hotel, lodges

Price: $1,075 USD per adult $575 USD per child