Overview
This 10 Days – 9 Nights option would give you an idea about the beauty and biodiversity of Costa Rica without neglecting adventure and luxury.
Starting 1 night at San José downtown, 2 nights at Arenal, 2 nights at Tortuguero, 3 nights at Puerto Viejo, and ending up with an overnight in San José.
Please let us know if there is any modification you would like to make to suit your travel expectations better. We will be happy to assist you with proper logistics.
Highlights
- Natural History Boat Excursion
- Hanging bridges
- Hike to Fortuna Waterfall
- Hike and snorkel at Cahuita National Park
- Hiking tour goes into Manzanillo's Wildlife Refuge
San José
San José is the Capital. It offers many options for accommodations, and a wide gastronomic offer, in San José you can find historic buildings such as the Melico Salazar Theater, National Museum, Metal Building, Children’s Museum, Costa Rican Art and Design Museum, Museum of Contemporary Art, Central Bank Museum (in the Plaza de la Democracia) and the new and renovated Jade Museum. The city also concentrates most government services.
Arenal Volcano National Park
Arenal Volcano National Park is one of the greatest holiday destinations for any nature lover and this mountainous, forested land has an incredible range of biodiversity. Arenal is a place you cannot ignore. This beautiful park is home to two incredible volcanoes, as well as a variety of plant and animal species, so nature lovers are guaranteed to find an idyllic eco-tourist experience. This national park is a fundamental piece of Costa Rica’s wonder.
Tortuguero National Park
Tortuguero National Park is a protected wilderness area on Costa Rica’s northern Caribbean coast. Originally intended to protect a major nesting beach of the Atlantic Green Sea Turtle, Tortuguero is one of the last large areas of tropical rainforest in Central America. Eleven habitats are found in. Its beaches are famous nesting grounds for sea turtles, including endangered green turtles.
The Park has more than 320 species of birds including all six species of kingfishers found in the new world, three species of toucans, eight species of parrots, and other neotropical species such as the Slaty-tailed Trogon, white-collared Manakin and the Purple-throated Fruit crow. The marked trail along the beach is used mostly for observing turtle nesting.
Turtle Nesting Season is from mid -July to September
Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
Puerto Viejo de Talamanca is a lively, colorful, and a bit rough town around the edges of southeast Costa Rica, on the Caribbean coast.
Setting along the turquoise Caribbean Sea in southeastern Costa Rica, Puerto Viejo de Talamanca is a laidback beach town with a distinctly Caribbean feel.
It’s known for the Salsa Brava surf break and beaches like black-sand Playa Negra. The Jaguar Rescue Center rehabilitates wild cats and other animals
Here; coconut rice, reggaeton beats, colorful homes, and a laidback attitude dominate. Puerto Viejo has some of the country’s most beautiful beaches, lush jungle, and an array of restaurants and nightlife.
Hotel Grano de Oro
Hotel Grano de Oro is situated on a shady street just off Paseo Colon, near Sabana Park in downtown San José. Converted from a Tropical Victorian mansion, the 40-room hotel maintains the comfort of a private home.
All rooms are equipped with free Internet, fully equipped mini bars, safety deposit boxes, flat screen TV with cable, ceiling fans, and telephones with direct access to international calling. A rooftop garden terrace with lawn beds and 2 Jacuzzis provides secluded lounging from 9am to 10pm.
Additional services: laundry and dry cleaning, luggage storage, currency exchange, massages, fax and mail service and secure parking are available.
Deluxe Room
Deluxe rooms are similar in size to the deluxe king rooms and offer either one or two queen sized beds.
Arenal Nayara Hotel & Gardens
Arenal Nayara is one of the most luxurious in the entire region, a true oasis surrounded by Costa Rican Rainforest. This hotel is opulent and unceasingly beautiful.
The property maintains beautiful tropical gardens and a reflection pond that sets a tranquil tone for the entire property. The swimming pool, Jacuzzi and wet bar provide a place to rest after enjoying the Arenal area, while the onsite Altamira Restaurant offers tasty (local ingredients blend with a world-class cuisine to provide an incomparable dining experience), full-service dining. The restaurant boasts a direct view of the volcano.
Casita Deluxe Room
A free-standing private casita includes a secluded garden with an outdoor shower. Averaging 79.5sqm / 856sqft. It’s equipped with a private hot water bathroom, cable TV, air conditioning, safe deposit box, DVD player, mini fridge, coffee maker, private garden shower, balcony, and an outdoor Jacuzzi with volcano
Tortuga Lodge & Gardens
Exotic wildlife and exhilarating eco-adventures, has captivated travelers for generations. On the island’s Caribbean coast, tucked between the Tortuguero River and gorgeous plantation-style gardens, Tortuga Lodge & Gardens offers an award-winning getaway unlike any hotel in Costa Rica. Just outside your door, the pristine rainforest surroundings beckon you to explore the mysteries of this complex ecosystem.
A rustic river lodge built in harmony with its tropical environment, our hotel offers a tranquil, relaxing, and exclusive experience. Each of the rooms features sweeping views of the Tortuguero River and luxury amenities. Thoughtful guest comforts range from free Wi-Fi and nightly turndown service to rubber boots, walking sticks and umbrellas
River View Upstairs Balcony Room
There are a total of 12 River View Upstairs Balcony Rooms. Five rooms have 1 King bed, Three rooms have Two double full-sized beds, Two rooms have one Queen and one full bed, and Two upstairs rooms have one Queen and two single beds.
Maximum occupancy is 4 guests each room. All rooms are non-smoking and feature free Wi-Fi, nightly turndown service, safes, hot water, rain showerheads, ceiling fans and large screened windows and private balconies-terraces so you experience the sounds of the rain forest. Also, enjoy the hammock in front of your room, two wooden chairs & small table.
King size beds are available on a very limited basis, if requested we will do our best to assign upon check-in, however we do not guarantee king beds prior to arrival
Le Camaleon Hotel Boutique
Le Cameleon Boutique Hotel is a walking distance from Cocles beach in Puerto Viejo. This luxurious resort offers a beautiful tropical forest setting, and features a beach club, an outdoor swimming pool and a spa.
The chic rooms and suites at Le Cameleon Boutique Hotel have minimalist, white décor and terraces overlooking the forest. All accommodations have an iPod docking station, free Wi-Fi, and a flat-screen TV.
Creative, international cuisine is served in the Beach Club Noa. The Jungle Spa offers a range of treatments including facials, body scrubs, body wraps and massage.
Superior Room
Superior rooms are located on the ground and first floor. They feature a private balcony with views of the verdant tropical flora. Superior rooms have 1 single & 1 double bed or one double large bed. Room’ size is 25 m²
Itinerary
Welcome to Costa Rica!
After passing through migration and customs, you can meet your Costa Rica Travel Adventures Transfer Guide and your Spanish Speaking Driver. You will easily recognize your guide because He/She will be holding a sign with your name on. Transfer to San José downtown for an overnight. Driving time is approximately 50 minutes.
Pick up by guide, and driver for an approximately 3 hours ground transfer to Arenal. This journey offers nice spots along the way, green mountains of coffee plantations, cattle fields, and the occasional dense forest. Stops along the way might be made to show you points of interests.
Morning, 7:00am pick up by your guide and driver for the approximately 7 hour tour combining a total of 2 walks through the hanging bridges, and La Fortuna waterfall; shared tours.
Tour starts at Mistico hanging bridges site, walk the trails that connect several hanging bridges over the lush rainforest of Arenal that offers the opportunity to see good views of the volcano, as well as majestic trees, flowers, birds, and mammals along the path. After completing your experience at the bridges, drive for about half an hour to your next destination: Fortuna Waterfalls. You’ll descend through a forest trail and hundreds of steps, to the bottom of the ravine and the waterfall. Enjoy the fresh mist from the pristine waters of Fortuna River, and – if you feel like it – take a dip in the cool ponds. Soon you must start your climb to the top of the ravine, and of course the same number of steps up to the parking area. The vehicle awaits to take you to the designated place for lunch.
After a few minutes from the waterfalls, you arrive to the “Vida Campesina” farm. Have the chance to try a sample of the best local typical food, based on several crops also found at the farm. They offer short trails to explore sugar cane, vegetables, and some farm animals! Once you finish lunch, you may take a few minutes to explore the farm.
Important note: There are NO facilities to change clothes at the waterfall but, you can wear swimsuit underneath your clothes.
Early morning pick up by your Spanish Speaking Driver (6:30am approx.), for the approximately 3 1/2 hours transfer to La Pavona Dock where you will board a boat for the ride through the Costa Rica jungle and Tortuguero National Park to your charming eco-lodge on the Tortuguero Canal. The 1-hour journey winds through lush lowland jungle over glassy canals teeming with wildlife.
Upon arrival, enjoy a delicious lunch before exploring the lodge’s 26-hectare reserve with a naturalist guide or choose from one of the engaging signature experiences included in your stay or hike the trails behind the lodge on your own.
After breakfast depart from the the lodge by boat (shared with other guests) with your local naturalist guide to explore the creeks of the National Park. The morning hours are especially active in the rain forest when wildlife is hungry and in search of their energy source for the day. Return to the lodge in time for lunch.
Early afternoon; journey back through time and glimpse the fascinating history and culture of Tortuguero village, first known as Turtle Bogue.
Late afternoon; you are welcome to participate and discover the magical twilight hours of the rainforest on a two-hour walk-through Tortuga Lodge’s private 26-hectare nature reserve. Depart with the local naturalist guide from the front desk.
After breakfast, boat ride through the jungle back to the dock of La Pavona where a van, and Spanish Speaking Driver (shared transfer) will be waiting for you to take you to Puerto Viejo. This journey would be 3 ½ hours approximately.
Two full days to enjoy and explore the surroundings of the area. During your stay a guided tour to the Cahuita National Park and Manzanillo Wildlife refuge are included.
Cahuita National Park (shared): This tour 4-hour tour incorporates snorkeling and hiking in an atmosphere that is relaxing enough for guests of all ages. The tour takes place over 600 acres of Cahuita National Park where marine and terrestrial animals are a common sight. You can enjoy watching sloths, fish, toucans, parrots, raccoons, and mantled howlers throughout the tour.
Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge (shared): This hiking tour goes into Manzanillo’s wildlife refuge. Guests have the chance to watch howler monkeys, white-faced monkeys, sloths, snakes, iguanas, poisonous frogs, and many other animals of the rain forest. The wildlife refuge location where the tour takes place is also the home to 384 types of birds, including three kinds of toucans, hummingbirds, owls, and tanagers.
Length of the tour is approximately 4 hours.
Today you will depart from the Limón province back to the Province of San José.
Lenght ot the transfer is 3 1/2 hour approximately.
Pick up time by your Spanish Speaking Driver is going to be scheduled at a time of your election; Am-Pm Private transfer.
Your Transfer Guide and your Spanish Speaking Driver will be on time to get you to Juan Santamaría International Airport; 3 hours before your scheduled departure flight for check in purposes
Important Note: When flying or traveling by boat within Costa Rica a maximum of 30 pounds of luggage is allowed per person.
We’d be happy to assist you with the arrangements of your luggage excess.
Included
- Accommodations, as indicated in the itinerary.
- Meals, as mentioned in the itinerary. (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)
- Transfers included as indicated. Unless tours are specifically indicated as private all tour transportation are shared with other passengers and with a Spanish speaking driver.
- When the service of a guide is listed (LG) (SG) He/ She will accompany you from A to B. They will meet and greet you on arrival at the International Airport, accompany you on some legs of your trip and then meet you again for your departure transfer. They are all Costa Rican and are happy to share their insight on with you.
- Porterage: When the tour includes international airport transfers, the handling of two bags per person is included.
- Taxes & Entrance Fees:
- Hotel taxes, meal taxes (when meals are included), entrance fees to National Parks, museums and places of interest are included unless otherwise specified.
- Sightseeing: As specified in the itinerary.
- Pick up time: Tentative times have been added however, the exact time and additional details related to the activity are going to be confirmed to you a day prior of the activity.
Not included
- Costs of obtaining passports, visas, or tourist cards.
- Excess baggage fees.
- Personal expenses such as room service, beverages, and laundry.
- Personal communications charges.
- International airfare.
- Sightseeing or meals not specified in the itinerary.
- Personal insurance coverage (strongly recommended)
- Gratuities.
