Costa Rica, San José

At the Heart of Nature: Jungle, Beaches and Volcanoes 3^*

Welcome to Costa Rica! You will be met by a local guide as you leave the airport, and then transferred to your hotel. Your holiday will begin with a first night in San José. Situated at an altitude of 1,200 metres, the capital and its surrounding area are home to half the country’s population. The city lies in the Central Valley, surrounded to the north by various volcanoes, such as Poás, Irazú and Turrialba, and to the south by the Talamanca Mountain Range, which is the highest mountain range in southern Central America.

Dinner is not included. Overnight stay at the hotel.

Hotel: 3-star Fleur de Lys (or similar)

IMPORTANT: If you choose the package including transport, you must select an outbound flight arriving before 11.00 p.m. and a return flight departing after 1.00 p.m..

Meet your local Spanish- and English-speaking driver at your hotel reception and set off for the Tortuguero jetty on a shared transfer (a 3-hour drive, with only guests staying at the same lodge as you in Tortuguero). Arrival in the town of Guápiles and breakfast at a local restaurant before taking a boat to Tortuguero National Park. You’ll wind your way along the canals through the heart of the rainforest (1½-hour boat journey). Arrival at the lodge for lunch.

Tortuguero is Costa Rica’s own little Amazon; its lush rainforest is home to an incredible array of flora and fauna, offering a complete change of scenery. The Tortuguero site forms part of the wetland conservation programme under the Ramsar Convention, with a particular focus on the habitats of birds living in a marine environment. In the afternoon, you’ll set off to explore the small Caribbean village of Tortuguero. The rest of the afternoon is at leisure to make the most of this stay and take a stroll around the area.

Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

Hotel: 3-star Evergreen Lodge (or similar)

Breakfast at the lodge. During this day, you will enjoy a boat trip through the canals of Tortuguero Park to discover nature at its most awakening. Frequent stops to observe a wide variety of birds, monkeys, crocodiles and caimans... After this outing, return to your lodge. For the rest of the morning, take a stroll along the lodge's trails to discover its flora and fauna. Your guide will familiarize you with the inhabitants of this exuberant secondary forest (boots and ponchos available on site if necessary).

Return to the lodge in the late morning for lunch. Afternoon free to enjoy the lodge facilities (swimming pool, ...) or optional on-site activities: fishing, additional canal tour..

Dinner and overnight at the lodge

Hotel: Evergreen Lodge 3* (or similar)

Breakfast at the lodge. Return to Guápiles by boat, followed by lunch at a local restaurant. The bus will then drop you off at the car hire agency to collect your vehicle. Continue towards the southern Caribbean coast (3-hour drive).

You’ll pass through Siquirres and the port town of Limón before reaching the coast, home to the villages of Cahuita, Puerto Viejo, **Manzanillo* . A unique atmosphere awaits you in these small fishing villages on the Caribbean coast, characterised by a multicultural vibe and calypso and reggae music rooted in Afro-Caribbean culture.

Dinner is not included. Overnight stay at the lodge.

Hotel: 3-star La Kukula Lodge (or similar)

Breakfast at the lodge. In the morning, you will visit an animal sanctuary, the ‘Jaguar Rescue Centre’ with a local Spanish- and English-speaking guide. During this visit, you will meet some of the centre’s temporary and permanent residents, and learn about their stories. You will also hear about the challenges and issues surrounding wildlife conservation in Costa Rica. As the centre receives no government funding, its only sources of income are the admission fees charged for visits and the proceeds from the small souvenir shop. Open from Monday to Saturday, the centre is closed on Sundays.

Continue your day by car to enjoy the beautiful beaches along the coast while exploring Cahuita National Park or the Gandoca Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge, the latter of which is situated south of Puerto Viejo. From your hotel, whether on foot or by hire bike, treat yourself to a dip in the warm waters of the Caribbean. Playa Chiquita, Playa Cocles and Playa Punta Uva are all waiting for you. Between sunbathing sessions, take a relaxing break at one of the local restaurants and enjoy a refreshing drink.

Meals are not included. Overnight at the lodge.

Hotel: 3-star La Kukula Lodge (or similar)

Breakfast at the lodge. Departure towards the north-east of the country, to Sarapiquí, a region rich in agricultural produce (pineapples, palm hearts, pejibaye, guanabana, etc.) (4-hour drive). This stopover lies on the route to Arenal, helping to reduce journey time, while also offering numerous nature reserves, such as La Selva Biological Station and La Tirimbina, as well as a wide variety of activities ranging from outdoor walks to sporting activities and even agritourism.

Meals are not included. Overnight stay at the lodge.

Hotel: 3-star Sarapiqui’s Rainforest Lodge (or similar)

Breakfast at the lodge. Today your journey takes you to the north of the country to La Fortuna, a town situated at the foot of the Arenal volcano (a 1½-hour drive). Costa Rica is known for being home to around 116 volcanoes, amongst which is surely one of the most impressive, the Arenal volcano. Despite being 7,500 years old, it is fairly well-preserved as it is the country’s youngest volcano. Rising to 1,630 metres, this stratovolcano has not been active since late 2010 but is a delight for photographers (when it is not shrouded in cloud) as well as for ‘amateurs’ or ‘aficionados’ of thermal springs.

Meals are not included. Overnight stay at the lodge.

Hotel: 3-star Arenal Oasis Eco Lodge & Wildlife Refuge (or similar)

Breakfast at the lodge. This morning, a self-guided walk without a guide along the suspension bridges: this will take place in the 250-hectare private nature reserve of primary tropical rainforest, where you can observe the flora and fauna at canopy level. You’ll be able to enjoy various views of the volcano. 3 km of easy trails, accessible to all. You’ll cross 15 bridges at varying heights, ranging from 5 to 100 metres.

Meals are not included. Overnight stay at the lodge.

Hotel: Arenal Oasis Eco Lodge & Wildlife Refuge (or similar)

Breakfast at the lodge. Journey towards the beaches of Guanacaste, heading to the small seaside resort of Samara after passing through the village of Nicoya (4-hour drive). If you're in search of tranquillity, Playa Samara is perfect for you. This beach is lined with palm trees, and numerous animals live in the surrounding area. For instance, Cangrejal Bay has a reef that attracts rays and tropical fish.

To the North, Playa Buena Vista is a nesting site for sea turtles. The mangroves of the Buena Vista estuary are home to crocodiles and herons. On Chora Island, you'll also see pink sand and sea birds. Less than a 10-minute drive away, Puerto Carillo has a vast wild beach with no buildings along the seafront.

Meals are not included. Overnight stay at the lodge.

Hotel: 3-star Samara Pacific Lodge (or similar)

Breakfast at the lodge. You will have the opportunity to participate in numerous activities on site, or enjoy the large sandy beach of Playa Samara or Playa Carrillo, a neighbouring beach lined with palm trees. You can also explore the south of the Nicoya Peninsula, such as the small surfer villages of Nosara or Santa Teresa.

Meals are not included and overnight stay at the lodge.

Hotel: Samara Pacific Lodge 3* (or similar)

Breakfast at the lodge. Departure for the town of Monteverde on the slopes of the Tilarán mountain range, travelling first along the Pan-American Highway and then along a rather picturesque road (3-hour drive). Monteverde was founded in the mid-20th century by American Quakers who emigrated during the Vietnam War because they shared Costa Rica’s pacifist values. It is a cloud forest nestled at an altitude of 1,400 metres, a little paradise for nature lovers offering an extraordinary diversity of flora.

Meals are not included. Overnight stay at the lodge.

Hotel: 3-star Cala Lodge (or similar)

Breakfast at the lodge. Today, you can visit one of the many private reserves in the area or engage in another adventure activity in the cloud forest! The geographical, topographical, and climatic conditions of Monteverde have fostered astonishing biodiversity. In its forests, we find four 'ecological life zones', which give life to different ecosystems inhabited by hundreds of species of mammals, birds, butterflies, amphibians, reptiles, insects, and arachnids, as well as a wide variety of plants such as mosses, epiphytes, lianas, and common trees of the cloud forest.

Free meals and overnight at the lodge.

Hotel: Cala Lodge 3* (or similar)

Breakfast at hotel.

Transfer to Juan Santamaria International Airport for your return flight.

Vehicle pick-up at your rental agency near the airport

A free shuttle bus will take you to the airport.

End of trip.

Head to Manuel Antonio!

Breakfast at the hotel.

Your adventure then continues towards the centre of the Pacific coast. Thanks to the hotel’s ideal location, you’ll have easy access to all the activities in the area: you’ll be close to Marino Bahía Ballena National Park, Corcovado National Park and Manuel Antonio National Park, amongst others.

Each of these is renowned for its rich natural heritage. On the way, we recommend a short stop at the Tarcoles Bridge to see its impressive crocodiles.

Hotel: 3-star Hotel Playa Yara (or similar)

Breakfast at the hotel.

A day out exploring the Manuel Antonio region! Relax on the beach or by the pool, go for a walk in the national park, or head south to the Uvita region to explore the forest in search of waterfalls or hop aboard a boat to spot marine wildlife!

Meals are not included. Overnight stay at the hotel.

Hotel: 3-star Hotel Plaza Yara (or similar)

Breakfast at the hotel.

Continue to Juan Santamaria International Airport for your return flight (3-hour drive). Pick up your vehicle at the rental agency near the airport A free shuttle service will take you to the airport.

IMPORTANT: If you opt for the transport package, please select an outbound flight arriving before 11pm and a return flight departing after 1pm.

Your package includes a Suzuki Vitara (or similar) 4x4 hire for 9 days or 11 days (if you select the extension), from Day 4 at approximately 1:30 p.m. through Day 13 or 15.

Car hire includes:

Unlimited mileage

Compulsory basic insurance

GPS or WIFI

Car hire does not include:

Additional vehicle insurance (excess in case of theft, damage or accident)

Vehicle gas, parking and toll charges

Additional drivers

Pick-up and drop-off charges outside confirmed times and locations

Child and baby seats

Any guarantee deposit not mentioned in "hire includes"

Car hire terms and
conditions:

Minimum driver age: 21

Driving license: must be valid at time of vehicle pick-up

Please note:

On Day 4, the pick-up point will be at the restaurant after lunch (approx. 1:30 p.m.). The representative will arrive with the vehicle.

On day 13 or 15, you'll need to go to the car hire office in Belen, near the airport, to return your vehicle. A shared shuttle bus will take you to the airport.

Credit card only for surcharges (VISA or MASTERCARD or AMERICAN EXPRESS). The credit card must be in the driver's name. Debit cards are not accepted.

On the day you collect the vehicle, the hire company will ask you to sign a hire agreement. We cannot be held liable for any additional charges added when you sign the hire agreement.

The type of vehicle varies according to the number of passengers:
4x4 Suzuki Vitara (or similar) for 2 to 5 passengers. For larger numbers, another vehicle can be hired.

The model shown on this page is an example and cannot be guaranteed. Similar models can be supplied.

All surcharges paid locally are subject to local taxes.