Costa Rica North & South Small Group Tour

Your Costa Rica adventure tour begins in the vibrant capital San José where having arrived independently you will be greeted at the airport and transferred to your hotel to begin your exploration of this unique city. In the afternoon there will be the chance to meet your fellow travellers and tour leader at the welcome meeting before joining your group for a delicious welcome dinner at a nearby restaurant.

1 night’s accommodation at the Gran Hotel Costa Rica (or similar) with welcome dinner and breakfast included.

After breakfast on the morning of day 2 you will set off in the minibus out of the city and through the lush Braulio Carrillo National Park towards the coast. After an approximately 2.5 hour drive, you will board kayaks to be taken through the canals of Tortuguero towards your lodge, keeping a lookout for tropical birds, reptiles and monkeys along the way. After checking into the lodge, the rest of the evening will be at your leisure before enjoying dinner with the group.

The following morning an early start will bring some more exciting kayaking as you enjoy some further exploration of Tortuguero's waterways and its fascinating wildlife inhabitants. Search for toucans, monkeys, sloths and more in the canopy above you as you glide through the water. The rest of the afternoon will be at your leisure, and you may wish to join some of the optional activities available from the lodge.

Should you wish to arise even earlier, an optional early morning guided boat tour is available before breakfast and will allow you to sit back and relax as your informative guide takes you through the black water canals to witness a parade of tropical birds, reptiles, and mammals. Expect to see caimans, otters, iguanas, frogs, monkeys, sloths and more. Alternatively, in the evening you may wish to join an exciting Turtle Nesting Night Excursion (available in July to October only). This once-in-a-lifetime wildlife experience will see you visit the nesting grounds of the green and leatherback turtles on the beaches of Tortuguero National Park to learn about their nesting process and hopefully see females lay eggs.

2 nights’ accommodation at Aninga Lodge (or similar) on a full board basis.

This morning we will head away from the coast towards the La Fortuna area, stopping at an operator sponsored coffee cooperative along the way to learn all about how coffee is harvested and produced and sample some of Costa’s Rica’s most delicious beverages. After a typical Costa Rican lunch and a stroll to a nearby waterfall you will get back on the minibus towards the iconic and active Arenal Volcano whose imposing peak will be visible long before we reach your hotel which offers the very best views of this fascinating natural wonder.

The rest of the evening will be at your leisure and you may wish to sample some of the nearby restaurants or join the tour leader at their local favourite.

2 nights’ accommodation at Hotel Arenal Springs (or similar) with breakfast included. Lunch included on days 4 and 5, and dinner included on day 5.

Today the choice of adventure is yours! This is the opportunity to join a number of unforgettable activities, all designed to showcase the wonders of this beautiful area. Choose to whizz through the lush forest canopy on a series of zip-lines and platforms, or rappel down waterfalls on a thrilling canyoning excursion. Both of these excursions will last approximately 4 hours and you can choose one option as part of your tour package. Whichever option you choose, lunch afterwards will also be included.

In the afternoon you can choose to explore at your leisure or join an included excursion to the Tabacón Hot Springs, Costa Rica's largest network of naturally flowing thermal springs. Surrounded by beautiful gardens, move from pool to pool of varying temperatures and with cascading waterfalls and get revitalized with the mineral water, naturally heated by the Arenal Volcano. Enjoy a delicious dinner before returning to the hotel.

After checking out of the hotel this morning, we will make our way towards the Rio Celeste area, stopping at the fantastic Mistico Hanging Bridges complex along the way. Here you can enjoy a 2.5 hour guided tour through the treetops where Costa Rica's incredible diversity is on full display. Keep a lookout for colourful toucans, hummingbirds and other residents of this lush magical natural world.

By lunchtime we will have arrived at the wonderful Rio Celeste Hideaway Hotel set within the tropical rainforest next to Volcán Tenorio National Park. Enjoy a free afternoon to relax around the pool or in the jacuzzi, walk the trails around the hotel, or join some of the optional activities available including river tubing, night walks and spa treatments.

2 nights’ accommodation at the Rio Celeste Hideaway Hotel on a full board basis.

Today you can explore the beautiful Volcán Tenorio National Park as you transfer to the park entrance and join your guide on a hike through the mystical jungle trails and down a series of stairways to the brilliantly blue Rio Celeste Waterfall, keeping an eye out for monkeys and birds in the canopy above. After some time to soak up the sights, you will hike back to the entrance and transfer back to the hotel for lunch and the chance to join a number of optional excursions. You could join a tubing adventure on the Rio Celeste, go horse riding through the mountains with breathtaking views of the nearby volcanoes and Lake Nicaragua, or enjoy a relaxing spa treatment before joining the group for a delicious dinner.

This morning we will take an approximately 4 hour minibus transfer back to San José to enjoy some further exploration of this vibrant city, this time on 2 wheels as you join a memorable Bikes and Bites tour. Set off on your bike in the company of an expert guide to discover some of San José's history and architecture in the downtown area while also visiting some local favourite spots and hidden neighbourhood gems along the way with stops for typical snacks and coffee. Stop will include the National Theater, Barrio Otoya, Barrio Amón, and the Barrio Escalante among others. Stroll through the charming streets of these neighbourhoods, and explore other hidden treasures like the Parque Nacional, Parque España, and Parque Morazán.

The rest of the afternoon will be at your leisure, and you may wish to relax in the hotel after what will have been an adventurous week so far, before joining your group for dinner in the evening.

1 night’s accommodation at Gran Hotel Costa Rica (or similar) with breakfast and dinner included.

This morning we will leave the bright lights of the city behind and head back towards the stunning natural beauty of Costa Rica’s lush forests as we drive to the Irazú Volcano, the highest active volcano in the country. Here you can enjoy a hike along the walking trails that will reward in breathtaking views throughout. If the skies are clear, it may even be possible to see both the Caribbean and Pacific coasts from the top.

We will then drive on to the Mount Chirripó Area where we will make our way to the Kinkara Luxury Retreat, a fantastic wellness eco-camp at the foot of Chirripó Mountain for a memorable 2 night stay. This is the ideal place to connect with nature and with your senses and offers a one-of-a-kind holistic experience that is more than just the comfortable glamping facilities. Settle in and enjoy your first delicious farm-to-table meal made from local ingredients.

2 night stay at the Kinkara Luxury Retreat with all meals included.

As you immerse yourself in the beauty of this tranquil and enchanting area, today you can choose from two activity options designed to help you get the most out of this incredible part of the country. The first option is a morning hiking excursion to the nearby Cloudbridge Nature Reserve where you can explore the jungle environment searching for birds, mammals, and reptiles. The second option will see you remain closer to camp and embark on a waterfall hike with a refreshing swim followed by a a relaxing yoga class.

After lunch, the afternoon is yours to relax and soak up your enchanting surroundings, or join some of the optional wellness activities at the camp including meditation sessions, yoga and a temazcal-inspired ceremony.

We now make our way to the magical Osa Peninsula as we head towards the charming coastal town of Puerto Jimenez, home to vast wilderness, wildlife and incredible diversity. As we reach this pristine coastal rainforest and stretches of wild ocean as far as the eye can see, you can enjoy an orientation walk around town with your tour leader before checking into your accommodation for the next 2 nights.

The following morning you will set off for an adventurous excursion into the wilds of Corcovado National Park, one of Costa Rica’s finest natural treasures. This full day excursion will see you explore in-depth through one of the most biodiverse places on the planet and will begin with a boat transfer to the entrance, before you set off on foot through the jungle to search for wildlife like toucans, monkeys and the elusive jaguar. An incredible array of tropical birds abounds here. Lunch will be enjoyed within the park.

2 night’s accommodation at Botanika Curio (or similar) with breakfast and lunch included.

The last stop on your comprehensive Costa Rica adventure will take us to one of Costa Rica’s most well-known gems as we make our way to Manuel Antonio National Park. Beautiful views will accompany the journey, and along the way we will stop at the Santa Juana Lodge to walk its jungle trails to a pristine waterfall where you can enjoy a refreshing dip before returning to the lodge to indulge in a scrumptious typical Costa Rican lunch accompanied by views over the tropical mountain jungle landscape and the Pacific coastline.

Upon arriving at the hotel in Manuel Antonio, the rest of the evening will be at your leisure.

2 nights’ accommodation at Hotel Si Como No (or similar) with breakfast included. Lunch is included on day 13 and a farewell dinner is included on day 14.

The last full day of your tour will see you head into the Manuel Antonio National Park with a naturalist guide to walk the coastal jungle trails in Costa Rica’s smallest, yet arguably most impressive, national park. Wildlife, birds and natural beauty abound here, and your day will be taken at a gentle pace, with plenty of time to appreciate the lush environment, search for sloths, monkeys and armadillos, and swim, snorkel, surf, or sunbathe along one of the four beautiful white-sand beaches. Kayaking or surfing excursions can be booked as an optional extra.

In the evening you will return to the hotel for a special farewell dinner to commemorate your unforgettable adventure with your newfound friends.

This morning you will check out of your hotel and join your included transfer directly to the San José airport for your homeward or onward flights. Should you wish to extend your adventure in Central America, please let us know and we will be more than happy to help with arrangements.