This program includes the most interesting and popular highlights of Costa Rica. This is a great option for those travelers who are visiting the country for the first time and would like to know it in the best way possible having a little taste the food, the customs of the country and experiencing how friendly the Costa Ricans are.
The area of the Tortuguero National Park is only accessible by boat or by a small aircraft. You will be entering by boat, through the different waterways along and the abundant flora and fauna located in the middle of the Tropical Rainforest definitely turn this place into a true ecotourism paradise. Tortuguero will provide a panoramic view of how the Caribbean side of our country lives. Our next destination will be taken you to the Northern Plains, where the famous Arenal Volcano is located, with its almost perfect conic shape, immense in an area with a gran Variety of attractions and activities to do, making the area a must place to visit.
The journey continues to the Monteverde area, which has captured the worldwide attention of biologists, conservationists, and ecologists and has been the setting for extensive investigation over the past 45 years. The area is known for its spectacular scenes and the diverse rich tropical cloud forest. In addition, the alpine like weather, will revive the rural experience of our country.
We have included three hotel categories for your selection: Standard, Superior and Deluxe.
Program summary:
Day 1: Arrival to San Jose International Airport (SJO) and overnight in San Jose
Day 2: Tortuguero // Visit to Tortuguero Village
Day 3: Tortuguero // Visit to Tortuguero National Park secondary canals
Day 4: Arenal Volcano
Day 5: Arenal Volcano// Visit to Arenal Volcano surroundings & Tabacon Hot Springs
Day 6: Monteverde
Day 7: Monteverde // Visit to Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve
Day 8: San Jose
Day 9: Departure transfer to San Jose International Airport (SJO)
Day by Day Itinerary
Day 1: SJO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT – SAN JOSE
Arrival at the Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO). A Swiss Travel representative will meet upon your arrival, at the main International arrival exit of the Airport. At that time will provide you with all the necessary documentation that you will need during your vacation such as day by day itinerary, general important information, phone number contacts and eventually respond to any doubt that you might have. Afterwards you will be transferred to your selected Hotel in the San Jose area, for a one-night stay.
Day 2: SAN JOSE – TORTUGUERO NATIONAL PARK
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Early in the morning, you will depart from San Jose to the North Caribbean Plains, where the most important attraction is the Tortuguero National Park, one of the most exuberant national parks in Costa Rica. On the way, you will be ascending through the Central Volcanic mountain range where you will appreciate from the bus, beautiful waterfalls and the always-green forests, which adorn the Braulio Carrillo National Park. As you reach the Caribbean plains you will notice a change in the climate, as it becomes a bit warmer and humid but pleasant.
After breakfast on route, the journey will continue passing very likely through banana fields and getting deeper in the rural roads until reaching a local dock where the boats are waiting to transfer you to Tortuguero. An approximate one and half hour boat ride, will take you through the canals sheltered in the jungle of the rain forest. From the boat, you will be able to admire the unique flora and fauna of this area, along with different types of birds. Upon arrival and check in at your select lodge in the Tortuguero area, there could be a short briefing of the lodge, activities and afterwards lunch. Lodging for the next two nights at your selected lodge in the area.
In the afternoon, you will visit the village of Tortuguero, where you will learn the lifestyle of local residents. As per example the different coloring of their homes surrounded by the gorgeous canals and in general also to know the significant conservation efforts that some NGOs (non-governmental organizations) have developed to protect the sea turtles that come to spawn each year along the 20 miles of the protected coastline.
Day 3: TORTUGUERO NATIONAL PARK
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
During this day, you will explore (by boat) some of the secondary canals in this paradisiacal place, having the opportunity to observe in a closer form the nature that surrounds it. Many natural navigable canals and lagoons, which crosses the park, offers the opportunity to contemplate the biological diversity of this region. We can point out the variety of birds, turtles, reptiles, the forests and even some mammals. The park has a total of 76,316 protected hectares, with approximately 26,156 land with the different Canals and deltas, in which mostly is to conserve the wetlands and there is a bigger protected portion of the park which covers beaches and the sea (specially created to protect the sea turtle). The average annual rainfall is between 4,500 a 6,000mm.
Rest of the day at leisure.
From July to September, you might take on your own the optional (extra cost) excursion to observe the turtles at night. This being one of most impressive natural events, as many sea turtles arrive from hundreds of kilometers away to lay their eggs in the close by beaches.
Day 4: TORTUGUERO NATIONAL PARK – ARENAL VOLCANO
Breakfast & Lunch
At mid-morning, the journey continues with a boat transfer back to the local dock and afterwards continuing by road to the Northern Plains. On route, we will be making a connection and lunch stop in the area of Guapiles.
This route offers amazing mountain views, passing nearby rural towns such as Sarapiqui. You will also observe from the road, one of the major sources of revenue in the area: the agriculture, so you will have the opportunity according with the season to see from the distance, the crops of pineapple, oranges, sugar cane, yucca and many others.
Arrive to La Fortuna de San Carlos town late afternoon where if the weather conditions permit it, you will be able to observe the mighty Arenal Volcano, which welcomes you to the area, with its impressive perfect conic shape.
Check in at the selected hotel, where you will be staying the next two nights.
Day 5: ARENAL VOLCANO
Breakfast & Dinner
Morning at leisure.
In the afternoon, you will be provided with a hike in some trails in the surrounding areas of the Arenal Volcano and afterwards the visit to Tabacon Hot Springs. Within the trails, you will observe the wide variety of flora and fauna existing in the area, and a nearby viewpoint will let you appreciate ancient lava flows that have turned to stone over the centuries. The tour guide will share important information about the area, as well as useful recommendations that will allow you to discover more secrets of the wildlife that hides among the vegetation, making this a unique and unforgettable experience. The hike concludes about 2.5 hours later, after which you will be transferred to a natural hot springs Paradise, where pools at different temperatures will make you relax even more. If you wish to achieve the maximum relaxation, effect alternate between the different pools, with the sound of the surrounding jungle to entertain you. At the end of the day, you will enjoy a delicious dinner at the restaurant in this property before starting the return back to your hotel.
Day 6: ARENAL VOLCANO – MONTEVERDE
Breakfast
Morning departure from Arenal Volcano to the Cloud Forest area in Monteverde. This service is considered a transfer-tour, as you will be crossing by boat the Arenal Lake, which is the largest and the most important lake in Costa Rica. The first part of the trip is adorned with the beautiful scenery of the Arenal Lake. Then, will start the driving ascending through the Tilaran Mountain Range. The final portion of your journey is on gravel roads, giving you more time to enjoy the beautiful mountain scenery and you will feel a slight change of temperature as per the location above 1300 meters above sea level.
Monteverde is known for its diverse and rich tropical cloud forests. Wind-sculptured elfin woodlands on the exposed ridges are spectacularly dwarfed, whereas protected cove Monteverde cloud forests have majestically tall trees festooned with orchids, bromeliads, ferns, vines, and mosses. Alpine like weather will revive the rural experience of our country.
You will be staying the next two nights at selected hotel.
Rest of the day at leisure. You can explore on your own cost some of the different attractions of the area such as the Sky Walk a network of suspension bridges and trails built within the Forest, Horseback riding or even the Sky Trek (a canopy tour), there is the Trapiche cultural tour, Butterfly Garden and others to explore.
Day 7: MONTEVERDE
Breakfast
This morning you have programmed a tour to Monteverde Cloud Forest Private Reserve.
You will set out to discover the secrets of the misty cloud forest with its dense vegetation and majestic trees, enjoying its climate and hiking the trails amongst the varieties of plants and over 450 bird species seen in the area. It protects and provides habitat for hundreds of species of flora and fauna. The reserve is 26.000 acres and is an important link in the growing network of protected areas in Costa Rica.
Located at an altitude between 1,200 and 1,600 m, this cloud forest gives you the chance of exploring a different type of forest, allowing you to make your very own comparison between the biodiversity found in a rainforest and a cloud forest, proving that Costa Rica is full of natural treasures. This hour tour will show you all the different types of ecosystems to be found in the region, as you learn more about the unique wildlife, many of which is endemic to the area
Afternoon will be at leisure.
Overnight at the selected hotel in the area.
Day 8: MONTEVERDE – SAN JOSE
Breakfast
Today, you will be provided with the unescorted shuttle service transfer back to San Jose.
On your way down from Monteverde, you will observe the plains and even on a clear day in the far distance, our pacific coastal side. Then you make your way through the mountainous range and into the central valley, right in the heart of Costa Rica.
You will be staying the last night of the program at your selected Hotel in San Jose.
Day 9: SAN JOSE – SJO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Breakfast
According to your international flight departure, you will be transported from your hotel in San Jose to the Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) for your departure flight.
END OF SERVICES
Standard Option
| Location | Hotel Name | Category | Type of Room | CST |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San José | Sleep Inn | 3 stars | Standard | 4 |
| Tortuguero | Laguna Lodge | Lodge | Standard | N/A |
| Arenal Volcano | Casa Luna | 3 stars | Standard | 3 |
| Monteverde | Trapp Family Lodge | Lodge | Superior | 4 |
Superior Option
| Location | Hotel Name | Category | Type of Room | CST |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San José | Crown Plaza Corobicí | 4 stars | Deluxe | 5 |
| Tortuguero | Pachira Lodge | Lodge | Standard | N/A |
| Arenal Volcano | Arenal Springs | 4 stars | Jr. Suite | 5 |
| Monteverde | El Establo | 4 stars | Deluxe | 1 |
Deluxe Option
| Location | Hotel Name | Category | Type of Room | CST |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San José | Real Intercontinental | 5 stars | Deluxe | 5 |
| Tortuguero | Manatus | Boutique | Standard | N/A |
| Arenal Volcano | Arenal Kioro | 4+ stars | Suite | 5 |
| Monteverde | Monteverde Lodge | Boutique Lodge | Forest View | N/A |