Itinerary
- Day 1
San José
You'll arrive at San José airport and get transferred to your hotel. Between 6 and 8 pm, you'll meet your tour guide and connect with the rest of the group.
- Accommodation
- Hotel
- Day 2
Poás Volcano - Grecia - Sarchi
After breakfast, you'll drive toward Poás volcano along the Pan American Highway, stopping at the Juan Santamaría Monument and Mango Park along the way. The main event is reaching the viewpoint at 2,574 m/8,445 ft, where you get about 20 minutes to look down into the 1,300 m diameter crater. From there, you'll head to Grecia to see the metal church, then swing through Sarchi to watch craftspeople make ox carts. You're back in San José by afternoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Juan Santamaría Monument
- Visit Mango Park
- Walk to Poás volcano viewpoint
- Visit village of Grecia and metal church
- Visit Sarchi and observe ox cart creation
Landmarks Poás Volcano Juan Santamaría Monument Mango Park Grecia Metal Church Sarchi - Day 3
San José to Tortuguero
Starting early, you'll drive over the Cordillera Central toward the Caribbean coast. Grab a typical local breakfast in Guapiles, then board a boat for roughly 1.5 hours navigating river channels to reach your jungle lodge. The journey covers about 40 km through lagoons and waterways into Tortuguero National Park. Later, you'll check out the colorful village of Tortuguero, where green sea turtles lay eggs from July through October.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Typical local breakfast in Guapiles), Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Boat journey through river channels and lagoons to Tortuguero
- Visit Tortuguero village
Landmarks Tortuguero National Park Tortuguero Village 
- Day 4
Tortuguero to Caribbean Coast
You'll wake to howler monkeys calling through the trees. There's an optional 5 am boat trip through the canals if you want to see the jungle come alive, spotting water birds, caimans, iguanas, and more monkeys. After breakfast, you'll return by boat to the landing stage, then drive through banana-growing regions to the southern Caribbean coast. By evening, you'll be settling into your new accommodation and soaking in the laid-back Caribbean vibe.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel, Hotel
Included Activities
- Boat trip through jungle canals (early morning, optional timing)
Landmarks Tortuguero Canals 
- Day 5
Caribbean Coast
In the morning, you'll head to Cahuita National Park and hike a trail that runs alongside one of the country's nice coconut palm beaches. While walking, you'll likely see howler monkeys, iguanas, sloths, and lots of bird species. The afternoon is yours to spend relaxing on the Caribbean beaches or just hanging out at your accommodation.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Hiking trail in Cahuita National Park
- Explore Cahuita National Park beaches
Landmarks Cahuita National Park 
- Day 6
Caribbean Coast to Turrialba
After breakfast, you'll drive to Turrialba for a 1.5 hour tour of the Jaguar Rescue Center Sanctuary. Your guides will walk you through the history and characteristics of the rescued animals like monkeys, sloths, macaws, toucans, deer, and snakes. Then you'll drive back to Siquirres and head uphill on winding roads to reach your lodge in Turrialba.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Tour of Jaguar Rescue Center Sanctuary
Landmarks Jaguar Rescue Center Sanctuary 
- Day 7
Turrialba to Manuel Antonio
You'll head to Cartago, the former capital, to visit the Basílica de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles, Costa Rica's major Marian church. From there, you continue along the Panamericana toward San Isidro de El General, then start heading downhill toward the Pacific. The route takes you over Cerro de la Muerte, the Panamericana's highest point, then through the Perez Zeledon valley near Dominical where coffee plantations dot the hillsides. You'll follow the new coastal road with great ocean views before arriving in Manuel Antonio.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Visit Basílica de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles in Cartago
Landmarks Basílica de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles Cerro de la Muerte - Day 8
Manuel Antonio
In the morning, you'll visit Manuel Antonio National Park, the smallest but most well-known park in the country. The roughly 700 hectare park from 1972 is surrounded by tropical forest where you can spot white-faced monkeys, sloths, pisotes, mapaches, iguanas, and birds. The park has 12 islands with seabirds, multiple beaches including Espadilla Sur and Manuel Antonio, a 14 hectare lagoon, and mangrove forest. Your afternoon is free to relax on one of the three beaches or swim in the clear water.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Manuel Antonio National Park
- Explore national park beaches
Landmarks Manuel Antonio National Park Espadilla Sur Beach Manuel Antonio Beach Puerto Escondido Beach - Day 9
Manuel Antonio to La Fortuna
After breakfast, you'll head toward La Fortuna with a stop at cocoa plantations to learn about chocolate from start to finish. You'll see different tree varieties, learn about fruit characteristics, watch the drying and fermentation process, and observe live chocolate being made before tasting high-quality organic varieties. As you arrive in La Fortuna later, you might spot the impressive Arenal volcano in the distance on a clear day.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Tour of cocoa plantations
- Learn cocoa history and harvesting
- Watch chocolate processing
- Taste high-quality organic chocolate
Landmarks Arenal Volcano - Day 10
La Fortuna to Monteverde
You'll travel past Lake Arenal, Costa Rica's largest inland lake surrounded by green landscape and a major power source. It's known for windsurfing and kitesurfing. When you reach Monteverde, you'll visit the Santa Elena cloud forest in a private reserve and take a short hike through this tropical jungle with its mix of flora, fauna, and permanent fog.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Visit Santa Elena cloud forest
- Short hike through private cloud forest reserve
Landmarks Lake Arenal Santa Elena Cloud Forest 
- Day 11
Monteverde to Buena Vista
You'll drive along the Panamericana first to Cañas, then board an inflatable boat for a trip down the Corobicí River where you can see crocodiles, iguanas, and various birds. After that, you'll head through changing landscape to reach your lodge, situated in a way that makes you feel like you've stepped back into the time of the rancheros.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Inflatable boat trip on Corobicí River
Landmarks Corobicí River - Day 12
Buena Vista to San José
You'll have time to enjoy activities the lodge offers. Relax in thermal springs surrounded by tropical plants, take a guided hike to explore, or try a canopy tour high above the treetops. After your morning activities, you'll get a transfer back to San José.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Relax in thermal springs surrounded by tropical vegetation
- Guided hike to explore surroundings
- Canopy tour high above treetops
