Costa Rica Forest Experience

Your Costa Rican adventure begins as you arrive at Juan Santamaría International Airport in San José. Upon reaching the arrivals hall, our tour representative will be there to welcome you and accompany you to a private transfer. This will take you directly to your hotel in San José. After checking in, you have the rest of the day at your leisure—whether you choose to relax and recover from your flight or explore the city’s vibrant streets at your own pace. Be sure to get a good rest, as the journey truly begins tomorrow. Overnight in San José.

On day two, you’ll rise early for a shared bus transfer at 6:30, heading through the stunning Braulio Carrillo National Park towards the Caribbean plains. Along the way, relax and take in the impressive mountain scenery and charming villages passing by your window. Breakfast is served around 8:30 at a restaurant in Guapiles. Afterward, continue your journey by boat through the rivers and canals of Tortuguero National Park. You’ll arrive at your eco-lodge in time for lunch, where you’ll spend the next two nights. In the afternoon, your guide will lead a walk around the village of Tortuguero, including a visit to the Turtle Museum, which requires a small mandatory donation. The day concludes with dinner back at the lodge.

Wake early to meet your guide at 6:00 for a morning walk through the lodge’s trails and gardens, offering a peaceful introduction to Tortuguero’s rich natural surroundings. After breakfast, set out at 9:00 on a two-hour boat tour through the extensive network of canals, lagoons and rainforest that define Tortuguero National Park. Accompanied by an expert naturalist guide, we explore the diverse wildlife habitats, home to numerous species of amphibians, reptiles and mammals. The afternoon is yours to relax or to choose from a range of optional activities. Dinner is served at the lodge, rounding off a day immersed in this unique ecosystem.

After breakfast, we say goodbye to Tortuguero and depart around 9:00 on a shared boat transfer through the park’s waterways. From there, we continue by land to Guapiles, arriving around 13:00 for lunch at a local restaurant. Following the break, a shared transfer will take you to the Arenal area, where you will arrive at your hotel by approximately 17:00. Once checked in, you are free to relax or explore the surroundings at your own pace. Overnight in Arenal.

After breakfast at the hotel, meet your guide at 8:00 for a tour of Arenal Volcano National Park. Learn about the volcano’s history and past eruptions as you explore the lush surroundings beneath the dormant peak. Keep an eye out for wildlife such as sloths, howler monkeys and anteaters along the trails. You will return to the hotel by 12:30, leaving the afternoon free to relax or choose from several optional activities. You may take a guided walk along the hanging bridges of Mistico Park, hike to the impressive 60-metre La Fortuna Waterfall with an opportunity to swim, visit the natural hot springs for a soak and dinner, or experience the thrill of ziplining at Sky Adventures Park. The choice is yours to make the most of your time in this remarkable area.

Begin the day with an early breakfast before checking out of your hotel. Meet your guide at 7:30 to travel to Monteverde, arriving around 11:30. As you journey, observe the landscape transition from rainforest to cloud forest, reaching an altitude of approximately 1,200 metres. Monteverde, located in Puntarenas province, is renowned for its misty cloud forests, coffee plantations, diverse wildlife including monkeys, and welcoming local community. The nearby town of Santa Elena offers charming restaurants and artisan shops to explore. You can spend the afternoon at leisure or opt for an exhilarating zipline adventure through the forest canopy. This optional tour begins with a gondola ride to the mountain’s highest point, where you can take in panoramic views of the surrounding forests, Arenal Volcano, and the Gulf of Nicoya. From there, you’ll glide along a series of ziplines spanning canyons and treetops, providing a thrilling perspective of the landscape. Overnight in Monteverde.

After breakfast, we set off at 7:00 for a guided tour of the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve. This renowned reserve features 13 kilometres of trails winding through lush cloud forest, where you can walk along the continental divide with one foot in the Caribbean watershed and the other in the Pacific. Enjoy views of both oceans and observe the towering trees adorned with diverse epiphytic plants. We return to the hotel around midday, leaving the afternoon free for you to relax or choose an optional activity. You might take a guided walk along suspended bridges through the forest canopy, offering a unique perspective on the rich flora and fauna. Alternatively, join a Coffee, Chocolate and Sugar Tour to learn about the history and production of these staple crops. Please note you can only participate in one optional tour this afternoon. Overnight in Monteverde.

After breakfast, check out of your hotel and board the transfer to Juan Santamaría International Airport in San José. This marks the end of your Costa Rican journey as you prepare to board your flight to your next destination. We trust the experiences and memories from this trip will stay with you for years to come.