Itinerary
- Day 1
San José
Your guide will meet you at San José airport and drive you about 6 km to the Hotel Country Inn & Suites for your first night. The transfer takes roughly 20 minutes depending on traffic.
- Day 2
San José to Manuel Antonio
This morning you're heading to Poás volcano, which sits at 2,700 m elevation near San José. A short hike gets you to the crater of this active volcano where you'll see steaming, sulphurous vents across a crater measuring nearly 1.5 km wide. The park visit runs about 40 minutes, and then you'll drive south toward Manuel Antonio, covering roughly 220 km.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided hike to Poás volcano crater
- Visit to Poás National Park
Landmarks/POIs Poás National Park - Day 3
Manuel Antonio
You'll do a guided hike through Manuel Antonio National Park, which protects over 100 mammal species, 184 bird species, and lots of marine life. The park borders the Pacific Ocean directly. After your hike, you'll have time to relax on the park's beaches.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided hike through Manuel Antonio National Park
- Beach time within Manuel Antonio National Park
Landmarks/POIs Manuel Antonio National Park - Day 4
Manuel Antonio to Golfito
After breakfast you're driving south along the coast toward Playa Dominical and Bahía Ballena Marine National Park. You'll walk through Hacienda Barú rainforest reserve with its different vegetation zones, then explore Playa Uvita beach in Ballena Marine National Park. Later you'll pass through Palmar Norte, cross the Río Grande de Térraba bridge from 1961, and check out the UNESCO stone balls at Palmar Sur. The day ends in Golfito after about 200 km.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to Hacienda Barú rainforest reserve with hiking trails
- Exploration of Bahía Ballena Marine National Park and Playa Uvita beach
- Visit to UNESCO World Heritage stone balls at Palmar Sur
Optional Activities
- Short hike through Hacienda Barú rainforest reserve
Landmarks/POIs Hacienda Barú Bahía Ballena Marine National Park Playa Uvita Palmar Sur Stone Balls - Day 5
Golfito
You're taking a full-day trip to Corcovado National Park, the country's southernmost park. A boat takes you through mangrove forests to reach the park, then you'll hike the primary forest to see the area's biological diversity. Lunch is a picnic in the park. By afternoon you're heading back to Golfito by boat and bus. Depending on the season, you might spot whales.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Picnic lunch)
Included Activities
- Boat travel through mangrove forests
- Guided hike through Corcovado National Park primary forest
- Picnic lunch
Landmarks/POIs Corcovado National Park - Day 6
Golfito to San Vito
You'll drive south on the Panamericana through oil palm plantations and then up a winding mountain road at around 1,000 m toward San Vito. This route has striking views over the Golfo Dulce toward the Osa Peninsula and into Panama. By afternoon you're in San Vito, founded by Italian settlers who grow highland coffee. You'll visit the Wilson Botanical Gardens with one of the world's largest palm collections, covering about 170 km total.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to Wilson Botanical Gardens
Landmarks/POIs Wilson Botanical Gardens - Day 7
San Vito to Cordillera de Talamanca
From San Vito you're descending to the Río Grande de Térraba, which feeds the Térraba-Sierpe mangrove forest. Then through pineapple plantations to San Isidro, surrounded by sugar cane and coffee. The Panamericana climbs the Cordillera de Talamanca with many hairpin turns before reaching Sueños del Bosque Lodge at 2,100 m near Los Quetzales National Park, covering roughly 190 km.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks/POIs Los Quetzales National Park - Day 8
Cordillera de Talamanca to Turrialba
After breakfast you're hiking Los Quetzales National Park, named for the colorful quetzal birds found there. You'll tour a coffee processing plant in Santa María de Dota to see how coffee is grown and processed. Then to Cartago to visit the Basílica Virgen de los Angeles pilgrimage church. From there to Turrialba, known for coffee and cheese, about 140 km total.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Hike to Los Quetzales National Park
- Visit to coffee processing plant in Santa María de Dota
- Visit to Basílica Virgen de los Angeles in Cartago
Landmarks/POIs Los Quetzales National Park Basílica Virgen de los Angeles - Day 9
Turrialba to Sarapiqu\u00ed
You're visiting Guayabo, Costa Rica's most important archaeological site on Turrialba volcano's slopes. You'll see house foundations, cobbled streets and old aqueducts on a loop route. Then you're driving to Sarapiquí through Caribbean lowlands with pineapple and banana plantations, about 200 km.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to Guayabo archaeological site on circular route
Landmarks/POIs Guayabo Archaeological Site - Day 10
Sarapiqu\u00ed to La Fortuna
After breakfast you'll drive through farmland to Arenal volcano near La Fortuna. The cone-shaped volcano is visible from a distance. By afternoon you're taking a guided hike on Arenal suspension bridges with volcano views. From the bridges high in the trees you'll see orchids, bromeliads and tillandsias, covering roughly 110 km.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided hike over Arenal suspension bridges
Landmarks/POIs Arenal Volcano - Day 11
La Fortuna to San José
Your tour ends with a transfer back to San José. The tour company can also arrange transfers to beach resorts for an extra fee. If you're flying out that day, departures are available from 4 pm onward.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Transfer to beach resorts available for additional fee
