Description
This Costa Rica travel package is convenient for small groups of friends, organizations, or families who want to travel to Costa Rica with people they know. This Costa Rica tour program includes the essential highlights of the country, such as the Irazu Volcano National Park, Tortuguero National Park, Arenal Volcano National Park, and the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. Anyone can get this tour package with a minimum of four travelers and a maximum of twelve per group. Our main goal is to keep the tour size small because we want only the best for our clients when travel protocols have changed. Therefore, we will continue our personalized service while delivering tranquility while on your well-deserved vacation.
If you would like us to customize your family vacation, make sure to fill out the Costa Rica Wishlist.
Request a QuoteItinerary
Day 1 – Arrive in San Jose, Costa Rica
The Costa Rica tour program starts in San Jose. The group will be picked up at the airport by the Natural Expeditions Costa Rican English-speaking representative, transferred to your hotel, and provided with general information to prepare everyone for the tour and your early departure to the Irazu Volcano the following day. Enjoy your accommodations in the San Jose area for the next two nights.
Dinner included the first night (until 9:00 pm).
Day 2 – San Jose, Irazu volcano
After breakfast, your Natural Expeditions guide and driver will join you as you leave San Jose and begin your ascent toward the top of the highest active volcano in the country. The central crater of the Irazu Volcano is over 10,000 feet above sea level. During the journey, you can enjoy the most picturesque scenery of the area. In addition, the diverse and abundant crops will show how beneficial a volcanic eruption can be for the land’s fertility. On the top of the volcano, your guide will explain the uniqueness of the life zone known as Paramo and the history of the volcano itself. On your drive down the mountain, enjoy a snack or lunch with a beautiful view of the Cartago Valley and Talamanca mountain range. Continue to Cartago, the old capital of Costa Rica, and see the most important religious symbol in the country – La Basilica de Los Angeles. In the evening, arrive at your accommodations – back in the San Jose area.
Breakfast and dinner included.
Day 3 – Banana Plantations and Tortuguero Wetlands
After breakfast, you will begin the journey to Tortuguero, one of the most exotic areas of the country. First, enjoy a ride through an extended area of croplands, where pineapples and banana plantations have become very popular. Next, cruise through the Tortuguero rivers and lagunes, enjoying the natural beauty of flora and fauna of the rainforest. After lunch, a short walk will take you to the town of Tortuguero, where you will learn about the culture of its people. During the evening, enjoy the beautiful surroundings of your accommodations at local lodges.
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.
Day 4 – Tortuguero National Park
After breakfast, take a boat cruise through the Tortuguero National Park. There is a high possibility of spotting some of the local fauna, such as monkeys, water birds, and different reptiles, and being lucky, there might be chances to see a sloth. During the afternoon, you will continue exploring the Tortuguero National Park and have the option of taking a relaxing stroll on the beach. If traveling during July, August, September, and October, make sure to speak with your guide about a night tour on the coast where you can spy sea turtles as they make their way out of the ocean and lay eggs in the sand.
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.
Day 5 – Tortuguero to Arenal Volcano and Hot Springs
After a boat cruise back to your ground transportation, enjoy a traditional lunch at a local restaurant. The adventure will continue on the way to Fortuna, one of the most popular areas in Costa Rica due to its active Arenal Volcano. During the evening, relax at the base of the Arenal Volcano while you enjoy the warmth of the natural hot springs.
Breakfast and lunch included.
Day 6 – Eco-Centro Danaus and Arenal Volcano Lava Hike
Start your day by visiting the Danaus Eco-Center to learn about their sustainability programs. Danaus manages different projects that show excellent results in reforestation.
During the afternoon, enjoy the active volcano from its base as you hike to the lava rock that remains from the 1992 eruption. The evening is at your leisure to experience native Costa Rican cuisine in one of Fortuna’s many authentic and locally-owned restaurants.
Breakfast included.
Day 7 – Hanging Bridges and Monteverde
Time to put on your hiking shoes and explore the rainforest canopy from a different angle. Walking through the hanging bridges, you will interact with the ecosystems in the forest’s upper canopy. Enjoy a great variety of birds and other wildlife and incredible views of the San Carlos Valley and the Arenal Volcano. After the hanging bridges visit, drive around Arenal Lake and throughout quaint villages like Tilaran as you make your way up to the mountains of Monteverde. From this part of the country, you will view both the Pacific and Caribbean slopes. Finally, arrive at your accommodations and enjoy the rest of the day on your own.
Breakfast and dinner included.
Day 8 – Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve and Hummingbird Gallery
On the Central Mountain Range summit, you will find the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, a beautiful piece of protected forest owned by the Quaker community. This place has become famous worldwide due to its unique ecosystem in the beautiful, resplendent quetzal. Please take one of the trails and enjoy the complexity of this unique tropical forest, where orchids, bromeliads, and lichens will transport you into our planet’s pure and simplistic beauty. As you finish walking through the Reserve, have your cameras ready to enjoy the different hummingbird species from the Costa Rican mountains in the Hummingbird Gallery. In the afternoon, visit the Women’s Market (CASEM), where you will find many local crafts and souvenirs made by the members of this cooperative. After the market, your guide will take you to downtown Santa Elena where you can interact with the locals and taste the Costa Rican mountain culture.
Breakfast and dinner included.
Day 9 – Crocodile Adventure and San Jose
Drive out of the Monteverde mountain area toward the Pacific Ocean. Cruise throughout the Tarcoles River, one of the most critical habitats for the American Crocodile. After the adventure, travel to the Pan-American Highway as you begin the journey back to San Jose.
Breakfast and dinner included.
Day 10 – Depart from San Jose, Costa Rica
After breakfast, catch the shuttle to the airport, where you will await your flight back home.
Includes
Activities:
- Irazu Volcano Hike
- Tortuguero National Park Hike
- Cruise through Tortuguero wetlands
- Hotsprings with dinner at the base of Arenal Volcano
- Arenal Volcano National Park Hike
- Visit the Danaus Eco-Center
- Arenal Hanging Bridges
- Hike to Santa Elena Preserve
- Hummingbird Gallery
- Women’s Market – Santa Elena
- Tarcoles River Crocodile Boat Trip
Meals:
- 9 Breakfasts
- 3 Lunches
- 7 Dinners
Transportation:
- A shuttle from the airport to the hotel
- Air-conditioned ground transportation throughout the country
- Boat transportation in the area of Tortuguero
- A shuttle from the hotel to the airport
