Day 1 in San Jose

Welcome to Costa Rica! Once your flight has arrived in San Jose you will go through immigration. Should you opt to purchase a transfer to your hotel; a representative will be waiting for you as you exit immigration. Arrive at your hotel, check in and do not give in to jet lag! There are many exciting things to explore in San Jose.

Enjoy an afternoon hop on hop off tour, which is flexible and will take you to the cultural sites and may include the National Theater, National Museum, Children's Museum, La Sabana Park, Temple of Music, and Amon Neighborhood.

After the tour, have dinner at Cafe Mundo, a trendy hangout set in modern deco. The restaurant serves steak, seafood, and international dishes. After dinner, take in the evenings show at the National Theater.

Day 2 in San Jose

After a scenic drive, take one of the many tours that are available in Arenal. If you have an early arrival, you may take advantage of this afternoon for a half day activity, such as our a tour of Arenal Volcano Hike and Hot Springs, or a zip-line tour of Arenal Sky Tram and the Sky Trek or pay a visit to the Arenal Hanging Bridges for a walking experience among tree tops.

We recommend one of the unique full day tours available in the Arenal area. These include spectacular Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge with amazing native flora and fauna, or Rio Celeste and Tenorio Volcano (named Celeste because of its striking turquoise waters).

Choose between the Hanging Bridges which involves a 1.5-mile trek along treetops with intimate sights and sounds of birds and monkeys, or the take a river float trip up the Penas Blancas with a local guide pointing out howler monkeys, iguanas, sloths, countless birds and perhaps even a crocodile. Afterward, visit the La Fortuna Waterfall, for a must-see view of the 70-meter high waterfall, and a short hike down to the natural pool at its base.

After you`re done, it`s time to reward your body with the famous Arenal hot springs, where you can relax in the soothing waters, surrounded by waterfalls, and enjoy an outdoor buffet dinner.

Day 3 in San Jose

After breakfast, take a relaxing drive to Monteverde and enjoy the breathtaking views of the lake and the winding roads up the mountain. There are half day activities that do not require much physical effort and can be enjoyed after the drive from Arenal. Take a guided tour of Monteverde Train Forest which includes a guided ride on a small vintage train that provides a relaxing introduction to the Cloud Forest. A tour of El Trapiche gives you a chance to appreciate a family run sugar cane plantation, coffee plantation, and artisan chocolate business while learning how these products are processed.

Additional Days in San Jose

Stay an additional day and explore the lava-strewn lunar landscape of Arenal Volcano National Park. Although largely off limits, with the enormous active volcano that is its centerpiece, it’s still worth visiting on any number of tours. Most people do the short trails that start at the official entrance, on the road to El Castillo, spending two or three hours exploring the old flows and wildlife gradually returning to the region. You could combine the trip with one of the region’s excellent canopy or canyoning (waterfall rappelling) tours. You could continue on to the small town of El Castillo for dinner and the view of lava flows after sunset(geology and weather permitting). Strong hikers could spend all day in the national park. Depending on how early you access the park and how many trails you explore, this can be a half-day or full day expedition. If you are the early type, fill up your afternoon driving around Lake Arenal or explore some shopping in downtown La Fortuna.

Your Last Day in San Jose

Depart your hotel for the airport for your return home. We recommend that you purchase a private transfer, if so, a representative will meet you at the hotel in time to take you to the airport for your flight out.