Day by day itinerary:
Day 01: Arrival at San Jose, Costa Rica. Hotel Sleep Inn. Transfer to hotel in San Jose. After passing through Immigration you will be met by one of our representatives. He will take you to your hotel and give you your welcome kit. Overnight in San Jose City. The hotel is located in the cultural district of San José, close to numerous restaurants, theaters and shops and within walking distance to the most important cultural sites.
Day 02: Transfer to Tortuguero National Park. Pachira Lodge. Early in the morning a bilingual guide will meet you at the Hotel. The park has a great biological variety, due to the existence within the reserve of eleven different habitats, including rainforest, swamps, beaches, and lagoons. The park is located on the Caribbean coast, and its beaches are key nesting ground for endangered sea turtles, such as Hawksbill, Loggerheads, Green and Leatherbacks. The rivers within the park are home to sensitive populations of manatees, as well as caimans, crocodiles, and Tropical Gar, which is considered a living fossil. The forests are home to jaguars, three-toed sloths, and three of Costa Rica's four species of monkey. Basilisk lizards and poisonous frogs also inhabit the area, along with 375 species of birds including kingfishers, toucans, blue herons, peacocks, and parrots. There are more than 400 species of trees and approximately 2,200 species of plants.
Day 03: Tortuguero National Park. Pachira Lodge. Opportunity to explore the Tortuguero National Park area. Hiking and boat trips are included.On turtle nesting season (July to October), there is an optional tour at night available upon request at the hotel (Not included).
Day 04: Pick up rental car. Self drive to Puerto Viejo. Cariblue Hotel. Located in front of Cocles Beach (awarded with the Costa Rican Government Blue Flag for clean beaches), at the South Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica. Just a few steps from the Caribbean Sea, with the tropical rainforest in background.
Day 05: Puerto Viejo. Cariblue Hotel.
Day 06 & 07: Self drive to Sarapiqui. La Quinta Country Inn. More than 400 bird species have been recorded in this area (50% of the species of Costa Rica). On a curve along the Sardinal River, the hotel offers spacious rooms in bungalows surrounded by a beautiful, tropical garden full of heliconias, ginger, palms & flowering trees. Hotel services include a restaurant that offers delicious food. There also is a swimming pool, butterfly garden and poison dart frog garden on the property.
Day 08: Self drive to Arenal Volcano. Hotel Arenal Springs. The Arenal Volcano National Park lies within the Arenal Conservation Area, protecting eight of Costa Rica's 12 life zones and 16 protected reserves in the region between the Guanacaste and Tilarán mountain ranges, and including Lake Arenal. Arenal Volcano has been constantly active since it woke up after 400 years. One of the world's most active volcanos; Arenal produces huge ash columns, explosions and glowing red lava almost every day. Fascinating fauna and flora exist here in amazing quantities making this a prime location for viewing many many different species of both plants and animals.
Day 09: Arenal Volcano. Hotel Arenal Springs. Optional tours: Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge, Tour To the Arenal Volcano and Tabacón Resort Hot Springs, Sport Fishing in the Arenal Lake, Arenal Volcano Hike Tour, Mountain Biking, Venado Caves Tour, horseback Riding to Arenal Volcano, Peñas Blancas Safari Float.
Day 10: Self drive to Rincón de la Vieja. Hacienda Guachipelin. Along the Pan American highway you will discover Guanacaste and Rincon de la Vieja National Park. Hacienda Guachipelin is a lodge located near beautiful waterfalls that can be discovered by horse or hiking. There are rivers, waterfalls, natural pools, thermal waters, volcanic mud, tropical forests, birds, mammals, reptiles, insects and more. In the National Park exist countless attractions, waterfalls, boiling mud pools, vapor vents, thermal waters, sulfur springs, a volcanic crater and a lake on the mountain summit.
Day 11: Rincón de la Vieja. Hacienda Guachipelin.
Day 12: Self drive to Samara. Hotel Giada. Playa Samara is one of the nicest beaches on the Nicoya Peninsula. Not only is it a wide and beautiful, sandy beach but it is also very safe for swimming as there is a coral reef protecting the coast from waves and currents. Snorkeling, windsurfing and diving are some of the popular water sport activities available in this area. The vacation homes of many wealthy Costa Ricans dot the landscape. Even though Sámara is somewhat secluded, you can find and buy anything you might need during your stay.
Day 13-14: Samara Beach. Hotel Giada.
Day 15: Selfdrive to Monteverde. Trapp Family Lodge. The spectacular Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve is a very important and popular ecotourism destination in Costa Rica. With its unique cloud canopy, this biological reserve located in Puntarenas province is 6 km east of the town of Santa Elena. Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve is one of the most stunning and breathtaking nature reserves in the entire world. Unlike rainforests, cloud forests usually receive much less rain in comparison. However, because a cloud forest is situated at a higher altitude, it has more humidity and is therefore cloudier than a rainforest. This biological reserve sits at an elevation of between 1,200 m to 1,600 m, and is surrounded by a misty cover that supports a fantastic diversity of flora and fauna. Often creating a surreal environment, this reserve is considered to be among the most exceptional wildlife sanctuaries in the New World Tropics.
Day 16: Monteverde. Trapp Family Lodge. Optional tours: Sky Walk or Sky Trek, Canopy Tour, Selvatura, etc.
Day 17: Self drive to Tambor. Tango Mar Hotel. An unspoiled beach! Tango Mar is located along the Nicoya Peninsula in a 150 acre facilities. From the own resident howler monkeys, the surrounding jungle is just teeming with wildlife and offers some of the most breathing taking flora and fauna in the country.
Day 18 -19: Tambor. Tango Mar Hotel.
Day 20: Self drive to San José. El Rodeo Country Inn. Car drop Off.
Day 21: Transfer out to Intermational Airport.