I booked this trip for my daughter and me. She wanted action and adventure, every day, and this trip delivered. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the hotels. Much nicer than I expected, given the low cost of this to her. Most of the transportation was fairly high-quality as well. The bus too, and from the rafting was nothing fancy, but certainly nothing to worry about.
Be prepared to spend a little more time than you might expect in transit. That's a function of Costa Rican infrastructure. Lots of one lane roads means travel between cities can be really slow. But the scenery is gorgeous. If you just consider it part of the adventure, and enjoy it, it's not a problem.
I highly recommend this trip. It had everything we wanted.
Outstanding trip. Oldemar was our contact person and itinerary organizer. He did a phenomenal job. he took care of all the logistics and they were excellent. I would recommend this trip to anyone
San Jose, Manuel Antonio National Park, Tortuguero National Park, Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Preserve, Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Arenal Volcano, Pacuare River, Arenal
Get a taste of Costa Rica on this 7-day, multi-location tour. Explore the real San Jose colonial city and La Fortuna downtown. Then, take an awe-inspiring journey to the Arenal Volcano where you can soak in the natural pools and may even see an eruption! Next, head to the famous "cloud forest" of Monteverde and get your heart racing on a canopy zipline! Finally, head to Tamarindo Beach for sandy relaxation and surf, swim or snorkel. The trip starts and ends in San Jose so be sure you check out the city and get a glimpse of local life.
All accommodations and transport included. Please read more in the detailed itinerary and what's included sections.
We started off San Jose and explored the culture. Food was amazing. Next we headed out to Pacuera River to whitewater raft for two days. Got to stay in the rainforest with huts and the guides/volunteers were Amazing. So attentive, knowledgeable and kind. They kept us well fed. Our next trip took us to LA Fortuna....long drive but worth it. The hanging bridges, waterfall, and hot springs all were very enjoyable. We were lucky enough to see spider monkeys and other native wildlife ssooo cool! We then went to Quepas near Manuel Antonio to enjoy the Pacific beach. Beautiful as well. The water is very warm. Other wildlife we saw were macaws, iguanas, chipocun monkeys. Last destination back to San Jose. Enjoyed walking around the market streets. Our drivers, guides, and meals were all great.
Also called the Amazon of Costa Rica, Tortuguero National Park, located on the Caribbean coast, is home to a variety of wild animals and native plant species. Join us on this five-day tour of Tortuguero and soak up the rich biodiversity of this area.
Exceptionally high rainfall and a unique environment where freshwater meets the sea means that Tortuguero has numerous canals, lagoons and wetlands, which you will discover during your guided boat safari and walking tour. Depending upon your arrival date, you might even get to see green sea turtles laying eggs on the beach.
Please note that arrival and departure transfer is included in the tour price. However, you will have to purchase entrance tickets to Tortuguero National Park on your own. For more details, please go through the itinerary below.
Discover the country that encapsulates ‘pura vida’ (the simple life) on this 10-day exploration of Costa Rica. Perfect for all nature lovers and wildlife seekers, this trip will have you walking through the national parks of Arenal Volcano and Manuel Antonio for rainforest, waterfall and beach views and joining an Indigenous Terraba community to learn about local culture. Wander through the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, filled with butterflies. Visit an organic family-owned farm producing some of the best coffee in the world. And search for the resplendent quetzal (and maybe a cheeky sloth, too) in Quetzles National Park, getting off the tourist trail with a local naturalist guide.
I wanted to start by saying thank you so much for such a thorough, comprehensive plan for our stay in your lovely country. From the start of working with you, I felt as though everything was covered. Your itinerary to us was easy to read, easy to share, and filled with enough information to get us excited about the visit. Then, the pacing of the entire trip seemed to be a perfect fit for my family. I already foresee us returning to experience Costa Rica again, based solely on the trip you crafted for us. We are quite grateful.
Manuel Antonio National Park, La Fortuna, Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Preserve, San Jose, Arenal, Arenal Volcano, Monteverde, Manuel Antonio, Juan Santamaria
With its compact size, exotic environment, unspoiled beaches, romantic culture, and wild natural landscapes, Costa Rica is the perfect destination to explore by car on a self-drive trip. This is the perfect opportunity to explore on your own with just the right amount of planned activities and free time.
From San José to Manuel Antonio, drive and enjoy the most picturesque areas of the country. Visit the famous canals of Tortuguero and the beautiful beaches of the South Caribbean. Drive to the majestic Arenal Volcano, towering above the picturesque village of La Fortuna. Visit the world-famous Monteverde Cloud Forest and enjoy an included day pass of adventure activities to explore with. Finally, discover the beautiful beaches of Manuel Antonio and include a visit to the lush Manuel Antonio National Park, considered one of the most beautiful in the world thanks to the rich biodiversity of its jungle and sea coast.
San Jose, Manuel Antonio National Park, Tortuguero National Park, Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Preserve, Arenal Volcano, Cahuita National Park, Arenal Volcano National Park
I spent 13 days in Costa Rica and did a self-drive everywhere from Liberia to San Jose while hitting places such as Rincon, Arenal, Monteverde, Samara Beach, and Dominical to name a few and I was able to do pretty much everything I wanted to do in Costa Rica thanks to Alex's brilliant trip planning! On top of that, the hotels that were booked for me were all top notch and there were plenty of opportunities to have lunch and dinner no matter where I stayed. If you plan to stay in Costa Rica anytime soon, I highly recommend having Alex to plan your trip with you!
Independent TourTypically a private tour undertaken by one or two travelers
Accommodation
Eco Lodge, Hotel, Lodge
Age Range
12-65 yrs
Operated in
English
Destinations
Monteverde Cloud Forest Biologic
Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Preserve, Samara Beach, Rincon de la Vieja Volcano National Park, Tenorio, Guanacaste, Bijagua, Rio Celeste, Monteverde, Playa Carrillo, Carrillo Beach, Liberia City