Costa Rica Adventure
16 days
from San Jose to San Jose
From
$ 1729
Duration16 days
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.
This tour is operated by
-
Duration: 16 daysService level: Standard
-
Starts in: San JosePhysical Grading: Average
-
Ends in: San JoseAges: 12+
Tour Gallery
Itinerary
Day 1: San José
Start place: San Jose
Arrive at any time.
End place: San Jose
Day 2: San José/Quepos
Start place: San Jose
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.
Travel to Quepos and enjoy a couple days of relaxing and exploring Manuel Antonio National Park.
Day 3: Quepos
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.
Enjoy a free day in the Manuel Antonio region to explore and relax. Opt go kayaking through mangroves, take a surf lesson or cruise along the coast on a dolphin-spotting sunset sailing excursion.
Day 4: Quepos/Monteverde
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 and a thrilling canopy zipline.
Optional activities include the Sky Walk, a series of suspension bridges through the jungle canopy, a butterfly garden and a thrilling canopy zipline.
Travel from Quepos to Monteverde and into the cool mountain air of the area. Take an included guided night walk to learn about nocturnal life in the cloud forest firsthand.
End place: Monte Verde
Day 5: Monteverde
Start place: Monte Verde
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.
Enjoy a free day to explore the cloud forest region of Costa Rica. Opt to fly across canopy ziplines or tour a coffee plantation.
End place: Monte Verde
Day 6: Monteverde/La Fortuna
Start place: Monte Verde
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.
Travel from Monteverde to La Fortuna. Enjoy free time for optional activities such as whitewater rafting, waterfall rappelling, or relaxing in local hot springs.
End place: La Fortuna
Day 7-8: La Fortuna
Start place: La Fortuna
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.
Enjoy two free days in La Fortuna. Optional activities abound.
End place: La Fortuna
Day 9: La Fortuna/Sarapiquí Rainforest
Start place: La Fortuna
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.
Next, board a tractor-drawn cart excellent for navigating the jungle along rugged uphill terrain on the way to our special jungle oasis.
Next, board a tractor-drawn cart excellent for navigating the jungle along rugged uphill terrain on the way to our special jungle oasis.
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.
Accommodation is in a rustic lodge with multi-share sleeping arrangements, and shared bathroom facilities.
Enjoy lunch at the G Adventures-supported coffee cooperative.
Meals: L, D
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.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 11: Sarapiquí Rainforest/Tortuguero
The journey to Tortuguero is half the adventure. Begin by taking a tractor-drawn cart, board a private van, and finish it off with a journey by boat.
This unique village has walking paths that extend into the national park, a fantastic place to see wildlife even when turtles aren't in season.
This unique village has walking paths that extend into the national park, a fantastic place to see wildlife even when turtles aren't in season.
Head to Tortuguero. Opt to visit the nesting grounds of the green and leatherback turtles at night (seasonal).
End place: Tortuguero
Meals: B, L, D
Day 12: Tortuguero
Start place: 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.
End place: Tortuguero
Meals: B, L, D
Day 13: Tortuguero/Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
Start place: Tortuguero
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.
Head to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca. Opt to snorkel in the Caribbean, hike in Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge, or rent a bike to hit the beach.
End place: Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
Meals: B
Day 14: Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
Start place: Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
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 rent a bike, hike to Monkey Point, go snorkelling or take it easy and explore La Isla Botanical Gardens.
Opt to rent a bike, hike to Monkey Point, go snorkelling or take it easy and explore La Isla Botanical Gardens.
With free time here, head out and explore. Don't forget to try some fantastic Afro-Caribbean cuisine.
End place: Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
Day 15: Puerto Viejo de Talamanca/San José
Start place: Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
Take a bus ride over the mountains back to the capital.
Enjoy free time in the morning before heading back to San Jose for the final night with the group.
End place: San Jose
Day 16: San José
Start place: San Jose
Depart at any time.
End place: San Jose
Inclusions
Included
- Your G for Good Moment: Mi Cafecito Coffee Cooperative Tour, Sarapiquí Your 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 Your Discover Moment: Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
- Guided cloud forest night walk (Monteverde)
- Jungle lodge stay
- Nature trail walk with swim (Sarapiquí)
- All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
-
Transport
Private vehicle, Tractor, Public bus, Boat, Walking -
Accommodation
Hotels (13 nts), Jungle lodge (2 nts, multi-share)