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Costa Rica Encounter Independent Adventure
8 days, San José to San José
Itinerary
Day 1San José
Arrive in San José at any time. Arrival transfer is 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 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.
Arrival Transfer
You will be met at the airport and transferred to the hotel to start your adventure.
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/La Fortuna
Transfer to the Arenal region. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure and opt to soak in the hot springs.
Shared Van
Climb aboard and make friends with your seatmate en route to the next stop.
Free Time
Enjoy the afternoon and opt to visit the hot springs.
Optional Activities - Day 2 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 3La 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 3 HideShow
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.
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.
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.
Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge Tour
65-133USD 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.
Day 4La Fortuna/Quepos
Travel southwest to the lush tropical shores of the Pacific coast.
Shared Van
Climb aboard and make friends with your seatmate en route to the next stop.
Free Time
Opt to take a walk around this coastal town or visit the beach.
Days 5–6Quepos
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 cooling 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 5–6 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 7Quepos/San José
Transfer back to the capital for the last night.
Shared Van
Climb aboard and make friends with your seatmate en route to the next stop.
Day 8San José
Depart at any time.