Classic Costa Rica
From £1170 for 15 days
Trip Overview
Discover the incredible biodiversity of Costa Rica – and the culture shaped by the tropical wilderness – on this 15-day tour. Stay with a local family in Santa Rosa de Pocosol and get your hands dirty on a sustainable farm. Soak in springs that get their heat from an active volcano in La Fortuna. Spot three-toed sloths in the thickets of the Manuel Antonio National Park, then relax beneath swaying palms on the nearby beaches. This adventure takes you into the wild heart of a country many visit but few truly know.
Essential Info
Starts: San Jose
Ends: San Jose
Ages: Min 15
Ends: San Jose
Ages: Min 15
Theme: Discovery
Trip Code: IQVSR
Activity Level:
Trip Code: IQVSR
Activity Level:
What's Included
Meals
5 Breakfasts included
1 Dinners included
Transport
Private vehicle,Shared vehicle,Public bus,Shared boat
Accommodation
Hotel (7 nights),Lodge (6 nights),Homestay (1 night)
Trip Highlights
• Stroll through lively markets in San Jose
• Explore the jungle in the Tortuguero National Park
• Chill out to the sounds of nature in Sarapiqui
• Soak off the day in La Fortuna hot springs
• Get close to the coalface at Arenal Volcano
• Discover the sultry Monteverde cloud forest
• Shake your booty to the samba soundtrack of Costa Rica
Dates & Availability
Start date
End date
Price
Availability
Departing: 25th Apr 2019
Returning: 9th May 2019
£1,375pp
Fully Booked
Show more dates
Itinerary & Notes
With over a third of the country's population living within its parameters, San Jose is packed with both people and culture. There is a welcome meeting at 6 pm at your hotel, a good chance for you to meet your leader and fellow travellers. We'll also be collecting your insurance details and next of kin information at the evening welcome meeting, so please have these on hand. Look for a note in the hotel lobby or ask the hotel reception where it will take place if you can't see a sign. If you can't arrange a flight that will arrive in time, you may wish to arrive a day early so you're able to attend. We'll be happy to book additional accommodation for you (subject to availability). If you're going to be late, please let the hotel reception know. If you arrive with time to spare, why not visit the National Museum? This canary-yellow building houses everything from exhibits on pre-Colombian history to a garden filled with native butterflies, and the diversity makes it a great place to get an overview of the country before your adventure begins. Early bird history buffs might be interested in the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum or the Jade Museum, both of which display a wealth of indigenous artefacts.
Additional Activities
San Jose - Gold Museum
11 USD
San Jose - Jade Museum
10 USD
San Jose - National Museum
12 USD
Leave the hotel at 8 am. There is no lunch stop today so please buy snacks prior or grab something at the bus station. At 9 am descend to the Caribbean lowlands by local bus, a four-hour scenic (though occasionally bumpy) journey that ends at the port of La Pavona. This rustic port is your entry point to Tortuguero National Park. Hop aboard a small, open boat and journey (1.5 hours) into the depths of the Costa Rican wilderness. Arrive in the middle of this biodiverse area, where freshwater lagoons rest under the canopy of rainforest that borders the ocean. Upon arrival, the leader-led walking tour is a good opportunity to look for some of the many animals that call the park home, among them jaguars and a plethora of turtles. Return to your jungle lodge for the evening, enjoy an informal Spanish lesson, and finally let the sounds of nature lull you to sleep.
Additional Activities
Leader-led Informal Spanish Lesson
Included in Price
Tortuguero - National Park (Entrance Fee)
Included in Price
Today you're free to explore the park at your own pace. If you're woken by the chattering of the forests some 300 bird species, why not haul yourself out of bed for a sunrise canoe trip. It’s a magical way to see the maze-like canals of the park, and you can keep an eye out for the gleaming form of slippery otters and perhaps a manatee or two in the morning light. During the day, you might want to return to the parks walking trails or simply relax in your lodge. This area has long been associated with the catching of turtle (tortuguero means turtle-catcher). The original indigenous inhabitants used turtles as a sustainable resource, but the arrival of Europeans led to major exploitation. Tortuguero National Park, established in 1970, is now home to 13 of Costa Rica’s 16 endangered mammals. Among them are manatees, ocelots and jaguars, as well as over 300 bird species. First and foremost, however, it is the nesting ground of the green turtle, which comes ashore between July and October to lay its eggs on the sandy beaches. Lesser numbers of the critically endangered hawksbill turtle, plus loggerheads, and giant leatherback turtles also nest within the park at different times of year. Many species are particularly active at night, so if you wish, you can head out in the evening on a turtle watching tour. The tour cost partly supports the program aimed to patrol the beach for poaches. The expedition to seek out turtles is a beautiful experience but it can involve poor weather conditions, long periods of standing and walking along dimly lit paths. Waterproof clothing and shoes are recommended.
Additional Activities
Tortuguero - Sunrise canoe trip around canals
25 USD
Tortuguero - Turtle watching night tour
20 USD
Bid farewell to the evergreen rainforest at 9 am and make the three-hour journey to Santa Rosa de Pocosol by private vehicle. As the family you'll be staying with tonight don't speak a lot of English, you might want to use the drive to brush up on some phrases in Spanish. The community is centered around agriculture, and on arrival you will be lead around the farm to learn about the local way of life. You will have the chance to further immerse yourself in local life and support the community by choosing to purchase an optional activity like a cooking class or soap making workshop. Alternatively, you might want to take a guided hike to a local waterfall. This evening you will be staying in guest rooms attached to family homes.
Additional Activities
Santa Rosa de Pocosol - Agricultural tour
Included in Price
Santa Rosa de Pocosol - Homestay experience
Included in Price
Santa Rosa de Pocosol - Cooking class
10 USD
Santa Rosa de Pocosol - Soap-making workshop
10 USD
Santa Rosa de Pocosol - Waterfall hike
10 USD
After breakfast (8 am), a truly magical river awaits after a private vehicle journey of two hours. Located in Tenorio Volcano National Park, the Rio Celeste is fed by two other rivers of varying pH levels, when they collide particles in the water are altered to the point that the water takes on the colour of a summer sky. You have a free afternoon to explore falls and streams where the blue waters are so bright they look photoshopped. The surrounding forest is full of wildlife, so keep your eyes peeled for tapirs, monkeys, anteaters and more hiding in the jungle canopy.
Today is as clear as the Costa Rica air, though there are plenty of optional activities available. The light-blue waters of the Rio Celeste are generally off-limits to travellers. However, you’ll have the opportunity today to float along the water with a guided tubing excursion. If you wish to be one of the few foreigners to see their feet beneath the surface of this otherworldly water, you can hop in an inflatable donut and spend the day lazing along the river. The cost of breakfast and lunch is included in the price. Thrillseekers will have the option to indulge in seven hours of guided rafting at nearby Rio Tenorio with a fruit snack and lunch included in the cost. You’ll tackle 20 rapids and there’s plenty of natural beauty to admire along the banks during the lulls. Those who prefer a nature tour with less adrenaline might like to take three-hour safari cruise along the Rio Tenorio, with a guide who will help you spot howler monkeys, crocodiles, river otters and an abundance of tropical birds.
Additional Activities
Tenorio River - Rafting Class 3 & 4
99 USD
Tenorio River - Safari Floating
65 USD
Rio Celeste - Tubing Tour
70 USD
Rio Celeste & Tenorio Park Hike
115 USD
Beneath the watchful eye of the the immense Arenal Volcano lies La Fortuna, a sleepy town with an abundance of hot springs and natural pools to enjoy. Departing at 8 am, you’ll arrive by private vehicle after a two-hour drive and have the rest of the day to do as you please. Perhaps grab some fresh fruit in town, hop in a taxi to the entrance and then hike to La Fortuna waterfall for a swim beneath the cascading waters that spill out of the towering jungle. In the evening, why not grab a classic local dinner with your travel buddies. Chifrijo (fried pork, salsa, beans and tortilla chips) is a great dish to share, though it’s so good you might want to keep it to yourself.
Enjoy a free day to explore as you wish. La Fortuna offers a range of sights such as stunning lush forest, rare plants, animal watching and water-based sports on the lake. The volcano’s inner workings also mean that the area has plenty of thermal springs where hot, lava-heated water gushes to the surface. These springs, often surrounded by foliage, make the ideal place to relax. Active types could try stand-up paddle boarding on Lake Arenal with the incredible backdrop of the volcano and rolling green hills. Animal lovers will have a good chance of spotting sloths, monkeys, crocodiles and ‘Jesus’ lizards skipping across the water on a boat tour of Cano Negro Reserve. Have a chat to your leader about the options available.
Additional Activities
La Fortuna - Cano Negro boat tour
67 USD
La Fortuna - Stand up paddle board
65 USD
La Fortuna - Tabacon Hot Springs (entrance, dinner and transport)
99 USD
La Fortuna - Hot springs
45 USD
La Fortuna - Arenal hanging bridges
56 USD
La Fortuna - La Fortuna Waterfall
15 USD
A morning of travel by bus and boat leads to incredible Monteverde. Depart at 8 am on a shared vehicle to arrive at a port on Lake Arenal. Cross the lake by boat (45 minutes) and then hop on a bus again to continue on to Monteverde (2 hours). There are options in town for optional lunch on arrival. Settled by North American Quakers in 1951, the area was initially used as an environmentally conscious agricultural community and is now a biological preserve. The forest is kept moist by near-constant cloud cover, which also gives the area an enchanted vibe that makes exploring it a true delight. Spend the afternoon in the cloud forest, looking out for hummingbirds, quetzals and even lazy sloths among the mist later in the day. You may even choose to return after dusk to seek the animals and insects that are largely hidden in the day.
Additional Activities
Monteverde - Cloud Forest (Entrance fee & Transport)
Included in Price
Monteverde - Night walk through Cloud Forest
52 USD
Why not make the most of your time here and organise a local guides to take you on a nature walk. There also several local communities that operate cooperatives worth visiting. You may wish to get a different perspective on the forest by walking through the canopy on suspension bridges, or perhaps watch butterflies at play in the Butterfly Garden. More than 2000 species of plants, 320 bird species and 100 different types of mammals call Monteverde home, and no matter what you choose to do, be sure to keep an eye out for the resplendent quetzal, one of the most elusive birds in the world.
Additional Activities
Monteverde - Butterfly garden and insects farm
15 USD
Monteverde - Serpentarium
15 USD
Monteverde - Coffee & Chocolate tour
35 USD
Monteverde - Suspension bridges tour
47 USD
Monteverde - Zip lining
90 USD
Wedged between the beautiful Pacific coast and the national park, Manuel Antonio is a laid-back town. After a four-hour journey in a private vehicle, feel the soft crunch of foliage underfoot while you hike the trails of the national park. Keep one eye on the great views and the other looking for the abundant wildlife. Monkeys, armadillos, sloths and hundreds of birds are among the species you may be able to spot. In the late afternoon, perhaps head to the coast to watch the sunset over a glittering ocean.
Additional Activities
Manuel Antonio National Park - (Entrance fee)
Included in Price
The beaches that the forest opens onto are clean and clear, so why not hire a surfboard or boogie board and catch some waves at Playa El Ray. If you want to spot wildlife and and keep active at the same time, consider paddling through the mangrove forest on a guided kayak tour. It’s not unusual for curious monkeys to climb right onto the boat to say hello, and you’ll likely see snakes, crocs and plenty of birdlife too. Just remember your insect repellent! In the evening, you could take a sunset sail off the coast, watching the blue sky turn orange is a spectacular sight. Talk to your leader about the range of optional activities available.
Additional Activities
Manuel Antonio - Sunset sail
80 USD
Manuel Antonio - Mangrove tour by kayak (with lunch)
80 USD
Manuel Antonio - Surf/boogie board rental
10 USD
If you wish, you could return today to Manuel Antonio National Park and continue your search for the solemn, white faces of the capuchin monkeys who live in the trees. Alternatively, why not kick-off your shoes and feel the sands of Manuel Antonio Beach between your toes? It’s easy to spend a whole day on this calm shore. The towering green trees provide shade that's perfect to lie under with a good book.
Additional Activities
Manuel Antonio National Park (Entrance fee)
16 USD
A local bus will return you to San Jose, and you could spend the four-hour journey trying out your Spanish on the locals sitting next to you. On arrival, you might want to hit one of the markets for some last minute gifts. The Central Market is the biggest in town. Look for a food stall packed with locals and you'll be guaranteed an authentic local meal on the cheap. Later enjoy an optional farewell dinner where you can say goodbye to your leader and toast with your fellow travellers. The nightlife here is legendary, but even if clubbing isn’t your thing there’s plenty to do.The craft beer scene has exploded in Costa Rica during the last decade and you can get a taste for it on an optional Urban Adventure. See urbanadventures.com/San-Jose-tour-the-art-of-craft-beer-in-san-jose for more details or chat to your leader.
Additional Activities
San Jose - San Jose by Night - Urban Adventures
74 USD
San Jose - The Art of Craft Beer in San Jose - Urban Adventures
68 USD
San Jose - San Jose Bites and Sights Tour - Urban Adventures
33 USD
Your tour comes to an end after breakfast. Make sure you follow the hotel's check-out time to avoid an extra charge. While your tour ends here, your journey doesn't have to. If you want to stay on for a few more days in San Jose let your travel agent or Intrepid representative know at the time of booking and we may be able to assist you with organising more accommodation.
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