Day 1
Early Morning. Pick-up from your hotel in downtown San Jose by shared shuttle transport (shuttles can also pick up from some airport hotels but usually you need to meet at Denny's Restaurant, which is 5 minutes from the SJO airport in Alajuela)
For an extra charge, you can UPGRADE to private transport and your driver will be waiting at the airport or your hotel to start your adventure in Costa Rica!
PLEASE ASK US ABOUT TRANSPORT FROM LIBERIA
Enjoy the scenery as you make your ascent to the beautiful green mountains of Monteverde (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 some road improvements to Monteverde, the journey is less of a challenge and more of a wonderful photo opportunity (although it is still a bumpy route for the last 45 minutes)!
NOTE: IF YOUR FLIGHT ARRIVES THIS DAY PLEASE PROVIDE US WITH YOUR FLIGHT DETAILS (AIRLINE, FLIGHT NUMBER, AND ARRIVAL TIME) TO MAKE SURE YOU WILL ARRIVE IN TIME TO CATCH YOUR SHUTTLE..
Afternoon Horseback Riding in Monteverde (time permitting) or Coffee and Chocolate Tour:
Doing a Horseback Ride in Monteverde Costa Rica is a great option! This 2.5-hour ride will take you through scenic countryside and is a perfect getaway from a hectic tour schedule. The ride offers spectacular views and the pace is leisurely enough that it’s a fun ride for everyone. However, please note the ride is in the mountains and is adventurous!
The ride offers great views of cloud forest in the distance (we don’t ride inside the forest reserves as domestic animals are not allowed). There are stunning viewpoints where you can admire the Gulf of Nicoya and it’s not uncommon to see various tropical birds and sometimes monkeys. The ride is within a wild 60-hectare farm and no cars! The terrain is rugged and you will go up and down mountain paths on our sure-footed horses. This is a great opportunity to do a horseback ride in Costa Rica!
OR
Coffee, Chocolate, and Sugar Cane Production Tour. The tour offers an interesting opportunity to learn about coffee and Costa Rican folklore. You will learn about the history, cultivation, and operation of a functioning coffee 'beneficio'. Visitors will have a chance to see how coffee is picked and the different steps involved in coffee production. The farm has a typical ox-drawn cart that you can take a very short ride in. In total, the tour is approximately two hours and involves a half-kilometer walk along an easy trail.
Day 2
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: Two Great Canopy Choices: Selvatura Canopy Tour
Option 1:
Afternoon: Selvatura Canopy Tour
In the afternoon you will have a chance to 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, where you can do the Monteverde Canopy tour, one of the most thrilling and safest adventures in Costa Rica.
The canopy tour is entirely built inside virgin and secondary cloud forests with a total of 13 ziplines and 18 platforms. 1 cable is 1km long! Plus, there is an amazing Tarzan swing (this is optional)! On the canopy tour, you will travel over 3km (2 miles) along cables stopping at platforms and hiking, along the way. You will be attached to a secure harness plus other security gear to ensure safety. At all times guides will assist you on the tour. The tour takes about 2.5 hours.
THERE IS THE OPTION OF DOING THE HANGING BRIDGES INSTEAD OF THE ZIPLINES. OR IF YOU DON'T LIKE HEIGHTS YOU CAN DO THE BUTTERFLY GARDEN OR REPTILE EXHIBITION.
Day 3
Morning Taxi-Boat-Taxi: A scenic way of traveling to Arenal Volcano. The taxi-boat-taxi service picks up at various hotels and you'll be with a group of people throughout the tour. The transport starts with a 1.5-hour drive to Arenal Lake, traveling through rolling countryside until you reach the picturesque village of Rio Chiquito and then onto Arenal Lake on the foot of the Volcano. There will be a quick bathroom stop along the way.
A covered boat will take you to the dam at Arenal Lake - about 30 minutes. Be sure to have your camera ready for some very great photo opportunities! After reaching the dam you will be taken to your hotel. The whole journey takes about 3.5 hours.
Late Afternoon. Paradise 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
* WE CAN ALSO INCLUDE A GUIDED VOLCANO HIKE BEFORE THE HOT SPRINGS BUT PLEASE DISCUSS THIS WITH
Day 4
FULL-DAY MAMBO COMBO!
Combined White Water Rafting and Canyoneering (Canyoning) Tour
Mambo Combo is operated by the award-winning Desafio Adventure Company with over 25 years of safe and pure adrenaline in the Adventure Zone of Costa Rica.
TOUR DESCRIPTION: The canyoneering takes place in the Lost Canyon - an incredible canyon just 15 minutes from La Fortuna with great views of Arenal Volcano and amazing tropical waterfalls (several of which you will rappel down). Two of the waterfalls are more than 50 meters high! During the rafting, you will be given a snack.
After the canyoneering, you will head off for a trip to one of Costa Rica’s most beautiful class 2-3 rivers. Challenge yourself as you paddle through fun & safe rolling rapids 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, and 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 homemade lunch.
More about the canyoning (or canyoneering):
Morning. Canyoneering (Rappelling Down Tropical Waterfall!
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
Or for those who want a little less adventure and don't wish to do the canyoneering you can opt for a walk to the La Fortuna Waterfall. This is an opportunity to swim in the refreshing waters of the famous La Fortuna Falls. You'll be picked up after breakfast and taken to the entrance where a 40-minute descent will bring you to the base of the waterfalls. You'll have time to relax and swim before beginning the climb back up.
Day 5
Early morning shared shuttle to the beach!! (From Fortuna/Arenal to Manuel Antonio)
This morning you'll be picked up at your hotel and driven to the beautiful and the world-famous beach of Manuel Antonio.
The journey will be about 4 hours or so with a stop along the way.
AFTERNOON
This afternoon is all about relaxation after your fun-filled adventures in Arenal. Enjoy the white sanded- beach and browse along the many artisan stalls near the entrance of Manuel Antonio Park
Day 6
Spend your day relaxing at the beach!
Manuel Antonio is one of the most popular beach areas in Costa Rica. Besides the spectacular beaches, there are several kilometers of well-maintained trails in the National Park offering easy access to lowland rainforests.
If you want to add another tour on this day for an extra cost, please ask for details (we can arrange guided hikes in the National Park, kayaking in the mangroves etc)
Day 7
On your last day we arrange private transport from Manuel Antonio to San Jose or shuttle transport to other places.
We can also arrange airport hotels if needed - we use a wide range of hotels in the San Jose and Alajuela (airport area).
* add another night in Manuel Antonio wtih breakfast plus a snorkeling and sailing tour with lunch (ask for prices)
Hotel Details
NOTE FOR AN EXTRA COST WE CAN UPGRADE ANY HOTEL (THE HOTELS LISTED ARE JUST GIVEN AS EXAMPLES OF PRICES).
Monteverde Hotel: 2 nights.
In Monteverde, we use Monteverde Villa Lodge whenever possible. This friendly family-run hotel is ideally located in a residential area in Santa Elena a few minutes walk to the center where shops, banks, and restaurants are located. Rustic Lodge offers very comfortable rooms with private bathrooms. Breakfast is included in the package in the hotel's quaint restaurant.
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, and private bathrooms with plenty of hot water 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.
Manuel Antonio Hotel: 2 nights
Hotel Plaza Yara
The Plaza Yara is located in a quiet part of Manuel Antonio, away from the main tourist area (a very inexpensive beach bus passes every 30 minutes to take you to the white-sanded beaches and the Manuel Antonio Park, less than 10 minutes away). All rooms at the Plaza Yara are suites with living areas and kitchenettes. They are extremely spacious and comfortable, decorated with stylish bamboo furniture. The back of the hotel faces a dense green jungle, a lovely swimming pool, and a relaxing balcony area. A bit of luxury in the jungle!
Tour Details
Minimum 2 people (Double occupancy): Prices FROM $1,159 per person (Please inquire for specific prices for your travel dates)
NOTE:
* PRICES MAY INCREASE DURING EASTER WEEK, CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR, PLEASE CHECK
* FOR AN EXTRA PRICE YOU CAN UPGRADE YOUR HOTELS HERE ARE SOME SUGGESTIONS (BUT WE CAN UPGRADE TO ANY HOTEL YOU WOULD LIKE) :
- IN MONTEVERDE AN UPGRADE TO FICUS SUNSET SUITES HOTEL
- IN LA FORTUNA AN UPGRADE TO VOLCANO LODGE & SPRINGS
- IN MANUEL ANTONIO AN UPGRADE TO SI COMO NO RESORT
* YOU CAN ALSO UPGRADE FROM SHARED TO PRIVATE TRANSPORT
Included on Trip: All accommodation except in San Jose (which we can arrange for an additional cost), all transport, all tours in the itinerary, 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 for riding, sweater or light jacket, sandals, light hiking boots, rain jacket, sunscreen, insect repellant, any personal medication, swimming wear, towel, traveler's insurance (to include white-water rafting and horse riding, full passport, and a credit card (VISA and MC usually preferred, other cards may not be accepted 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. A full refund is given if (on rare occasions) a tour is canceled by the operator. Monteverde Tours and its affiliates are not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged items.