Itinerary
- Day 1
Frankfurt/Munich to San José
You'll fly from Frankfurt or Munich to San José and then get picked up for transfer to your hotel. It's a straightforward arrival day, so you'll settle in and get acclimated to Costa Rica.
Landmarks San José 
- Day 2
San José to Quepos
Drive through scenic countryside toward the Tárcoles River, passing through Atenas and Orotina along the way. The boat tour there gives you a chance to spot American alligators, exotic birds, basilisks, monkeys and iguanas in the mangrove forests. You'll have lunch with local food, then head to Quepos where you get free time to walk around and explore on your own.
- Meals
- Lunch (Typical lunch)
Included Activities
- Crocodile boat tour on Tárcoles River
Landmarks Tárcoles River Guacalillo Mangrove Forest 
- Day 3
Manuel Antonio
Head into Manuel Antonio National Park to hike through rainforest trails and look for various bird species, particularly the endangered Central American squirrel monkey that only lives here and in Corcovado. After the jungle walk, spend time relaxing on the park's beaches. The park protects 1,624 hectares and is one of Costa Rica's smaller but well-known protected areas.
Included Activities
- Entrance to Manuel Antonio National Park
- Jungle hiking trails
Landmarks Manuel Antonio National Park - Day 4
Manuel Antonio to Monteverde
Travel north past Jacó with a stop in Puntarenas where you can visit a local orchid farm and try coffee and cake in a butterfly garden if you'd like (costs extra). Turn toward Sardinal and drive roughly 35 bumpy kilometers into the cloud forest area near Monteverde. Santa Elena sits at 1,400 meters above sea level. Relax in the fresh mountain air and optionally join an evening tour with a guide to spot snakes, tarantulas, toucans and scorpions by torchlight.
Included Activities
- Tour Finca La Bella
Optional Activities
- Night tour with local guide to spot nocturnal wildlife
Landmarks Monteverde Cloud Forest Santa Elena 
- Day 5
Monteverde
Start early for a walk through the nature reserve with its mist-covered mountain forest full of moss-covered trees, ferns and wild orchids. Over 250 bird species live here, and you might catch sight of the rare quetzal. Later you'll walk on stable suspension bridges high through the cloud forest canopy to get a view of the hidden jungle ecosystems below. Your guide explains the plants and animals you encounter along the way.
Included Activities
- Entrance to nature reserve
- Suspension bridge tour
Landmarks Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve - Day 6
Monteverde to Rincón de la Vieja
Head back to the Panamericana heading north toward Guanacaste, Costa Rica's driest sun-soaked region. Pass through Liberia and reach the Rincón de la Vieja volcano area. The unpaved roads at the end are bumpy but lead to worth-while scenery. Hike the roughly 5-kilometer circular 'Las Pailas' trail with fantastic volcano views without too much physical strain. Keep watch for raccoons, coatis, armadillos, monkeys, blue-crowned motmots and exotic birds. You'll see geothermal features like bubbling mud, steaming fumaroles, hot springs, small waterfalls and a 'volcancito.'
Included Activities
- Rincón de la Vieja National Park
- Las Pailas circular trail hike
Landmarks Rincón de la Vieja National Park Las Pailas Trail - Day 7
Rincón de la Vieja
Go on an easy hike to one of the waterfalls where you can pause, take photos and enjoy the scenery. The day offers optional activities too, like zipline tours or horse riding through the volcanic landscape. Your guide will help organize things based on what interests you most.
Included Activities
- Waterfall hike
Optional Activities
- Zipline tours
- Horse riding excursions through volcanic landscape
Landmarks Rincón de la Vieja Waterfalls - Day 8
Rincón de la Vieja to La Fortuna
Do optional activities around the volcano in the morning if you wish. In the afternoon, take a bus transfer from Rincón de la Vieja to La Fortuna and head to your hotel. By early evening you'll check in at the thermal resort and experience Arenal's volcanic phenomena for the first time by soaking in the warm thermal pools.
Optional Activities
- Morning activities around active volcano
Landmarks Arenal Volcano 
- Day 9
La Fortuna
Late morning your guide picks you up to visit Ecocentro Danaus nature conservation center, where you might meet other tour participants. See tropical plants, amphibians, mammals, reptiles, insects and birds throughout the center. Visit the butterfly garden with up to 30 species and watch their life cycle from egg through caterpillar, chrysalis and butterfly. The afternoon is free for optional activities and to use the relaxing thermal pools.
Included Activities
- Ecocentro Danaus visit
- Thermal springs access
Landmarks Ecocentro Danaus - Day 10
La Fortuna to Sarapiquí
Take a short drive to Arenal National Park for a 1.5-hour hike on ash-covered paths over a cooled lava river with rocky footing. You'll see evidence of small eruptions and get nice views of Lake Arenal and rolling hills around it. Drive via Muelle and Aguas Zarcas to San Miguel to visit an organic coffee farm at 750 meters altitude. Learn how coffee gets produced and taste the finished product on the Mi Cafecito tour. Head to Sarapiqu\u00ed hotel where you'll later plant your own tree.
Included Activities
- Arenal National Park 1.5-hour hike
- Coffee tour at organic finca
- Tree planting
Landmarks Arenal National Park Lake Arenal - Day 11
Sarapiquí
Visit the Gómez family at their Finca Surá farm in Chilamate de Sarapiqu\u00ed. After fresh fruit juice, take a guided tour of citrus, manioc, sugar cane, pineapple plantations and pepper and cinnamon bushes all grown naturally to protect wildlife. Help plant pineapple seedlings and talk about their conservation approach over lunch. Afternoon brings a trip to Tirimbina rainforest reserve for a short walk where you might see monkeys, sloths, coatis and various birds. Learn the complete cocoa process from bean to chocolate bar from a local guide and sample the final product.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at Finca Surá)
Included Activities
- Finca Surá guided tour and pineapple planting
- Short rainforest hike at Tirimbina
- Chocolate tour at Tirimbina
Landmarks Finca Surá Tirimbina Rainforest Reserve - Day 12
Sarapiquí to Tortuguero
Head out before breakfast through Horquetas to Guápiles and the main road connecting San José with Limón. Have a typical Costa Rican breakfast, then continue to La Pavona or Caño Blanco, both major banana production areas. Your guide explains banana farming before a boat tour along local rivers and canals past natural islands toward Tortuguero. Check in at the lodge and have late lunch. Visit the nearby Tortuguero village and Sea Turtle Conservancy Center protecting endangered sea turtles (USD 2 entry, not included). You can optionally book a night excursion in July-September to the beach where sea turtles lay eggs (roughly USD 40 per person, booked directly).
- Meals
- Breakfast (Typical Costa Rican breakfast), Lunch (Late lunch at lodge)
Included Activities
- Excursion to village of Tortuguero
- Boat tour to Tortuguero
Optional Activities
- Sea Turtle Conservancy Center visit
- Night excursion to Tortuguero beach for sea turtle nesting (July-September, approximately USD 40 per person)
Landmarks Tortuguero National Park Tortuguero Village 
- Day 13
Tortuguero
Early morning boat tour through Tortuguero National Park canals watching local wildlife wake up and listening to their sounds. Spot crocodiles, monkeys, turtles, sloths, bats, iguanas and bird species. Return to the lodge for breakfast, then take a relaxed guided walk through lodge paths to find frogs, butterflies, birds and insects. Return for lunch at the lodge. After a rest, enjoy another boat tour through the canals. Return to the hotel with the rest of the afternoon free until dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at lodge), Lunch (Lunch at lodge), Dinner (Dinner at lodge)
Included Activities
- Early morning boat tour through Tortuguero National Park
- Lodge path walk with guide
- Afternoon boat tour through canals
Landmarks Tortuguero National Park - Day 14
Tortuguero to San José
After breakfast, take a boat back to the mainland with another chance to see nature. Continue by bus to Guápiles where lunch gets served before traveling from Guápiles to San José. Once you arrive, check in at your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast), Lunch (Lunch in Guápiles)
Optional Activities
- Beach extension to Caribbean from Guápiles (optional)
- Guided extension package 5 days/4 nights to southern Caribbean and Turrialba (optional)
Landmarks San José - Day 15
San José to Frankfurt/Munich
Transfer to the airport about 3 hours before your flight. Return flight to Germany heads out today.
- Day 16
Arrival Germany
Arrive back in Germany after your journey through Costa Rica.
