Costa Rica Tour

Exploring The Wild Nature Reserves

Welcome to San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica. Upon Arrival, meet our representative at the airport and transfer to the hotel.
Overnight in San Jose.

Early in the morning, we will take a shared tourist bus to Tortuguero National Park, known for its rich tropical vegetation and wildlife, serving as a nesting ground for sea turtles.

On the way, we will stop for breakfast at a local restaurant. After arriving at the Matina/Caño Blanco port, we will continue by boat through the canals to the reserve.

The area was declared protected in the 1960s and has been a national park since 1975. It is a nesting site for green sea turtles, which make their way to the beaches each year between June and October. The 18,946 hectares of the reserve protect turtle nests, canals, lagoons, and the forests that surround the beaches.

Upon arrival, we will settle into the lodge and enjoy lunch.

In the afternoon, we will take a tour of the local village. The meeting of the sea and land, combined with the beautiful nature, creates a relaxed and unique atmosphere characteristic of the colorful village’s residents.

Dinner will be served at the lodge.
Overnight in Tortuguero.

**Tours and transfers in Tortuguero are shared
**Total travel time including breakfast stop is approximately 6 hours.

After breakfast, we will enjoy a jungle walking tour. We will return to the lodge for lunch.

In the afternoon, we will embark on a safari boat tour through the waterways. The main attraction of Tortuguero is its canals. The area offers a blend of rainforests, coastal vegetation, mangroves, swamps, and lagoons, serving as a refuge for many wildlife species, including 300 bird species, 50 fish species, and approximately 160 mammals, some of which are endangered. The boat ride allows us to observe monkeys, crocodiles, iguanas, sloths, and more.

Dinner will be served at the lodge.
Overnight in Tortuguero.

**Tours and transfers in Tortuguero are shared

After breakfast, we will depart by tourist bus from the Caribbean coast towards Guapiles, where we will enjoy lunch.

Following lunch, we will continue our journey (transportation depending on your choice) for approximately 6 hours to the hidden gem in the cloud forest, Lands in Love. This hotel is operated by about 20 Israelis who sought their little piece of heaven and found it in a magical cloud forest in Costa Rica. They are vegetarians, animal lovers, and have even built a small hotel for their beloved four-legged friends. And don’t be mistaken—those who walk on two legs receive just as wonderful treatment, all while being surrounded by breathtaking, misty views.

Upon arrival, we will transfer to the hotel.
Overnight at Lands in Love.

After breakfast, you will enjoy a canyoning experience (rappelling down waterfalls) in the diverse and colorful cloud forest reserve: towering trees, lush vegetation, wildlife, birds, and more.
We will begin with a short 10-minute walk leading to a 150-meter cable that ends at a platform built in a tree, where we will start with a practice descent of 6 meters. A short walk will lead you to a hanging bridge, where the real adventure begins with a 51-meter descent from the bridge into the rushing waters.
The rest of the journey continues through the flowing canyon, featuring three more descents down waterfalls of varying heights: 13, 11, and 22 meters.

The remainder of the day is free for you to relax or explore the area further.
Overnight at Lands in Love.

After breakfast, you will enjoy an exhilarating canopy zip-lining experience. Here, you will find over 500 acres of stunning forest, with 854 meters of nine cables, ten platforms, three trails, two hanging bridges, and a Tarzan swing.

Following this, you will tackle four challenging cables, three of which are double for a shared experience, and a long cable stretching 750 meters that includes four steel towers and hanging bridges. You’ll soar at speeds of about 80 km/h and heights of 150 meters above the hidden valley—an unforgettable experience for all ages.

In the afternoon, we will drive approximately 1.5 hours to the Arenal area and the town of La Fortuna in the northern Alajuela province, close to the Nicaragua border. This region is lush with green nature, where tropical rains keep the landscape fresh throughout the year, featuring rainforests, rushing and calm rivers, hot springs, lagoons, parks, and abundant flora and fauna.

This area is famous for the Arenal Volcano, which has a conical shape and stands about 1,670 meters high, with a crater measuring 140 meters in diameter. The geothermal activity is evident in the many hot springs in the area, offering a relaxing experience for visitors.
The Arenal Volcano was dormant for hundreds of years, with only a single crater remaining at its peak, covered in thick vegetation. Unexpectedly, it erupted in 1968, destroying the small town of Tabacón. This eruption created three craters on the western slope, but only one remains today. The last eruption occurred in October 2010, and since then, the volcanic activity of the mountain has been decreasing.

Upon arrival, we will transfer to the hotel.

There’s nothing like finishing the day with a soak in the Tabacón hot springs. These natural hot springs flow from the Arenal Volcano and are located in a luxurious setting with 12 pools of varying temperatures. The facility also features an active bar, buffet, and restaurant.
Overnight in Arenal.

After breakfast, we will enjoy a day of exploration in the Arenal area. We will start with a 3 km hiking trail, where you will walk through hanging bridges surrounded by lush tropical forest, observing the local wildlife, plants, and insects.

Following the hike, you will enjoy lunch at a local restaurant in town, followed by another walk that includes a strenuous descent and ascent via stairs, leading to a refreshing swim at La Fortuna Waterfall.

(We recommend bringing a swimsuit and a light towel if you wish to swim in the waterfall.)

In the afternoon, we will embark on a hike that will take you closer to the volcano.
Overnight in Arenal.

Early in the morning, we will depart for Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge (approximately 1.5 hours, 100 km). This refuge is considered one of the richest birdwatching sites on the continent and serves as a sanctuary for a wide variety of wildlife, including monkeys, iguanas, crocodiles, and bats that inhabit the lush natural vegetation.
Upon arrival, we will enjoy a boat tour through the water channels to observe the wildlife residing in the refuge.

After our tour, we will return to Arenal (approximately 1.5 hours, 100 km). The rest of the day will be free for you to relax or explore.
Overnight in Arenal.

Please bring your passports, as the refuge is located near the Nicaraguan border, and there may be immigration checks along the way.

After breakfast, we will embark on a 4-hour drive to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. Upon arrival, we will transfer to the hotel.
This stunning area is known for its cloud forest, also referred to as a “fog forest.” It is a unique phenomenon of evergreen rainforests that receive moisture in the form of clouds. The forest is a warm habitat for sloths, snakes, monkeys, various butterfly species, and a colorful array of birds.

In the afternoon, we will set out for a night tour in the reserve. We will walk along the trails of the cloud forest, observing a variety of nocturnal animals such as tarantulas, other spiders, frogs, snakes, and other unique reptiles in their nighttime activity.
Overnight in Monteverde.

After breakfast, enjoy a tour of the hanging bridges. This tour takes you across a system of treetop bridges, allowing you to experience the rainforest from above.

Next, enjoy a ride on the cable car and an exhilarating canopy tour (ziplining) among the treetops. The canopy experience includes about 8 cables, connected to platforms mostly situated in the tree canopy.

Following this, we will visit the Frog Pond and Butterfly Garden, where you can see dozens of different species of frogs and butterflies.
Overnight in Monteverde.

The weather in Monteverde is usually cool, so please dress warmly in layers for this day.

After breakfast, we will embark on a journey of approximately 4 hours to the coastal town of Quepos, near Manuel Antonio National Park, which is located along the Pacific Ocean. This beautiful national park features white sandy beaches, picturesque coves, rich tropical vegetation, and an abundance of wildlife and birds.

On our way, we will stop at the mangrove forest of the Tarcoles River. Here, we will enjoy a guided boat tour along the river to observe crocodiles in their natural habitat. This is a unique opportunity to see various species of crocodiles up close, including the impressive American crocodile, which can grow up to 5 meters in length.
During the boat ride, we will appreciate the wonders of Costa Rica’s nature, featuring lush vegetation and diverse wildlife. Keep your eyes peeled for various bird species, iguanas, and other inhabitants of the mangrove ecosystem. The knowledgeable guide will provide insights into the ecosystem and the importance of these mangroves.

After our exciting river adventure, we will continue our journey to Manuel Antonio. Upon arrival, we will transfer to our hotel.
Overnight in Manuel Antonio.

After breakfast, we will enjoy a catamaran cruise departing from Quepos, sailing on the blue waters off the coast of Manuel Antonio. Depending on luck, we may spot dolphins, whales, sea turtles, manta rays, and various seabirds such as pelicans and ibises.
We will anchor in one of the sheltered coves in the Bay of Biesanz for swimming and snorkeling. A delicious lunch will be served on board the catamaran.

Please note that snorkeling will not take place if weather conditions do not allow for it.

Overnight in Manuel Antonio.

After breakfast, enjoy a free day in Manuel Antonio.

You can choose from the following activities in the area : white-water rafting, guided tours in the national park, sea kayaking, horseback riding, biking along the beaches, and hiking tours in the rainforest.

Overnight in Manuel Antonio.

After breakfast, we will drive approximately 3.5 hours to San José.

On the way, we will stop for a tour of Poás Volcano National Park (about a 1-hour drive). We will pass through mountainous, green pastures, tropical vegetation, and mainly coffee plantations.
Upon arrival at La Paz Waterfall Gardens, we will take a well-maintained trail down to the base of the waterfalls. We will be greeted by a series of six rushing waterfalls, surrounded by dense tropical vegetation and an abundance of butterflies and birds. (It tends to be cool in La Paz, so please bring warm clothing for this segment.)

Next, we will continue our tour of Poás Volcano, which has a crater that occasionally emits gas and ash since its last eruption. We will observe the turquoise lake located at the bottom of the crater and the clear waterfalls creating a stunning spectacle.

Afterward, we will continue our journey for about an hour to San José. Upon arrival, we will transfer to the hotel.
Overnight in San José.

After breakfast and depending on the flight time, we will transfer to the airport for the flight back home.