8 Days/ 7 Nights Costa Rica Itinerary
Arrival
ARRIVE SAN JOSÉ: After you collect your luggage and clear customs you will be met outside the terminal by hotel local representative, who will transfer group by van to our selected hotel in San José. (Barcelo Hotel, San José) Enjoy a day of leisure. (D)
San Jose City Tour
Discover highlights of Costa Rican history and culture on this 4-hour city tour of downtown San Jose. Visit the city’s architectural treasures, including the historic National Theater. Take a spin through the galleries of an art museum to admire pre-Columbian treasures, and enjoy the lush landscaping of one of San Jose’s beloved emerald parks. Sightseeing tour of San Jose Visit the Opera House, the University of Costa Rica and Sabana Park with your local guide Explore the Museum of Pre-Columbian Art Tour the National Theater (B, L, D)
Zipling in Cloud Forest
Adventure awaits on the San Luis Canopy Tour, where you will travel on 12 different zip lines over 18 platforms and on a Tarzan swing that will take you on an exhilarating and safe adventure through the lush vegetation of Costa Rica's cloud forest.
Set in the placid cloud forests of Costa Rica’s Central Valley region, the San Luis canopy tour will take you on an exhilarating and safe adventure through a lush, green canopy and across the majestic River Cataratitas. Carried securely by a system of zip lines, you will soar weightlessly through the expansive virgin forest, and take a closer look at the habitats of Costa Rica’s distinctive cloud-forest wildlife. Fly on 12 different zip lines over 18 platforms, where you will swing like Tarzan and fly like Superman during this fun adventure. Travel by "The Elevator", a thrilling feature that securely lifts you high above the forest canopy, granting a panoramic view of the surrounding area. The San Luis Canopy Tour deems safety and your enjoyment as key principles; the facilities are certified by the Costa Rica Institute of Tourism, which makes this active, informative tour a great choice for adventure lovers! (B, L, D)
Arenal Volcan and Hot Springs
Discover why so many visitors flock to Arenal to relax and soak up the majestic scenery. Your full-day tour begins with early morning pickup at your San Jose hotel in a comfortable minivan. After a 35-minute drive, stop briefly in the artisan town of Sarchí, where craftspeople have been making traditional, brightly-painted wooden oxcarts for generations. Continue on another 2.5 hours to the town of La Fortuna, where you’ll enjoy a typical Costa Rican lunch at a local restaurant with stellar views of the nearby Arenal Volcano. Next, get ready for adventure as you head to Arenal Volcano National Park for a hike around the base of the volcanic cone. You’ll trek along a trail system known as Mirador Arenal 1968, named for the last year that the volcano experienced a major eruption. Arenal is considered one of the most active volcanoes in the Western Hemisphere and emits a steady stream of smoke and lava from its sputtering crater. Rest assured that trails are carefully screened for visitor safety. Throughout your hike, take in different perspectives of the majestic peak and learn about the area’s geologic history. Next, it’s time to unwind at the renowned Tabacón hot springs and resort. Spend the afternoon soaking in natural thermal pools that range from 77 to 102°F (25 to 38°C). You’ll find small secluded pools and larger lagoons with cascading waterfalls, all surrounded by lush tropical scenery. Enjoy about 3.5 hours of leisure time at the spa. When it’s time for dinner, enjoy a tasty buffet dinner at the resort and soak up the romantic atmosphere of steam rising from the pools and views of the nearby volcano under a starry sky. Sit back and relax into your newfound bliss on the return drive to San Jose, where you’ll be dropped off back at your hotel. (B, L, D)
Tortuga Island
Find a spot on one of the giant nets or sit in one of the two freshwater pools on deck and relax while being served a delicious drink and fresh tropical fruit as you cross the scenic Gulf of Nicoya. Be on the lookout for dolphins, whales, and sea turtles as well as the many varieties of seabirds. Upon arrival at beautiful white sand beach of Tortuga Island, while the crew sets up Cafe Calypso you will be taken to the included snorkel tour to a small island. After a delicious 4-course lunch it is time to ride the Banana Boat, play volleyball with other guests or take a nap in one of the provided hammocks. In the afternoon explore more of the gulf taking a different route back to port on a Tour of Discovery, unique to Calypso, passing 7 islands to see and learn more of the history of Costa Rica as enjoy a beautiful sunset. (B, L, D)
Irazu Volcano, Cartago Ruins, and Sarapiqui River Tour
Prepare for an early morning pickup at your San Jose hotel to make the most of this jam-packed day. Stop for breakfast en route to the nearby city of Cartago, home to interesting ruins of a destroyed church and other remnants of a 16th-century colonial settlement. Hear the legends that surround the crumbling chapel before continuing north to Irazú Volcano National Park. Peer down into the active volcano’s lagoon-filled crater, and enjoy commanding views from the top of the peak. On a clear day, you may be able to catch sight of both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans from the 11,260-foot (3,432-meter) summit. Next, travel to the riverside town of Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí and board a covered riverboat for a leisurely 2-hour cruise down the Sarapiquí River. Keep a sharp eye out for sightings of local wildlife that inhabits the surrounding jungle, such as crocodiles, monkeys, sloths, and toucans. The voyage concludes at a private farm, where you can stretch your legs on hiking trails and enjoy a homestyle Costa Rican lunch. Pass through the beautiful Braulio Carrillo National Park on the return drive to San Jose, where the 12-hour tour concludes with hotel drop-off in the evening. ( B, L, D)
Relax By The Pool
Day at leisure to relax by the pool and shop for souveniers ( B, D)
Departure
Transfer to the San Jose Airport for your return flight (B)