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Explore the unique landscapes and wildlife of Costa Rica on our 9 day Signature Costa Rica Tour.
Costa Rica is a nature lovers paradise. There are beautiful butterflies that flitter by, delightful hummingbirds and incredible frogs - in a whole rainbow of colours and sizes. Walk through lush gardens and jungles and explore the Cloud Forest of Monteverde. Walk over hanging bridges, ride in a gondola, or even get the adrenaline going by zip lining over the forest canopy! Observe yet more wildlife at Manuel Antonio National Park. Participate at a Wildlife Rescue Centre near Arenal and help sloths and other animals. Look out for anteaters, tapirs, monkeys, and maybe even a jaguar if you are really lucky.
During your stay in Costa Rica, venture out to witness the active volcano, Volcano Poas, from its crater rim. Take time to sample local coffee and observe the coffee-growing process at Doka Estate. There is also time to relax in hot springs, heated by Arenal volcano, or relax at the beach.
And if you want to see more of Costa Rica be sure to add our Tortuguero, Tamarindo or Corcovado trip to your adventure!
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Itineraries
Day 1
San Jose
Welcome to San Jose, Costa Rica’s bustling capital city. Affectionately known as Chepe (the local nickname for anyone named Jose) by its inhabitants, San Jose is situated in central Costa Rica within the Valle Central at an elevation of 1,150 metres. Rising gracefully over the city’s north are Poas, Barva and Irazu volcanos and the Cordillera de Talamanca mountain range sits to the south. In the city centre you will find San Jose’s two main squares, Parque Central de San Jose and Plaza de la Cultura.
Today is an arrival day, transfer to your hotel, settle in, then you are free to explore at your leisure.
Day 2
Doka Estate & Parque Nacional Volcan Poas Tour
Today you will tour Doka Estate and Parque Nacional Volcan Poas, passing through Alajuela, Costa Rica’s second largest city enroute.
Doka Estate is a local coffee plantation and you will enjoy breakfast before touring the plantation and roast room to learn how coffee is grown and produced.
Passing more coffee plantations, strawberry fields and flower nurseries, you will arrive at Poas Volcano National Park. Home to the Poas Volcano, the national park stretches 65 square kilometres and offers over 3.5 kilometres of hiking trails. You will view the active volcano from the crater rim before continuing to La Paz Waterfall Gardens.
A privately owned ecological park, the gardens are home to five different waterfalls set within lush tropical rainforests. It’s also a wildlife refuge and you can visit exhibits such as a butterfly observatory, a hummingbird garden, serpentarium, trout lake and a frog ranarium. Lunch is included today.
Day 3
San Jose - La Fortuna & Arenal
Today you will travel from San Jose to the small town of La Fortuna, the gateway to Parque Nacional Volcan Arenal.
For four decades, Arenal was one of the world's most active volcanoes, but it has been in a peaceful state of slumber since 2010, producing only the occasional plume of smoke. The perfectly conical volcano may be dormant, but it still provides a majestic backdrop for endless activities in the rugged and varied Arenal Volcano National Park. Hiking trails follow old lava flows, and sloths, coatis, monkeys and anteaters can be spotted on the way. There is horseback riding, biking and ziplining, as well as relaxing dips in volcano-heated hot springs.
After checking into your hotel, you will take an afternoon tour of the Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges which are located near Lake Arenal dam. Here two diverse ecosystems of lowland and highland rainforest collide resulting in a diverse range of birdlife and animal species. Keep your eyes peeled while walking the suspension bridges for toucans and crested guans before wandering the nature trails where you might encounter sloths, tapirs and spider monkeys or possibly even a jaguar.
Day 4
Sloth & Volunteer Experience at Wildlife Centre
Immerse yourself in a volunteer experience at Proyecto Asis Wildlife Rescue Centre. The centre cares for wounded and abandoned wild animals and those rescued from the black market.
You will receive an introduction to the park from a naturalist guide before volunteering to help prepare some of the animals’ food and enrichment toys. It’s a fantastic opportunity to see some of Costa Rica’s wildlife up close, including sloth which are a threatened species due to the destruction that’s occurring to their natural habitat.
Day 5
Arenal - Monteverde
You will cross Lake Arenal on a pontoon boat from Lake Arenal Dam to Rio Chiquito before heading to Monteverde. Arenal Lake is the largest and most important in Costa Rica, it is of artificial origin built in 1974 in order to obtain hydroelectric power for the country. It is also a place where you can find a variety of resident and migratory birds, sometimes it is possible to observe mammals like monkeys and sloths in the surroundings of the place, as well as excellent views of the Arenal Volcano when it is not cloudy.
Settle into your hotel in Monteverde in the afternoon and relax. The marvelous, mist-shrouded Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve and the extensive network of nearby private reserves are rich and rewarding. Bird-watchers flock here to spot the myth-inspiring resplendent quetzal, and scientists come to study the bountiful biodiversity, including an estimated 2,500 species of plants (including 420 species of orchids), 490 species of butterflies, 400 species of birds, and 100 species of mammals, including capuchin monkeys, jaguars, and sloths. Monteverde has spectacular treetop walkways, exciting ziplines, and hilltop plantations that produce some of the world’s best coffee.
Day 6
Monteverde Cloud Forest Tour
Today you will explore the Montverde cloud forest from above, on the Monteverde Sky Tram, Sky Trek, and Sky Walk.
Boarding the Sky Tram, you will float gently over the forest, keeping watch for monkeys, sloths and birds in the canopy. You will arrive at an observation platform where, on a clear day, you can see the Arenal Volcan in the east and the Gulf of Nicoya and the Pacific coastline to the west.
To get back down, why not zip line on board the Sky Trek? A system of zip lines spanning from mountain to mountain, the Sky Trek allows you to fly through the treetops at up to 70 kilometres per hour. Alternatively, you can visit some more observation towers with panoramic views of the cloud forest.
The final excursion of your tour is the Sky Walk, a wonderful 2km-long guided walk along forest trails and hanging bridges, perfect for exploring the cloud forest canopy.
Later, enjoy the sights and sounds of the forest on a night walk. Our walk is an experience of reconnection, sensory, in which you can feel the connection and the greatness of the cloud forest in one of the moments of greatest activity.
Day 7
Monteverde Manuel Antonio
From Monteverde you will travel to Manuel Antonio, home to one of the most popular national parks in Costa Rica.
The lively resort town is your base for the final days of your tour. Located north of the national park, Manuel Antonio is surrounded by turquoise waters and pristine sandy beaches.
You are free to explore the town and lap up some sunshine after your arrival.
Day 8
Manuel Antonio National Park Tour
Today you will tour Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio, crossing the thin man-made strip of land that connects the island where the national park is located with the mainland.
The park has three trail options, but your guide will lead you on the path with the easiest grade. As you walk you will learn about the park’s natural history, local flora and fauna.
Keep your eyes peeled for three out of the four tropical primates that live in Costa Rica as they are found here. You also might spot sloths, birds and reptiles as well as orchids and butterflies. Halfway through the walk, you will enjoy a break at the world famous Third Beach to relax or take a quick dip. Your guide is equipped with Pentax and Swarovski telescopes, so you can also spot wildlife and take photos from a different perspective.
Note: Manuel Antonio National Park is closed on Tuesday. **
Day 9
Manuel Antonio - San Jose
You will be transported back to San Jose to the airport to fly to your next destination.
- 10 days guided touring throughout Costa Rica
- Standard accommodation with breakfast daily
- Option to upgrade to superior or deluxe accommodation
- Other meals where stated
- All transfers as per the itinerary
- Guided tours with local English speaking guides
Important Notes:
International flights, visas/reciprocity fees (if applicable), tips and travel insurance are not included.
- Travel Insurance – your North Travel consultant can provide you with a quote. Get a quote now.
- Tourism visa or transit visa if required
- Upgrades to Premium Economy, Business Class and First Class available and to be quote at the time of booking.
- Itinerary deviations (e.g. extensions or specific airline requests). This will be quoted by a North Travel consultant at the time of booking.
- Professional service fee's (if any)
Advertised prices are not guaranteed until confirmed at booking. Prices are dynamic and may be affected by foreign exchange, airline, cruise, tour and supplier changes beyond North Travel’s control.
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On some itineraries and tours you may be required to have comprehensive travel insurance by the travel supplier. One of our consultants can guide you on this.
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