Itinerary
- Day 1
San José
You'll arrive in San José and head to Studio Hotel with the complimentary airport transfer. Spend the afternoon and evening settling in and getting comfortable with your surroundings. Around 7:30pm, you'll meet your tour leader and other travelers for a group briefing and dinner together.
- Meals
- Dinner (Group dinner with tour leader and fellow travelers)
Optional Activities
- Explore San José further (pre-tour hotel nights available through sales representative)
- Day 2
San José to Tortuguero National Park
An early start takes you from San José toward Tortuguero National Park in northeast Costa Rica, a journey of about six hours with a breakfast stop included. After arriving, you'll board a small motorboat for up to 1 hour 30 minutes to reach your lodge near the main lagoon. This afternoon brings the main welcome briefing, and then you can head to Tortuguero village to visit the Sea Turtle Museum (donations are appreciated).
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Buffet)
Included Activities
- Boat tour of Tortuguero waterways
- Visit Tortuguero village
Optional Activities
- Sea Turtle Museum entrance (donation requested)
- Optional turtle nesting excursion (late July to October for green turtles; late August to November for baby turtles)
Landmarks Tortuguero National Park Tortuguero Village - Day 3
Tortuguero National Park
After breakfast, you'll board a small boat with your expert guide to explore Tortuguero's waterways and see what the area has to offer. Watch for monkeys, caiman, iguanas, butterflies, and over 300 bird species as you move through the water. Back at the lodge for a hearty meal near the river, the rest of your day is flexible. You can relax at the lodge or join an included optional boat trip or short walking trail through the forest.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hearty breakfast near the river at the lodge), Lunch (Buffet), Dinner (Buffet)
Included Activities
- Boat tour through Tortuguero waterways with wildlife viewing
- Second boat trip (included but optional)
- Short forest walking trail (optional)
Landmarks Tortuguero National Park - Day 4
Tortuguero to Sarapiqui
You'll leave Tortuguero by motorboat back to the pier, then board your bus heading to the Sarapiqui region with a lunch stop along the way. Sarapiqui offers lush vegetation and the beautiful Sarapiqui River, known for banana production and crops like coffee, cardamom, and cacao. In the evening, a night walk through Tirimbina Biological Reserve gives you the chance to cross a suspension bridge and look for nocturnal creatures like insects, frogs, and nocturnal mammals.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Night walk through Tirimbina Biological Reserve
- Suspension bridge crossing
Landmarks Tirimbina Biological Reserve Sarapiqui River - Day 5
Sarapiqui to La Fortuna
After breakfast and checking out, you'll visit an organic pineapple plantation in La Virgen de Sarapiqui to learn about organic farming practices and crop rotation. Then you'll transfer to La Fortuna near Arenal, arriving around lunchtime. The afternoon and evening are yours to enjoy hotel facilities or check out optional excursions in the area.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Organic pineapple plantation tour
Optional Activities
- Optional excursions available in La Fortuna (afternoon/evening)
Landmarks Arenal Volcano - Day 6
La Fortuna
Start your morning with a farm-to-table culinary tour at an organic farm. You'll learn the farm's history, help select produce for your lunch, and tour the greenhouse to see how Costa Rican staples grow. Keep an eye out for sloths in neighboring trees. Later, you'll head to La Fortuna Waterfall, a 215-foot drop into an emerald pool. The short rainforest trail and descent of steep steps takes about 20 to 30 minutes total, and you can swim in the pool or stay at the lookout point to watch for colorful toucans.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch with fresh produce harvested during farm tour)
Included Activities
- Farm-to-table culinary tour at organic farm
- La Fortuna Waterfall visit and rainforest trail walk
Optional Activities
- Swimming in the emerald pool at La Fortuna Waterfall
Landmarks La Fortuna Waterfall Arenal Volcano - Day 7
La Fortuna - Arenal National Park
This morning you'll take a short scenic hike within Arenal National Park, walking through secondary rainforest and past lava fields from past volcanic eruptions. Your guide will share the volcano's history while pointing out landmarks and birdlife. From high vantage points, you'll see the volcano's base and flanks, plus Lake Arenal and abundant birds. The afternoon is free to join optional activities available in the region.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Short scenic hike within Arenal National Park through secondary rainforest and lava fields
Optional Activities
- Optional activities available in the region (afternoon)
Landmarks Arenal National Park Arenal Volcano Lake Arenal 
- Day 8
La Fortuna to Monteverde
You'll travel from Arenal toward the Tilaran mountain range and the Costa Rican cloud forest. Start with a fast boat across Lake Arenal, roughly 30 minutes of scenic views, then continue by shared land transfer as you ascend toward Monteverde. The name means 'green mountain,' and the high altitude supports a complex ecosystem where over 400 varieties of orchids grow. The total journey time is about 3 hours 30 minutes including the lake crossing.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks Lake Arenal Tilaran Mountains 
- Day 9
Monteverde
You'll spend the day at Selvatura Park, 850 acres of protected land. Start with a hanging bridges excursion through the cloud forest canopy using treetop walkways. Next comes the butterfly garden, which houses one of the largest butterfly exhibitions around. Then it's time for a zip-line adventure through the treetops. Guides will teach you proper technique and positioning so you can safely move through the trees.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Hanging bridges treetop walkways through cloud forest
- Butterfly garden visit
- Zip-line adventure through the treetops
Landmarks Selvatura Park - Day 10
Monteverde to Rincón de la Vieja
After breakfast, you'll check out and transfer to Rincón de la Vieja, an area that combines dry forest with waterfalls and is famous for bubbling mud pots, steaming vents, and hot springs with abundant wildlife. The afternoon gives you time to relax or try optional activities available in the area.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Hike to the waterfalls with refreshing swim (approximately 3 hours, payable locally)
Landmarks Rincón de la Vieja - Day 11
Rincón de la Vieja National Park
You'll hike the Las Pailas Trail through the exotic dry tropical forest at Rincón de la Vieja National Park. This loop walk twists around the volcano's base past steam-spitting fumaroles while you look for toucans, spider monkeys, lizards, and bird species. After hiking, you'll head to natural hot springs with 10 human-made pools filled with steaming mineral water surrounded by thick forest. Cover yourself in smooth volcanic clay, let it dry, and wash off before choosing one included afternoon activity: canyon canopy tour, tubing, or horse riding.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Las Pailas Trail hike through dry tropical forest
- Natural hot springs with volcanic mud baths
- One included activity: canyon canopy tour, tubing, or horse riding
Landmarks Rincón de la Vieja National Park - Day 12
Rincón de la Vieja to Carrillo Beach
You'll travel to Carrillo on the Pacific Coast, one of Costa Rica's best-kept secrets. The broad, shady bay sits backed by coconut palms and calm swimming thanks to a coral reef offshore where waves break before reaching the beach. The laid-back atmosphere comes from plenty of facilities but notably absent big resort hotels. Your afternoon is free to discover the area and enjoy the beach.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks Carrillo Beach 
- Day 13
Carrillo Beach
A boat trip takes you in search of dolphins—you might see spotted dolphins, Central American spinner dolphins, or common bottlenose dolphins that live here year-round. Feel the ocean breeze and watch playful animals swim in the bow wave as you head back along the coast. You'll anchor near Isla Chora, a white-sand beach full of hermit crabs and iguanas, perfect for swimming and snorkeling. The excursion lasts around four hours, leaving the rest of your time free.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Boat trip to see dolphins
- Snorkeling at Isla Chora white-sand beach
Landmarks Isla Chora - Day 14
Carrillo Beach
You'll take a kayaking tour through the mangroves of Sámara Bay (timing will be confirmed locally since it's tide-dependent). Paddle through the ecosystem surrounded by lush mangrove trees and diverse wildlife. Explore the Ora River, discovering remote corners of the forest, moving through mangrove tunnels, and heading toward Camaronal Beach. Look for native birds, crabs, monkeys, iguanas, and more along the way. At the beach, you'll enjoy refreshments while learning about the ecosystem, then return to the hotel with the rest of the day free to relax or explore locally.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Mangrove kayaking tour through Sámara Bay and Ora River
Landmarks Sámara Bay Camaronal Beach - Day 15
Carrillo Beach to San José
A five-hour journey takes you back to San José, where your adventure comes to an end. You'll arrive with time to spare before heading to the airport or exploring more of the capital. If you'd like to stay longer and discover more of San José, speak with your sales representative about extending your stay.
- Meals
- Breakfast
