Day 1
Early Morning. Adventure Connection: Rafting Class 3-4 River (From San Jose to Arenal)
Great fun with white water rafting Class 3 and 4 rapids on Rio Sarapiqui! Turn a travel day from San Jose to Arenal into a wonderful adventure by doing an exciting rafting trip along the way. The tour includes one-way transport from San Jose to the river, lunch, and after the tour we will drop you at your hotel in La Fortuna/Arenal at around 4:00 pm!
Day 2
Early Morning. Go Big! Lost Canyon Adventures Canyoneering!
Imagine yourself amid the rainforest at the top of a series of tropical waterfalls. Prepare to get wet as our guides put you into your safety harnesses and assist you as you rappel through a magical canyon full of waterfalls with surprises at each step. There are several tropical waterfalls, 4 of which you repel down with the following heights:
Waterfall One: 20 meters
Waterfall Two: 150 meters
Waterfall Three: 20 meters
Waterfall Four: 220 meters
Lunch included. No experience needed, just a sense of adventure!! Lunch included.
Early Afternoon. Visit Arenal's Famous Hot Springs for a relaxing soak and dinner
A visit to Costa Rica is not complete without experiencing one of Arenal's famous hot springs with views of Arenal Volcano! Paradise Hot Springs is surrounded by beautiful tropical gardens containing exotic flowers and plants, with a view of the famous Volcano. There are 7 thermal pools 9(35ºC/95ºF to 41ºC/104ºF) which are heated by Arenal Volcano, including a swim-up bar plus a cold pool
To provide a peaceful atmosphere, numbers of visitors are restricted. There are changing rooms, toilets, showers, body treatment services (extra cost), reclinable beds, and relaxing music. Towels and locker keys are provided with a returnable deposit.
Includes: transportation, entrance to Paradise Hot Springs, and dinner
Day 3
Morning. Adventure Connection: Taxi Boat Taxi (From Fortuna/Arenal to Monteverde)
This is a method of getting from La Fortuna to Monteverde, it takes about 3.5 hours and it involves the following:
- 30-minute microbus transport from your hotel in La Fortuna to the Arenal Dam (plus stops and waiting time)
- 30-minute boat ride on beautiful Arenal Lake at the foot of the volcano.
- 2-hour microbus ride from Arenal Lake to Monteverde.
- plus some time for a break and waiting time
This is a great way to travel between the two places and offers some of the best views of Arenal Volcano and the Lake, as well as lush mountains and typical farms.
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, coatimundis, snakes, walking sticks, tarantulas, katydids, and an array of other cool insects. Once it gets 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 4
EARLY am Guided Hike in the Cloud Forests of Monteverde (we use a private cloud forest reserve called the Curi Cancha Reserve which is far less crowded and you often see more birds, especially the famous Quetzal, in season). You'll be picked up at your hotel and taken to the private reserve entrance where your bilingual guide will be waiting. The guides have a wealth of knowledge about the cloud forests in Monteverde, including fauna and flora, the history, and the growth of Monteverde. There will also be a chance to visit the new maze at Curi Cancha. The hike will be about three hours around this wonderful forest.
There is an option to change this to the main Monteverde Reserve for an extra cost.
AFTERNOON. Great Canopy Choices! Selvatura Canopy Tour or Aventura Canopy
Option 1:
Selvatura
Enjoy the forest from a whole different perspective: high in the canopy of the cloud forest. Selvatura is a private park located near the Santa Elena Cloud Forest in Monteverde offering one of the most thrilling adventures in Costa Rica.
The canopy tour is entirely built inside virgin and secondary cloud forests with a total of 15 ziplines and 18 platforms. 1 cable is 1km long! Plus there is an amazing (and optional) Tarzan swing! Visitors will travel between 2 miles of cables attached by a secure harness and a maximum weight support pulleys plus other security gear to ensure safety. At all times guides will assist you on the tour. The tour takes about 2.5 hours.
Alternatively, if ziplining is not your thing, you can enjoy the hanging bridges instead.
Option 2:
Adventura Canopy: If are looking for an extreme, exciting canopy with rappels, supermans, and mega swings this is the best option.
Adventura Canopy Tour in Monteverde Costa Rica now has the longest zipline in Latin America! At 1590 meters long this is a thrill that you will remember for a long, long time! The price of the Adventura Canopy includes 11 ziplines, a swinging rope bridge, an exciting rappel, and 2 thrilling Superman cables (where you fly through and over the forest face-forward, just like Superman! Also included in this amazing tour is a MEGA Tarzan Swing: which swings to a height of 45 meters (148ft).
Day 5
Early Morning. Transport from Monteverde to Samara Beach (Playa Samara)
The distance between Monteverde and Samara Beach is approximately 88 miles or 142 km. But the relatively short distance takes approximately 3-4 hours as the roads are often windy and off the principal highway but you will pass by some interesting scenery and the journey is never boring! There will be a stop along the way.
When you arrive at your hotel, you have time to relax and visit the beach which is just a short walking distance and in the evening you can explore the little bars, craft shops, and restaurants in the area,
The small town of Samara is located in the Guanacaste region and lies at the foot of a steep hill, with the main road running straight through the center and ending at the beach. Samara is a thriving fishing and farming community as well as a beach resort.
The beach is located in an attractive moon-shaped bay about 4kms long, with a white-sanded beach fringed by coconut palms. It’s considered one of the safest beaches in Costa Rica with its shallow, gentle waters protected by coral reefs. To the south of the bay, there is a picturesque wooded island called Isla Chora. Traveling away from the beach Sámara is surrounded by primary and secondary forests, home to a variety of wildlife, including monkeys, toucans, iguanas, and parrots.
Day 6 - 3 choices!
Stand Up Paddle Class (or SUP, as it's called for short) OR snorkel and kayaking tour
SUP has its roots in ancient Polynesia and looks exactly as it sounds: you stand up on a large, wide, super buoyant surfboard and paddle yourself forward with a long paddle. Be a part of this exciting new trend and learn how to SUP and take a SUP class.
Day 7
Early Morning. Shuttle transport from Sámara to San José. The package includes shared transport from the beach but for more comfort and flexibility you can pay an extra cost for completely private transport at any time (please inquire)
Hotel Details
NOTE FOR AN EXTRA COST WE CAN UPGRADE THE HOTELS - THE HOTELS BELOW ARE JUST SHOWN TO INDICATE EXAMPLES OF PRICES BUT WE CAN USE ANY HOTEL YOU LIKE AND ADJUST THE PRICES
Arenal Volcano Hotel: 2 nights
Located on the edge of the town of La Fortuna, Hotel San Bosco is a good-sized hotel with about 34 rooms. Rooms are very comfortable with A/C, private bathrooms, and cable television There is a swimming pool, 2 jacuzzis, and some gym equipment. The Volcano is visible from the Hotel San Bosco on a clear day.
Monteverde Hotel: 2 nights.
In Monteverde, we use Monteverde Villa Lodge whenever possible. Comfortable and friendly hotel, ideally located in a residential area near the small town of Santa Elena where you´ll find restaurants, banks, and shops.
The hotel offers very comfortable rooms with private bathrooms. Breakfast is included in the package.
Samara Hotel: 2 nights
Hotel Giada is located at Samara's main entrance to Playa Samara, on the main street, so close to the restaurants, shops, and the beach. It's built and decorated in a tropical style. It has 24 charming rooms each with a/c, cable TV, a private bath, and a balcony. Everything is there for your comfortable and pleasant stay.
We also use Hotel Belvedere----
Hotel Belvedere is less than a 5-minute walk to the beach in a nice and quiet location. The Belvedere Hotel has 22 comfortable and pretty rooms. All rooms have one double bed and one single bed, but is it possible to put an extra bed in the rooms.
Each room has free Wi-Fi Access, a fridge, A/C, cable TV, a coffee maker, a security safe, and a private bathroom with a hot shower. Also, the hotel has two pools, a nice sitting area, and laundry service.
Breakfast is served in the hotel restaurant where you can enjoy a great view of the ocean.
NOTE FOR AN EXTRA COST WE CAN UPGRADE THE HOTELS - THE HOTELS ARE JUST SHOWN TO INDICATE EXAMPLES OF PRICES BUT WE CAN USE OTHER HOTELS YOU LIKE AND ADJUST THE PRICES.
Tour Details
Minimum 2 people (Double occupancy): Prices FROM $1239 per person (Please inquire for specific prices for your travel dates)
PRICE:
* 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 PRICES
IN MONTEVERDE WE SUGGEST UPGRADING TO FICUS HOTEL, IN LA FORTUNA VOLCANO LODGE & SPRINGS, AND IN SAMARA/PUERTO CARRILLO AREA, TO NAMMBU HOTEL 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 be arranged for an additional cost), all transport, all tours in the itinerary, and all breakfasts 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, sunscreen, insect repellant, any personal medication, swimming wear, towel, traveler's insurance, full passport, credit cards (VISA and MC preferred, other cards may 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. A 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.