The Experience

This itinerary combines two of Costa Rica’s most famous natural resources, Tortuguero National Park and Arenal Volcano, with a visit to the popular Guanacaste beach area on the Pacific side of the country. Look for monkeys, turtles, and other jungle wildlife, soak in volcanic hot springs, and witness gorgeous Pacific sunsets on this classic Costa Rican vacation.

Inclusions:

All Ground Transfers
1 Night San José
2 Nights Tortuguero National Park and All Meals
Tortuguero Channels by Boat Tour
2 Nights Arenal
Hanging Bridges Tour
3 Nights Guanacaste
Welcome Gift
Daily Breakfast
Day by Day Itinerary:

Day 1 ~ Arrive San José: After you collect your luggage and clear customs you will be met outside the terminal by our local representative, who will be holding a sign with your name on it. Our representative will collect your vouchers and present you with an itinerary with scheduled times of pick-up. You will be transferred by van to your selected hotel in San José. (Accommodations, San José)

Day 2 ~ San José to Tortoguero: Early departure (between 6-7am) by motorcoach from San José, passing through misty Braulio Carillo National Park. From Braulio Carillo you will be dropping down into the tropical lowlands of the Caribbean side of the country. After breakfast, continue to the Tortuguero Canal where you will board a boat for a 2-1/2 hour fascinating trip through the meandering waterway to your selected lodge. You will arrive at your lodge in time for lunch. In the afternoon, visit the Park Museum and hike the nearby nature trails. Tortuguero National Park is an important breeding ground for the green sea turtles. End the afternoon with a visit to the small village of Tortuguero. Return to your lodge for dinner.
(Breakfast, San José; Lunch, Dinner, Accommodations, Tortuguero)

Day 3 ~ Tortuguero: After breakfast, depending upon which lodge you are staying in, you will enjoy a morning hike with a naturalist guide in the rainforest. After lunch, there will be an opportunity for further exploration of the Tortuguero channels by boat. Before dinner, enjoy a dip in the pool.
(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Accommodations, Tortuguero)

Day 4 ~ Tortuguero to Arenal: After breakfast, board the boat for the return trip through the Canal. At the dock you will board a motorcoach that will take you to the town of Guapiles. After lunch, continue by van to Arenal. You will arrive at your selected Arenal hotel in the late afternoon, just in time to see Costa Rica’s most famous active volcano before sunset.
(Breakfast, Tortuguero; Lunch, Guapiles; Accommodations, Arenal)

Day 5 ~ Arenal: After breakfast, experience the tropical forest on your Hanging Bridges Tour. Learn about the natural environment walking through natural trails and hanging bridges that offer impressive views of the volcano and offer the opportunity to observe a great variety of birds, flora and fauna. Return to your selected hotel. Overnight.
(Breakfast, Accommodations, Arenal)

Day 6 ~ Arenal to Guanacaste: After breakfast, (between 8:30-9am) transfer by van approximately 4-1/2 hours to the beaches of the Guanacaste Province. From Arenal you will travel from the highlands to the lowlands of the North Pacific, the driest region of the country. Here you will see cattle ranches. Continue to the coast to your selected Guanacaste beach resort.
(Breakfast, Arenal; Accommodations, Guanacaste)

Days 7 and 8 ~ Guanacaste: Days at leisure to relax by one of the pools, walk along the beach, or arrange one of our optional tours. Overnight. (Breakfast, Accommodations, Guanacaste)

Day 9 ~ Depart Guanacaste: Transfer to the Liberia Airport for your return flight. (Or board your return flight to San José to connect to an international flight, or to spend the night.)
(Breakfast, Guanacaste)

Optional Tours:

Palo Verde National Park Tour: Palo Verde National Park is a wildlife refuge, one of Costa Rica’s largest wetland areas, located between the Tempisque and Bebedero Rivers. The Park provides refuge for thousands of migrant and resident water birds, and numerous land birds. You may see crocodiles basking in the sun and monkeys swinging through the trees, as our jungle boat cruises along the river. Scientists from all over the world come to study this rich ecosystem that combines rivers, marshland, mangroves and dry forest.

Artola Canopy Tour: Fantastic! Located on the small village of Artola, approximately one hour ride from the main hotels is a beautiful Tropical Dry Forest surrounded by huge trees, where you will be able to experience the different levels of the canopy on a zip line through different platforms. Expert guides and strict safety measures will allow you to fully enjoy this fascinating adventure. Artola has 13 platforms and 12 cables.