Transport

Private vehicle , Boat , Public Transportation

Accommodation

The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation. Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we’re arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn’t always possible which means we won’t be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available. Hotel (7 nights), Homestay (1 night)

Guide

All group trips are accompanied by one of our group leader or local representative. The aim of the group leader or local representative is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. Intrepid endeavours to provide the services of an experienced group leader or local representative however, due to the seasonality of travel, rare situations may arise where your group leader or local representative is new to a particular region or training other group leader or local representative. Your group leader or local representative will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense, you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the places visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious, and social aspects. At Intrepid we aim to support local guides who have specialised knowledge of the regions we visit. If you are interested in delving deeper into the local culture at a specific site or location then your group leader or local representative can recommend a local guide service in most of the main destinations of your trip.

Meals

1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner

Others

Santa Rosa de Pocosol - Home-cooked Meal Santa Rosa de Pocosol - Homestay experience Leader-led Informal Spanish Lesson Monteverde - Cloud Forest Entrance Manuel Antonio - Cooking Class & Lunch Manuel Antonio National Park - (Entrance fee) Manuel Antonio National Park - Tour with a Naturalist Guide

Not included:

Flights

International flights not included.

Insurance

Insurance is not included. Travel insurance is required for this tour. Please make sure you are adequately covered. If you require travel insurance, TourRadar has partnered up with World Nomads to provide a hassle-free experience. More information can be found here (https://www.tourradar.com/travel-insurance).

Others

Other activities and services not included

Optional

San Jose - Cartago Bike & Train Tour - Urban Adventures - USD59 San Jose - Costa Rica Pura Vida Experience - Urban Adventures - USD63 San Jose - San Jose Bites and Sights Tour - Urban Adventures - USD33 San Jose - Irazu Volcano, Orosi Valley & Lankester Botanical Garden (full-day tour) - USD90 San Jose - Butterfly farm - USD27 San Jose - Gold Museum - USD11 San Jose - Jade Museum - USD10 San Jose - National Museum - USD12 Santa Rosa de Pocosol - Cooking class - USD10 Santa Rosa de Pocosol - Soap-making workshop - USD10 Santa Rosa de Pocosol - Waterfall hike - USD10 La Fortuna - Hot springs - USD45 La Fortuna - La Fortuna Waterfall - USD15 La Fortuna - Arenal hanging bridges - USD56 La Fortuna - Cano Negro boat tour - USD67 La Fortuna - Stand up paddle board - USD65 La Fortuna - Tabacon Hot Springs (entrance, dinner and transport) - USD99 Monteverde - Suspension bridges tour - USD47 Monteverde - Zip lining - USD90 Monteverde - Coffee & Chocolate tour - USD35 Monteverde - Night walk through Cloud Forest - USD35 Monteverde - Butterfly garden and insects farm - USD15 Monteverde - Serpentarium - USD15 Manuel Antonio - Sunset sail - USD80 Manuel Antonio - Mangrove tour by kayak (with lunch) - USD80 Manuel Antonio - Surf/boogie board rental - USD10 Quepos - Local guided tour - USD25 San Jose - San Jose by Night - Urban Adventures - USD74 Home Cooked San Jose - Urban Adventures - USD39 San Jose - Tropical Rainforest and Chocolate Adventure - Urban Adventures - USD99 San Jose - The Art of Craft Beer in San Jose - Urban Adventures - USD68

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Day 1: San José
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: San José

Hola! Welcome to Costa Rica. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm today in San Jose. With over half the country’s population living within its parameters, San Jose is a dynamic atmosphere. If you arrive early, why not wander around at your own pace – a good place to start exploring is the main plaza, perfect for some people watching. Tonight, maybe head out to get to know your group with an optional welcome dinner.
Day 2 Day 2: Santa Rosa De Pocosol
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Santa Rosa De Pocosol

Travel by private vehicle to Santa Rosa de Pocosol today, where you’ll spend the night in a homestay. Just down the road is the Juanilama agricultural community, where you can get to know the locals, help with farm chores, and take an informal cooking lesson. Several villagers have built comfortable rooms for guests next to their homes, and you’ll stay in one of them this evening. Please note that these rooms use shared facilities. In order to make the most of this homestay experience, it may take a bit of effort from your side to break the ice first. Learn as many Spanish words as you can before you arrive!
Day 3 Day 3: La Fortuna
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: La Fortuna

Today, continue to La Fortuna – a small town situated just a few minutes away from Costa Rica’s famous Arenal Volcano. Besides its panoramic views, the town offers a range of other activities such as the 70-m-high La Fortuna waterfall, stunning lush forest, rare plants, animal watching and water-based activities on the lake. The volcano’s inner workings also mean that the area has a number of thermal springs where lava-heated water gushes to the surface. These springs have been sculpted into several pools and waterfalls, making them the ideal place to relax. Spend the rest of the day as you please in this exciting town, maybe even testing your balance on a stand-up paddleboard.
Day 4 Day 4: Monteverde
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Monteverde

Today, you’ll take the scenic route to Monteverde. Monteverde was founded as an agricultural community in 1951 by a group of North American Quakers – they cleared virgin forests to create verdant pastures ideal for dairy farming. These environmentally aware settlers were conscious of the danger that unrestricted settling and farming could cause to this precious habitat, so they established a small, privately owned wildlife sanctuary, which has grown to become the internationally renowned Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Preserve. More than 2000 species of plants, 320 bird species and 100 different types of mammals call Montverde home. When you arrive, you can choose from a range of outdoor activities to wildlife spot, hike or cruise on the waters.
Day 5 Day 5: Monteverde
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Monteverde

Today is free for you to choose how you’d like to spend your time in this beautiful area. Maybe start your exploration with a tour of the suspension bridges that hang in the trees, or head to the Serpentarium to see some crawly critters. Watch butterflies at play in the specially created garden, hire a local guide to show you around the area, visit a community cooperative or zip-line through the lush canopy. Whatever you do, be sure to keep an eye out for the resplendent quetzal – one of the most elusive birds in the world.
Day 6 Day 6: Quepos
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: Quepos

Travel through the mountains to Quepos by private minibus. Located close to the beautiful Pacific beaches and exotic wildlife of Manuel Antonio National Park, Quepos is a laidback town with a vibrant nightlife. This afternoon, you’ll get the chance to meet three generations of Costa Ricans and tuck into a traditional cooking class for lunch with them in their home. Prior to the pandemic, the family ran one of the most popular restaurants in Quepos for almost 20 years. Now, you’re lucky to learn the secret flavours and spices of their traditional dishes and get to know the whole family. Once the sun goes down, why not grab a spot at a waterfront restaurant and sink your teeth into some fresh seafood with your travel crew – this is the life.
Day 7 Day 7: Quepos - Manuel Antonio Np
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: Quepos - Manuel Antonio Np

Spend your time enjoying all that Manuel Antonio National Park has to offer with a free day today. Perhaps head out for a hike along one of the many trails, keeping one eye on the great views and the other looking for the abundant wildlife. Monkeys, armadillos, sloths and hundreds of birds are among the species you can spot here. The park also boasts turquoise seas and white-sand beaches – perfect for swimming, kayaking, sailing and fishing. It would be easy to spend your whole time here in, or by, the water.
Day 8 Day 8: San José
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 8: San José

Take a public bus back to San Jose today, arriving back in time for you to pick up some last-minute souvenirs at the city’s colourful and vibrant markets. Then, head out for an optional dinner and a night on the town, getting a taste of the huge variety of nightlife on offer here.
Day 9 Day 9: San José
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 9: San José

With no further activities planned, your trip comes to an end after breakfast today. If you’d like to extend your stay, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.

9 days tour

Costa Rica Experience

This tour includes:

Not included:

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Costa Rica Experience

Day 1: San José

Day 2: Santa Rosa De Pocosol

Day 3: La Fortuna

Day 4: Monteverde

Day 5: Monteverde

Day 6: Quepos

Day 7: Quepos - Manuel Antonio Np

Day 8: San José

Day 9: San José

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