Day 1

Early morning. Your vacation starts with a pick-up from San Jose by shuttle transport - forget the worries about public buses and safety. Depending on your location and if your hotel is in the pick-pick zone, the driver will pick you up from your hotel reception or from Denny's Restaurant (which is less than a 5 minute taxi ride from the airport). Enjoy the scenery as you make your ascent to the beautiful green mountains of Monteverde (3 - 4 hours). There will be a stop along the way for a bathroom stop and a snack. The views of the distant Monteverde Cloud Forest are amazing as well as the Gulf of Nicoya. Now with the road improvements to Monteverde the journey is less of a challenge and more of a wonderful photo opportunity!

Early Evening. Night Hike at Wildlife Refuge. A 2- hour, fun and informative hike with a bilingual guide, through a series of trails to observe the nightlife of a growing forest. The trails are well marked and easy to walk in the dusk’s failing light, yet rustic enough to remind you that you’re in a wilderness environment. The walk is generally flat, but there are some not-too-steep uphill and downhill sections. The type of wildlife you might see as day turns to night includes porcupines, toucans and other sleeping birds, owls, agoutis, coati mundis, snakes, walking sticks, tarantulas, katydids, and an array of other cool insects. Once it gets really dark you will hear the creatures that move around at night!

Please bear in mind that there are no guaranteed sightings, so don’t expect all these creatures to be waiting just for you! Typically though, this time of transition into night offers a good opportunity to view nocturnal mammals as well as diurnal animals as they prepare for night.

Day 2

Morning.  Local Horseback Riding:

Enjoy the wonderful scenery of the Monteverde Zone. The horseback ride will be along little used back roads passing by farms of coffee, sugar cane and bananas.The route offers open views of the surrounding countryside as well as the Gulf of Nicoya. Children's saddles and helmets are available. Rain ponchos (if necessary!) are provided. The horseback ride is fully insured and only experienced guides are used and the ride is suitable for first time riders as well as fun for more experienced riders.

Horse Trek Monteverde have some of the best horses in the area and are recommended by many of the guidebooks. The horses are healthy and well-loved and this cannot be stressed enough! The company ensures regular health checks by vets and has been working hard over the years to give horseback riding a good reputation.

The ride is 2.5 hours long plus transport time.

NOTE: IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO RIDE WE CAN CHANGE THIS TO A COFFEE OR OTHER TOUR

Afternoon.  CANOPY TOUR

Adventura Canopy Tour in Monteverde Costa Rica now has the longest zipline in Latin America! At 1590 meters long this is thrill that you will remember for a long, long time! The tour includes 11 ziplines, a swinging rope bridge, an exciting rappel and 2 thrilling superman cables (where you literally fly through and over the forest face-forward, just like superman!). Also included in this amazing tour is a MEGA Tarzan Swing: this swings to a height of 45 meters (148ft).

Day 3

Early Morning.  Today you will go to La Fortuna, the nearest village to one of the most active volcanoes in the world, Arenal Volcano. You will travel by what is locally known as "taxi-boat-taxi".

This is a method of getting from Monteverde to La Fortuna and takes about 3.5 hours and involves the following:

- 1.5 hour microbus ride from Monteverde to Arenal Lake. plus a stop for bathrooms etc and waiting time

- 30 minute boat ride on beautiful Arenal Lake on the foot of the volcano.

- 25 minutes microbus transport from Arenal Dam where transport to your hotel in La Fortuna

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Early Afternoon. Baldi Hot Springs and Dinner

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 4

Early Morning.  Mambo Combo Tour. This tour is the combination of Canyoneering tour and Rio Balsa class 2/3 rafting. Lunch included on tour.

The canyoneering takes place in the Lost Canyon - an incredible canyon just 15 minutes from La Fortuna with great views of Arenal Volcano.  There are several tropical waterfalls, 4 of which you repel down with the following heights:

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

During the rafting you will be given a snack.

After the canyoneering you will head off for an exciting whitewater rafting trip on one of Costa Rica’s most-beautiful class 2-3 rivers. Challenge yourself as you paddle through fun & safe rolling rapids with names like “Morning Coffee” & “Rock around the Croc” and then play around in tranquil river pools in an isolated rainforest river canyon!

Your professional, experienced bilingual guides will give you a safety talk and paddling instruction, lifejackets, helmets & then you’re off. During the tour, along the river banks, wildlife is often spotted including monkeys, sloths and tropical birds such as ospreys, oropendolas and toucans. This unique river trip is the best way to combine adventure and nature. A fruit and water break will be given during a break from rafting and after the trip we'll set off for a delicious home made lunch.

Day 5

Early Afternoon. Onward Transport.

After the tour your shuttle bus is included back to San Jose (and if there is one available main beaches available we can book you on this). We can upgrade to a private transport for an extra charge.

Hotel Details

Monteverde Hotels: 2 nights. NOTE FOR AN EXTRA COST WE CAN UPGRADE THE HOTELS

In Monteverde we use Hotel Rustic Lodge, whenever possible. Rustic Lodge is a friendly, family-run B&B located 5 minute  walk from the village of Santa Elena, close to lots of shops. restaurants and banks,. The hotel offers very comfortable rooms with private bathroom. Breakfast is included in the package; just let them know what time you would like it.

Arenal Volcano Hotels: 2 nights 

Located in the center of the town of La Fortuna, Hotel San Bosco provides simple but comfortable rooms with a/c, cable TV and private bathroom. Plus the hotel has a  pool, jacuzzi and includes breakfast.

Beach Extensions! Ask for details about adding some days at the beach - we can arrange all transport, hotels and tours. Manuel Antonio beach and Samara beach are popular choices. We have many contacts with Manuel Antonio hotels.

We can also arrange hotels and transport in San Jose and other parts of Costa Rica. Please let us know if you need our help.

 

Tour Details

Minimum 2 people (Double occupancy): Prices FROM $740 per person (please contact us for accurate prices for your travel dates)

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

Please contact us for prices, if you would like to upgarde your hotel. The following are just suggestions; and we can upgrade to most hotels if there is availability:

 * IN MONTEVERDE, FICUS SUNSET SUITES HOTEL
* IN ARENAL,  VOLCANO LODGE & SPRINGS 

Note. you can also upgrade your transport from shared to private transport  

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 and 1 lunch and guides

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, long pants, sweater or light jacket, sandals, light hiking boots, rain jacket, sun screen, insect repellant, any personal medication, swimming wear, towel, traveler's insurance (to include white-water rafting and horse riding, full passport and credit cards (VISA and MC, other cards can be harder to use in some places).

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.