Costa Rica: Volcanoes, mountains and beaches

Itinerary in brief:

• 1 night San Jose
• 2 nights Arenal Region  
• 2 nights Monteverde
• 2 nights Tamarindo Beach           
• 1 night San Jose               

Day 1: Arrive San Jose        

Welcome to Costa Rica! On arrival into San Jose Airport you will be greeted and taken to your hotel by private transfer.

Day 2: San Jose to Arenal region 

 After breakfast at the hotel you will be collected by shuttle transfer and taken to the Arenal region.

Along the way you will get the opportunity to visit Poas Volcano National Park, walk the 600 metre trail to a viewpoint where you can observe the crater of the volcano and the constant activity it experiences. The Hule Lagoon provides the perfect stop for lunch, located 11km from the volcano this area is known for it great walking trails and of course the beautiful green lagoon.

On arrival you will check into your hotel in Arenal for a 2 night stay.

Day 3: Arenal    

Today we have included a tour to Arenal Volcano National Park and Hot Springs.

Enjoy a hike along the trails of the national park, your guide will teach you about the flora and fauna and the volcano as you walk and on clear days you can experience captivating views of Arenal Volcano, Arenal Lake, the Tillaran Mountains Range and Cerro Chato.

After your hike you will head to Paradise Hot Springs for some well deserved pampering. These pure waters are heated by the volcano and contain no chemicals having been filtered through the earth. With a variety of different pools offering hydro-massage for different muscle groups, all you have to do is sit back and relax!

Lunch or dinner (depending on your tour time) is provided in the hot springs restaurant.

Day 4: Arenal to Monteverde

After breakfast at the hotel you will join a shared boat transfer via Arenal Lake to Monteverde, this boat ride is the quickest and most picturesque way to travel. Arenal Lake is the largest lake in Costa Rica and was manmade to provide hydroelectric energy for the country. It is a great place to spot many resident and migratory birds as well as the odd monkey and sloth! The journey takes around 30 to 40 minutes after which you will arrive at Rio Chiquito, a small town on the other side of the lake.

On arrival you will be met and taken by bus to your hotel in Monteverde, where you will check in for a 2 night stay.

Day 5: Monteverde    

Your morning will be spent on an adventure tour in Selvatura, a cloud forest conservation project. You can glide through cables and ziplines through the cloud forest or take the Treetop Walkway covering a 3km trail. The park is home to a butterfly and hummingbird garden as well as an education centre with large private insect selection, learn about the natural history of Monteverde and the cloud forest ecosystem during your tour, transportation is included.

Days 6 & 7: Monteverde to Tamarindo Beach

After breakfast a shuttle transfer will pick you up for your journey to Tamarindo Beach, approximately 5 hours away.

Tamarindo Beach is located on the Pacific Coast and is part of a bay. The two beaches are separated by a large mangrove estuary, Estero de Tamarindo and are part of the Las Baulas National Park. Now is the time to relax after all your exploring, so we’ve included 2 nights here by the sea.

Day 8: Tamarindo Beach – San Jose

Breakfast will be served at the hotel and you’ll be picked up around noon. You’ll be transferred to San Jose by shuttle bus, approximately 5 hours away.

Overnight in San Jose.

Day 9: Depart San Jose        

Enjoy breakfast as the hotel before your private transfer to San Jose and your onward journey.