Essential Costa Rica

Experience Overview

Go in search of wildlife and wild rides on this essential introduction to Costa Rica. Adopting the national motto, pura vida (pure life), we delve into the astonishing diversity of the country with our expert guide leading the way. We spend time in the shadow of Arenal volcano, swim next to a jungle waterfall, and trek through the Monteverde cloud forest at night. We also take the Pan-Am Highway to Manuel Antonio, where we have a guided tour of the national park in search of mischievous monkeys and sedate sloths. By the end of our adventure, you will fully understand why Costa Rica was named the happiest country on the planet.
Profile
— Accommodation: 8 Classic nights (hotels) — Travel by air-conditioned minibus and by boat — Group normally 4 to 16, plus local leader — Plenty of flexibility to choose your own optional activities
At a Glance
— Accommodation: 8 Classic nights (hotels) — Travel by air-conditioned minibus and by boat — Group normally 4 to 16, plus local leader — Plenty of flexibility to choose your own optional activities
Trip For You
This trip has been graded Activity Level 1 (Easy). For more information on our trip gradings please visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us. Driving distances are not very long and most of the roads that we take are good quality. There are some nature walks on the itinerary, which occasionally involve walking on rough paths. During times of heavy rain, trails can be muddy and slippery and extra care should be taken. Many of the areas visited on the trip are hot and humid and there is the chance of heavy rain year-round – the reason Costa Rica is so green.
Eating Drinking
All breakfasts are included in the price of the tour. Hotel breakfasts are normally buffets. Vegetarian and vegan options are limited but food is plentiful and tasty – please inform us before departure of any special dietary requests. Costa Rican specialities include gallo pinto, a black bean and rice dish that’s a staple part of the local diet. Soups and stews are also common, and fresh fruit is abundant and will no doubt be one of the highlights of your time here.
Transportation
Depending on the group size, we either use a 16-seat Coaster minibus or a larger 20-seat vehicle. Due to the type of vehicles we use, it's common for luggage to be transported on the roof, covered by a tarpaulin. 
Joining Instructions
Key information Start hotel: Autentico Hotel: Ave 5 and 7 40 St., East Sabana, San José 10108, Costa Rica Phone: +506 22225266 Recommended arrival time: You can arrive at any time today. There will be a welcome briefing in the evening, but if you miss it the leader will update you separately. Airport: Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) Getting to the start hotel The start hotel is approximately 25 minutes’ drive from the airport. Exodus provides free arrival transfers to the start hotel from the airport for all customers. If you would like further information on joining this trip, please speak to your sales representative.  Catching your return flight Exodus provides free departure transfers for all customers to Juan Santamaria Airport (SJO) from the end hotel. Please note, unless specified otherwise, the transfers will be to the start (or pre-tour) hotel and from the end (or post-tour) hotel and will be on the date on which the tour starts/ends; transfers to other hotels in the same city and/or on different dates may attract an extra charge. Transfers should be booked with your sales representative at least two weeks before the tour starts.
Weather Information
Costa Rica is 10 degrees north of the equator and has an almost perfect tropical climate. The average temperature is 12C-22C (54F-72F) in the highlands, and 22C-27C (72F-81F) in the lowlands. There is a rainy season from May to November when there are daily downpours, though these are usually quite short and there is still plenty of bright sunshine, so the midsummer is not necessarily a bad time to go. December to April is the driest time of the year but expect some rain. Many areas visited on the trip are hot and humid throughout the year.
Spending Money
US dollars are widely accepted as payment in Costa Rica; however, change will likely be given in local currency and the exchange rate will fluctuate. We suggest taking some US dollars with you but then using ATMs to withdraw the rest of your money in local currency while you’re there. You should allow extra to cover the cost of meals not included in the price of the trip. Approximate costs are given for guidance only and may vary widely according to location and type of establishment. • Coffee/tea/soft drink: 1,080-2,700 Costa Rica colones (US$2-US$5) • Medium beer: 1,620-3,780 colones (US$3-US$7) • Local snack lunch: 5,400 colones (US$10) • Three-course dinner in a mid-range tourist-class restaurant: 22,500 - 24,900 colones (US$45-US$50) • Bottle of wine: 24,900 colones (US$50-US$60) • Bottle of water: 1,080 colones (US$2) There are various optional activities available during the holiday (bookable locally), as follows: Arenal: Ecotermales Hot Springs (including transport and entry): from US $45 depending on number of people Sky Tram / Sky Trek: from approximately US $120 Hanging Bridges: from approximately US $74 Balsa River White Water Rafting Class II & III: from approximately US $82 Monteverde: Zipline at Selvatura Park: from approximately US $70 Selvatura TreeTop Walkways & Butterfly Garden: from approximately US $85 Naturalist Walk to Monteverde Cloudforest Reserve: from approximately US $93 Don Juan Coffee & Chocolate Tour: from approximately US $46 Manuel Antonio: Ocean Kayak & Snorkelling: from approximately US $77 Isla Damas Boat tour: from approximately US $81 Zipline Adventure:: from approximately US $91 Local flavours Cultural Cooking Experience: from approximately US $81 Optional excursions can be paid for by cash (preferably), credit or debit card.
Tipping
Our local staff are paid fairly for their work with Exodus. However, it is usual for groups to tip tour leaders and drivers, and it would be reasonable for each group member to contribute US$50 for the tour leader and US$35 for the driver. You may wish to tip more if travelling in a small group. The tour leader may organise a tipping kitty to facilitate tips for other staff members including porters, local guides and restaurant waiting staff, which will be collected at the start of the trip. The amount may vary per departure, but we recommend a starting point of US$80 per group member.

Highlights