Costa Rica: Volcanoes, Rainforests & Beaches
- 2024/2025
- 2023
The capital San José, spectacular Arenal and its volcano, 3 relaxing days in Playa Panama; travel on your own with flights & hotel included. Optional pre-tour to Tortuguero.
Overview
Style | Independent PackageThese un-escorted packages have no set schedule or guides, so you have the freedom and flexibility to explore on your own from your centrally-located hotel. More of these packages
Freedom to explore at your own pace; unescorted |
||
Departures | |||
Themes | Active | ||
Activity Level | Moderate | ||
What to Expect | This leisurely-paced, independent tour requires minimal walking and is suitable for most levels of physical fitness. The Hanging Bridges Tour in Arenal is approximately 1.9 miles in length and requires a higher level of physical fitness to fully enjoy the tour. This tour also includes long scenic drives between destinations that can be windy and bumpy at times. Transfers will be on a shared shuttle and may have limited rest stops. This tour does not include a tour guide or escort. Travel safely and confidently with our new health & safety protocols. | ||
Already booked? | Find everything you need to know before you go, including information about passport & visa requirements, flights, luggage, and more. |
Get updates about this package
In the small tropical country of Costa Rica, you'll find a stunning collection of landscapes and ecosystems, including tropical rainforests and jungles, cloud forests, mountains, rivers, volcanoes, and coasts on both the Caribbean and Pacific. It's home to an amazing array of plant and animal species, containing 5% of the planet's total biodiversity. You'll fall in love with the Costa Rican people, known as "Ticos," who are so cheerful and easy-going that it's no wonder Costa Rica is known as one of the happiest places on earth.
Experience Costa Rica on this 7-day Costa Rica vacation package, designed for the independent traveler, but without worrying about getting from one place to another. Start in the capital city of San José before heading north to Arenal to see one of the world's most active volcanoes, and enjoy time exploring the area or joining in on exciting optional excursions. End your journey with 3 days in Playa Panama, basking on the pristine beaches surrounded by sparkling water and full of a variety of wildlife. Want even more? Join our pre-tour extension to Tortuguero, enjoying a walking tour of the rainforest, the secondary canals of Tortuguero National Park, and leisure time spent relaxing, kayaking, and exploring on your own.
Package includes
- Flights
- Coach
- Transfers
- Hotel
- Meals
- Guides
- Round trip flights from Miami via scheduled carriers, including taxes & fees with other gateways available on request
- All transfers in air-conditioned chauffeur-driven mini-vans
- 6 nights superior hotel accommodations
- 11 meals: 6 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 3 dinners
- Hanging bridges walk
Optional add-ons
- Included flights may have a connection in SAL, PTY, or similar. Non-stop flights may be available for an additional cost.
Why you'll love it
- Wander among the treetops during a hanging bridges tour in Arenal.
- Explore Arenal independently or join optional excursions, such as horseback riding to La Fortuna Waterfall, kayaking on Lake Arenal, embarking on a canopy tour, ziplining and more.
- Spend three relaxing days in the coastal area of Playa Panama at an all-inclusive resort, admiring its pristine beaches, crystal blue waters and array of unique wildlife.
- Relax with an optional visit to the Tabacón Hot Springs where you can enjoy a refreshing swim as well as dinner.
Itinerary at a Glance
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 USA/San José
- Upon arrival in San José, Costa Rica, proceed through customs formalities where you'll be met and transferred to your hotel
Crowne Plaza San José Corobicí or similar
Day 2 San José & Arenal
- Depart San José via air-conditioned mini-van to the Arenal region
- Balance of the day at leisure
Volcano Lodge Hotel and Thermal Experience or similar Breakfast
Full Day ItineraryThis morning, depart San José via air-conditioned mini-van to the Arenal region (about 4 hours, with a comfort stop along the way). Drive through the lush countryside, the roads climbing the mountains to reach your hotel located near the town of La Fortuna, on the road leading to the volcano's foot.
Arenal's cone has two peaks which rise to 5,360 feet. After being inactive for 500 years, the volcano erupted in 1968, and it has since become one of the most active volcanoes in the world. You may see the smoke rising from the cone, or on a rare occasion, there is the possibility of lava flows, which are particularly impressive at night. The volcano has also created natural hot springs in the area. Beautiful gardens surround your hotel, where you can relax by the pool or enjoy the spa. (Volcanic activity is a natural process, and sightings of smoke and/or lava are not guaranteed.)Day 3 Arenal
- Walk among the treetops on a hanging bridges tour
- Balance of the day at leisure
Full Day ItineraryToday, enjoy a unique opportunity to explore and appreciate the beauty of the forest and the volcano. Walk on the hanging bridges suspended in the treetops while your guide helps you spot various birds and animals. The trail is 1.9 miles long and includes nine fixed and six suspension bridges.
Enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure to relax at your hotel and enjoy the view or take advantage of some other activities. You can take a short hike to the volcano's foothills in the Arenal Volcano National Park. Also available are some optional excursions which allow you to see the forest up close: horseback riding to La Fortuna Waterfall, a canopy tour complete with zip lines, plus kayaking on the Arenal Lake, and more.
In the evening, take advantage of an optional visit to the Tabacón Hot Springs, where you can enjoy a refreshing swim and dinner.Day 4 Arenal & Playa Panama
- Transfer via air-conditioned mini-van to Playa Panama
- Balance of the day at leisure
CC Beach Front Papagayo Breakfast & dinner
Full Day ItineraryThis morning, transfer via air-conditioned mini-van to Playa Panama, Guanacaste (about 4 hours). Guanacaste is decorated with pristine beaches, crystal blue waters, and bays. Its beaches are surrounded by dry tropical forests, home to over 300 bird species, 100 amphibians and reptiles, and over 140 species of mammals, including the puma, white-faced monkey, peccary, tapirs, and more. Your all-inclusive beachfront resort is located within a tropical dry forest.
Day 6 Playa Panama
- Enjoy a second full day at leisure
CC Beach Front Papagayo Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 7 Liberia/USA
- Transfer to the airport for your return flight to the USA.
Breakfast
Pre-Tour Extension to Tortuguero
Day 1 USA/San José
- Upon arrival in San José, proceed through customs formalities where you'll be met and transferred to your hotel
Day 2 San José & Tortuguero
- Depart San José very early this morning and travel to Tortuguero
- Experience a guided walk through the village of Tortuguero and along the beach
Pachira Lodge or Aninga Lodge Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Full Day ItineraryDepart San José early this morning for the Caribbean coastal area and Tortuguero. The trip takes you up and over the Continental Divide between the Pacific and Caribbean watersheds and through the spectacular Braulio Carrillo National Park. You will see changes in the landscapes and vegetation as you approach the lowlands, arriving at El Ceibo (about 2 hours). Enjoy a typical Costa Rican breakfast, then continue your drive through villages and plantations of pineapples and bananas to the dock.
The "roads" in Tortuguero are a system of rivers and canals, accessible only by boat. Continue via motor launch through the channels parallel to the coast to reach your eco-lodge, located on the central canal (about 1.5 hours). Check into your rooms and have some time to relax in the peaceful surroundings of the rainforest.
After lunch, head to the village of Tortuguero and enjoy a guided walk through the town and along the beach. Tortuguero ("land of turtles") takes its name from several varieties of endangered turtles that come ashore every year on these beaches to lay their eggs in nests in the sand. If you like, you can visit the turtle museum. Dinner will be served in the hotel restaurant. (The nesting season for giant turtles is from July to September. Sightings of any wildlife are not guaranteed.)Day 3 Tortuguero
- Join your naturalist guide for a walking tour of the rainforest
- Board small boats for a tour through the secondary canals of Tortuguero National Park
- Balance of the day at leisure
Pachira Lodge or Aninga Lodge Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Full Day ItineraryThis morning, your guide will take you on a walking tour of the rainforest. After lunch, depart on small boats for a tour through the many secondary canals of Tortuguero National Park. Enjoy a close-up view of rainforest vegetation and wildlife. The area is home to Capuchin, Howler and Spider Monkeys, and many species of birds. You may even see a crocodile basking in the sun.
The rest of the afternoon is yours to relax by the pool or the decks along the waterfront. There are also optional activities such as fishing, kayaking, or even a canopy zip-line. Dinner will be served in the hotel restaurant.Day 4 Tortuguero & Arenal
- Depart Tortuguero and travel to the Arenal region to begin the main tour, continue with Day 2
- Balance of the day at leisure
Volcano Lodge Hotel and Thermal Experience Breakfast & lunch
Full Day ItineraryAfter breakfast, depart via motor-launch to the main dock. Board your coach for the drive through the villages and plantations to El Ceibo for lunch. Your air-conditioned mini-van will be waiting to drive you to Arenal and your hotel near the town of La Fortuna, on the road leading to the volcano's foot.
See Day 2 of the tour itinerary above for the continuation of your touring program.
Hotels
In the unlikely event that a particular hotel is not available, a similar or better hotel may be substituted.
Reviews & Photos
We love hearing your stories and seeing your photos! Here are some moments other travelers captured on this package. Or check out our entire fan photo gallery.
Trip Details
- What should I know before I go? We've compiled a comprehensive checklist, including information on how to pay your balance due, flights & transfers, packing & luggage, and more.
- Do I need a visa or other documents? Are there any entry requirements? Please review the visa & entry requirements.
- Can I make changes to my trip? Want to upgrade your seats? Depart from another city? Stay a few extra days? Something else? Just ask!
- Can I bring my kids? Are there any age restrictions? To book this package, you must be 18 or older. Your traveling companions must be 6 or older at time of travel.
- Should I purchase travel insurance? Yes! We recommend you purchase travel insurance to help protect you and your travel investment against the unexpected. For your convenience, we offer a plan provided by Travelex Insurance Services.
- What's the fine print? Review the terms & conditions for this package.
- What should I know about Costa Rica? Check out our guide for practical travel tips, the best time to go, videos, and more.