Highlights of Costa Rica + Beach Extension
Highlights of Costa Rica + Beach Extension
Highlights of Costa Rica + Beach Extension
10 Days Starting and ending in San Jose
Visiting: San José, La Fortuna, Sarchi, Grecia, Poás Volcano, Arenal Volcano National Park, Monteverde, Manuel Antonio
Tour operator:
Tour code:
BCCB
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
0 - 16
Age range:
16-
Interests:
Tour Overview
From San Jose to Manuel Antonio, get closer to the landscapes and wildlife of Costa Rica on our highlights tour. Witness the country's unreal scenery, where volcanoes loom over wild rivers and stretches of beach curb luscious, green forests, with wildlife to spot at every turn. Our extended highlights trip provides the perfect introduction to the country's varied ecosystems, capped off with free time to enjoy the tranquil beaches in Manuel Antonio.
Discover Monteverde - Delve into the forest trails of this cloud forest reserve, a biodiverse paradise for nature enthusiasts.
Wildlife river cruise - Float down the Penas Blancas river, spotting rare species along the banks and in the tree canopies.
Explore Manuel Antonio - Share the stunning white-sand beaches of this national park with sun-bathing iguanas and capuchin monkeys.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Join Trip In San Jose
Location: San José
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Autentico Hotel
Our tour starts today in San Jose, Costa Rica's cosmopolitan capital. Lying in a fertile valley, at an altitude of 1,150 metres, coffee and sugar are big industries here - coffee is even planted between buildings and along the roadsides on the outskirts of the city.
For those arriving in time, our tour leader plans to meet you in the hotel reception at 7pm for a welcome meeting, and for those that wish there'll be the chance to go out for dinner. There are no other activities planned today, so you're free to arrive in San Jose at any time. If you'd like an airport transfer, you'll need to arrive into San Jose's Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), which is around a 30-minute drive from our hotel. If you miss the welcome meeting, your tour leader will inform you of any essential information as soon as you catch up.
If your flight arrives earlier in the day, you might like to head out and explore the city - the barrios are easy to navigate, laid out in a grid pattern of avenues and streets. The National Museum (Museo Nacional De Costa Rica) is also well worth a visit.
Day 2: Visit The Active Poas Volcano, Drive To Arenal
Location: La Fortuna, Sarchi, Grecia, Poás Volcano
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Hotel San Bosco Inn
Meals Included: Breakfast
This morning, we'll head to Poas Volcano National Park (a one-hour drive away), where you can spot the smoke from one of Costa Rica's most active volcanos rising majestically from the tropical rainforest. At almost a mile in diameter and 314 metres deep, the main crater is one of the largest in the world. It has erupted 40 times since 1828, most recently in April 2017. Due to recent volcanic activity, time at the crater viewpoint is restricted to 20 minutes. If activity increases again, the authorities may choose to close the park - in that case, we'll visit the Doka coffee estate instead for a tasting session of Costa Rica's finest export.
Our next stop is the provincial town of Sarchi, just over a one-hour drive away, well known throughout Costa Rica for its intricate arts and crafts. The town is famous for producing decorative oxcarts, one of Costa Rica's national symbols. We'll meet Don William, a local artist, who will teach us how to paint a traditional oxcart with some of the patterns and designs familiar to the area.
Afterwards, we'll continue to Arenal (around a two-and-a-half-hour drive) to catch our first sight of the famous Arenal Volcano. This classic cone, which rises to 1,633 metres, is covered by a tangled mass of vegetation on one side, while the other is starkly barren.
Our accommodation for the next two nights is in La Fortuna. The town was renamed after an eruption in 1968 that decimated the towns around the volcano's western flanks. Translated as 'fortune' , La Fortuna refers to the town's luck in being located on the volcano's eastern side, and so, fortunately, escaping destruction.
This evening, we can make the most of the local geothermal activity by enjoying an optional dip in nearby hot springs.
Day 3: Wildlife Float Trip On The Penas Blancas River, Free Afternoon With Optional Activities Including A Waterfall Hike
Location: Arenal Volcano National Park
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Hotel San Bosco Inn
Meals Included: Breakfast
The Arenal area is well known for its diverse wildlife, and this morning we'll set out on a tranquil rafting safari to spot some of the most sought-after species. There is no white water here, we'll simply be floating down with a local guide, who will scour the water and the canopy to point out a variety of colourful creatures from toucans and sloths to Jesus Christ lizards and caiman. We'll most likely see capuchins swinging from the trees, and a wide array of birdlife during the float trip.
The afternoon is free to explore Arenal at your own pace. There are beautiful local hikes to waterfalls and along lava trails if you'd like to make the most of the surrounding nature, or those keen to relax can enjoy the hot springs in the area. Our tour leader will be able to provide information on all the options.
Day 4: Drive To Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, Night Walk Through The Forest
Location: Monteverde
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Hotel Heliconia
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today we'll travel around Arenal Lake up into the cloud forest region of Monteverde - one of the most well-known places in Costa Rica to see wildlife.
Perched on the Continental Divide between the Pacific and the Caribbean, it's thought that there has been indigenous habitation in Monteverde since 3000 BC. However, the turning point in its recent history came in 1950, when a group of pacifist Quakers from Alabama moved here to avoid subscription in the Korean War. They sought a lifestyle in a country in which they could embrace their peaceful beliefs and continue to cultivate their dairy farms. These families went on to establish the community of Monteverde and some of its famed cloud forest reserves.
The drive to Monteverde will take approximately four and a half hours from Arenal. On arrival, you\ re free to enjoy one or several of the many optional activities available in the area. One of the most popular activities is to walk the hanging bridges that extend over the reserve, giving you the chance to get a bird's eye view over the canopy. Couple this with the thrill of zooming through the trees on a zip wire and it makes for an exhilarating afternoon. For something less adrenaline-filled, you could choose to visit the local butterfly or orchid garden.
This evening, we'll have a guided night walk in the cloud forest, in search of nocturnal species such as pacas and tarantulas.
Day 5: Drive To Manuel Antonio National Park
Location: Monteverde
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Karahé Beach Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
We'll leave Monteverde by mid morning. If you'd like to pack in more nature before we leave, there's the optional activity to revisit the cloud forest reserve in the early morning. The paths here wind their way through gigantic ferns, underneath the lichen and moss that hang from the giant trees. The famous, but now very rare, quetzal is commonly seen in this area, one of the last remaining places in Central America where its habitat has been preserved. Sacred to the ancient Maya and Aztec peoples, it's considered one of the most beautiful birds in the world and the best time to see it is during its breeding months of March and April.
Leaving the cloud forest behind us, we'll descend to the Pacific Coast, enjoying staggering views over the Gulf and Peninsula of Nicoya. Heading south, we'll cross the Rio Tarcoles Bridge, from which huge crocodiles are regularly seen. We'll stop for a short walk in the Carara Biological Reserve, famed for the scarlet macaws and abundant birdlife which populate this transitional forest. Finally, we'll continue along the Pacific Coast to Manuel Antonio National Park, where we'll spend the next two nights.
Our journey time today will be approximately four hours.
Day 6: Explore Manuel Antonio's Wildlife And Beaches
Location: Manuel Antonio
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Karahé Beach Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Manuel Antonio National Park is famous for its beautiful beaches and rich wildlife. We'll spend the morning exploring the park, where white-faced capuchin monkeys swing from the trees, and poison-dart frogs hide under the protection of lush tropical plantlife. Coatimundi (part of the raccoon family), tiny squirrel monkeys and howler monkeys also make their home in the park - we might spot them on our exploration. Manuel Antonio is also one of the best places in Costa Rica to see sloths. As their diet of leaves and buds gives them little energy, sloths move only when necessary and even then very slowly, making them very easy to spot! Our guides will know where they are most likely to be found.
The remainder of the day can be spent relaxing on the white sandy beaches and enjoying a swim in the warm azure waters. The sunsets from this coast are spectacular and have to be seen to be believed.
It's worth noting that, whilst beautiful, Manuel Antonio is an increasingly popular destination and so might be busier than you'd expect.
Please note that Manuel Antonio National Park is closed on Tuesdays. If Day 6 of your departure falls on a Tuesday, our included park visit will take place on Day 7 instead.
Day 7: Free Day In Manuel Antonio National Park
Location: Manuel Antonio
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Karahé Beach Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
This morning, we'll say goodbye to the tour leader and the rest of the group, who will be travelling back to San Jose for their flight home today. Those of you who have chosen to extend your stay with some time at the beach will remain at your hotel.
Please note, whilst the extension is designed to complement the trip, not everyone will stay on after today and it may not be a group experience.
You'll have the next two days free to relax on the beach, or to spend time exploring Manuel Antonio and its forest surroundings. We use a variety of different hotels in Manuel Antonio, which are located either in the town, or between Manuel Antonio and nearby Quepos. The beach is easily accessible by either walking or taxis depending on the location of your hotel.
The National Park is closed on Tuesdays, but there are lots of other activities on, including catamaran tours, horse-riding trips and rafting.
Day 8: Free Day, Optional Activities
Location: Manuel Antonio
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Karahé Beach Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
You'll have another free day in Manuel Antonio today. You might choose to revisit the park, or spend the day on the beaches around the town of Manuel Antonio. If you want to get out on the water, you could try one of the white-water rafting or boat trip excursions.
Day 9: Free Morning, Travel Back To San Jose
Location: Manuel Antonio
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Autentico Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
This morning, you have more free time in Manuel Antonio. In the early afternoon, we'll leave the Pacific Coast, driving back inland to San Jose - around a four to five hour drive.
Day 10: Trip Ends In San Jose
Location: Manuel Antonio
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
The trip ends this morning at our hotel in San Jose.
There are no activities planned today, so you're free to depart at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day, luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you'd like an airport transfer today, you'll need to depart from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), approximately a 30-minute drive from our hotel.
Meals
Breakfasts: 9
Check out our Q&As
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I'm going on a walking/cycling trip-do I need to train?
It will depend on the grade and how fit you already are. Check the trip page for details of the walking or cycling grade and how far you’ll be walking/cycling each day. For moderate or challenging trips in particular we’d recommend doing some walks or cycles before you leave to build up your fitness and prepare you for the distances being covered.
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Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?
We have a wide range of ages nationalities on our small group trips and they come from all walks of life.
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Should I get travel insurance?
Yes–it is a condition of booking that you are fully insured when travelling with us
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How long has the tour company been trading?
At Explore, we're the experts in adventure travel. Our small group adventure holidays have been running since 1981. Today, Explore is one of the most trusted travel companies in the UK with over 500 trips to more than 120 countries.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
Yes, but there are no concessions for doing so, and we must have a record in your booking advising as such before the trip departs.
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Am I contributing to any charity by booking the tour?
Being a responsible company is a large statement, something that has to be entwined within the very fibre of a company. Discover the charities and partnerships we support as part of this at https://www.explore.co.uk/about/sustainability/charities-and-partners
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
We want to be as clear as and as honest as possible about what happens if you decide to that you no longer wish to travel on your trip. Our booking conditions have details of the costs you’ll incur when you cancel-these charges depend on how long it is before your planned departure.
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What is the accommodation like?
We choose comfortable accommodation in the best locations possible. We opt for small, local and family-run accommodation where we can, as opposed to large chain hotels. We typically use hotels that are the equivalent of European 3-star, and you’ll usually have an en suite room. Occasionally, where we want to get off the beaten trail we may stay in more basic accommodation.
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Sustainability is embedded within the fibre of Explore, it emanates from the inside out. But as we enter a new decade it is clearer than ever that our world needs help, and Explore has created a sustainability strategy based on the 2015 UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Our flexible booking and safety policies mean you're protected before and during your travels with us. Receive a full refund if your trip is cancelled, transfer your trip free of charge up to 10 days before departure minus any irrocoverable costs.
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Do I need to be very fit to book with you?
All our trips require some level of active participation. This could be on a cultural trip, trek, safari, expedition or voyage. It is in the interests of all members of the group that everyone should be capable of fully participating in the activities of their chosen trip.
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Final documents will include a comprehensive trip itinerary, climate and country information, budgeting and packing advice visa and passport information and details on optional activities available.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Yes on most of our trips. Most trips are based on customers sharing twin-bedded rooms. If you book a group trip as an individual, you will share a room with someone of the same sex. However, on many trips we offer the opportunity to pay a supplement to pre-book a single room, known as our single room option. On some trips a single room will be provided every night, on others it will be provided o
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Do we have to be vaccinated against Covid-19 to travel
It’s now a condition of booking a trip with us that customers should have one of the following before they travel - — Be vaccinated against COVID, having received the full recommended course, and allowing enough time for immunity to take effect. Full vaccination includes any booster required to keep the vaccine valid. — Have taken a negative test (rapid antigen or PCR) within 72hrs of departure.
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Explore will only offer hotels that have specific COVID-19 protocols in place and comply with local government guidelines. We will ensure these measures include; enhanced room cleaning, ventilation, social distancing, regular cleaning and disinfection of high frequency touch points in public areas, food safety, staff re-training and minimising contact within the properties.
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Free Date Changes
Explore! allows you to make 1 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 70 days before the start of the tour.
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Low Deposit
Explore! requires a minimum deposit of 10% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 70 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of explore! charges.
Up to 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 69 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.
At 41 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.
At 27 days before tour starts: Forfeit 90% of booking price.
At 13 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.