Itinerary
- Day 1
San José
You'll land at San José airport and get picked up for your hotel transfer. If your flight comes in before 5 p.m., you'll meet your tour guide and collect your rental car that same day. Otherwise, check-in happens at the hotel and they'll hand over your documents there.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel
- Day 2
San José to Tortuguero National Park
Early morning departure around 5 a.m., driving through Braulio Carrillo National Park over the Cordillera Central toward the Caribbean coast. You'll stop for a local breakfast near Guápiles, then trade your rental car for a bus that passes banana plantations before reaching the boat landing. The boat takes you through Tortuguero National Park's canals and lagoons, about 90 minutes covering roughly 40 km to reach your lodge. Lunch waits at the lodge, and you can head to Tortuguero village in the afternoon. Between June and October, keep an eye out for sea turtles nesting on the beach.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Typical local breakfast near Guápiles), Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Boat trip through Tortuguero National Park canals and lagoons
- Visit to Tortuguero village
Landmarks Braulio Carrillo National Park Tortuguero National Park 
- Day 3
Tortuguero National Park
An optional early boat trip starts around 5:30 a.m. to catch wildlife as it wakes up, where you might see river turtles, caimans, otters, pike, monkeys, sloths, snakes, and various birds. After breakfast, you'll take a short guided rainforest hike. In the afternoon, another boat trip explores the river channels with chances to spot monkeys, birds, butterflies, sloths, caimans, and turtles depending on season.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Guided rainforest hike
Optional Activities
- Early morning boat trip (approximately 5:30 a.m.) to observe wildlife at dawn
Landmarks Tortuguero National Park - Day 4
Tortuguero to Sarapiqui
Breakfast first, then a boat ride to the jetty followed by a bus back to Siquirres with other guests. You'll have lunch at El Ceibo restaurant where you pick up your rental car. After that, drive toward Puerto Viejo via Guápiles and head to Chilamate and Sarapiqui villages.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Day 5
Sarapiqui
This day is yours to use however you like. Relax by the pool at the lodge or take a guided rainforest hike with the nature guides to explore the area. There's also an optional river boat trip available for an extra fee if you want to see the jungle's flora and fauna up close.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Boat trip on the river with nature guide (for a fee)
- Day 6
Sarapiqui to Arenal
You'll drive through Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui and Aguas Zarcas, heading to Muelle de San Carlos near Arenal volcano, one of Costa Rica's most active and youngest volcanoes. The nearby town of La Fortuna has shops, restaurants, banks, and tour operators who can set up excursions in the area.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Landmarks Arenal Volcano - Day 7
Arenal
An optional 2.5-hour rainforest hike takes you close to Arenal volcano, walking over old lava rock and past lava boulders. If conditions are right, you might see glowing ash and hear gas explosions. An English-speaking guide explains the volcano's history and current activity throughout the trek.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Guided rainforest hike to Arenal volcano (approximately 2.5 hours, can be booked on site)
Landmarks Arenal Volcano 
- Day 8
Arenal to Tenorio
You'll drive via Route 927 to Lake Arenal, Costa Rica's largest inland lake and a key power source. Continue on Route 6 toward Bijagua de Upala near Tenorio Volcano National Park. Your lodge sits just a few kilometers from Rio Celeste, the famous 'sky-blue river' that gets its turquoise color from a chemical reaction where two different rivers meet.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks Lake Arenal Tenorio Volcano National Park Rio Celeste 
- Day 9
Tenorio National Park
A guided hike through Tenorio Volcano National Park (also called Rio Celeste) covers about 6 km over roughly 3 hours. The trail winds through thick forest to a 30-meter waterfall, then to a viewpoint for the 1,960-meter Tenorio volcano (weather permitting). You'll see where the river releases natural gas and the exact spot where two clear rivers meet and turn the water light blue.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided hike to Rio Celeste waterfall and Tenorio Volcano National Park (approximately 6 km, 3 hours)
Landmarks Rio Celeste Waterfall Tenorio Volcano - Day 10
Tenorio to Rincón de la Vieja
Drive back to the Interamericana highway via Montenegro and Bagaces, then continue north to Liberia, called the 'White City' because of its white-painted houses. You'll have time to walk around town or grab lunch before heading to Rincón de la Vieja.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks Liberia - Day 11
Rincón de la Vieja
Pick from a couple of activities around here. There's a guided horseback ride lasting about 2 hours through jungle terrain along the volcano's base with steep slopes, or you can explore on foot to see the flora and fauna. Later in the day, you can soak in the thermal springs and take in the volcano scenery.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Guided horseback ride through the jungle (approximately 2 hours, optional and for a fee)
- Guided hike to explore surrounding flora and fauna
Landmarks Rincón de la Vieja - Day 12
Rincón de la Vieja to San José
After breakfast, head back to San José to return your rental car. Alternatively, if you've booked a separate beach hotel in Guanacaste, you can drop off the car there instead for an additional fee.
- Meals
- Breakfast
