Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in San Jose
You'll touch down at Juan Santamaria International Airport where someone will be waiting to meet you. They'll get you sorted and take you to your vehicle for the drive to San Jose. It's a good chance to settle in and get some rest on your first night.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Holiday Inn Express Forum), Hotel (Holiday Inn Escazu), Hotel (Real Intercontinental)
- Day 2
San Jose to Arenal
After breakfast at your hotel, head to the lobby to pick up your rental car from the representative. Then you'll drive northwest toward La Fortuna, which sits in the Arenal region. This is where you'll see Arenal Volcano. The afternoon and evening are open, so you can relax or sign up for optional activities if you want to do something.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Early breakfast at hotel)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Arenal Montechiari), Hotel (Arenal Springs), Hotel (Arenal Kioro)
Included Activities
- Early breakfast at hotel
- Car rental pickup and briefing
Optional Activities
- Tabacon Hot Springs - relaxation at therapeutic volcanic hot water springs surrounded by rainforest (entrance fee and activities not included)
Landmarks/POIs Arenal Volcano Tabacon Hot Springs 
- Day 3
Arenal
You've got the day to yourself after breakfast. If you're interested, there are guided walks through Arenal Volcano National Park where you might spot sloths, howler monkeys, and anteaters among the green landscape and the volcano itself. Back at the hotel later, you can relax or join a night hike through the rainforest if that appeals to you.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Arenal Montechiari), Hotel (Arenal Springs), Hotel (Arenal Kioro)
Included Activities
- Breakfast at hotel
Optional Activities
- Guided or self-guided walking tour in Arenal Volcano National Park (entrance fee not included)
- Arenal Natura Night Hike - nighttime rainforest exploration with naturalist guide to observe amphibians, reptiles, and insects (entrance fee and activities not included)
Landmarks/POIs Arenal Volcano National Park 
- Day 4
Arenal to Tortuguero
Leave early and drive to Guapiles for breakfast at a local spot where you'll meet your guide. Leave the rental car there, then travel by shared van to a pier. From there, a boat takes you through the rivers and canals of Tortuguero National Park to your eco-lodge. After lunch, walk around the village and check out the beaches. If it's turtle season (September through December), look for baby turtles heading to the ocean.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at established local restaurant in Guapiles), Lunch (Delicious lunch at eco-lodge in Tortuguero National Park)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Turtle Beach Lodge), Hotel (Laguna Lodge), Hotel (Pachira/ Evergreen/Aninga Lodge)
Included Activities
- Breakfast at local restaurant in Guapiles
- Shared land and boat transfers to Tortuguero National Park
- Lunch at eco-lodge
- Visit to Tortuguero village
- Observation of turtle hatchlings during season (July-September nesting, September-December hatching)
Landmarks/POIs Tortuguero National Park Tortuguero Village 
- Day 5
Tortuguero
Spend time by the pool or take a three-hour guided tour of Tortuguero National Park. You'll see over 350 bird species, monkeys, crocodiles, and sloths. During turtle season, nighttime nesting tours are available, and there's a canopy tour with 11 platforms, 4 suspension bridges, and a Tarzan swing if you want something more active.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Turtle Beach Lodge), Hotel (Laguna Lodge), Hotel (Pachira/ Evergreen/Aninga Lodge)
Included Activities
- Breakfast at hotel
- Three-hour Tortuguero National Park wildlife observation trip
Optional Activities
- Late Night Turtle Nesting Tour - available during July to September season, purchasable directly at lodge (entrance fee and activities not included)
- Tortuguero Canopy Tour - 11 platforms, 4 suspension bridges, 7 cables, 1 scaling wall, and Tarzan swing for adventure seekers (entrance fee and activities not included)
Landmarks/POIs Tortuguero National Park - Day 6
Tortuguero to Puerto Viejo
After breakfast, board a boat back to Guapiles and grab lunch there before picking up your rental car. Then drive yourself to Puerto Viejo on the Caribbean coast. This area has its own vibe with strong Afro-Caribbean culture. The rest of the day is yours to wander around and get a feel for the place.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Delicious lunch stop in Guapiles)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Villas del Caribe), Hotel (Cariblue), Hotel (Le Cameleon)
Included Activities
- Breakfast at eco-lodge
- Shared boat transfer from Tortuguero to Guapiles
- Lunch at Guapiles
- Car rental pickup and return
Landmarks/POIs Puerto Viejo 
- Day 7
Puerto Viejo
Following breakfast, the day is flexible. Cahuita National Park is nearby with Costa Rica's most important coral reef, so you can snorkel and hike there if you'd like. The park has tons of tropical fish, sharks, sea turtles, and diverse wildlife like monkeys, sloths, and blue Morpho butterflies. Later, you can relax or try other activities.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Villas del Caribe), Hotel (Cariblue), Hotel (Le Cameleon)
Included Activities
- Breakfast at hotel
Optional Activities
- Snorkelling and hiking through Cahuita National Park - explore coral reef and wildlife including snakes, sloths, white-faced and howler monkeys, anteaters, armadillos, racoons, blue Morpho butterflies, sea life including tropical fish, sharks, eels, sea urchins, shellfish, crustaceans, sea turtles, lobster, and shrimp (entrance fee and activities not included)
Landmarks/POIs Cahuita National Park - Day 8
Puerto Viejo to San Jose
Take the morning easy and rest up. In the early afternoon, head back to San Jose for your final night in Costa Rica before heading home.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Holiday Inn Express Forum), Hotel (Holiday Inn Escazu), Hotel (Real Intercontinental)
Included Activities
- Afternoon transfer to San Jose
- Day 9
Departure from San Jose
Have breakfast at your hotel, then drive to Juan Santamaria Airport when it's time. Return your rental car to the car rental office and take the shuttle to the terminal for your flight back.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Breakfast at hotel
- Shuttle transfer to airport
