Day 1 in Tortuguero

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 Tortuguero National Park.

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 Tortuguero

After enjoying breakfast at your hotel, you will depart from San Jose to Tortuguero National Park. Your pick up time will be provided in your welcome package and confirmed by our local representatives the night before. This package includes a shuttle pick up from your hotel and the continuing boat transfer to Tortuguero. Our packages are fully customizable, so you can always change or upgrade your transfer in the booking process.

There are no roads into Tortuguero, and part of the appeal is its remoteness. Visitors arrive by boat or plane, which has helped preserve the area's pristine environment and eco-systems. Whatever method of transport you choose will ultimately be on a boat for the final leg of the journey. It is important to note that there is usually a maximum luggage allowance of 25 pounds per person.

Accommodations on Tortuguero are rustic, but extremely comfortable and designed to enhance the natural environment. Tortuga Lodge is a recently renovated, tastefully decorated property facing the canal. Mawamba Lodge is a 15-acre beachfront property. Manatus Hotel is the only hotel in Tortuguero with air conditioning and cable TV, in addition to spa services, Internet, a gym and an a la carte restaurant. Full board and some guided tours in Tortuguero are included in the price of this package. We suggest you settle into your hotel and relax. You have left behind modern distractions, so take time to experience the grandeur of our planet's fascinating and rapidly disappearing natural treasures.

Day 3 in Tortuguero

Tortuguero National Park is one of the most visited National Parks in Costa Rica and hosts over 170 species of reptiles and amphibians. There are over 375 species of birds and 125 types of mammals. There are thousands of different trees and plants. Tortuguero's shoreline is one of the world's most important nesting sanctuaries for Sea Turtles.

There are optional kayaking tours, night walking tours, turtle search tours and more, depending on your interests. Activities may also include fishing, canopy tours, aquatic bicycles and various animal observatories.

Additional Days in Tortuguero

Enjoy Arenal Volcano. There are a many number of activities on your Arenal wish list you may want to increase your stay. Once you've had breakfast at your hotel, we recommend one of the unique full day tours available in the Arenal area. These include our spectacular Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge with amazing native flora and fauna, or our Rio Celeste and Tenorio Volcano Tour (named Celeste because of its striking turquoise waters).

Another visitor favorite is the 4 in 1 Tour, featuring 4 unique experiences in just one day. You have two choices for the first of four activities. Your first option is the Hanging Bridges which involves a 1.5-mile trek along treetops with intimate sights and sounds of birds and monkeys. Your second option is the Penas Blancas Floating River Ride with a local guide pointing out howler monkeys, iguanas, sloths, countless birds and perhaps even a crocodile. The second activity is always a visit to the La Fortuna Waterfall, for a view of the 70-meter high waterfall, and a short hike down to the natural pool at its base. After lunch, a visit to the Arenal National Park provides impressive views of Arenal Volcano and its picturesque lake. Your tour guide will discuss the natural and geological history of the volcano while you hear its roar in the distance or cross a vain of solid lava from 1992. For your fourth and final activity, you will end the day at a beautiful hot spring, where you can relax in the soothing waters, surrounded by waterfalls, and enjoy an outdoor buffet dinner

Your Last Day in Tortuguero

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.