Costa Rica Encompassed - 14 days

At San Jose international airport you will be met by our tour director, transferred to your hotel and given information about your tour. The rest of the day is free to explore San Jose or just to relax in the hotel.





Spend the next morning at leisure and in the afternoon enjoy a guided tour of the capital, taking in the highlights of the city and learning all about life in Costa Rica. Visit the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum, the Metropolitan Cathedral and the beautiful National Theatre lobby, known as 'The jewel of San Jose'. Shop for handicrafts at the bustling Central Market and souvenirs an Art Gallery. As you drive around the city, you will also see important building such as The Costa Rica University, The Old Train Station, The National Liquor Factory, The National Supreme Election Bureau, the Asamblea Legislativa (equivalent to The Congress) and The Metallic Building.

San Jose - Tortuguero. After breakfast travel to Tortuguero on Costa Rica's beautiful Caribbean coast. During the journey you will cross the majestic Braulio Carrillo National Park and enjoy amazing rainforest views until you reach the Caribbean. Tortuguero is only accessible by air or by water. Drive to La Pavona dock where a boat will be waiting to take you through the amazing canals to your lodge in Tortuguero.





After lunch at the lodge, take a guided nature walk along the trails around the property, looking out for wildlife and learning more about the environment that surrounds the lodge. Return to the lodge for dinner and an evening at leisure.





The next morning, enjoy a guided tour of Tortuguero town. It's a 5 minute boat ride from the lodge to town, where a small community of 1300 people live surrounded by water. On the tour, learn about the lifestyle of the inhabitants of Tortuguero, take a stroll down the main road and shops for souvenirs made by the local artisans.





In the afternoon explore Tortuguero National Park on a two-hour guided boat tour along the canals. Known as the Costa Rican “Little Amazon”, Tortuguero is a real paradise for nature lovers, with incredible wildlife including 186 species of birds, three of the four species of monkeys in Costa Rica, crocodiles, caimans, toucans, sloths and much more!





Note: Tortuguero is well known for attracting hordes of sea turtles which come to nest on the beaches. Turtle season typically occurs from July through to October and this is the best time to hopefully spot turtle hatchlings emerge from their nest and scamper across the beach and into the ocean! If you visit during the turtle season, there are turtle nesting tours in the evening, which can be booked locally.

Tortuguero - La Fortuna. After breakfast it's time to bid farewell to Tortuguero and travel on to La Fortuna in Costa Rica’s fertile northern lowlands. Travel by boat to La Pavona dock, from there the hotel transportation will take you to Guapiles city to enjoy lunch. After lunch, continue to La Fortuna, home of the majestic Arenal Volcano. On a clear day, the majestic Arenal Volcano can be seen looming over this picturesque little town.

Explore Arenal Volcano National Park on day 6. Begin the tour by heading to the El Silencio Private Reserve, to get as close to the base of the Arenal volcano as possible by vehicle. Then enjoy a scenic walk for 1km along a volcanic stone path to reach the best volcano view point. Learn all about this remarkable volcano and also enjoy wonderful views of the Green Lagoon and Lake Arenal. The walk back will take you through lush rainforest located along the edge of the Arenal Volcano. With a little luck you'll spot some of the wide variety of plants and animals that inhabit the rainforest, such as toucans, turkeys, orioles, peccaries, snakes, and monkeys. At the end of the morning tour enjoy a delicious snack of tropical fruit before returning to your hotel.





The afternoon and day 7 are free to enjoy some of the many activities that are available to book in the Arenal area. From waterfalls, hot springs and hanging bridges, to coffee tours, ziplining and wildlife safaris!

Arenal - Monteverde. After breakfast on day 6 transfer to Arenal Lake and take a scenic boat ride across the lake, enjoying panoramic views of the Arenal Volcano, Chato Hill, Arenal Lake and the Tilaran mountain range en route. When you reach the other side, another vehicle will be waiting to take you to your hotel in Monteverde.





The following day discover the natural wonders of Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve on a two-hour guided walk. Walk along the reserve trails with your guide and learn all about one the most researched and protected private reserves in the world. This spectacular reserve cannot fail to impress with its beauty and incredible biodiversity. Wind-sculpted elfin woodlands give way to rainforests where tall trees, festooned with orchids, bromeliads, ferns and vines, rise high into the sky. Also look out for wonderful birdlife, including the Resplendent Quetzal, Emerald Toucanet, Costa Rican Warbler and Black Faced Solitaire. After the walk return back to your hotel to enjoy leisure the rest of the day.

Monteverde - Manuel Antonio. On day 10 transfer to beautiful Manuel Antonio, one of the country's most popular national parks, located on Costa's Rica tropical Pacific Coast. Offering the ideal blend of beach and rainforest, it's the perfect place to relax for a few days at the end of your holiday. Spend the rest of the day at leisure, enjoying your exquisite new surroundings.





The following morning explore the tropical rainforest on a 2.5 hour nature walk. Your naturalist guide will point out many of the different species living in the park, such as sloths, Capuchin, Howler, and Squirrel monkeys. You will also be able to see several types of reptiles resting in the tropical rainforest and birds overhead. Spend the afternoon at leisure.

The next two days are free for you to enjoy some of the activities available in the area or simply relax on the beach or by the pool! You can following hiking trails through the beautiful coastal jungles, looking out for the abundance of wildlife that resides there. Perhaps go kayaking in the Isla Damas Mangroves, or learn to surf.

Manuel Antonio - San Jose. Today a private transfer takes you to San Jose airport for your flight home. Please consider a late departure flight, as the transfer time is approx. 3.5 hours.