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Costa Rica Explorer
14 days, San José to San José
Itinerary
Day 1San José
Arrive at any time. Arrival transfer included.
If you arrive early enough, you'll have time to head into the city to visit a museum, shop or visit the main plaza in the city centre.
The plaza is a good 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.
Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group
Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Day 2San José/Tortuguero
Travel to Tortuguero National Park and enjoy guided boat trips and wildlife viewing through the canals and coastal jungle. In leisure time, relax at the secluded lodge or this evening take an optional night boat excursion.
This morning enjoy a delicious Costa Rican breakfast enroute as we transfer by road then boat through the famous canals of Tortuguero. This tropical eco-paradise is home to countless bird and animal species, and you will have many opportunities to view and photograph wildlife.
The tropical rainforest gives way to prime secluded beaches, ideal nesting grounds for Green turtles (nesting July-October) and Loggerhead, Hawksbill and Leatherback Turtles (nesting March-June). We cannot guarantee you will see turtles but odds are fairly good from July through October.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Motorized Canoe
Climb in and move swiftly through the water to the next stop.
Optional Activities - Day 2 HideShow
Tortuguero National Park Guided Night Boat Tour
Travel the canals by night to learn about the incredible biological diversity of the area. Different animals are more active at night and this is the best time for caiman spotting.
Meals included:
Breakfast | Lunch | DinnerDay 3Tortuguero
Enjoy a guided boat trip and jungle walk to enjoy wildlife viewing in search of caiman, monkeys (spider, howler, and white-faced Capuchin), sloths and basilisk lizards.
Plenty of opportunity to see a variety of birds, monkeys and other wildlife. In our downtime, relax at the secluded lodge on a hammock or at the pool or beach. Option to take a zipline excursion or go kayaking.
Tortuguero National Park Guided Boat Tour
Hop on board, kick back, and prepare to witness a parade of tropical birds, reptiles, and mammals as we 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.
Guided Jungle Walk
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.
Duration: About 1hr depending on weather conditions
Distance: 1.5km
Free Time
Relax at the pool or take a walk along the beach.
Optional Activities - Day 3 HideShow
Guided Kayak Excursion
60USD per personGrab a paddle and prepare to witness a parade of tropical birds, reptiles, and mammals as you kayak through the black water canals of the Tortuguero National Park. Scan the trees for toucans, watch the shores for caimans, otters, iguanas, 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.
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.
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
Depart early and enjoy an included snack en route. This afternoon, visit a G Adventures-supported coffee cooperative with a tour and local lunch. Arrive in La Fortuna this evening and relax at the pool taking in jungle and volcano views.
Depart early and enjoy an included snack enroute. This afternoon, visit to a G Adventures-supported coffee cooperative with a tour and local lunch. Arrive in Fortuna this evening and relax at the pool surrounded by jungle and volcano views.
Boat
Climb aboard and get your float on.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Your G for Good Moment: Mi Cafecito Coffee Cooperative Tour
Find out where your cup of java comes from. Visit the Mi Cafecito coffee cooperative in San Miguel de Sarapiqui, see shade-grown coffee plants, learn about everything from harvesting, to husking, drying, and roasting the beans before enjoying the best part – a fresh cup! Enjoy a typical lunch of plantains, beans, and freshly caught tilapia fish. Feel good about all this eating and drinking knowing that you are supporting a G Adventures for Good project that helps 200 farmers and their families.
Meals included:
Breakfast | LunchDay 5La Fortuna
Explore Fortuna and take a tortilla-making lesson followed by a typical lunch with a local family in their home.
Visit a local home and take a tortilla-making lesson followed by a typical lunch with a local family. Option to visit and soak in local hot springs.
Please note that if you booked the Adrenaline Theme Pack, on day 5 you will have an action packed day with both canyoneering and an option of your choice. Canyoneering is approximately 2.5 hours long, with four waterfall repels through the lush rainforests around Costa Rica’s Arenal Volcano.
For your second option, you can choose ONE of the following: stand up paddle (2 hours), half day hike (3 hours), Venado caves (2 hours) or kayak (2 hours).
Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Tortilla Making and Home Dinner
Learn the art of tortilla making from Doña Mara in her family home. Grind the corn, mix the “masa” (dough) into balls, flatten into circles, and then cook them up on a wood-burning stove. Relax with a fresh tropical fruit juice, get to know the family, and hear about the history of tortillas. Afterwards, dig into a tasty “casado” – a typical Costa Rican dish including black beans and plantains – complete with your own hand-made tortillas.
Optional Activities - Day 5 HideShow
Hot Springs
42-84USD per personRelax in the shadow of the Arenal Volcano immersed in therapeutic waters heated by the 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.
Meals included:
Breakfast | LunchDay 6La Fortuna
Free day in La Fortuna. Options include rafting, waterfall rappelling, soaking in local hot springs or take a boat tour of the Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge.
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 6 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.
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.
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
42-84USD per personRelax in the shadow of the Arenal Volcano immersed in therapeutic waters heated by the 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.
Kayaking
65USD per personZip up your life jacket, grab a paddle, and get ready to be wowed by beauty in every direction. Admire Arenal Volcano as you kayak the blue-green waters of Lake Arenal, Central America’s second largest lake. Scan the shores for more than 300 species of birds, listen for howler monkeys, and fish for sharp-toothed rainbow bass. Take time to float and soak in the stunning scenery of the rolling hills, secret coves, and sky that stretches forever.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 7La Fortuna/Monteverde
Travel to Monteverde.
From La Fortuna, we make our way up to the misty mountain air of the Monteverde cloud forest. We spend 2 days exploring the town and nearby Forest Reserve, truly a bird lover’s paradise.
Shared Van
Climb aboard and make friends with your seatmate en route to the next stop.
Boat
Climb aboard and get your float on.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 8Monteverde
Take a guided nature hike in the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve.
Take a guided nature hike in the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve. Afternoon is free for optional activities.
Please note that if you booked the Adrenaline Theme Pack, on day 8 you will have a bird’s-eye view of the rainforest canopy as you soar through the trees on a Tarzan swing, a giant rappel and a 450-foot-high zipline. Tour is approx. 2.5 hours long.
Santa Elena Cloud Forest Guided Tour
Pull on your poncho and boots. It’s time to head into the cloud-covered forest, past over-sized ferns and exotic orchids. Harness your inner Tarzan and Jane as you imagine swinging from the giant vines. Walk along 2 to 3km (about 1.5 mi) of trails at a leisurely pace, watch for wildlife, and trek to the top of the observation tower. Be sure to stop and listen, too. Hear the haunting call of the bellbird and perhaps catch sight of the brilliant green and red resplendent quetzal. Feel good about protecting the forest and sustaining the quality of local schools through payment of your park fees.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 9Monteverde
Free time to explore Monteverde.
Free time to explore all that Monteverde has to offer. Saddle up and go horseback riding. Zip-line through the jungle canopy. Wobble bravely over suspension bridges. Visit the butterfly garden and take close-up photos.
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 9 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.
Hanging Bridges Monteverde
56-60USD per personGet up high to see the tree tops of Monteverde’s Cloud Forest from a bird’s-eye view. Cross a series of hanging bridges to discover what biologists once required (ropes and pulleys) to glimpse the lush, green vista accented by bromeliads, vines, and orchids. Wonder at this wet canopy, home to 90% of all the organisms in the forest, including thousands of species of birds, small animals, amphibians, and insects.
Monteverde Coffee Plantation Tour
40USD per personNo trip to Costa Rica is complete without visiting a coffee plantation. Head to Café Monteverde and learn how this fair trade coffee goes from crop to cup. Pick ripe berries, watch how the beans are separated from the husk, then observe the drying and roasting process. Sample and buy some of these excellent beans. The Santa Elena coffee co-op prides itself on sustainable practices: it recycles processing water, uses coffee pulp for fertilizer, and sends plant fibers and husks to make paper.
Monteverde Horseback Riding
45USD per personEnjoy Monteverde’s breath-giving wilderness by horseback. Spot toucans, bellbirds, and parrots as you ride through private mountain trails along the primary and secondary forest. Meet monkeys, see sloths, and possibly glimpse the Gulf of Nicoya through the clouds. Take photos, inhale the pure air, and let your horse lead you on this memorable meander in misty Monteverde.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 10Monteverde/Manuel Antonio
Drive to Manuel Antonio and enjoy a guided walk in the scenic national park. Enjoy the laid-back atmosphere of the Pacific coast with options to surf, go horseback riding, or visit nearby picturesque beaches.
The white sand beaches and warm Pacific waters are the ideal atmosphere to relax at the end of your adventure. If you opt to chill out at the beach, be sure to walk out into the sea on the incredible natural sand formation that shapes a whale's tale when the tide goes out.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Optional Activities - Day 10 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.
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.
Whale and Dolphin Watching
65-80USD per personTake to the open seas in search of spotted dolphins and migrating humpback whales. Costa Rica’s warm waters create ideal conditions to grow plankton – the primary food source for these delightful creatures. Keep your eyes peeled for sea turtles and manta rays as well. Navigate small islands, past jagged cliffs and big boulders, the nesting grounds of marine birds such as pelicans, ibises, and boobies.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 11Manuel Antonio
Take an included day trip to Manuel Antonio National Park.
Take an included day trip to Manuel Antonio National Park. After enjoy free time at the public beach.
Manuel Antonio National Park Visit
Pack your sunscreen, snack, and beach shoes and prepare for a great day in Costa Rica’s smallest, yet no less stunning, national park. Manuel Antonio offers four white-sand beaches separated by jagged rock outcrops and tidal pools where you can swim, snorkel, and sunbathe. When you’re all beached out, head to the shade of the nearby hiking 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.
Today's walking distance within the park is 3km and will take about 2-3 hours alongside a local guide.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 12Manuel Antonio
Free time to explore Manuel Antonio and the National Park with option to surf, go horseback riding, or visit nearby picturesque beaches.
Free time to explore Manuel Antonio and the National Park with option to surf, go horseback riding, or visit nearby picturesque beaches.
Your Discover Moment
There's plenty to see and do in Manuel Antonio, 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 - Day 12 HideShow
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.
Horseback Riding
69USD per personThrow on some long pants, grab the reins, and hop up on a well-trained horse. Trail ride through the tropical forest and rivers and across the area’s most beautiful landscape. Look for toucans in the trees and admire the ocean views. End your horseback journey with the opportunity to swim under a beautiful waterfalls.
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.
Snorkelling
Book a special boat trip or simply rent a mask and fins on Playa Espadilla, just north of the entrance to Manuel Antonio’s national park. Explore the reefs and volcanic rock formations in the warm salt water. Float amongst schools of tropical fish. Look for crabs and clams. Don’t forget your sunscreen or, better yet, wear a t-shirt so you don’t burn your back!
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.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 13Manuel Antonio/San José
Return to San José for an optional farewell dinner with the group.
Travelling across picturesque highlands, we return to San José for one last night in the city.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 14San José
Depart at any time.
Departure day, depart at any time.
Departure Day
Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.