Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in San José
You'll arrive at the airport and get picked up for a transfer to Gran Hotel Costa Rica in the city center. It's your first night, so you can settle in and get oriented after your journey.
- Day 2
San José to Pacuare Lodge
An early morning pickup takes you on a 120 km drive through Cartago with views of Irazú and Turrialba volcanoes before heading into rainforest. After breakfast along the way, you'll switch to an off-road vehicle to reach the river where a gondola (or optional rubber dinghy) carries you across to Pacuare Lodge. Lunch happens at the lodge, then the afternoon is yours to walk around and get your bearings.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast on the way), Lunch (Lunch at the lodge)
Included Activities
- Breakfast en route
- Transfer through Cartago
- Viewing of Irazú and Turrialba volcanoes
- Gondola transfer across Rio Pacuare
- Lunch at Pacuare Lodge
Optional Activities
- Rubber dinghy transfer to lodge with trained guide (alternative to gondola)
Landmarks/POIs Cartago Irazú Volcano Turrialba Volcano Rio Pacuare - Day 3
Pacuare Lodge
The day is yours to choose how you spend it in the Pacuare rainforest. Depending on your fitness level, you can do canyoning, canopy tours through the trees, jungle hikes to a waterfall, or visit the indigenous Cabécar tribe. The region has plenty of wildlife and plants to see if you're just exploring on your own.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner at the lodge)
Included Activities
- Rainforest exploration with local guide
- Dinner at the lodge
Optional Activities
- Canyoning tour
- Canopying through rainforest treetops
- Jungle hike to waterfall
- Visit to indigenous Cabécar tribe
Landmarks/POIs Pacuare Rainforest - Day 4
Pacuare Lodge to Puerto Viejo
Morning departure happens via off-road vehicle or rubber dinghy toward the coast. In Siquirres, a private guide meets you for the drive to Limón where you'll check out historic spots at the old harbor near Parque Vargas and the island where Columbus landed in 1502. Then you head south along the coconut palm-lined coast to Hotel Aguas Claras in Puerto Viejo, which is your base for the next two nights.
Included Activities
- Transfer to Caribbean coast
- Visit to Limón and Parque Vargas
- Viewing of Columbus landing site
Landmarks/POIs Limón Parque Vargas Columbus Landing Island Playa Chiquita - Day 5
Puerto Viejo
Today you can take it easy in the Caribbean vibe. After breakfast, you'll cycle to Punta Uva bay and then kayak along the coast between Puerto Viejo and Gandoca Manzanillo nature reserve. Keep an eye out for sloths, monkeys, and terrapins during the paddle. A short hike gives you views over the bay before you head back to the hotel. Your evening is free to walk around Puerto Viejo.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Cycling to Punta Uva bay
- Kayak tour
Optional Activities
- Short hike with bay viewpoint
Landmarks/POIs Punta Uva Bay Gandoca Manzanillo Nature Reserve - Day 6
Puerto Viejo to Arenal
You'll drive about 225 km inland toward Arenal volcano, stopping in Cahuita to walk through its national park with the country's only fully developed Caribbean coral reef. There's a short beach walk with optional snorkeling if you want it. After that, you continue north past pineapple and banana plantations with Arenal volcano showing up on the horizon. You arrive at Nayara Tented Camp for a two night stay at the volcano's base.
Included Activities
- Visit to Cahuita National Park
- Short beach walk
Optional Activities
- Snorkeling (for a fee)
Landmarks/POIs Cahuita National Park Arenal Volcano - Day 7
Arenal
A guided hike takes you to Arenal Observation Lodge where you get good views of Arenal volcano and the neighboring extinct Cerro Chato volcano. Lunch happens during the hike. Afterward, the afternoon is open for relaxing back at Nayara Tented Camp. The area has lots of birds and sloths hanging around, so you might spot some if you're patient.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch during excursion)
Included Activities
- Hike to Arenal Observation Lodge
- Volcano viewing
- Lunch
Landmarks/POIs Arenal Volcano Cerro Chato Arenal Observation Lodge - Day 8
Arenal to San José
After breakfast, you drive back over the volcanic cordillera to San José, the capital. A short city walk takes you through the center on a historic route connected to coffee barons, passing German trading houses, the cathedral with French stained glass, the metal school designed by Gustav Eiffel, and old banking buildings. You'll spend one night at Gran Hotel Costa Rica.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Breakfast
- City walk in San José
- Visit to historic German trading houses
- Cathedral viewing
- Metal School viewing
- Historic bank building viewing
Landmarks/POIs San José Cathedral Metal School (Escuela Metálica) - Day 9
Departure
Your tour wraps up after breakfast with a transfer to the airport for your flight home.
- Meals
- Breakfast
