ABOUT THIS TRIP
Let yourself be swept away to a magical land where breathtaking rainforests, colorful creatures, and beautiful beaches await with this agricultural tour of Costa Rica! Your journey will begin in San Jose, the breathtaking capital known for its delightful architecture, delicious dishes, and historical wonders. From there you will set out to explore Tortuguero National Park, where you can see over 350 protected species of birds, monkeys, crocodiles, and sloths, and go boating through the surrounding canals. Next, pay a visit to Arenal Volcano National Park, and discover a family farm where local produce is produced. Lay back and relax in the Tabacon Hot Springs flowing along a volcanic river and go shopping in La Fortuna before you board a boat to Monteverde. Visit the cloud forest, reaching up to 1,200 meters above sea level, and learn about the outstanding biodiversity of the region. Head on a breathtaking cruise in Puntarenas and spend a couple of days in all-inclusive resorts in Costa Rica, before you make your way back to the capital city of San Jose, where your agricultural tour of Costa Rica will come to an end!
12 NIGHTS
31 MEALS
FLIGHTS
Today you will make your own way to the international airport to check in for your international flight to San Jose. San Jose, the breathtaking capital of Costa Rica, is surrounded by evergreen mountains and valleys. Upon arrival at the San Jose International Airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel.
Overnight in San Jose
After a delicious breakfast, get ready to head out on-farm tours that specialize in carrots for the North American market as well as cabbage, potatoes, onion, strawberries, and flowers. Following lunch, return to your hotel in time to enjoy the facilities that are available, as well as the wonderful gardens you can admire.
Overnight in San Jose
Start your day with an early morning departure, traveling by bus driving through Braulio Carrillo National Park towards the Caribbean Plains. Admire the magnificent mountain scenery and quaint villages along your way. Indulge in breakfast before cruising through the mesmerizing rivers and canals of Tortuguero National Park. Your boat will arrive at the eco-lodge just in time for lunch. After lunch, go boating through the surrounding canals and visit the village of Tortuguero. Take the opportunity to walk around, stroll along the beach, and get a taste of the local way of life. During the Turtle hatching season, you may encounter many baby turtles trying to find their way down to the ocean. Spend the rest of the day relaxing at the hotel, surrounded by the beautiful tropical forest and lively wildlife.
Overnight in Tortuguero
Spend the day at leisure. Embark on a three-hour boat ride to explore Tortuguero National Park. You can see over 350 protected species of birds, monkeys, crocodiles, and sloths, as well as lush vegetation. During the season of July to September, you can join an optional late-night turtle nesting tour, which may be purchased directly at the lodge.
Overnight in Tortuguero
After breakfast, transfer to La Fortuna near the Arenal Volcano (approx. 3.5 hours). Located in the Central Volcanic Mountain Range in Costa Rica, Arenal is one of Costa Rica’s best-known attractions. After lunch, a stop will be made at a local market that sells fruits produced in the area such as pineapples, bananas, sugar canes, and mangos. You will visit a pineapple farm that also raises water buffalos as feeder cattle. Surrounded by equally impressive rainforests, the Arenal area offers plenty of options for nature lovers and adventurers alike. Spend the afternoon free at leisure to explore Arenal at your own pace. In the evening, spend a few hours in the hot springs to rest and relax.
Overnight in Arenal
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel. Later, head on a walking tour to explore Arenal Volcano National Park. A visit to a family farm that produces papaya, vegetables, and other fruits will be included. Make tortillas and enjoy a delicious Costa Rican lunch with entertainment. Later in the afternoon, visit the Tabacon Hot Springs to lay back in these hot mineral pools that flow along a river from the volcano. Dinner will be at the Tabacon Hot Springs before heading to the hotel.
Overnight in Arenal
This morning’s visit will include a coffee plantation with lunch. There will be time to shop in the town of La Fortuna on your own before returning to the hotel. In the afternoon, there will be an optional hike planned along the base of the volcano. Those who choose not to hike can relax in the hot soothing waters of the pools back at your hotel.
Overnight in Arenal
After an early morning breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the Arenal Lake area, where you will board your boat to Monteverde. On the other side of the lake, the vehicle will take you up to Monteverde. Discover the breathtaking transition of the rainforest to the cloud forest where you will reach an altitude of 1,200 meters above sea level. Situated in the province of Puntarenas, Monteverde is a place full of cloud forests and mists, coffee plantations, monkeys, and friendly locals. Visit the Brenes Family Coffee Farm and enjoy a light lunch before continuing to the hotel in the Santa Elena area for a two-night stay and some spectacular sunset views.
Overnight in Monteverde
Founded in 1972, the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve is famous for its outstanding biodiversity, conservation actions and contributions, and scientific research. The reserve is home to 2.5% of the world’s biodiversity, and it is one of the most important private reserves, not just in Costa Rica but the world. It hosts hundreds of species of mammals, birds, butterflies, amphibians, reptiles, insects, and arachnids, as well as a large variety of flora, such as mosses, vines, and the autochthonous trees of the Cloud Forest. Head on a hike through the Cloud Forest to see its biodiversity. You can enhance your experience by joining some of our optional tours as well.
Overnight in Monteverde
In the morning you will make your way to the Puntarenas region in Costa Rica on the Pacific Coast. Enjoy lunch while heading on a boat cruise on the river to see the colorful scarlet macaw flying through the treetops and discover the crocodiles and learn about their fascinating habitats. Check into a hotel on the beach, where you will spend the night.
Overnight in Monteverde
This morning, explore the hotel and rest and relax on the beach before traveling back to San Jose for the night. In the evening, enjoy a “Farewell Dinner” to Costa Rica and a local dance show in a restaurant overlooking the city.
Overnight in San Jose
Today you will be transferred back to the airport to board your flight back home.
Balmoral Hotel (San Jose)
The Balmoral is a lively, full service, landmark hotel located on the famous Central Avenue in the historical and vibrant heart of downtown San Jose, Costa Rica and only 10 miles away from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO). The Balmoral is ideal for both leisure and business travelers. Within walking distance of the hotel, you will find San Jose's main art, cultural, financial, government and historical landmarks, as well as some of city's best entertainment, shopping, and healthcare facilities. From the hotel, you can also take a wide variety of one-day tours to discover Costa Rica's natural beauties.
Montana de fuego (Arenal)
The property offers a great view of Arenal Volcano and provides for luxurious accommodation set amongst attractive lakes and gardens. Other amenities comprise indoor and outdoor swimming pools, the kids' pool and an adventure park. Free WiFi facility is available in the Restaurant. The unique bungalow style resort features contemporary suites and bungalows with stylish thatched roofs, sloping, décor, beamed ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows. Each unit boasts of a balcony or terrace, a minibar, air conditioning, and a bathroom. Luxury amenities are also available at the hotel.
Hotel Costa Verde (Manuel Antonio)
On a coastal rainforest bluff nestled between Manuel Antonio National Park and incredible Pacific Ocean vistas that will take your breath away, Costa Verde is a vacation adventure, tropical wedding or honeymoon and hotel experience unlike any you have imagined. Just 3 miles from the village of Quepos and 2 hours by car from San Jose‘s International Airport, Costa Verde is a perfect destination for either a short stay or for those seeking a comfortable base camp for adventure travel, ecotourism, sport fishing, surfing or the peace and tranquility of Manuel Antonio‘s legendary white sand beaches and National Park. Just three hundred yards from the beach overlooking the world famous Manuel Antonio National Park, Costa Verde features 3 cliff-side pools with sundecks and spacious rooms, studios and bungalows. All rooms offer balconies with a bird's-eye view of the Park's majestic coastline or rainforest canopy vistas dotted with toucans, sloths, coatis and monkeys.
Essential Costa Rica
