Super Sales
Up to 65%off

Pura Vida Experience

9 daysDuration
Small Group TourUsually 8-12 participants, maximum 18 travelers
18 peopleMaximum group size
6 - 99 yearsAge range for participants
English, SpanishGuide language
Easy
Light physical activity suitable for most people with average fitness levels.

Itinerary

Experience the best of Costa Rica on the 9-day Pura Vida Experience, a gentle and restorative journey perfect for seniors. Starting and ending in San Jose, this self-guided trip takes you through the lush jungles of Arenal, the wildlife havens of Tortuguero National Park, and the misty trails of Monteverde Cloud Forest. Relax on Tamarindo’s sun-kissed beaches, renowned for both adventure and tranquility. With all logistics—accommodation, transport, and meals—handled, your focus is on enjoying Costa Rica’s natural beauty, wildlife, and cultural richness. The USP: a seamless blend of gentle adventure, relaxation, and authentic local flavor, making it ideal for those who want to experience Costa Rica’s essence at a comfortable pace.

day 1 - Arrival San Jose (20km – 30min)

Welcome to San Jose, Costa Rica! Our representative will greet you at the airport; assist you with your luggage and transfer to the hotel in San Jose. 

Overnight in San Jose.

day 2 - San Jose – Tortuguero (120km – 3hrs)

At the agreed time, shared transportation will pick you up and transfer you to your next destination, the wonderful area of Tortuguero located in the North Caribbean to board the boat that will take you to the lodge where you will immerse yourself in a perfectly quiet, laid back and tranquil stay. Upon arrival, get comfortable in your hotel room and enjoy lunch (included). Afterwards, enjoy a nature walk through the private tropical trails of the Lodge. You can discover the local species such as reptiles, birds and some mammals; monkeys are abundant in this region. In the evening, savour dinner at the lodge. 

Overnight in Tortuguero.

day 3 - Tortuguero

Wake up early and meet your guide for an early morning tour through the Tortuguero Canals, a must activity while you are in Costa Rica. Discover its network of canals, lagoons and dense rainforests through an early boat tour guided by an expert naturalist guide. Abundant wildlife inhabits Tortuguero, including 57 species of amphibians, 111 species of reptiles, and 60 species of mammals. Return to the Lodge for breakfast. In the afternoon, visit the enchanting village of Tortuguero; the town a small population of around 500, no cars, and is located on a relatively narrow spit of land between the beach and a canal. Take a closer encounter with the Caribbean culture; discover its people and lifestyle walking through this colourful town.
Overnight in Tortuguero.

day 4 - Tortuguero – Arenal

Breakfast included at the lodge and then proceed to checkout. Afterwards, be ready to continue your trip. Shared transfer by boat and land from Tortuguero to Guapiles region. Afterwards, continue on a shared transfer to your next destination: La Fortuna de San Carlos, home of the majestic Arenal Volcano. Lunch included. Upon arrival get comfortable in your room and enjoy the hotel facilities. 
Overnight in Arenal.

day 5 - Arenal

Breakfast included at the hotel. Today enjoy the most extraordinary view of the Arenal Volcano on a hike along the base and flanks of this giant on the Arenal 1968 park. During the hike, the expert guide will explain to you all about the volcano: its activity periods, a little bit of history related to it and will show you some landmarks that have left over the years. Astonishing views, ear-catching information, unbelievable stories and the chance to meet the local wildlife, will remain as your favourite memories of Costa Rica after this experience. During the late afternoon, be ready to slip into sublime waters of varying temperatures for extended soaking intervals. Often, a cold pool lies adjacent to a warm pool, which allows you to cool down or heat up as you please. Enjoy and relax in this Thermal Paradise.

Overnight in Arenal.

day 6 - Arenal – Monteverde

Breakfast at the hotel and then proceed to checkout. At the agreed time, continue to your next destination: the magical Monteverde cloud forest. This service, half tour – half-shared transfer is a scenic and fast way to go from La Fortuna to the Monteverde area. You will board into a very comfortable and safe pontoon boat for a 30 to 40 minutes (approx.) ride to Rio Chiquito, a little town on the other side of the lake. Once at Rio Chiquito, we will leave the boat and take a short break to stretch the legs, after, another 1.5hr bus ride to get to the hotels in the Monteverde area (during the rainy season this transfer could take longer) Duration approx. of 3.5 hours (Land and boat). Once in Monteverde, spend your afternoon at Selvatura Park. Here you will experience closer the mysteries of the cloud forest by enjoying a great combination of suspension bridges and platforms that offers you an opportunity to explore the forest canopy in a safe and easy manner.

Overnight in Monteverde.

day 7 - Monteverde – Tamarindo

Breakfast at the hotel and then proceed to checkout. At the agreed time, shared transfer to Tamarindo. 

Overnight in Tamarindo.

day 8 - Tamarindo

Breakfast included at the hotel. Enjoy your free time to relax under the sun and palm trees or discover the Tamarindo area and its surroundings. 

Overnight in Tamarindo.

day 9 - Tamarindo – Departure San Jose

At the appropriate time, departure private transfer from your hotel to Juan Santamaria International Airport to take your flight back home. 

Pura Vida Experience

Get Trip Brochure & Exclusive Discount

Download a detailed PDF brochure and unlock an exclusive discount for this tour

What's Included

Accommodation
Standard Hotel Category = Wyndham Herradura or similar 3*Standard Hotel Category = Lomas del Volcan or similar 3*Standard Category = Hotel Monteverde Country Lodge or similar (Lodge Standard)Standard Hotel Category = Hotel Tamarindo Diria or similar 3*8 night's accommodationHotel taxes
Meals
8 Breakfasts2 Dinners (Day 2, 3)
Transport
Arrival shared transfer from Juan Santamaria International Airport (Day 1)Departure private transfer to Juan Santamaria International Airport (Day 9)
Others
Standard Category = Turtle Beach Lodge or similar (Lodge Standard)Operated with English- and Spanish-speaking local guides during the scheduled activities (Day 3, 5, 6). Please note you will be accompanied by local guides for the activities only. There is no guarantee that you will be part of a group, or part of the same group during the tour.3 Lunches (Day 2-4)Shared transfers between areas including Land and Boat ride to Tortuguero and Lake Crossing Arenal-MonteverdeAll entrance fees and activities mentioned in the itinerary: Tortuguero Canals boat tour, Tortuguero village (Day 3); Arenal Volcano trail 1968 hike; Baldi Spa hot springs (Day 5); Monteverde Hanging Bridges (Day 6)Meet & Greet

What's Excluded

Customer Reviews

This tour has not received any customer reviews yet. However, you can expect a Premier Premier tour and service level as the travel specialist who runs it has received 291 reviews for other tours with an average 4.8rating.

Request a Private, Customizable Departure

By design, this is a group tour. You can however request a private, customized version of this tour for yourself or your private group of people. Private departures are usually more expensive, but come with these benefits:

Itinerary can be tweaked and customized.

Access our Travel Specialists' insider knowledge.

Enjoy a tour focused solely on you or your travel group.

Travel within your own bubble.

Request a private and/or personalized departure

To design a private tour, we'll ask you some more information in the following steps.

Monthly Price Comparison

Good to Know

Cancellation
Payment
Travel Insurance
Visa
Other Practical Information

Do you need help from our trip consultants?

If you have any question about this tour or need help with planning a trip, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us.

Our travel experts are ready to help.
Jane Andersen
Sine
Rasmus Juul Olsen

Why Book with Bookmundi

Earn USD 54+ in travel credits.

Best price guaranteed.

No credit card or booking fees.

100% financial protection.

Carbon neutral tours.

25,000+ trip reviews, with an average rating of 4.8 out of 5.

What are customers saying about Bookmundi

4.67/5
Excellent based on 807 customer reviews fromReviews.io

SAMER

Good service and easy going , highly recommend 👌
1 day ago