Itinerary
- Day 1
San José
Touch down at San José airport and get transferred to Hotel Grano del Oro. After checking in, you'll head to a welcome meeting with a drink to meet the group, then settle in for the night.
- Accommodation
- Hotel
- Day 2
Caribbean Coast to Tortuguero
Drive across the Cordillera Central mountains heading toward the Caribbean, passing through cloud forests and banana plantations. Grab a typical local breakfast near Guapiles, then board a boat for roughly 40 km traveling through lagoons and river channels to reach Tortuguero National Park. Spend the evening walking through the village of Tortuguero, checking out colorful houses along the turtle beach.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Typical local breakfast near Guapiles), Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Typical local breakfast near Guapiles
- Boat journey through Tortuguero National Park lagoons and river channels (approximately 40 km, approximately 1.5 hours)
- Visit to the mini-village of Tortuguero
Landmarks Tortuguero National Park Braulio Carillo Pass 
- Day 3
Tortuguero to La Fortuna
Head out early on a canal trip to catch the jungle waking up and photograph wildlife. After breakfast, get back to the landing stage by boat, then continue by bus through pineapple and heart palm plantations toward La Fortuna at the foot of Arenal volcano.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Early morning jungle canal trip with wildlife observation
- Return boat journey to landing stage
Landmarks Arenal Volcano - Day 4
Arenal Volcano & Local Farm Experience
Hike through Arenal Volcano Park where you'll get 360 degree views of the volcano and Arenal Lake. Walk on lava rocks and see geological formations up close. Later in the day, visit a farming family to get a feel for traditional Costa Rican life, tour their organic plantations, and have an authentic family lunch with them.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Traditional family lunch (El Casado) at farming family)
Included Activities
- Hike through Arenal Volcano Park with viewpoints
- Visit to farming family in La Fortuna
- Farm tour including organic plantations, medicinal plants, and nature trails
- Traditional family lunch (El Casado)
Landmarks Arenal Volcano Park Arenal Lake - Day 5
Arenal to Rincón de la Vieja
Leave the Arenal region and head west on a peaceful rubber dinghy ride down the Corobicí River. Watch for birds, monkeys, and iguanas in the tropical dry forest. After that, continue to Rincón de la Vieja.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Rubber dinghy ride on the Corobicí River with wildlife observation
Landmarks Corobicí River Rincón de la Vieja - Day 6
Rincón de la Vieja Hike
Spend the morning on a 2.5 hour hike through high pastureland and tropical dry forest. Along the way, you'll come across hidden waterfalls that make for great photo opportunities.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- 2.5-hour hike through high pastureland and tropical dry forest with waterfall views
Landmarks Rincón de la Vieja National Park - Day 7
Costa Rica to Nicaragua
Cross into Nicaragua at Peñas Blancas with your new tour guide. Travel along Lake Nicaragua to Rivas, then move on to the white village of Catarina for views of Laguna de Apoyo. Stop at the Valentin-López pottery school to learn about indigenous pottery traditions. You'll arrive in Managua by afternoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Border crossing and guide transfer at Peñas Blancas
- Journey along Lake Nicaragua
- Visit to Catarina with views of Laguna de Apoyo
- Visit to Valentin-López pottery school
Landmarks Laguna de Apoyo Lake Nicaragua - Day 8
Managua to León
Take a morning tour of Managua's old town, walking through Parque Central, Revolution Square, the cathedral, and the Palace of Culture. Then head to León Viejo to see the ruins from the first Spanish colonial settlement established 500 years ago. Arrive in León in the afternoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Morning tour of Managua old town including Parque Central, Revolution Square, cathedral, and Palace of Culture
- Visit to León Viejo archaeological site with excavated foundations
Landmarks Parque Central Revolution Square Managua Cathedral Palace of Culture León Viejo - Day 9
León Historic Center & Juan Venado Nature Reserve
Walk around León's historic center visiting the UNESCO cathedral, bishop's palace, allegorical murals, and the Ortíz Gurdian Latin American art gallery. Try tropical fruits at the local market. Climb up the cathedral roof for panoramic city views. In the afternoon, head to the Pacific coast to explore Juan Venado nature reserve by boat, spotting mangrove wildlife and sea turtle projects, then watch the sunset.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Walking tour of León historic center
- Visit to UNESCO cathedral
- Visit to bishop's palace
- Visit to Ortíz Gurdian Latin American art gallery
- Local market exploration with tropical fruit tasting
- Cathedral roof visit with panoramic views
- Boat tour of Juan Venado nature reserve
- Sea turtle protection project visit
Landmarks León Cathedral Juan Venado Nature Reserve - Day 10
Masaya Handicrafts & Volcano National Park to Granada
Drive across the El Crucero plateau along the scenic NN169 road to reach the Masaya handicraft market. Check out a hammock weaving workshop and try Baho, a typical Nicaraguan dish, at a local food stall. Later in the afternoon, visit Masaya Volcano National Park to view the active volcano crater and museum, then head on to Granada.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Visit to Masaya handicraft market
- Hammock weaving workshop visit
- Typical Nicaraguan meal (Baho) tasting at Baho Vilma food stall
- Masaya Volcano National Park visit with crater viewing
- Volcano museum visit
Landmarks Masaya Market Masaya Volcano National Park - Day 11
Granada Colonial City & Isletas de Granada
Walk through Granada's colorful colonial architecture and cobblestone streets, checking out the House of the Three Worlds, Plaza de la Independencia, Franciscan monastery, cathedral, and the church La Merced with its tower for panoramic views. In the afternoon, take a boat trip through Isletas de Granada and watch for herons, kingfishers, ibises, and sand martins.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Granada colonial city
- Visit to House of the Three Worlds
- Visit to Plaza de la Independencia
- Visit to Franciscan monastery
- Visit to Granada cathedral
- Visit to church La Merced with tower climb
- Boat trip through Isletas de Granada with wildlife observation
Landmarks Plaza de la Independencia Granada Cathedral Franciscan Monastery La Merced Church Isletas de Granada Lake Nicaragua - Day 12
Mombacho Cloud Forest & Cigar Factory
After breakfast, hike through the cloud forest of the dormant Mombacho volcano at 1,150 m altitude on roughly a 1.5 hour tour. See diverse flora including orchids and endemic species, and you might spot howler monkeys. Back in Granada by afternoon, you'll visit a cigar manufacturer to learn how traditional cigars are made.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Approximately 1.5-hour hike through Mombacho cloud forest
- Wildlife and plant observation including howler monkeys and orchid species
- Cigar manufacturer visit with cigar-making demonstration
Landmarks Mombacho Volcano - Day 13
Ometepe Island & San Juan del Sur
Travel to San Jorge seaport and take a ferry to the volcanic island of Ometepe. Visit the archaeological museum La Ceiba and head to Charco Verde lagoon to see howler monkeys. In the afternoon, return to the mainland by ferry and continue to San Juan del Sur on the Pacific coast. Explore the coastal town, check out the monument to writers Rubén Darío and Mark Twain, and enjoy sunset views over the ocean.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Ferry to Ometepe Island
- Visit to La Ceiba archaeological museum
- Excursion to Charco Verde howler monkey lagoon
- Ferry return to mainland
- Exploration of San Juan del Sur coastal town
- Visit to Rubén Darío and Mark Twain monument
Landmarks Ometepe Island Concepción Volcano Maderas Volcano Charco Verde San Juan del Sur - Day 14
Nicaragua to Costa Rica & Return to San José
Drive to the Nicaragua Costa Rica border at Peñas Blancas. Your Nicaraguan tour guide will say goodbye at the border. Once you're on the Costa Rican side, get transferred to San José for your final night.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Border crossing at Peñas Blancas
- Transfer to San José
- Day 15
Departure from San José
Tour ends after breakfast. Airport transfer is included, or you can arrange a connecting stay at a beach hotel if preferred (that transfer isn't included).
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Connecting beach hotel stay (transfer not included)
