Itinerary
- Day 1
San José
You'll land at San José airport where your local guide meets you for the drive to Hotel Autentico. After checking in, the rest of the day is yours to settle in and get acclimated before things kick off tomorrow.
- Day 2
San José to Monteverde
Head out early toward Poás volcano, reaching the 2,574 m summit to see the main crater with its turquoise lake from the viewing platform. The drive takes you through Sarchi's artisan shops, then up into the cloud forest of Santa Elena and Monteverde. Later in the afternoon, you can walk around the cloud forest reserve or check out the town itself. Your lodge sits high above the Gulf of Nicoya with views that stretch for miles.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Poás volcano crater viewing platform
- Optional visit to cloud forest reserve at lodge or explore Monteverde town
Landmarks/POIs Poás Volcano - Day 3
Monteverde
Morning brings you to Selvatura Park where you'll hike across suspension bridges through the cloud forest canopy with your guide, watching for endemic species throughout the forest levels. After that, the sloth sanctuary visit gives you time with about 20 sloths living in their recreated habitat while a guide explains their behavior. If the afternoon interests you, optional activities include a snake exhibition or a canopy tour.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Selvatura Park canopy trek with suspension bridges and guide
- Sloth sanctuary guided tour
Optional Activities
- Snake exhibition
- Canopy tour
Landmarks/POIs Selvatura Park - Day 4
Monteverde to Rincón de la Vieja
After breakfast, you'll drive along the Panamericana through changing landscapes heading toward Rincón de la Vieja volcano. This area has multiple rivers flowing into waterfalls and several thermal springs scattered throughout. Your rustic lodge sits at the volcano's base, and the atmosphere feels like stepping back into Costa Rica's ranching heritage. The evening leaves time to relax at the lodge bar.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Exploration tour of Rincón de la Vieja region with rivers, waterfalls and thermal springs
Landmarks/POIs Rincón de la Vieja Volcano - Day 5
Rincón de la Vieja
You'll hike with your guide for about 45 minutes through rainforest past a waterfall called Salitral to reach the hot springs. There you can soak in mineral-rich volcanic mud baths and try the five thermal pools, each with different temperatures. Early afternoon includes a cooking class where you'll prepare and eat traditional Creole dishes. After that, the rest of the day is open for relaxing or exploring on your own.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- 45-minute guided rainforest hike to Salitral waterfall
- Volcanic mud bath and thermal pool experience
- Traditional Creole cooking class with meal
Landmarks/POIs Salitral Waterfall - Day 6
Rincón de la Vieja to Arenal
This drive takes you through Guanacaste's steppe landscape in the northwestern zone, then along the Arenal reservoir toward Arenal volcano. In La Fortuna, lunch features a typical family meal called El Casado while you learn about how local Ticos live. You'll walk through fruit and vegetable plantations plus nature trails to understand the area's organic farming traditions.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (El Casado - typical family lunch)
Included Activities
- El Casado family lunch experience with Tico agricultural lifestyle immersion
- Organic farming education through plantations and nature trails
Landmarks/POIs Arenal Volcano - Day 7
Arenal
You'll see La Fortuna's waterfall and the San Carlos plains with their tropical crops spread across the landscape. Then you head into Arenal National Park to walk through the lava fields, getting up close to this active volcano that dominates the area.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit La Fortuna waterfall
- Arenal National Park lava fields exploration
Landmarks/POIs La Fortuna Waterfall Arenal National Park - Day 8
Arenal to Tortuguero
The drive crosses through citrus and pineapple plantations heading toward the Caribbean coast and Tortuguero National Park, sometimes called the small Amazon for its river channels and wildlife. Breakfast happens en route, then about 40 km by boat takes you through river channels to your lodge near the park entrance. Along the way, look for birds, monkeys, turtles, and caimans in the riverbank vegetation.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Boat journey through Tortuguero National Park river channels (approximately 40 km)
Landmarks/POIs Tortuguero National Park - Day 9
Tortuguero
An optional early boat trip before breakfast lets you catch wildlife at dawn if you're interested. After eating, a short rainforest hike gives you a closer look at the diversity here, with over 309 bird species recorded plus crocodiles, caimans, and snakes. Spend time photographing this unique environment. The afternoon brings another boat trip through the park's canal system.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Short rainforest hike through nature reserve
- Boat trip through Tortuguero canals
Optional Activities
- Early morning boat trip before breakfast to observe wildlife at dawn
Landmarks/POIs Tortuguero National Park - Day 10
Tortuguero to Orosi Valley
After breakfast, you'll boat back through the rivers and canals experiencing the forest one more time before heading by bus through Guapiles and Turrialba to the Orosi Valley. This region produces some of the world's best coffee, and the valley itself sits lush and green below the surrounding highlands.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Boat journey through Tortuguero National Park rivers and canals
Landmarks/POIs Orosi Valley - Day 11
Orosi Valley to Dominical
You'll drive to Irazú volcano at nearly 3,500 m where clear weather reveals views of both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. From there, head to Cartago, Costa Rica's old capital and religious center, to visit the Basilica de Nuestra Señora de Los Angeles. The route crosses Cerro de la Muerte at 3,400 m, Central America's highest mountain road, then continues to the El General valley and Perez Zeledon before reaching the relatively untouched beaches of Dominical on the Pacific coast.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Irazú volcano
- Visit Basilica de Nuestra Señora de Los Angeles in Cartago
- Cross Cerro de la Muerte mountain road
Landmarks/POIs Irazú Volcano Basilica de Nuestra Señora de Los Angeles - Day 12
Dominical to Corcovado National Park
After breakfast, spend the full day at Corcovado National Park covering 55,000 hectares of rare plants and animals found nowhere else. About 90 minutes by boat through mangrove forests gets you to the park entrance where you'll hike through primary forest. A picnic lunch follows the hike. You'll return to Dominical by boat and bus in the afternoon, and depending on the season, you might see whales.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Picnic lunch)
Included Activities
- Boat journey through mangrove forests to Corcovado National Park (approximately 90 minutes)
- Guided hike through primary forest
- Picnic lunch
Landmarks/POIs Corcovado National Park - Day 13
Dominical to Manuel Antonio
You'll travel along the coastal road past empty beaches to Manuel Antonio, the most visited national park in the country. There you can walk the beach spotting howler monkeys, white-headed monkeys, and various birds while taking a swim in the sea.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Walk along Manuel Antonio beach and National Park
Landmarks/POIs Manuel Antonio National Park - Day 14
Manuel Antonio to Isla Tortuga
After breakfast, head along the Pacific coastal road to Puntarenas where a catamaran takes you to Isla Tortuga in the Gulf of Nicoya, with fresh juices served onboard. On the island, you can snorkel in turquoise waters, ride a banana boat, or relax on the sand. A lunch buffet on the beach caps off the day before you return to Puntarenas, ending the tour and transferring to your next hotel in Jacó or Manuel Antonio.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Extensive buffet on the beach)
Included Activities
- Catamaran journey to Isla Tortuga
- Snorkeling in turquoise bay
- Lunch buffet on the beach
Optional Activities
- Banana boat ride on Isla Tortuga
Landmarks/POIs Isla Tortuga
