Discover Classic Costa Rica in This 10-Day Luxury Tour

Day 1: Welcome to Costa Rica

Meet your private guide at San Jose airport, who will transfer you to your hotel. Set off with your guide on an introductory tour of the city. Stroll around the city's lanes and soak in the city's brilliant vibe, culture, and architecture. Visit one of the many popular beaches and spend quality time with your loved ones. Following that, enjoy a lavish dinner at a premium restaurant before retiring to your resort for the night.

Day 2: Exploring Tortuguero

Depart San Jose and travel northeast of Costa Rica to Tortuguero National Park. On arrival at the pier, board a small motorboat amidst Tortuguero's massive network of waterways, canals, and swamps. Notice that they are peaceful, spotless, and devoid of noise pollution. Reach the lodge on a small land between the Caribbean Sea and the main lagoon after a one-hour and fifteen-minute journey. Spend the afternoon in Tortuguero village and get the opportunity to visit the Sea Turtle Museum.

Day 3: Exploring Tortuguero

An early morning boat trip lets you see Tortuguero's amazing flora and fauna, passing serenely along the waterways. At this time of day, wildlife is normally at its peak activity. With the help of the specialist guide, you will likely spot iguanas, monkeys, butterflies, caiman, and many of the 300+ bird species nestled here. Return to the lodge to enjoy a hearty breakfast by the river. The lodge is a peaceful spot to relax this afternoon. Enjoy some more outdoor activities to experience the facilities, or alternatively, go for a second boat trip or short walking tracks through the forest.

Day 4: Discovering La Fortuna

Leave Tortuguero as you arrive here on a small boat to the pier. Your guide will drive you in a private vehicle to travel to the region of Arenal, viewing large banana, pineapple, and sugar cane farms on the way. Learn that Arenal was Costa Rica's most active volcano until a pretty recent time when it entered a resting phase. So, it's no longer ejecting ash, smoke, or lava. Still, see a lot of geothermal activity in the area and have the opportunity to experience one of the best hot springs this evening. Get excellent views of the volcano from the overnight base in the nearby city of La Fortuna.

Day 5: Strolling in La Fortuna

Visit the La Fortuna Waterfall, one of the many waterfalls in the region of Arenal. The 65-meter cascade of water plunges into an emerald pool below. Embark on a short trail through the rainforest to go to a comparatively steep set of steps. Descend to reach the waterfall and then ascend to the exit point, which will take around 20-30 minutes. Reward your efforts with a dive in one of the natural pools punctuating the foliage to cool off. Then, reach the lookout point and wait for your fellow travelers. After lunch, take a short spectacular hike within Arenal National Park, trekking through the secondary rainforest and passing some of the lava fields from past eruptions. The high vantage points on this walk offer magnificent views overlooking Lake Arenal and the plentiful birdlife.

Day 6: Heading to Monteverde

From Arenal, travel to the Tilaran Mountain Range in the Central Highlands. Here, experience the first glimpse of the Costa Rican cloud forest. The journey offers amazing views of the Gulf of Nicoya and the islands below. Hike the hills towards Monteverde, a forest-cloaked region whose name literally means 'Green Mountain.' The high altitude supports a complex ecosystem where plants grow, especially orchids, of which there are some 400+ different species here.

Day 7: Enjoying in Santa Elena

This morning, start with a guided walk in Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve, one of the first community-maintained reserves in Costa Rica. It is an area that is famous for its biodiversity. To this day, the reserve is maintained by Santa Elena High School. The funds are channeled into preserving the reserve and presenting environmental education classes within the local community. Soak in the views of thick hazy clouds which support a large range of flowers, ferns, mosses, vines, and orchids. Enjoy the exotic birdlife that grows in the cloud forest, with over 425 varieties recorded here. Santa Elena is also one of the perfect places to encounter noisy Howler monkeys swinging through the trees.

Day 8: Venturing to Manuel Antonio

Today, take a south-easterly turn as you follow the Pan-Am Highway along the coastline to Manuel Antonio. Pass African oil palm and tea plantations on the way. Manuel Antonio National Park consists of an enormous marine reserve and 1,700 acres of mangrove swamp, primary and secondary rainforest. Marvel at the forest vegetation that extends as far as the high-tide line. See the beautiful backdrop of the expansive sandy beaches, forested islands, and exciting rocky headlands.

Day 9: Serene Copey

This morning, visit the Copley village to step momentarily into the agricultural lives of people living in the highlands of the Central Mountain Range. Take a short walk to the scenic village, where some snacks will be prepared by a local family, which is sure to be a memorable impression of Costa Rican hospitality. A two-and-a-half-hour journey will take you back to San Jose. Here, get some time to explore the modern capital.

Day 10: Departure

Today, your private guide will transfer you to the airport, where you will have your international departure.

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