Discover Costa Rica by Road

Breakfast at your hotel.

Morning drive by bus (semi-shared) to the pier, passing through Braulio Carillo National Park and the vast banana plantations of the region. Collective boat transfer to Tortuguero National Park, along its many canals winding through the heart of the tropical rainforest, where you can already observe its rich flora and fauna (monkeys, green ibises, crocodiles, Northern Jacanas, toucans…).

Continuation to your lodge, check-in and lunch.

Boat ride to the small Caribbean village of Tortuguero and visit of the village.

OPTIONAL (FROM JULY TO OCTOBER – TO BE BOOKED ON SITE): 
Night excursion to observe the nesting of the green turtle! Between July and October, many green turtles come to lay their eggs on the beaches of Tortuguero National Park. This is an exceptional phenomenon not to be missed! For the wellbeing of the turtles, this activity is strictly regulated by the authorities and can only be done with a specialized guide. The activity takes place at night and cannot be pre-booked. Please check with your lodge reception upon arrival to make your reservation. (Rates available on request).

Day Highlight: Visit the Caribbean village of Tortuguero

Hotel/Other Details: HOTEL (or similar) : PACHIRA LODGE ***

Meal Plan: Breakfast lunch and Dinner

Breakfast at the lodge.

Boat excursion through the canals of Tortuguero National Park (with a local Spanish/English-speaking guide) to experience nature awakening. Frequent stops to observe a wide variety of birds, monkeys, crocodiles, and caimans.

Walk along the lodge’s trails (with a local Spanish/English-speaking guide) to discover its wildlife and flora. Your guide will introduce you to the inhabitants of this lush secondary forest (boots and ponchos are provided on site if necessary).

Return to the lodge late in the morning for lunch.

Afternoon at leisure to enjoy the beach, the lodge facilities (swimming pool, …), or optional activities available on site: fishing, kayaking, or an additional boat tour through the canals.

Dinner and overnight stay.

Day Highlight: Discover Tortuguero National Park by boat Walk through the jungle on the lodge's trails

Hotel/Other Details: HOTEL (or similar) : PACHIRA LODGE ***

Meal Plan: Breakfast lunch and Dinner

Breakfast at your lodge.

Boat transfer to the pier where you will meet your bus. Drive to Sarapiquí, a rich agricultural region (pineapples, palm trees for heart of palm and pejibaye fruit, soursop …).

Lunch en route at a lodge restaurant. Pick up your rental car at the restaurant.

Drive to Boca Tapada, a pristine region covered with forest and wetlands, a paradise for birdwatching enthusiasts.

Dinner at leisure and overnight at the lodge.

Hotel/Other Details: HOTEL (or similar) : MAQUENQUE ECOLODGE ***

Meal Plan: Breakfast

Breakfast at your lodge.

Full day at leisure to enjoy the lodge surroundings and its activities (optional on site).

The lodge provides canoes for you to explore the lagoon at your own pace, as well as a guided forest walk with a local lodge guide (English or Spanish-speaking).

Lunch and dinner at leisure. Overnight at the lodge.

OPTIONAL: Boat excursion on the San Carlos River! You will board a boat from the hotel dock and begin a downstream journey on the San Carlos River. During the tour, you can observe crocodiles, turtles, bats, herons, kingfishers, vultures, and many other species. Near the Nicaraguan border, you will stop to visit the small town of Boca San Carlos, explore the village, and meet the locals. (Rates available on request).

OPTIONAL: Night forest excursion! After dark, discover the forest from a different perspective! During this activity, a local hotel guide will accompany you through the gardens and forest surrounding the hotel, where you can observe nocturnal wildlife such as alligators, frogs, night birds, snakes, and spiders. You will also experience the unique sounds of the forest at night. (Rates available on request).

Hotel/Other Details: HOTEL (or similar) : MAQUENQUE ECOLODGE ***

Meal Plan: Breakfast

Breakfast at your lodge.

Drive to Arenal Volcano. Costa Rica is home to approximately 116 volcanoes, among them one of the most impressive: Arenal Volcano. Despite being 7,500 years old, it is relatively well-preserved as it is the youngest volcano in the country. Rising to 1,630 meters, this stratovolcano has been inactive since the end of 2010 but continues to delight photographers (when visible) as well as enthusiasts of hot springs.

Lunch at leisure enroute.

OPTIONAL: Visit to Don Hubert’s organic farm! Don Hubert is a former traditional farmer who transitioned to organic farming and later, through life’s twists, to ecotourism. His greatest pleasure now is to show visitors his little piece of paradise, as he calls it—his farm and plantations! Whether you spend a few hours or a full day with Don Hubert, your visit will undoubtedly be one of the highlights of your trip. Tour of the fruit and vegetable plantations, medicinal herb garden, and sugarcane mill: You will start with the tropical fruit and vegetable plantations, including pineapples, bananas, cassava, and other rare varieties that you will likely see for the first time! Next, explore the medicinal herb garden—have you ever wondered what raw stevia, quinine, cinnamon, or turmeric looks like? Here, you’ll find out! Finally, visit the sugarcane mill, where you can taste freshly extracted sugarcane juice. (Rates available on request).

Visit to the cocoa plantation on the farm: Don Hubert will explain every detail of the process of turning cocoa beans into chocolate. You will then have the opportunity to make your own chocolate bite using pure cocoa and aromatic herbs from the farm (mint, cinnamon, etc). (Rates available on request).

Check-in at your hotel in La Fortuna.

You will then head to the Baldi Hot Springs: relaxation and dinner at this family-friendly complex featuring 25 hot or warm mineralized pools (4 of which are at ambient temperature), a large natural sauna and spa for jacuzzi-style use, three minibars, two gourmet restaurants, 3.5 kilometers of pathways, and 3.4 hectares of picturesque tropical gardens.

Return to your hotel and overnight stay.

Hotel/Other Details: HOTEL (or similar) : ARENAL MONTECHIARI ***

Meal Plan: Breakfast and Dinner

Breakfast at the hotel.

Route vers les ponts suspendus pour une promenade digestive ! The suspended bridges are found in the private nature reserve of 250 hectares of tropical humid primary forests. You will pass 15 ponts, all the different heights (from 10 to 100 meters!), and you will benefit from a spectacular view of the Arenal volcano and the surrounding region after certain things! Vous serez aux premieres loges pour observer la fauna et de la flore au level de la canopée. The total park is around 3km, accessible to everyone.

OPTIONAL: Visit to the lava flows of Arenal National Park (Arenal 1968)!
Approximately 6 km of trails at the foot of Arenal Volcano will take you through dense tropical rainforest. You can observe how variations in soil acidity due to volcanic activity cause sudden changes in vegetation and shape the landscape in surprising ways! Midway, you will reach the old lava flows that split the forest in two. From the dried lava mounds, you will enjoy stunning views of the volcano on one side and Lake Arenal on the other. (Rates available on request).

OPTIONAL: ATV adventure on the slopes of the volcano Ride through the pastures at the foot of Arenal Volcano, which you can admire along the way from unique viewpoints, until reaching Lake Arenal. From there, continue through the tropical rainforest and observe the region’s rich wildlife and plant species along the route, with many birds crossing your path. Fresh fruit snacks will be provided during the ride. (Rates available on request).

OPTIONAL: Zipline adventure!
Costa Rica is a world pioneer in recreational ziplining! If you’re an adrenaline enthusiast, you cannot miss this activity, which will take you to the treetops along cables up to 700 meters long at heights of over 250 meters! (Rates available on request).

Lunch at leisure.

Leisurely departure to the Guanacaste region with a beautiful drive around Lake Arenal. A complete change of scenery awaits as you enter Guanacaste, a cattle-raising area with pampas and savannah landscapes. Experience the cowboy and ranchero atmosphere as you drive to Curubandé, ending on the track that leads to Rincón de la Vieja Volcano.

OPTIONAL: Visit to the Las Pumas Wildlife Sanctuary! This sanctuary was founded about 40 years ago by Swiss national Lilly Bodmer de Hagnauer. With deforestation and local residents capturing wild animals as pets, she realized that some species were becoming scarce. Today, the center she created aims to care for sick or injured animals and prepare them to return to the wild. (Rates available on request).

Check-in, dinner at leisure, and overnight at your hotel.

Day Highlight: Walk on the suspension bridges

Hotel/Other Details: HOTEL (or similar) : RINCONCNITO LODGE ***

Meal Plan: Breakfast

Breakfast at your hotel.

Self-guided excursion in Rincón de la Vieja National Park (closed on Mondays), where you can observe centuries-old trees and astonishing volcanic features. Rincón de la Vieja Volcano, literally “Old Woman’s Corner,” covers 14,080 hectares with a variety of vegetation types. At an average altitude of 1,520 meters, the park includes arid savannahs, mountain tropical rainforests, and cloud forests. On clear days, visitors are treated to a spectacular view of the dry landscapes of Guanacaste.

Lunch at leisure.

Return to the hotel and enjoy a free afternoon to take advantage of the facilities or optional hotel activities.

OPTIONAL: Zipline course! The course features a total of 8 cables and 16 platforms connecting across the Colorado River canyon, offering impressive views of the nature below. Cable lengths range from 150 to 360 meters, with heights up to 75 meters. Special safety equipment is used, and guides are always present to ensure your safety. The activity lasts approximately 1 hour. (Rates available on request).

OPTIONAL: Visit to Rincón de la Vieja National Park and hike to La Cangreja Waterfall! Visit Rincón de la Vieja Volcano National Park (Las Pailas sector – 3 km) combined with a hike to La Cangreja Waterfall. The hike to La Cangreja Waterfall is a moderate 10 km trek, starting in lush green forest that halfway transforms into dry forest vegetation. This is an interesting trail with diverse flora and fauna. The main attraction is the waterfall known as La Cangreja and the Blue Lake with its azure waters, perfect for swimming.(Rates available on request).

Dinner at leisure and overnight at the hotel.

Day Highlight: Visit to Rincón de la Vieja National Park – note: the park is closed on Mondays.

Hotel/Other Details: HOTEL (or similar) : RINCONCNITO LODGE ***

Meal Plan: Breakfast

Breakfast at your hotel.

Departure to the Pacific coast. You will head to the city of Liberia and then take the coastal route before arriving at the beach resort town of Tamarindo.

Arrival at the hotel and lunch.

Afternoon at leisure with all-inclusive services.

Your all-inclusive package includes: all meals at the buffet restaurant, snacks, alcoholic and soft drinks, jacuzzi, lobby bar, gym, aerobics and dance classes, entertainment programs for children and adults, nightly shows, dance floor, beach volleyball court, giant chess, mini club, table tennis, safe, adult pool access, and children’s playground.

Dinner and overnight at your hotel.

Hotel/Other Details: HOTEL (or similar) : OCCIDENTAL TAMAMRINDO ****

Meal Plan: Breakfast lunch and Dinner

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner at your hotel.

Full day at leisure with all-inclusive services to enjoy the beach and excursions offered by the hotel.

Your all-inclusive package includes: all meals at the buffet restaurant, snacks, alcoholic and soft drinks, jacuzzi, lobby bar, gym, aerobics and dance classes, entertainment programs for children and adults, nightly shows, dance floor, beach volleyball court, giant chess, mini club, table tennis, safe, adult pool access, and children’s playground.

Hotel/Other Details: Hébergement (ou similaire) : OCCIDENTAL TAMARINDO ****

Meal Plan: Breakfast lunch and Dinner

Breakfast at the hotel.

Drive to San José. Lunch at leisure enroute.

Return your rental car at the agency near the airport. A complimentary shuttle will take you to the airport (5 minutes).
International flight.

Meal Plan: Breakfast