Premium Costa Rica

Day 1  San Jose                
Beinvenidos, welcome to Costa Rica! Your adventure begins in San Jose, the country’s flourishing capital. On arrival, you will be collected from the airport and transferred to your hotel. Here you will meet your local leader and small group for an important welcome meeting at 6pm.                

Day 2  San Jose to La Fortuna    
Depart San Jose and drive to La Fortuna, famed for its mellow atmosphere, bubbling hot springs and mighty Arenal volcano. Pay a visit to the Arenal Vida Campesina and learn about the process of sugarcane milling then sit down for a delicious farm-fresh lunch. After lunch, visit the Arenal Volcano National Park for a gentle walk to the Las Coladas lava field. In the afternoon, arrive at the Ti-fakara Birding Oasis, your feature stay accommodation for the next two nights.      

Day 3  La Fortuna    
Today will be spent exploring the diverse wildlife of the Cano Negro Wetlands with a naturalist guide. Start with a drive through fields of yucca, plantain and papaya before boarding a comfortable raft to explore the Frio River. Travelling this way allows you get up close and personal with this region’s wildlife without having to undertake a strenuous hike. Enjoy a traditional lunch at a local restaurant before returning to La Fortuna for an evening at leisure.                

Day 4  La Fortuna to Monteverde    
After breakfast, depart La Fortuna and begin the journey to Monteverde. Take a boat across the glittering Lake Arenal and watch dramatic views of the Arenal volcano unfold in front of you. Arrive in Monteverde in the early afternoon. Known for spectacular cloud forests and rich biodiversity, Monteverde is a mecca for nature lovers.    

Day 5  Monteverde              
Begin the day with a tour of the spectacular Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, host to more than 100 different species of mammals and 400 species of birds. After a morning with your head in the clouds, depart for Manuel Antonio, home to a wildlife-rich national park and a string of the country’s most magnificent beaches. Arrive and enjoy a free evening in this tropical paradise.    

Day 6  Manuel Antonio                
After breakfast, depart for Manuel Antonio, home to a wildlife-rich national park and a string of the country’s most magnificent beaches. On arrival, check into your Feature Stay at Si Como No Hotel and Wildlife Refuge, a beautiful resort perched above the sparkling ocean and Manuel Antonio National Park.    

Day 7  Monteverde to Manuel Antonio              
This morning you will set off into the lush Manuel Antonio National Park with an expert naturalist guide by your side. This small national park packs a real punch when it comes to wildlife viewing opportunities. Look out for two and three toed sloths, white faced monkeys, anteaters and iguanas. The afternoon is free for your own explorations.

Day 8 Manuel Antonio to San Jose              
Enjoy a free morning in Manuel Antonio. In the early afternoon, return to San Jose. This evening, join your leader and new friends for a final dinner at a local restaurant serving up creative variations of traditional Costa Rican cantina food and a marvellous wine list.

Day 9 San Jose            
Your Costa Rican adventure comes to an end after breakfast this morning.