Natural Costa Rica

This is a Private Tour

15 days from £2,646 / $3,228 (Single Supplement TBA)

A circuit around Costa Rica visiting five key areas for nature and culture. From San Jose head to Turrialba to experience tropical nature and ancient culture. Then to an eco-lodge in Sarapiqui lowland forest. Head up to Arenal Volcano and the cloud forests of Monteverde and canopy walkways. After all this activity and adventure spend some days of R n’ R on the glorious beaches of Manuel Antonio.

Tour Includes

Accommodation
Breakfast at hotel included daily

Excursions as listed in itinerary

Private or shared transportation according to the itinerary

Local English-speaking guides

All entrance fees for the tours detailed in the itinerary

Tour Excludes

Early check-in / late check-out

Flights & airport taxes if applicable

Meals not listed

Beverages in quoted meals

Extras at hotel like laundry, telephone calls, etc.

Tips

Travel Insurance, this is essential

Highlights

The ancient ruins of Guayabo set in the cloud forest

Incredible botanic gardens at the Centre for Tropical Agricultural Research

Hiking on the slopes of Arenal Volcano

Monteverde treetop walkways, get eyeball level with sloths

Relax on the idyllic beaches of Manuel Antonio

To book this tour or start creating your own tailor made itinerary call us on: 0207 407 1478 (UK) or contact us.

Tour Code(s):

TXCNCR15D

Pricing

15 days from £2,646 / $3,228 (Single Supplement TBA) excludes all flights

The Trip

Day 1: San Jose – Arrive in Santiago and transfer to the hotel /  Studio Hotel
Day 2: Turrialba – Transfer to Turrialba /  Guayabo lodge
Day 3: Turrialba – CATIE Botanial Gardens /  Guayabo lodge
Day 4: Turrialba – Guayabo National Monument / Guayabo lodge
Day 5: Sarapiqui – Transfer Turrialba to Sarapiqui / Selva Verde Eco-Lodge
Day 6: Sarapiqui – Selva Verde Rainforest Reserve / Selva Verde Eco-Lodge
Day 7: Arenal – Private transfer Sarapiqui – Arenal/ Hotel Casa Luna
Day 8: Arenal  –  Visit Arenal Volcano 1968 Trail /  Hotel Casa Luna
Day 9: Arenal – Coffee and chocolate tour / Hotel Casa Luna
Day 10: Monteverde – Transfer to Monteverde / Trapp Family Lodge
Day 11: Monteverde – Monteverde treetop walk /  Trapp Family Lodge
Day 12: Manuel Antonio – Transfer to Manuel Antonio /  Si Como No
Day 13: Manuel Antonio  – Manuel Antonio National Park / Si Como No
Day 14: Manuel Antonio  – Free day Manuel Antonio /  Si Como No
Day 15: San Jose – Transfer to San Jose airport / Fly home

DAY BY DAY ITINERARY

DAY 1: San Jose
Fly into San Jose Juan Santamaria International Airport where our representative will be waiting to take you to your hotel, Studio. The drive from the airport to the hotel takes 25 minutes approximately. The rest of the day is yours to explore as you like. This cosmopolitan city switches from department stores to chic cafés in an instant. Due to its relatively high elevation, the city, like the rest of the Central Valley, is always a pleasant temperature year-round, with very occasional showers.

Hotel Studio – 1 night/s in Standard room (B)

DAY 2: Turrialba
Take a private transfer from San Jose to Turrialba, in our luxury vehicle with driver and guide. Guayabo Lodge is in Santa Cruz de Turrialba; two hours (73 km) away from San Jose and 45 minutes from the bustling town of Turrialba. It is a beautiful light and airy lodge at 1500m above sea level. The lodge is set in a rich garden, surrounded by pastures of a dairy farm on the slopes of Turrialba volcano.  It is 11 km away of Guayabo National Monument, which is one of the few archaeological sites in Costa Rica. The site hints of a mysterious pre-Columbian civilization which disappeared mysteriously.

Hotel Guayabo Lodge – 3 night/s in Standard room (B)

DAY 3: Turrialba – Botanic gardens
Take a shared guided tour of CATIE the Centre for Tropical Agricultural Research founded in 1940. CATIE’s grounds host thousands of plants from around the world, including several varieties of cacao, plantains, palms and thousands of kinds of coffee. The guide will show the extensive plantations and tell you about the important contributions to research of tropical agriculture. There are a wide variety of tropical plants from all over the world, including coffee, cocoa, pejibaye (peach palm fruit), tropical fruits and forest species. Don’t miss the century-old Kapok tree, various bamboos, orchids, bromeliads and many other exotic plants.

Hotel Guayabo Lodge (B)

DAY 4: Turrialba – Guayabo National Monument
Take a shared tour to discover the Guayabo archaeological. Guayabo was home to more than 10,000 people who mysteriously disappeared shortly before the arrival of the Spaniards in the 16th century. Some of the elements resemble those of ancient civilizations in South America and others seem to be influenced by northern cultures. Costa Rica was a natural bridge between the two previously separated continents. The site is thought to be a residence of people of high social, political, economic and religious rank. This is shown by the complex architecture and the artistic work found here. It also protects patches of evergreen tall forests. Your guide will take you through the site explaining the finds and the history of the people who once lived here.

Hotel Guayabo Lodge (B)

DAY 5: Sarapiqui – Selva Verde
Take a private transfer to Sarapiqui (2hr40m / 128km).  Arrive at Selva Verde eco lodge. This is a heaven for nature lovers, birdwatchers, photographers and for those who like adventure. Set within the private reserve of Selva Verde that protects over 500 acres of rainforest. The lodge buildings blend in with the natural surroundings. Covered walkways allow guests to stroll and observe wildlife while keeping dry.

Selva Verde Eco-Lodge – Sarapiqui room (B)

DAY 6: Sarapiqui
Experience first-hand the wonder of the tropical rainforest. Enjoy a personalized and leisurely ramble through Selva Verde’s 500-acre private reserve with a naturalist guide. Learn more than just the names of rainforest plants and animals – discover their secret lives and fascinating natural histories. Keep an eye out for monkeys, mot-mots, toucans, and poison dart frogs, and remember to bring your camera. Take an optional adventure trip like canopy zip-lining, biking, white-water rafting or go bird-watching.

Selva Verde Eco-Lodge – Sarapiqui room (B)

DAY 7: Arenal
Take a transfer (1hr30m / 78km) from Selva Verde Eco-Lodge to Hotel Casa Luna Lodge near Arenal volcano. Casa Luna Hotel is in La Fortuna de San Carlos on the slopes of the volcano. This rustic-colonial type lodge is surrounded by lush tropical gardens with magnificent views of the Arenal Volcano and Cerro Chato. The rooms are surrounded by jungle in which there are self-guided hiking trails. The hotel has a pool, restaurant and Spa. The hotel uses solar powered hot water and four Jacuzzis. The area has a huge variety of optional activities on offer.

Hotel Casa Luna Lodge Standard Deluxe room – Volcano View (B)

DAY 8: Arenal Volcano trail
This morning you can enjoy the most extraordinary scenery of the Arenal Volcano up close, as you walk on the lower slopes of the colossus. Our guide will take you to gently hike the trails in the stunning landscape through forest and over long cooled lava flows.  You will visit the area that in 1968 was destroyed by an eruption but is now in the process of regeneration. On this shared trip you may discover a variety of flora and fauna, such as toucans, orioles, peccaries, snakes and monkeys. On leaving the trail, the driver will be waiting for you with a buffet of delicious tropical fruits before returning to the hotel. Duration: 4 hours approx.

Hotel Casa Luna Lodge Standard Deluxe room – Volcano View (B)

DAY 9: Arenal – chocolate & coffee tour
Take a shared tour to learn about coffee and its importance in the economy of Costa Rica and more. You will observe all the coffee process, from the bean to the delicious final product, the cup of coffee. Next is the chocolate tour, to experience the aromas and history of the food of the Gods. During the tour you will take part in the chocolate process, and taste cocoa, marvel at its transformation from bean to final product.

Hotel Casa Luna Lodge Standard Deluxe room – Volcano View (B)

DAY 10: Arenal – Monteverde
After breakfast, our guide will arrive to take you to your next destination, Monteverde. After a 30-minute boat ride you will transfer to a car to enjoy a scenic drive atop the spine of Costa Rica’s continental divide. Monteverde seems like a different world above the beaches and jungles it is the quintessential cloud forest.  Being 1,440 metres above sea level gives this area a steady supply of clouds and the moisture that they contain. This humidity supports a complex ecosystem which is home to thousands of plant and insect species and hundreds of birds and mammals. You will be calling the Trapp Family Lodge home for the next few days.

Hotel Trapp Family Lodge – Mountain suite room (B)

DAY 11: Monteverde treetop walk
Today our naturalist guide will pick you up at the hotel and take you on a small group tour to explore the reserve. Monteverde seems like a different world above the beaches and jungles it is the quintessential cloud forest. Being 1,440 metres above sea level gives this area a steady supply of clouds and the moisture that they contain. This humidity supports a complex ecosystem which is home to thousands of plant and insect species and hundreds of birds and mammals. Here our naturalist guide will take you on a treetop walkway through the forest and explain you about all different macro and micro flora and fauna. You will walk through eight hanging bridges of various lengths, between 50 and 170 metres. The treetop walkways can be enjoyed by people of all ages and physical conditions. You will have the opportunity to observe different species of birds including the resplendent quetzal, the three-wattled bell bird among others. Afterwards you will return to the hotel and enjoy the afternoon at leisure.

You will continue the tour with one of the largest butterfly gardens in America. A great dome structure home to more than 50 different species of butterflies found throughout Costa Rica. Guides are on hand to answer questions regarding these beautiful creatures. You will get a chance to photograph the beautiful butterflies, including the blue Morpho Peleides. At the end, enjoy a guided tour of a sloth sanctuary to learn about this iconic species.

Hotel Trapp Family Lodge – Mountain suite room (B)

DAY 12: Manuel Antonio
This morning you will be picked up from your hotel by private transfer and taken to Manuel Antonio, a coastal region around 3h30m (192km) away. When you arrive, you will be taken to the Si Como No, located high above the sweeping central Pacific coastline. Located in Manuel Antonio, a veritable treasure chest of natural beauty, surrounded by lush tropical rainforest, soft sand beaches, and rivers. Afternoon at leisure.

Si Como No resort & spa – Deluxe room (B)

DAY 13: Manuel Antonio
Manuel Antonio National Park is internationally recognized as being one of the most biodiverse parks on the planet. It is the smallest National Park in Costa Rica with one of the biggest varieties of flora and fauna. The park includes 12 little isles just off the coast, here dolphins and whales can be observed at times.

This morning you will join a small group with an expert local guide who will take you on an easy walk to discover the famous Manuel Antonio National Park. During this half-day tour that will take you along picturesque trails and amazing beaches, you can also appreciate the local flora and fauna. Our guide will teach you about their life cycle and behaviours. For those that love nature and exploration, the walk within this park will be unforgettable. The park is alive with tropical butterflies, birds, monkeys, snakes, iguanas, sloths, orchids and more.

Si Como No resort & spa – Deluxe room (B)

DAY 14: Manuel Antonio
Free day to enjoy the beautiful beach or take an optional excursion.

Si Como No resort & spa – Deluxe room (B)

DAY 15: Airport
Our guide and driver will pick you up for a private transfer Manuel Antonio to Juan Santamaria International Airport (3 hr / 169 km approximately).
(B)

Map

INSPIRED? EACH JOURNEY WE CREATE IS UNIQUE AND DESIGNED ENTIRELY AROUND YOU. FILL OUT YOUR DETAILS HERE TO GET STARTED...


"We loved it from the moment we flew in, our third truly memorable holiday with SLA"

J & K Cooper

"Tours we're all different and not one disappointed"

A tennant

"Hotel was fantastic the staff were efficient and helpful and the Xandari was quirky, a post modern experience"

J & K Cooper

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