4 Day Costa Rica Solo Budget Traveler

Day 1

Early Morning. Transport to Monteverde.  Your Costa Rica vacation starts with a pick-up from San Jose by shared shuttle transport - forget the worries about public buses and safety.

Your driver will pick you up from your hotel reception (if it is located in San Jose center) and if staying near the airport in Alajuela you just have to meet the shuttle at the Holiday Inn Express - which is less than a 5 minute taxi ride from the airport or airport hotels.

The scenery as you make your ascent to the beautiful green mountains of Monteverde (3 - 4 hours) is beautiful. There will be a stop along the way to use the bathrooms, stretch your legs and have  a snack. The views of the distant Monteverde Cloud Forest and the Gulf of Nicoya  are amazing.

Late Afternoon.  Adventure Canopy Tour ( Canopy Zip lines, tarzan swing, superman and rappels) 

The canopy tours in Monteverde are some of the most adrenaline-pumping activities you will find in Costa Rica. And the Aventura Canopy is one of the best! There are 11 cables that are connected to platforms located high in the canopy of the trees.  You will be fitted with specialized equipment (harnesses, gloves and helmets) and given an explanation of exactly what this exciting adventure entails and what you have to do.  The first cable is shorter and slower so that you have a chance to practice. The cables traverse from tree to tree and you will glide along the zip lines, stopping at each platform along the way. 

SAFETY

There are daily checks on all cables and platforms before the first tour and there are regular maintenance schedules.  The guides are experienced guides and are with you the whole time to ensure your safety. There is also the chance to go tandem if scared (depending on the weight of a person).

Night at Hotel Rustic Lodge (Single Room with breakfast included).

Note: for an extra charge we can upgrade hotels.

Day 2

Breakfast at Hotel

Early Morning. Taxi-Boat-Taxi to La Fortuna

This is a great way to travel between Monteverde and Arenal Volcano!

The taxi-boat-taxi service (or sometimes called jeep-boat-jeep, although nobody uses jeeps anymore, vans and buses are much more common) is a one-way transfer between Monteverde and Arenal Volcano and La Fortuna. Or vice versa. The two places are only about 136km apart, but the shortest direct route by road is not possible because of the mountain ranges.

As the name suggests, the trip consists of a taxi ride (in the form of minivans or coasters as they are FAR more comfortable than small jeeps on the bumpy roads) to Arenal Lake, a boat across the Arenal Lake, and then another taxi on to your hotel. In total, this breaks down into about 3.5 -4 hours by microbus and 30 mins by boat plus a break.

Please notice you will have to carry your own luggage from the van to the boat and from the boat to the van. If you need help please ask your driver.

You will be taken to your hotel in Arenal. We use the Hotel San Bosco

If you would like to upgrade your hotel we can do so for an extra charge.

 

Early Evening: A Visit to Baldi Hot Springs with Dinner Included!

A visit to Costa Rica is not complete without experiencing one of Arenal's famous hot springs with views of Arenal Volcano! We will take you to Baldi Hot Springs where you can soak any aches away from the past few day's activities. Located near La Fortuna, these Arenal hot springs are perfect to really relax and pamper yourself. Baldi's has a series of pools and hot springs fed by Arenal Volcano which are set amid glorious tropical gardens so that you can relax in the water while enjoying the surroundings. The pools vary in temperature, from the temperature of a swimming pool to the warmest at around 39C (102F). It's a place where, on a clear night, you can sit in a warm pool, sipping the cocktail of your choice.

NOTE: BALDI HAS QUITE A PARTY ATMOSPHERE SOMETIMES SO IF YOU WOULD LIKE A QUIETER HOT SPRINGS WE CAN UPGRADE THIS TO A DIFFERENT HOT SPRINGS (this may have an extra cost)

You might also decide to pamper your body by opting for one of the many body treatments which are available such as massage, reflexology, body polish, volcanic mud wraps, and facials (these are not included on the tour).

Includes: transportation, entrance to Baldi Hot Springs, and dinner

* WE CAN ALSO INCLUDE A GUIDED VOLCANO HIKE BEFORE THE HOT SPRINGS BUT PLEASE DISCUSS THIS WITH US

 

 

Day 3

Breakfast at Hotel

Early Morning. White Water Rafting Class III/IV (8 hours) – Includes transport, bilingual guides, equipment, fruit snack and lunch   

Bring on the adrenaline! Whitewater rafting Rio Sarapiqui is for experienced and first-time rafters who love adventure. A full-day, class 3-4 rafting on one of Costa Rica’s most-exuberant rivers: a perfect rafting trip for adventurous paddlers. You’ll get about 2 - 2.5 hours of rafting with more than 12 continuous, class-3-4 rapids along more than 10kms of lush, vibrant rainforest. Make your way through exciting rapids like “The Pipeline,” “The Terminator,” and “Dos Locos”.

This fast flowing river has its origins from the mountains of central Costa Rica and runs to the border of Nicaragua. The Sarapiquí winds down a narrow waterway, surrounded by lush tropical vegetation, as well as farmland and towering trees.

The area is habitat to several different species of birds such as toucans and hummingbirds. Frequently spotted are monkeys, iguanas, sloths and river turtles . The river is a mixture of exciting white water rapids and quieter sections for wildlife viewing and relaxing!

Once at the river, our experienced guides will give you a thorough safety talk, get you set up with your helmet, life jacket and paddle and then you're off – we'll stop along the way for a nice, tropical fruit break and afterward we take you out for a typical Costa Rican “casado” lunch.

You'll return to La Fortuna and the Arenal Area around 3:30-4:00pm

Night at Hotel San Bosco (Standard Single Room with breakfast included). Again hotel can be upgraded for an extra cost.

Day 4

Breakfast at Hotel

Early Morning.  Lost Canyon Canyoneering Tour (4 hours) – Includes transport, bilingual guides, equipment, fruit snack and lunch

Canyoneering (or canyoning) in in the Lost Canyon, Arenal Costa Rica is a wonderful experience. Imagine yourself in surrounded by lush rainforest atop a magical canyon waiting to rappel down some jungle waterfalls! Near the Arenal Volcano, our rugged, mountainous terrain is ideal for incredible canyoneering options & huge, breathtaking waterfalls!  We combine rappelling, down-climbing and river tracing in a deep, tropical canyon.

So what is canyoneering? No experience needed - just a good sense of adventure! Canyoneering is a mixture of abseiling down waterfalls and hiking in a jungle filled canyon. To start the tour: Travel the old-fashion way! Start off by doing a fun 4x4 off-road adventure as you climb about 15 minutes up into a quiet mountainside community. Your guides will give you a thorough safety talk to explain important rappelling and down-climbing techniques. You will be provided high-quality technical climbing gear such as a harness, helmet & gloves.

Prepare to get wet and Take a deep breath!as the guides assist you as you make your way down amazing rappels! You will hike along the river bed by down-climbing and rappelling a series of four waterfalls that get gradually bigger and… BIGGER! Save the best for last! The biggest and most-exciting waterfall is your last descent… you’ll finish with a 200ft-guided-rappel at the end!

Watefall One: 20 meters
Watefall Two: 150 meters
Watefall Three: 20 meters
Waterfall Four: 220 meters

The hike back up takes about 10 minutes, but take your time to enjoy the intense rainforest that surrounds you! At the top, you’ll arrive to our Canyon House where you can change into your dry clothes and then sit down to a delicious Costa Rican-style lunch. 

Early Afternoon.  Shared shuttle transport from Arenal to San Jose, Jaco or Manuel Antonio.

Tour Details

Price FROM $755 per person   (Please inquire for prices for your specific date and adjusted for any modifications you would like)

* PRICES MAY INCREASE DURING EASTER WEEK, CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR 

* HOTELS CAN BE UPGRADED FOR AN EXTRA COST. THE HOTELS SHOWN IN THE PACKAGES ARE TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF PRICE. IN MONTEVERDE WE SUGGEST UPGRADING TO FICUS HOTEL AND IN LA FORTUNA VOLCANO LODGE & SPRINGS BUT WE CAN ALSO USE OTHER HOTELS. PLEASE INQUIRE.

Dates of trip: We can schedule dates by request.

Included on Trip: All accommodation except in San Jose (which can arrange for an additional cost), all transport, all tours in the itinerary, all breakfasts, 2 lunches, 1 dinner at the hot springs and guides where stated

Not Included: Flights to Costa Rica, hotels in San Jose*, evening meals and some lunches, optional tours or transportation to other places not included in the schedule

What to Bring: T-shirts, shorts, sweater or light jacket, sports sandals, light hiking boots, rain jacket, sun screen, insect repellant, any personal medication, swimming wear, towel, traveler's insurance (to include white-water rafting), full passport and a credit card (VISA and MC, other cards can be harder to use).

NOTE: Adventure tours such as whitewater rafting, horse riding, kayaking, canyoneering and hiking require physical effort. Clients should be in good condition. For client safety and enjoyment, Monteverde Tours reserves the right to offer a substitution, postpone, change or cancel any tour due to unfavorable conditions. Full refund is given if (on rare occasion) a tour is cancelled by the operator. Monteverde Tours and its affiliates are not responsible for lost, stolen or damaged items.