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Costa Rica Encompassed Independent Adventure
15 days, San José to San José
Itinerary
Day 1San José
Arrive in San José at any time, arrival transfer included.
You will be met at San José International Airport and transferred to your hotel for the night. There are no planned activities, so enjoy the city on your own.
Arrival Transfer
You will be met at the airport and transferred to the hotel to start your adventure.
Arrival Day
Begin your adventure today. There are no planned activities so feel free to explore or rest up for the excitement ahead.
Welcome Meeting for Independent Trips
If you arrive between the hours of 9am and 9pm, a G Adventures CEO will meet you for a brief welcome meeting at your hotel before you head out on your own. Should you arrive before or after these hours, a complete welcome packet will be left for you at your hotel.
Optional Activities - Day 1 HideShow
Central Market (Mercado Central) Visit
San José's Central Market is a riot of sound, smell and souvenirs. Wander up and down the aisles to see everything from handicrafts to rubber boots, fresh fish, flowers, herbal remedies, and pretty much everything else you can imagine. Grab some cheap eats at a food counter. Be sure to protect your valuables.
Costa Rican Art Museum (Museo de Arte Costarricense) Visit
3USD per personVisit the Costa Rican Art Museum located in the former airport terminal in La Sabana Park, west of downtown San José. View historic and contemporary art including drawings, engravings, paintings, sculptures, photographs and videos. Don’t miss the sculpture garden and Salon Dorado (Golden Room) with a gold mural depicting Costa Rica’s history sculpted by French artist Luis Féron Parizot.
Jade Museum (Museo del Jade Marco Fidel Tristán Castro) Visit
15USD per personEnjoy the brand new Jade Museum, housed on five floors of a building next to the Plaza de la Democracia in downtown San José. On display are nearly 7,000 pieces of pre-Columbian jade and a wide variety of archaeological artifacts made out of ceramic, bone, wood, shell and stone dating back to between 500 B.C. and 1500 A.D.
Plaza de La Cultura (Main Plaza) Visit
Start your exploration of San José in the main plaza, a great place to people-watch. A mime, juggler, marimba band, magician, or storyteller may be performing for whatever is collected when the hat is passed. Artisan booths are common, creating a regular arts and crafts fair atmosphere. Watch out for the pigeons!
Plaza de La Democracia Market Visit
Head to the Plaza de la Democracia for a good selection of souvenirs. From carved wooden bowls and figurines, to jewelry, t-shirts and textiles, this is a great outdoor market to shop. Bargaining is expected.
Pre-Columbian Gold Museum (Museo del Oro Precolombino) Visit
11USD per personThe Gold Museum is located underneath the Plaza de la Cultura near the National Theatre in downtown San José. See some 1,600 pieces of Pre-Columbian gold, as well as ancient Costa Rican currency, all owned by the Central Bank of Costa Rica.
Day 2San José/Tortuguero
Travel first by bus, then by boat through the Tortuguero canals.
Depending on availability, we will be staying at either Pachira Lodge or Evergreen Lodge.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Pick up time is between 5:30-6:30am - please see your welcome package for specific times.
Small Canal Boat
Climb in and let your pilot navigate your through the canals.
Tortuguero Village Visit
Visit the small village of Tortuguero with rivers and canals on one side and the Caribbean beach on the other. Walk past humble houses of wood and metal roofs. Meet locals (with a mix of Hispanic, Miskito Indian and Afro-Caribbean heritage) and find out more about life in a town whose economy benefits greatly from sea turtle tourism.
Meals included:
Breakfast | Lunch | DinnerDay 3Tortuguero
Enjoy your time here, chilling out at the lodge and observing the abundant wildlife in the national park.
Optional Activities - Day 3 HideShow
Tortuguero Canopy zipline
Soar above the coastal rainforest on a zip line adventure. Tortuguero Canopy has eleven platforms, seven zip lines, and four hanging bridges.
Tortuguero National Park Visit
Take a guided walk along the trails surrounding the lodge to learn more about the flora and fauna of the jungle. Learn about the delicate ecosystem and get a close up view of some of the frogs and insects that play an important part in nature's cycle.
If touring by boat, sit back and prepare to witness a parade of tropical birds, reptiles and mammals as you motor through the black water canals of the Tortuguero NP. Scan the trees for toucans, watch the shores for caimans, otters, iguanas and frogs, and look up to see monkeys sharing space with sloths. Bring your binoculars and bug spray. Be prepared for hot, humid and possibly wet weather.
Turtle Nesting Night Excursion (Seasonal)
51USD per personHead out at night to visit the nesting grounds of the green and leatherback turtles (seasonal) on the beaches of Tortuguero National Park. Learn about the turtles' nesting process and hopefully see females lay eggs, during this once-in-a-lifetime wildlife experience.
Meals included:
Breakfast | Lunch | DinnerDay 4Tortuguero/La Fortuna
Transfer to the Arenal region. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure and opt to soak in the hot springs.
Small Canal Boat
Climb in and let your pilot navigate your through the canals.
Travel south, back through steamy jungle canals and natural rivers to the port.
Shared Van
Climb aboard and make friends with your seatmate en route to the next stop.
Optional Activities - Day 4 HideShow
Hot Springs Soak
42-84USD per personAfter a long day of exploring, take a relaxing soak in the hot springs around La Fortuna. Situated at the base of the Arenal Volcano, immerse yourself in therapeutic waters heated by earth’s magma and infused with healing minerals and salts. Rejuvenate your muscles, detox your cells, and stimulate all your senses in nature’s thermal spa. Breathe in the pure rainforest air and marvel at the mystic surroundings of these outdoor pools of paradise.
Day 5La Fortuna
Today is free and there is no shortage of activities available, or take some time to relax at your hotel.
There are lots of optional tours available. La Fortuna is one of the centres of adventure travel in Costa Rica. Options include river rafting, mountain biking, caving, or horseback riding. Don’t forget about the hot springs, heated directly by Arenal Volcano's lava.
Your Discover Moment
There's plenty to see and do in La Fortuna, and we wanted to make sure that you had some time to take it all in. Feel free to relax or try optional activities like canyoneering, whitewater rafting, and paddleboarding. Your CEO has more ideas if you need them. Just ask!
Optional Activities - Day 5 HideShow
Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge Tour
65USD per personTravel north to Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge near the Nicaraguan border. Take a guided tour by covered boat through one of the world’s most important wetlands; home to a vast array of plants, birds, reptiles, fish, and mammals. Keep your eyes peeled and you may see a three-toed sloth or a Jesus Christ lizard. Please note the price listed does not include the IVA Tax.
Mountain Biking
79USD per personRent a bike and head off along one of the backroads outside of town. Take the road to San Ramon and turn right on the road toward the waterfall. Or take a guided cycling tour and pick one of three routes of varying difficulty. Please note the price listed does not include the IVA Tax.
Whitewater Rafting
61-86USD per personPull on your bathing suit and water shoes, don a helmet and prepare to get wet and wild. Guided by expert leaders, paddle through Class II-IV rapids as you raft past spectacular scenery. Feel the burn, work up a sweat, then cool off in the pure river water. Experience the energy and excitement and enjoy! Minimum age: 8-12 depending on rapid class.
Lost Canyon Adventures Canyoning
99USD per personHold on tight and get ready to rappel down the face of rushing waterfalls. Fear and fun collide in the rainforest as you throw caution to the monkeys and launch yourself into nature. Get soaked and feel completely alive. Trek through rivers and keep your eyes peeled for exotic birds and wildlife. Let the action begin! Please note the price listed does not include the IVA Tax. Minimum age: 8.
Venado Caves Exploration
78USD per personDuck your head and enter an underground world formed some 15 million years ago. The Venado Caves are 45 min NW of Fortuna. Ford rivers, crawl through caverns, and marvel at the strange stalactites, stalagmites and subterranean inhabitants including bats, frogs, and spiders. Not ideal if you get anxious in closed spaces. Great for those who want to channel their inner Indiana Jones. Please note the price listed does not include the IVA Tax.
Canopy Tour
Join a canopy tour (zipline) and catch a bird’s-eye view of the forest greenery as you speed through the jungle on cables.
Hanging Bridges
75USD per personCome join the monkeys and perhaps spot a sloth lazing in the treetops of this protected rainforest that’s set in the shadows of the Arenal Volcano. Trek 3km (2 mi) of winding trails up, down, across, and over 16 different bridges. One of higher suspended bridges overlooks a gorgeous gorge and 60m (37 mi) waterfall. Look up and down to spot birds, snakes, frogs, lizards, howler monkeys, and more. Don’t forget to bring binoculars, bug spray, and a long lens as you reach new heights in the canopy of Costa Rica. Please note the price listed does not include the IVA Tax.
Horseback Riding
59USD per personThrow on some long pants, grab the reins and hop up on a well-trained horse. Trail ride through the tropical forest near the base of the Arenal Volcano. Listen for howler monkeys and look for toucans in the trees. If time, take the road toward San Ramon and look for the turnoff to visit the Fortuna waterfall.
Hot Springs Soak
42-84USD per personAfter a long day of exploring, take a relaxing soak in the hot springs around La Fortuna. Situated at the base of the Arenal Volcano, immerse yourself in therapeutic waters heated by earth’s magma and infused with healing minerals and salts. Rejuvenate your muscles, detox your cells, and stimulate all your senses in nature’s thermal spa. Breathe in the pure rainforest air and marvel at the mystic surroundings of these outdoor pools of paradise.
La Fortuna Waterfall Swim
20USD per personTake a walk, taxi, or horse just outside the town of La Fortuna to the nearby waterfall. Once at the gate, pay a fee then start the descent on rough steps (more than 500 of them!) to get to the base of the falls. The water cascades 65m (200 ft) down the side of the dormant Cerro Chato. Sit on the rocks, get sprayed, watch for iridescent blue morpho butterflies and then plunge into the cool waters. Please note the price listed does not include the IVA Tax.
Day 6La Fortuna/Monteverde
Transfer to Monteverde and the cloud forest. Opt to visit the cheese factory or butterfly gardens.
This mountain community is very different from those on the coast, and has several co-operatives worth visiting, including artist collectives, souvenir shops and the Quaker cheese factory, which is definitely worth a visit. Make sure to try their delicious ice cream.
Shared Van
Climb aboard and make friends with your seatmate en route to the next stop.
Free Time
Enjoy the afternoon. opt to explore the town.
Optional Activities - Day 6 HideShow
Monteverde Butterfly Garden Visit
20USD per personGet close to butterflies, bump into giant bugs, and make friends with hairy eight-legged spiders in this collection of gardens nestled in the mountains of Monteverde. Observe caterpillars, take prize-worthy photos of the iridescent blue morpho butterfly, and check out the leaf-cutter ant colony. The nature centre is home to 30 species of butterfly, a whole bunch of insects, and more.
Monteverde Cheese Factory Visit
12USD per personIn search of a more peaceful lifestyle, a group of Quaker dairy farmers settled in Monteverde and by 1953, incorporated the cheese factory producing the country’s first pasteurized cheese. Now the second largest cheese maker in Costa Rica, learn about the production of its 17 varieties, sample Gouda, Swiss, provolone, as well as caramels, milkshakes and ice cream (with flavours that include coffee, coconut, mango and pineapple) and learn how the factory provides work for more than 300 farmers and families in the central highlands.
Day 7Monteverde
Today is free to visit the Cloud Forest Reserve and/or zip through the treetops on one of the world’s longest zip line systems.
Optional activities include the Sky Walk, a series of suspension bridges through the jungle canopy, a butterfly garden and a thrilling canopy zip line. Or take a guided walk through the reserve. Local guides are extremely knowledgeable about the area and passionate about conservation of this precious ecosystem.
Your Discover Moment
There's plenty to see and do in Monteverde, and we wanted to make sure that you had some time to take it all in. Feel free to relax or try optional activities like ziplining, visiting the hanging bridges, and horseback riding. Your CEO has more ideas if you need them. Just ask!
Optional Activities - Day 7 HideShow
Canopy Zipline
45USD per personBuckle up your harness, don your helmet and prepare to launch. Glide along cables suspended high above the cloud forest canopy. Dare to let go and reach top speeds as you zip past stunning scenery. Forget your fear as you spot a toucan or exotic orchid as you whizz by on one of the world’s longest zip line systems.
Monteverde Butterfly Garden Visit
20USD per personGet close to butterflies, bump into giant bugs, and make friends with hairy eight-legged spiders in this collection of gardens nestled in the mountains of Monteverde. Observe caterpillars, take prize-worthy photos of the iridescent blue morpho butterfly, and check out the leaf-cutter ant colony. The nature centre is home to 30 species of butterfly, a whole bunch of insects, and more.
Monteverde Cheese Factory Visit
12USD per personIn search of a more peaceful lifestyle, a group of Quaker dairy farmers settled in Monteverde and by 1953, incorporated the cheese factory producing the country’s first pasteurized cheese. Now the second largest cheese maker in Costa Rica, learn about the production of its 17 varieties, sample Gouda, Swiss, provolone, as well as caramels, milkshakes and ice cream (with flavours that include coffee, coconut, mango and pineapple) and learn how the factory provides work for more than 300 farmers and families in the central highlands.
Santa Elena Cloud Forest Visit
35-50USD per personPull on your poncho and boots and head into the cloud-covered forest, past over-sized ferns and exotic orchids. Harness your inner Tarzan as you imagine swinging from the forest’s giant vines, trudge along 12 km of trails, watch for wildlife and trek to the top of the observation tower. Be sure to stop and listen too. Hear the haunting hollow call of the bellbird and perhaps catch sight of the brilliant green and red resplendent quetzal. Feel good about protecting the preserve and sustaining the quality of local schools through payment of your park fees.
Sky Walk
55USD per personGet up high to see the tree tops of Monteverde’s Cloud Forest from a bird’s eye view. Cross a series of suspension bridges to discover the early ropes and pulleys that early biologists required to glimpse – a lush, green vista accented by bromeliads, vines, and orchids. Wonder at this wet canopy, home to thousands of species of birds, small animals, amphibians and insects (making up 90% of all the organisms in the forest).
Day 8Monteverde/Rincón de la Vieja Volcano
Transfer to the slopes of the Rincón de la Vieja Volcano.
Shared Van
Climb aboard and make friends with your seatmate en route to the next stop.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Day 9Rincón de la Vieja Volcano
Free day for optional activities. Embark on excursions into the national park to horseback ride, hike or visit the natural hot springs and mud baths.
Rincón de la Vieja NP is a prehistoric type of place, where sulfuric mud ponds bubble and ooze, geysers release jets of steam, and after a bit of a hike, you end up at a gorgeous waterfall.
Free Time
Optional activities include: horseback riding, mountain biking or visit the Blue Lagoon.
Optional Activities - Day 9 HideShow
Blue Lagoon Visit
Visit the Blue Lagoon, one of the most unique sights in the park. Hike 30 minutes from the entrance and prepare to be wowed by this incredibly blue lagoon, the result of special minerals in the underlying stones. Feel the energy and positive ions given off by the large waterfall which constantly replenishes the lagoon. Magic!
Horseback Riding
The Rincón de la Vieja area is known for its wide expansive pastures, rolling hills, and long horizons that stretch out toward the Pacific. Hop on a horse and trail ride through the scenic Costa Rican countryside.
Mountain Biking
Rincón de la Vieja has numerous trails for mountain biking in and around the national park. Wear a hat and bandana, and bring water with you. It gets hot!
Volcanic Mud Bath and Hot Springs
Visit natural hot springs which give rise to very hot mountain streams; sulfuric ponds filled with bubbling mud. Dare to step in and get muddy. Soak in the hot, therapeutic waters and feel invigorated and alive.
Day 10Rincón de la Vieja Volcano/Quepos
Travel south-west to the lush tropical shores of the Pacific coast.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Shared Van
Climb aboard and make friends with your seatmate en route to the next stop.
Days 11–13Quepos
Take the day to relax at the beach or opt to hike or visit the town.
If you are interested in activities, opt to visit Manuel Antonio NP. Although this is Costa Rica’s smallest national park, it is also one of the most popular and it won’t take you long to see why. It has fabulous beaches, abundant wildlife, and a great trail system for those who want to spend some time hiking and then cool off in the ocean.
Your Discover Moment
There's plenty to see and do in Quepos, and we wanted to make sure that you had some time to take it all in. Feel free to relax or try optional activities like visiting Manuel Antonio National Park, mangrove kayaking, and surfing. Your CEO has more ideas if you need them. Just ask!
Optional Activities - Days 11–13 HideShow
Boogie Boarding
8USD per personThrow on your bathing suit and head to beaches near Quepos and Manuel Antonio. Rent a boogie board and spend the day bodysurfing the waves. Hang out with the locals and enjoy some saltwater fun in the sun.
Hiking
Pack your sunscreen, snack, and hiking shoes. Head out for a great day in Costa Rica’s smallest national park. Manual Antonio offers four white-sand beaches, separated by jagged rock outcrops and tidal pools. Hike on shaded trails to search for sloths, monkeys, and armadillos. Climb to the lookout to capture views of the pristine Pacific Ocean and the area’s off-shore islands.
Kayaking
70USD per personChoose to kayak the calm waters of the mangroves or paddle the waves of the Pacific. In the Damas Island estuary, the ocean meets fresh water rivers and creates a protected home for birds, snakes, crocodiles, and white face monkeys. For the more adventurous, opt for an open-seat ocean kayak and paddle along the shoreline and nearby islands, keeping an eye out for frigates, boobies, and jumping fish. Minimum age: 6-8 depending on tour type.
Sailing
Slap on some sunscreen and hop aboard as we set sail along the rugged Pacific Coast of Manuel Antonio National Park on a catamaran. Bask in the beauty of the white-sand beaches and small islands that accent the shoreline. Keep watch for dolphins, rays, and migrating whales. Hop into the warm water and snorkel with more than 50 species of colourful tropical fish.
Surfing
55-75USD per personSlather on the sunscreen, strap on a leash, pull on a rash guard, and get ready to hit the waves. Experience the surf at the beaches near Quepos and Manuel Antonio with their left, right, and well-shaped beach breaks. Take a lesson, learn tips and techniques, then hang ten like a local.
Swimming
Quepos, north of Manuel Antonio, is Costa Rica’s most popular spot for blue water sport fishing. Depending on the season, hope to hook marlin, sailfish, tuna, snook and dorado (mahi mahi). Slather on the sunscreen, strap on your sunglasses, cast out your line and get ready to reel in a big one.
Day 14Quepos/San José
Head back to the capital for one last night on the town.
Shared Van
Climb aboard and make friends with your seatmate en route to the next stop.
Day 15San José
Depart at any time. Departure transfer included.
Shared Van
Climb aboard and make friends with your seatmate en route to the next stop.