Tour Overview
| Duration | 10 Days / 9 Nights |
|---|---|
| Destination | Costa Rica — Tortuguero, Arenal, Monteverde, Tamarindo |
| Price From | $3,023 per person (twin share) |
| Tour Style | Nature & Wildlife Small Group |
| Best Season | December — April |
| Data Source | TourRadar 2026 verified pricing |
Itinerary Highlights
Day 1: Arrive San Jose
Land at San Jose Airport. Transfer to your hotel. Evening orientation walk through the capital. Overnight in San Jose.
Day 2: Tortuguero — The Amazon of Costa Rica
Early morning drive to the Caribbean coast, then board a boat to Tortuguero National Park. Tortuguero is a network of jungle canals only accessible by boat or small plane — often called “Costa Rica’s Amazon.” The boat ride through the canals reveals a world of incredible wildlife: caimans, river turtles, howler monkeys, spider monkeys, basilisk lizards, and an astonishing variety of birds (toucans, herons, kingfishers, and the rare agami heron). Afternoon: guided canal tour with a naturalist. Tortuguero is one of the world’s most important nesting sites for green sea turtles (June-October). Overnight in Tortuguero lodge.
Day 3: Tortuguero Sunrise & Arenal
Dawn canal tour — the wildlife is most active at sunrise. Return for breakfast, then boat and drive to La Fortuna. Afternoon arrival, with views of Arenal Volcano. Evening: soak in the natural hot springs. Overnight in La Fortuna.
Day 4: Arenal — Hanging Bridges & Hot Springs
The Arenal Hanging Bridges trail through the cloud forest canopy. Zip-lining or waterfall rappelling (optional). Afternoon: coffee and chocolate plantation tour. Evening: more hot springs. Overnight in La Fortuna.
Day 5: Monteverde Cloud Forest
Drive around Lake Arenal to Monteverde (3.5 hours), one of the world’s most famous cloud forests. Monteverde was established by Quaker settlers from the US in the 1950s and is now one of the world’s premier conservation areas. Afternoon: guided night walk in the cloud forest — this is the best time to see the forest’s nocturnal residents: tarantulas, frogs, sleeping birds, owls, and the nocturnal mammals (kinkajous, olingos, armadillos) that emerge after dark. Overnight in Monteverde.
Day 6: Monteverde — Cloud Forest Exploration
Morning: guided nature walk in the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. The cloud forest is an enchanted world — trees draped in epiphytes (bromeliads, orchids, mosses, ferns), constant mist, and the haunting call of the bellbird. The resplendent quetzal (considered one of the world’s most beautiful birds) is Monteverde’s star resident — the iridescent green and red males with their 65cm tail feathers are most active during the breeding season (March-June). Afternoon: visit the butterfly garden (with over 50 species and a walk-in enclosure), the hummingbird gallery (where dozens of hummingbirds buzz inches from your face), or the orchid garden. Overnight in Monteverde.
Day 7: Tamarindo — Pacific Gold Coast
Drive to Tamarindo on the Pacific coast (3.5 hours). Tamarindo is Costa Rica’s most famous surf town — a long crescent of golden sand with consistent waves year-round. Afternoon: surf lesson (Tamarindo’s waves are ideal for beginners and intermediates) or relax on the beach. Evening: sunset drinks and fresh seafood. Overnight in Tamarindo.
Day 8: Tamarindo — Free Day
Full day at leisure. Options: surf more, take a catamaran cruise (spotting dolphins, whales in season, and snorkeling), horseback riding on the beach, or visit the nearby Marino Las Baulas National Park (an important leatherback turtle nesting site). Overnight in Tamarindo.
Day 9: Return to San Jose
Morning at the beach. Afternoon drive back to San Jose (4 hours). Farewell dinner at a restaurant in Escazu or Santa Ana. Overnight in San Jose.
Day 10: Departure
Morning visit to the Jade Museum or National Theatre (a 1897 neoclassical masterpiece). Transfer to San Jose Airport for departure.
Included
- 9 nights accommodation
- Daily breakfast + 3 dinners
- Expert naturalist guide
- Private vehicle + boat transfers
- Tortuguero canal tours
- Arenal Hanging Bridges
- Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve & night walk
- Coffee & chocolate tour
- Airport transfers
