Experience Overview
If you’re looking for a taste of Costa Rica’s world-class highlights but want to keep things spicy with a sampling of hidden treasures, this action-packed adventure tops the menu. In spite of its small size, Costa Rica is one of the most biologically diverse countries in the world with volcanoes, wildlife, rainforests, and beaches to explore. This adventure offers a great balance of guided excursions and free time. Optional activities abound — choose to get your adrenaline pumping or take it easy with a stroll through a butterfly garden.
Highlights
- Spot wildlife while cruising through the canals of Tortuguero
- Hike through the cloud forest
- Enjoy the gorgeous beaches of the Pacific and Caribbean coasts
- Savour a local lunch at a G Adventures-supported coffee plantation
Trip Details
Product Code: 1833
Tour Type: Small Group
Accommodation: Budget
Transport: Private vehicle, public bus, boat, walking.
Guide Language: English
Travel Styles: Budget
Tour Operator: G Adventures
Supplier Code: CRA
Starts: San José, Costa Rica
Finishes: San José, Costa Rica
Duration: 16 days
Departures: Guaranteed
Physical Rating: Average
Includes
Activities
- Your G for Good Moment: Mi Cafecito Coffee Cooperative Tour, Sarapiquí Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group Your Discover Moment: Quepos Your Discover Moment: Monteverde Your Discover Moment: La Fortuna Your Foodie Moment: Cooking Demonstration, Sarapiquí Rainforest
- Visit to Manuel Antonio National Park
- Jungle lodge stay
- Nature trail walk with swim (Sarapiquí)
- Bike ride (Puerto Viejo)
- All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
Accommodation
- Hotels (13 nts), jungle lodge (2 nts).
- 4 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 4 dinners
Transport
- Private vehicle, public bus, boat, walking.
Group Leader
- CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout, local guides.
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $2,024 ($126 /day)
Itinerary
Day 1: San José
Arrive at any time.
Day 2: San José/Quepos
Travel from San José to the coast and the city of Quepos, located just outside of Manuel Antonio Nationanl Park. Enjoy a couple of days in the area with plenty of time to explore and to relax on the beach.
The small town of Quepos is on the Pacific Coast and this region of Costa Rica is a great place to relax and enjoy the sun and nearby sea. A short distance away, Manuel Antonio National Park offers beautiful white-sand beaches and warm turquoise water, ideal for swimming, fishing, kayaking, boogie boarding, sailing or surfing.
Day 3: Quepos
Discover the lush tropical forests and white-sand beaches of Costa Rica's smallest national park. Hike through the dense forest, climb up to rocky outcrops for views of the dazzling Pacific Ocean, and go swimming in the park's lovely lagoons and tidal pools. Later, enjoy some free time at the beach. Opt go kayaking through mangroves, take a surf lesson or cruise along the coast on a dolphin-spotting sunset sailing excursion.
Pre-book the Manuel Antonio Catamaran Tour on the checkout page to include this optional activity on your tour or ask your GCO or travel agent for assistance.
Day 4: Quepos/Monteverde
Travel from Quepos to Monteverde and into the cool mountain air of the area. Upon arrival you will have free time to relax from the long day of travel or opt to go on a guided night walk in the cloud forest to learn all about nocturnal life.
Ascend to the Monteverde cloud forest region. Spend a couple of days exploring the town and a cloud forest reserve, truly a bird lover's paradise. This unique community has several cooperatives worth visiting.
Optional activities include the Sky Walk, a series of suspension bridges through the jungle canopy, a butterfly garden, a thrilling canopy zipline, and a guided walk through the cloud forest at night.
Day 5: Monteverde
Enjoy a free day to explore the cloud forest region of Costa Rica. Opt to fly across canopy ziplines or tour a coffee plantation.
Get your adrenaline pumping and pre-book the Costa Rica Adrenaline Bundle on the checkout page to include this optional activity on your tour or ask your GCO or travel agent for assistance.
Day 6: Monteverde/La Fortuna
Travel from Monteverde to La Fortuna. Enjoy free time for optional activities such as whitewater rafting, waterfall rappelling, or relaxing in local hot springs.
La Fortuna, the town near the foot of Arenal Volcano is an excellent base for adventure. Hike the area's nature trails, swim in chilly La Fortuna waterfall or go canyoning (rappelling) and catch a bird's eye view of the forest greenery.
Day 7-8: La Fortuna
Enjoy two free days in La Fortuna. Optional activities abound.
Optional activities include full-day whitewater rafting on the Toro or Arenal Rivers, mountain biking, caving, horseback riding, or a tour of the Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge. Like much of Costa Rica, the area is a birders' paradise, with over 600 species as permanent residents. Finally, after a long day of exploring, you can choose to take a relaxing soak at Baldi Hot Springs.
Day 9: La Fortuna/Sarapiquí Rainforest
Enjoy an included visit to a G Adventures-supported coffee cooperative with a local lunch before heading to a jungle oasis in the Sarapiquí Rainforest.
Visit a coffee cooperative in the small village of San Miguel de Sarapiquí and take a traditional coffee tour. Enjoy a local lunch here— there's even fresh tilapia farmed on site— and then tour the grounds of the cooperative to learn about the coffee process from bean to cup.
Day 10: Sarapiquí Rainforest
Enjoy a day in the beautiful Sarapiquí Valley. Optional activities (all included in our overnight package, weather-depending) include swimming in the river, night walks, an empanada-making lesson or relax and listen to the sounds of the surrounding rainforest.
Day 11: Sarapiquí Rainforest/Tortuguero
Head to Tortuguero. Opt to visit the nesting grounds of the green and leatherback turtles at night (seasonal).
The journey to Tortuguero is half the adventure. Board a private van, and finish it off with a journey by boat.
Tortuguero is a fantastic place to see wildlife even when turtles aren't in season.
Day 12: Tortuguero
Enjoy free time to explore Tortuguero. Opt to kayak through the canals and view the wildlife, wake up early and head to the beach to watch turtle eggs hatch (seasonal), or just wander through the town.
Day 13: Tortuguero/Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
Head to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca. Enjoy free time to explore paradise. Opt to go snorkelling in the Caribbean or take it easy and explore La Isla Botanical Gardens before hitting the beach.
A morning boat ride and drive ends in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, with spectacular scenery en route. This seaside town is perfect for relaxing or exploring the Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge.
The picturesque village of Puerto Viejo de Talamanca's 14 kms of incomparable white- and black-sand beaches are surrounded by exotic tropical vegetation.
Opt to go snorkelling or take it easy and explore La Isla Botanical Gardens.
Day 14: Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
Hop on a bike and ride to the beach with our CEO. Enjoy a full day exploring this slice of paradise in Puerto Viejo. In the evening, opt to find the best place to watch the sunset and don't forget to try some fantastic Afro-Caribbean cuisine.
Day 15: Puerto Viejo de Talamanca/San José
Enjoy free time in the morning before heading back to San Jose for the final night with the group.
Take a bus ride over the mountains back to the capital.
Day 16: San José
Depart at any time.
Similar Tours
Tour Operator
G Adventures
G Adventures is an operator of small-group escorted tours. It is based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada with 28 offices worldwide. It offers more than 700 itineraries in more than 100 countries, and carries 200,000 travelers from 160 countries each year.
In Business Since 1990
Reviews
Tamara L. - Traveled, November 2023
it's a great way to see a lot of a country, it's planned for you, it's safe, it supports local businesses and it's a good way to meet and travel with others for solo travellers
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/30/2023
Tia G. - Traveled, November 2023
Eric was a great guide
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/30/2023
Rosalind G. - Traveled, November 2023
I have gone with other groups sthat include more in the initial fee. It was not fun to constantly pay for all the activities and I think it ended up more expensive th an other groups
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/30/2023
Oliver N. - Traveled, November 2023
Great experience of both G Adventures trips I have taken.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/30/2023
Elsa E. - Traveled, November 2023
Due to the ease of being part of a tour. Being able to see so much as the activities are brought right to you.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/31/2023
Freda O. - Traveled, November 2023
The accommodation could have been better
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/31/2023
Sion R. - Traveled, November 2023
Convenience, and having expert knowledge on what to do at any given moment.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/29/2023
Ewa Z. - Traveled, November 2023
I have had two experiences with G Adventures so far and both have been very positive. it's easy to book, the tours are well structured and have high quality guides - it makes the trip a lot less daunting, especially when going to countries where I wouldn't be so comfortable booking everything by myself.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/30/2023
Marvin W. - Traveled, November 2023
Well organized. CEO with the group focused on needs of group and capable, knowledgeable, and flexible with good relations with adventure-service providers
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/29/2023
Mari G., - Traveled, November 2023
This was a trip with a lot of optional activities, which of course was nice to choose how to spend days, but was also much more expensive than I had anticipated.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/29/2023
Puneeth V. - Traveled, November 2023
The trip is completely planned which eases you of the hassles of booking hotels, travels etc and also gives you options at each destination to do things at your own pace.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/29/2023
Snehal Vitthal D. - Traveled, November 2023
Our tour guide Eric was wonderful! The trip was well organised and the itinerary is designed well to cover all the important sights
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/30/2023
Eva A. - Traveled, November 2023
Consistent great service and well curated itinerary
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/30/2023
Michael P. - Traveled, November 2023
Because of the very good job of our guide Eric and the rout was good. The organisation of the adventures was perfect.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/30/2023
Esther B. - Traveled, November 2023
The trip was an amazing mix of nature and adrenaline pumping activities. Our guide Eric was fantastic and deeply committed to showing us Costa Rica.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/30/2023
Lisa W. - Traveled, November 2023
Great experience on my tour
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/29/2023
Deborah S. - Traveled, November 2023
Hassle free travel, and back up support, to maximise the time you are visiting the country and to ensure you experience all the best bits, with lots of options to suit all interests.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/29/2023
Patricia S. - Traveled, November 2023
Style of travel' I take to mean seeing a wide variety of places with a wide variety of optional activities, and living out of your suitcase. You might intend to include the level of accommodations in this too. I am not convinced any of my friends and family members would enjoy the inconsistent hot showers, toilet paper in the trash and sometimes scratchy sheets.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/29/2023
Priyanka J. - Traveled, November 2023
Great itinerary, amazing CEO
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/29/2023
Timothy A. - Traveled, November 2023
Cheap. Covered most of my needs.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/29/2023
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