Costa Rica Essentials and Guanacaste Extension: 10-Day Supersaver Tour

Explore Costa Rica: A 10-Day Journey Through Paradise

Enjoy the many highlights of Costa Rica on this ten-day itinerary, including wonderful rainforests, volcano, cloud forests and sunny beaches. Discover a country of great natural beauty, whether you are watching the Arenal volcano whilst bathing in hot springs, walking in the canopy of Monteverdes cloud forest, relaxing on the pristine jungle of Tortuguero. Enjoy a tropical stay at Samara, a sunny beach, with perfect landscapes and the environment that surrounds it offers an ideal place to relax and have a good time.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

San Jose: Costa Ricas vibrant capital city was founded in the mid-18th century, boasting great cultural and historical landmarks. Visit its museums, the European-inspired National Theatre and stroll the charming alleys of its historic neighbourhoods.

Tortuguero: This park is home to the nesting grounds of the green sea turtles, offering spectacular beaches and fantastic opportunities to spot wild animals and birds.

Arenal: Admire one of the most beautiful volcanoes in the country and its mesmerizing park, dotted with trails and rich in wildlife.

Monteverde: Settled by American Quakers in the 1950s, this primary cloud forest is made out of six unique life zones, hosting many endangered species, as well as a variety of fascinating plants.

Samara Beach: Lets explore the clear waters of Samara, home of the bottlenose and spotted dolphins. Also, this is a migratory route for humpback whales that are heading south during certain times of the year. Discover the underwater sea life with snorkelling gear.

Itinerary

Day 1: Upon arrival to bustling San Jose, our representative will meet and greet you and then direct you to your shared transport, which will drop you off at your hotel in San Jose for your night in Costa Rica. Overnight in San Jose.

Day 2: Your day begins early with a pick up at the hotel approximately 6:30 am. Embark on the shared bus transfer and travel through the Braulio Carrillo National Park towards the Caribbean plains to enjoy the spectacular mountain scenery and quaint villages. Indulge in a tasty breakfast en route at around 8:30 am in a restaurant in Guapiles and continue through the jungle by boat, cruising the rivers and canals of Tortuguero National Park. Arrive at your eco-lodge in time to enjoy a tasty lunch (included). After lunch, your guide will invite you to go for a hike around Tortuguero town. Visit the Turtles Museum ($1 donation) and come back for dinner at your hotel. Overnight in Tortuguero.

Day 3: Make most of your stay in Tortuguero. After breakfast, at 9:00 am join a tour for a 2-hour boat trip on the Tortuguero canals, an essential activity while in Costa Rica. Discover its network of canals, lagoons and dense rainforests through a boat tour guided by an expert naturalist guide. Abundant wildlife inhabits Tortuguero, including 57 species of amphibians, 111 species of reptiles, and 60 species of mammals. Rest of day at leisure or possibility to join some optional tours available in the destination. Lunch included and dinner served at the hotel. Overnight in hotel in Tortuguero.

Day 4: After breakfast, we depart Tortuguero at approximately 9:00 am, by shared boat and land transfers back to Guapiles, where we stop for lunch in a local restaurant at around 1:00 pm (included). After a tasty meal, you will be picked up by a shared transfer and taken to the Arenal area. Arrive at Arenal at 5:00 pm for check-in and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. Overnight in Arenal.

Day 5: After breakfast, you will be picked up at your hotel to start Hiking Lava Trails. Explore the Arenal Volcano on a hike along the lava trails of this giant. During the hike, the expert guide will explain you all about the volcano: its activity periods, a little bit of history related to it and will show you some landmarks that were left over the years. Admire its particular vegetation and watch some wildlife. Return to the hotel and relax in the hot springs. Escape to a natural paradise at the hotel with all the necessary services to make you feel relaxed surrounded by the peace and serenity of the rainforest. Sheltered by the impressive Arenal Volcano, enjoy the natural hot springs thanks to the geothermal activity of the volcano. Immerse yourself in the rainforest and live an experience of a sanctuary of relaxation, privacy and tranquillity. Overnight in Arenal.

Day 6: Begin the day with an early breakfast at the hotel, followed by check-out and then meet your guide at approximately 7:30 am to head towards Monteverde. Transfer down to Arenal Lake where you will board a boat that will take you across towards Monteverde, where you will arrive at approximately 11:30 am. Once on the other side, a vehicle awaits to take you up to Monteverde. Admire the transition of the rainforest to the cloud forest where you will reach an altitude of 1,200 metres above sea level. Located in the Puntarenas province, Monteverde is a place of cloud forests and mist, coffee plantations, monkeys and friendly locals. The town of Santa Elena is small and quaint, filled with inviting restaurants and folksy artisan shops, while the nearby rainforest hosts a remarkable amount of biodiversity. Enjoy the rest of day at leisure. Overnight in Monteverde.

Day 7: Breakfast at the hotel, and rest of day at leisure to relax or discover on your own the incredible Monteverde Cloud Forest. Overnight in Monteverde.

Day 8: Begin your last day in Monteverde with a delectable breakfast. Then, at the appropriate time, you will be picked up by shared transfer to your next destination. Arrive in Samara Beach, in the North Pacific Coast of Guanacaste Province (check-in around 3:00 pm), and enjoy free time at Samara and its surrounding environment offering you an ideal place to relax and have a good time. With its ideal location along the Pacific Ocean, Samara boasts countless aquatic and outdoor entertainment. Horseback riding, stand up paddleboarding, sport fishing, surfing, canopy tours, yoga and kayaking are just a few of the fun activities you can try out (own expense). Overnight in Samara.

Day 9: Today, after a tasty breakfast at the hotel, you will go 2 to 10 miles offshore from Samara beach where one can feel the ocean breeze while gazing at the coastline scenery during our search for these playful animals. You could be lucky enough to see spotted dolphins, Central American Spinner dolphins, Common Bottlenose Dolphins, and Humpback whales (seasonal from August to November). Along the way back to the coast, we will anchor near the shores of Isla Chora, the delightful white-sand beach full of hermit crabs and iguanas. You can cool off in the clear blue sea while continuing your search for underwater life. Beneath the surface teems a lively, colourful world normally hidden from view. Snack some fruits before heading to shore and be dropped off back at your hotel. Overnight in Samara.

Day 10: After one last breakfast, at the agreed time, pick-up at your hotel in Samara to transfer you to Juan Santamaria Airport Rica to continue your trip.

Inclusions

• Operated with English and Spanish-speaking local guides during the scheduled activities (Day 2, 3, 5, 9). Please note you will be accompanied by local guides for the activities only. There is no guarantee that you will be part of a group, or part of the same group during the tour
• 9 nights’ accommodation
• Accommodation options vary by location and include superior and deluxe hotel categories from reputable hotels such as Park Inn, Real Continental, Grupo Pachira, Arenal Manoa, Tabacon, Monteverde Gardens & Lodge, Hotel Sol Samara, and Hotel Leyenda
• Meals include 9 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches (Day 2, 3, 4), 2 Dinners (Day 2, 3), and Snacks (Day 9)
• Arrival and departure shared transfers from/to Juan Santamaria Airport
• Air-conditioned shared transportation as indicated in the itinerary
• Shared boat from Guapiles to Tortuguero and back (Day 2, 4)
• Boat to Samara waters (Day 9)
• All entrance fees and activities mentioned in the itinerary: Tortuguero village guided visit (Day 2) Tortuguero National Park canals guided boat tour (Day 3), Lava trails hike, Hotsprings at the hotel (Day 5); Ocean Safari Dolphins Whales & Snorkelling (Day 9)
• Meet and greet service
• Hotel taxes

Exclusions

• Services not mentioned in the itinerary
• International and Domestic flights
• Departure taxes
• Visa fees
• Expenditures of a personal nature, drinks and meals or items not stated explicitly in the programme
• Any alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, mineral water, camera/video camera fee (if any)
• Optional tours and activities
• Porterage and gratuities
• Travel Insurance or any loss or extra cost arising due to unforeseen circumstances such as flight delays, accidents, etc.

Enjoy the many highlights of Costa Rica on this ten-day itinerary, including wonderful rainforests, volcano, cloud forests and sunny beaches. Discover a country of great natural beauty, whether you are watching the Arenal volcano whilst bathing in hot springs, walking in the canopy of Monteverdes cloud forest, relaxing on the pristine jungle of Tortuguero. Enjoy a tropical stay at Samara, a sunny beach, with perfect landscapes and the environment that surrounds it offers an ideal place to relax and have a good time.TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

• San Jose: Costa Ricas vibrant capital city was founded in the mid-18th century, boasting great cultural and historical landmarks. Visit its museums, the European-inspired National Theatre and stroll the charming alleys of its historic neighbourhoods.
• Tortuguero: This park is home to the nesting grounds of the green sea turtles, offering spectacular beaches and fantastic opportunities to spot wild animals and birds.
• Arenal: Admire one of the most beautiful volcanoes in the country and its mesmerizing park, dotted with trails and rich in wildlife.
• Monteverde: Settled by American Quakers in the 1950s, this primary cloud forest is made out of six unique life zones, hosting many endangered species, as well as a variety of fascinating plants.
• Samara Beach: Lets explore the clear waters of Samara, home of the bottlenose and spotted dolphins. Also, this is a migratory route for humpback whales that are heading south during certain times of the year. Discover the underwater sea life with snorkelling gear.

Important Notes

• The start times and durations of the transfers are approximate
• In many hotels in Costa Rica, the triple rooms are a double room with an additional bed or sofa bed. Their comfort conditions are lower than the international standards of the triple room
• Hotel early check-in, late check-out, connecting or adjoining rooms are subject to availability and are not guaranteed
• No refund for unused services. Splitting of the package is not allowed
• We reserve the right to change itineraries and activities due to weather conditions, technical problems or security reasons