Inclusions
All accommodation
All internal flights
All tours as specified in the itinerary
All meals as specified in the itinerary
All transfers and transportation
All national park entrance fees
All other entrance fees
24 hour emergency assistance
100% financial protection with our ATOL license & ABTA membership
Our exclusive 100+ page trip guidebook, personalised to your trip
Full support from your dedicated specialist
CAN include these for you, just ask us for a quote.
International flights – weDiscretionary gratuities to drivers and guides
Travel insurance to cover any medical treatment.
About this tour
This tour is perfect for wildlife and nature lovers with a good variety of excursions and destinations whilst staying in top hotels. Begin in The Central Valley and visit one of Costa Rica’s most established coffee plantations. Take a spectacular light aircraft flight to The Osa Peninsular to stay in one of the best eco lodges in the country. Continue to Arenal for the volcano and a visit to a chocolate farm. Finally journey to Monteverde for exploring the cloud forest before ending on the beach at Manuel Antonio.

Speak to an expert who has been to Costa Rica on 44 020 8191 7772 or toll free from the USA on 0018448806752 Alternatively get in touch via email at [email protected]
Itinerary
Day 1 - Meet and greet at airport, transfer to hotel
On arrival in San Jose you will be met by your friendly English speaking driver guide who will help you with your luggage and provide you with bottled water. You will be taken by private transfer straight to your hotel (about 20 minutes depending on traffic).
The rest of the evening is at leisure.
Meals Included: None today
Suggested Accommodation: Xandari
Day 2 - Doka coffee plantation tour
This morning after breakfast you will be picked up at your hotel and taken for a guided tour of the Doka Coffee plantation. The Doka Coffee Estate belongs to the Vargas Ruiz family who are considered pioneers of coffee growing in Costa Rica and have run their plantation since 1940. The coffee estate is located on the slopes of Poas Volcano in a cloud forest ecosystem that provides the perfect conditions for growing coffee. During the tour, your expert local guide will explain the history of coffee making in Costa Rica and each stage of the process from growing to harvesting and roasting. You will have the chance to taste some of coffee and you will receive a small bag of gourmet coffee to take home. Lunch is also included. After the tour you will be returned to your hotel and the rest of the day is at leisure.
Meals Included: Breakfast & Lunch
Suggested Accommodation: Xandari
Day 3 - Flight to the Osa Peninsular
After breakfast this morning you will be met at your hotel by your private driver guide and taken by private transfer to the airport (about 45 minutes drive). The light aircraft flight to Puerto Jimenez on the Osa Peninsular takes about 1 hour and is a great opportunity to see Costa Rica’s beautiful landscapes from the air.
On arrival to Puerto Jimenez you will be met by representatives of Lapa Rios and taken by 4×4 the remaining way to the lodge. It is about a 50 minute drive through the rainforest and your guides will be able to point out different birds, monkeys and other wildlife along the way.
After check in the rest of the afternoon is at leisure.
Note: Arriving to Lapa Rios requires a fairly steep climb up quite a few stairs. It is, however, a very scenic walk and the reward is fantastic views from the top!
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Suggested Accommodation: Lapa Rios
Days 4 & 5 - Activities at your rainforest lodge
Whilst at Lapa Rios you have included a choice of daily on site tours lead by the resident naturalist guides. Available tours include a selection of bird watching tours, rainforest and waterfall hikes, local medicine tour, beach trips, starfish walk, The Osa Trail, Matapalo nature tour, night walk, sustainability tour and more. Other activities such as dolphin watching, horse riding and mangrove tours are available at an additional cost.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Suggested Accommodation: Lapa Rios
Day 6 - Osa Peninsular to Arenal Volcano
After breakfast you will return by 4×4 to the airstrip at Puerto Jimenez (about a 50 minute drive) for your light aircraft flight back to San Jose (about 1 hour).
On arrival to San Jose you will be met by your private driver guide who will take you by private transfer directly to your hotel in Arenal (about a 3 hour drive). If you would like to stop for lunch or a comfort break along the way, just ask your driver, who will recommend a good spot.
Upon arrival to your hotel in Arenal you will be greeted with a welcome drink and taken to your room. The rest of the afternoon and evening is at leisure.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Suggested Accommodation: Nayara Hotel
Day 7 - Arenal Volcano hike & hot springs
You will be picked up at your hotel about 5pm by your guide and taken to Arenal national park to enjoy a short guided hike along parts of the 1968 trail. The trail takes you through some forested areas and over the lava flows that were a result of the dramatic eruption of 1968. You will be able to enjoy up close views of the volcano and Arenal lake. After the short hike you will continue to Tabacon hot springs, the oldest and most beautiful hot springs in Arenal. A buffett dinner is included and then there is some free time to enjoy the springs before you are taken back to your hotel about 10pm.
Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner
Suggested Accommodation: Nayara Hotel
Day 8 - Day at leisure in Arenal
Today is a free day to enjoy the comforts of your luxury hotel, or take an additional excursion. We can organise a wide range of activities including hiking, zip-lining, bird watching, visits to nearby waterfalls, hot springs and more. Please let us know if you would like us to organise an additional excursion.
All the activities included in this tour are just suggestions and can be tailored to your particular tastes. Speak to us about creating the perfect itinerary for you.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Suggested Accommodation: Nayara Hotel
Day 9 - Arenal lake crossing to Monteverde
You will be picked up at your hotel after breakfast and taken by private transfer to the shores of Lake Arenal (about 15 minutes) From here you will board a small private boat to take you across to the other side of the lake (about 1 hour). On arrival to the dock at Rio Chiquito you will be taken by private transfer the remainder of the journey to your hotel in the Monteverde cloud forest region (about 2 hours 15 minutes).
The rest of the afternoon is at leisure to relax in your hotel or take an optional excursion.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Suggested Accommodation: Hotel Belmar
Day 10 - Monteverde Reserve & night tour
This morning after breakfast you will be picked up at your hotel and taken to the Monteverde Reserve, a short drive away. The protected reserve is one of the the most biologically rich in Costa Rica and supports a staggering variety of plants and animals. There are 13 kilometres of nature trails that wind through the forest that is often shrouded in cloud creating a mysterious and unique atmosphere. The reserve is home to over 500 species of birds, hundreds of different reptiles and amphibians, 3000 different species of plants and the highest diversity of orchids found anywhere on earth. Your naturalist guide will explain the different flora and fauna as you walk through the forest. After the tour there is time for some refreshments before returning to your hotel.
Top Tip: Bring good shoes for walking and a light waterproof jacket or poncho in case of rain. Waterproof bags for your electronic equipment also come in handy!
A guided nocturnal nature walk with a local naturalist guide
This evening you will met at your hotel and taken to the Hidden Valley for a night time nature walk. The Hidden Valley is a small private reserve originally set up by David Savage in 1979. At that time the land was in danger of being cleared for logging purposes so the Savage family decided to buy the land and set up a reserve which became one of Costa Rica’s first conservation projects. Being in the forest at night is a totally different experience to the day. You will be able to see many different animals including frogs, snakes and spiders (especially tarantulas!) Other animals you may encounter are armadillo, coatimundis, kinkajous, sloths and more. After the walk you will be returned to your hotel.
Top Tip: Good shoes and long trousers are essential for this excursion. It can get surprisingly chilly at night and may rain, so a light waterproof is also recommended. If you have a torch this can also come in useful!
Meals Included: Breakfast
Suggested Accommodation: Hotel Belmar
Day 11 - Day at leisure in Monteverde
There are no excursions scheduled for today. We can include a wide variety of different excursions including zip lining, bird watching, coffee tours, cheese factory tours, private hiking tours, chocolate tours, hanging bridges and more. Please let us know if you would like us to organise an additional excursion.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Suggested Accommodation: Hotel Belmar
Days 12 - Monteverde to the Pacific coast
You will be picked up at your hotel in the morning after breakfast and taken by private transfer to Manuel Antonio on the Pacific Coast (between 3 and 4 hours) where you will be dropped at your hotel. There are local restaurants along the way that your driver can recommend should you wish to stop for lunch.
Once you have checked into your room the rest of the day is at leisure to relax by the pool or on the beach.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Suggested Accommodation: Arenas del Mar
Days 13 - Manuel Antonio national park
Manuel Antonio is the nation’s smallest, but arguably the prettiest national park. With thick jungle emerging onto white sand beaches, it is a picture perfect tropical paradise. Your guide will lead you on an informative walk along the trails as you look for wildlife. All four species of monkeys can be found in the park, one of the only areas in Costa Rica where this is possible, along with lots of other wildlife. After the walk enjoy a refreshing dip in the sea before returning to the hotel by lunch time.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Suggested Accommodation: Arenas del Mar
Days 14 - Final day at leisure
Your final day is at leisure to relax on the beach and enjoy the comforts of your luxury hotel.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Suggested Accommodation: Arenas del Mar
Day 15 - Transfer to the airport for departure
Check-out and private transfer from your hotel to the airport (about 2.5 hours) for your return international flight.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation
Below is our suggested accommodation for this tour. Our Costa Rica experts have intimate knowledge of all the accommodation options in Costa Rica having personally visited or stayed in many themselves. Speak to one of our specialists about the type of accommodation you would like to include.
Destinations Visited On This Tour
Click the links below to find out more about the destinations visited in this tour.