Costa Rica Pura Vida Tour by Greenway Nature Tours

6 daysDuration

Private TourPrivate experience, no group joining

2 peopleMinimum to book

1 - 90 yearsAge range for participants

English, SpanishGuide language

Starts

San Jose, Costa Rica

Ends

San Jose, Costa Rica

Highlights

Explore beautiful rainforest and waterfalls

Visit Irazu Volcano and walk to its main crater

Relax on the beautiful Tortuga Island and enjoy a catamaran ride

Itinerary

Breathe in the vibrant ‘pura vida’ spirit on the Costa Rica Pura Vida six-day trip, ideal for travelers eager to sample the country’s lush landscapes and diverse activities. Start in San José, then marvel at the thundering La Paz Waterfall Gardens, cruise to Tortuga Island’s sun-soaked beaches, and explore the dramatic heights of Irazu Volcano and the historic charm of Cartago city. Throughout your journey, you’ll enjoy a blend of national park visits, cultural exploration, and even a scenic catamaran ride. The trip’s unique selling point is its rich variety of experiences packed into a brief, seamless itinerary, providing a perfect introduction to Costa Rica’s natural beauty and laid-back lifestyle.

day 1 - Welcome to Costa Rica

Meet our representative on landing at the Juan Santamaria International Airport and transfer to your hotel in the city. The representative will explain your itinerary, answer any questions and provide you with a package with vouchers and information about the trip. Free time after check in at Hotel.

Accommodation:4 Star Hotel

day 2 - San Jose City Tour

Head out to discover San Jose, Costa Rica's capital city, with a professional tour guide. This trip is a combination of a van ride and a walking tour and starts at 9:00am from your hotel. Touring the main streets and avenues, you will see La Sabana Metropolitan Park, the largest park in the middle of the city where many sport activities can be practiced. This beloved place among the Costa Ricans houses, important attractions such as the Costa Rican Art Museum, the Costa Rican Soccer Stadium, the medical district in the middle of the city will be part of the drive.

We will walk in the heart of the city, the Central Park, which dates from 1885, the country's main Roman Catholic cathedral, the Melico Salazar Theater and the National Theater of Costa Rica, considered to be one of the most beautiful building in Costa Rica are some of the places we are going to visit.

Next to the national theater, there is the Plaza de la Cultura (Culture's square), a very popular square where different public and open-air activities are carried out daily. Below the square is one of the country's most important museums, the Gold Museum. This belongs to the Central Bank of Costa Rica and it is home to the largest Pre-Columbian gold pieces found in the country.

We will continue walking by the boulevard and we are go to the National Museum, that is an extraordinary place that reunites lots of history of the country.

Enjoy a delicious lunch in a small and cozy restaurant located in an old house. This place, called Grandma's Corner, specializes in serving authentic Costa Rican meals and they use fresh ingredients to prepare their dishes.

Your San Jose city tour continues after lunch and covers other important areas of the capital such as Barrio Otoya and Barrio Amon, two of the most traditional neighborhoods, Parque España, the Yellow House (home to Costa Rica's Ministry of Foreign Affairs), Parque Nacional, etc.

We will drop you off at your hotel after the tour.

Duration:5 hours

Accommodation:4 Star Hotel

Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

day 3 - Private Tour to La Paz Waterfall Gardens

To start the day, a delicious breakfast at the hotel and then we are going to take you to the beautiful La Paz Waterfall Gardens. This is the number one most-visited privately owned ecological attraction in Costa Rica, featuring the best hiking trails near San José as well as one of the most famous waterfalls in Costa Rica and a wildlife refuge center with over 100 species of rescued animals.

You will get to see five waterfalls, a cloud forest and a rain forest and enjoy hiking trails. There is also an aviary with numerous species of birds and an insect exhibit, a butterfly observatory and a hummingbird garden with 26 documented species of these birds. Here you can also see a variety of snakes in an exhibit and you might even come across animals like jaguars, pumas, ocelots and margays that were rescued.

This tour also includes a delicious buffet lunch that features multiple selections of traditional Costa Rican dishes.

In the afternoon we are going to return to your hotel in the capital.

Accommodation:4 Star Hotel

Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

day 4 - Tortuga Island by Catamaran

Your adventure begins with a pickup from your hotel and a relaxing drive through the wonderful Costa Rican countryside on an air-conditioned transportation or a mini bus. You will be heading to the Pacific Coast and traveling through beautiful landscapes on your way to Puntarenas, located about 90 minutes away from San Jose.

Located 12 nautical miles from Puntarenas, Isla Tortuga (called 'Tolinga' by natives) is a sanctuary of white sand beaches and turquoise waters that houses marine birds, flora and fauna that are typical of Costa Rican Central Pacific area. With an extension of 120 hectares, it maintains a protected forest awarded with the Ecological Blue Flag; distinction that is delivered to beaches in our country that has met the environmental, safety, and accessibility standards set by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE):

This tour includes the following:

• Round-trip transportation from San Jose

• Bilingual tour guides in English and Spanish languages ( for other languages, please reach out to us)

• Snacks for breakfast (served on the bus)

• A 90-minute trip on board our catamaran (either the Great Bay's Princess or Bay's Princess).

• Refreshments: fruits, fish ceviche, drinks and a sandwich

• DJ music and professional animation by Costa Rican singer Will Matamoros

• Beach chairs and umbrellas

• Five hours of beach time on Isla Tortuga

• Beach volleyball

• 3 soft drinks

• Insurance, permits and maritime safety regulations compliance.

You will return to your hotel at night.

Duration:12 hours

Accommodation:4 Star Hotel

Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

day 5 - Private Tour to Irazu Volcano and Cartago Highlights

After breakfast at the hotel, a one-hour drive will take you to the summit of Irazu Volcano. Irazú Volcano National Park is located in the Central Volcanic Conservation Area of Costa Rica. The volcano is still active, although the last major eruptions were between 1963 and 1965.

At 11,260 feet (3,432 m), this volcano is the highest active volcano in Costa Rica. It is easily visited from San José, with a road leading right up to summit craters. From the top, it is possible to see both Atlantic and Pacific Oceans on a clear day. However, such clear days are rare, and it is usually cloudy over the summit.

Having soaked up the sight of the volcano, you will then enjoy the beauty of the Orosi Valley and a town located there. This small town gives travelers a chance to see some of the country's most important landmarks, including San Jose de Orosi Church, which was built in 1743 and is one of the oldest where masses are held. The church's whitewashed walls and classic Spanish-colonial architecture are a testament to the long hours and artistic dedication that went into this church's design. Continue your journey to Rio Perlas, a beautiful hotel and hot springs complex. Enjoy your lunch as well as the hotel's thermal pool and garden.

We are going to return to the hotel around 5:00pm

Duration:8 hours

Accommodation:4 Star Hotel

Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

day 6 - Transfer to Airport & Departure

Transfer to the International Airport according to your scheduled flight.

Meals:Breakfast

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What's Included

5 Breakfasts and 4 LunchesPrivate pickup at international airport upon your arrival on the first day and drop-off on the last day of this tourExperienced, English-speaking tour guides in all destinations5 nights' accommodation in high-quality hotelsPrivate tour to La Paz Waterfall GardensTour to Tortuga Island by deluxe catamaranPrivate San Jose city tour with lunchPrivate tour to Irazu Volcano and Cartago highlights

What's Excluded

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