7-Nights Highlights of Costa Rica: Rainforest & Coast - Active & Adventure, Classics, Safari & Wildlife from $3,370

Itinerary Details

Day 1: Welcome to Costa Rica

Transfer: San Jose CR to La Fortuna - Arenal

Hotel: Arenal Manoa Resort Hotel and Hot Springs (4 Star Rating)

Arenal Manoa Hotel is a beautiful place to rest, relax and enjoy the marvelous view of Arenal Volcano. Surrounded by gardens, pastures and animals, our rooms have been designed so that each one offers you a panoramic view of the volcano. Our visitors can take advantage of our spacious gardens for walking and meditation as well as the opportunities to see the daily operations of a typical Costa Rican farm.

After a shared transfer to the Sky Tram & Sky Trek grounds, the tour begins with the Sky Tram, a delightful activity for people of all ages. Before leaving the main building to start the tour, you will be given the necessary equipment (harness, helmet, gloves), which the guides will be responsible for adjusting correctly. You will then participate in a brief safety talk regarding the proper way to fasten the cables and to use the braking system. From there, the gondolas of the Sky Tram rise delicately above the rainforest, offering beautiful landscapes during the journey. The walk starts at the reception and ends at the highest point of the reserve, on a lookout with an excellent view of the forest, the volcano, and the lake. The gondola ride lasts approximately 20 minutes during which a local guide will explain the vegetation and fauna of the forest canopy. Then, the Sky Trek will take you back to the starting point. From this area, you will begin to slide on a track of zip lines that extend through canyons in the middle of the treetops. So begins the exciting adventure in zip lines descending the mountains and returning to the starting point in the main building. You will be able to experience and observe the rainforest from a bird's eye view, admiring the wildlife from the heights. This adventure includes eight cables with a distance of almost 3 km (2 miles) in length, all while enjoying panoramic views of the forest, lake and Arenal Volcano.

Experience the excitement and adrenaline of white water rafting on this safe and enjoyable half day adventure. Located 50 minutes from La Fortuna, the Balsa River provides an excellent setting to enjoy rafting for guests of all ages and experience levels. Get wet and wild as you make your way through rapids such as Magnetic Rock and Dredges, then enjoy a 15-minute break in the river and taste a few delicious fruits in the tropical setting, often times in the company of monkeys, toucans, and other exotic species. On the way back to La Fortuna, a stop to enjoy a delicious lunch at Vida Campesina is included. Vida Camesina is a traditional country estate, and the aim of this visit to allow you to experience the genuine and peaceful way of country life in Costa Rica - Pura Vida! Following a delicious lunch prepared on an original wood stove and served in a traditional way, you will be returned to your hotel.

This tour combines the enjoyment of a boat ride with a walk through the rainforest of the National Park to get the most impressive views of the colossus, Arenal Volcano, from all angles. The tour begins with a 20-minute drive from the hotel to the Peninsula section of the National Park, near Lake Arenal. Here you will begin a 1 mile (1.6 km) long walk along an easy trail for about an hour. Throughout the tour, you can enjoy excellent views overlooking Lake Arenal and the Tilaran Volcanic Mountain Range in the observation bays that are found along the trail. At the end of the walk, you will have the opportunity to climb to the observation platform approximately 40 feet (12 meters) high for a closer and amazing view of the volcano, where you will also receive a full explanation of its history, activity cycles, and geological formation. At the end of the trail, you will enjoy a snack of fresh fruit before taking the boat for a tour along the forested shores of Lake Arenal and islets to try to find some animals. This is the ideal place to take scenic photographs of the volcano if it is clear. You will cross the lake until you reach the town of El Castillo, a small developing community where a family business will welcome you with open arms to share a snack of traditional food accompanied by typical drinks; "cafe chorreado", "agua dulce", or natural juice, all while enjoying the view of Lake Arenal. After this relaxing break, you will take the boat again to navigate the lake to the pier where the minibus will be waiting for you and then you will return to your hotel.

Today you will be privately transferred from your hotel in Arenal to Manuel Antonio, a journey that will take approximately five hours. En route, stop at EcoJungle Cruises to participate in a two-hour boat tour of the local mangroves, which are home to a large colony of crocodiles. As you meander along the Tarcoles River, observe an abundance of crocodiles, exotic birds - often times including the Scarlet Macaw - iguanas, lizards, monkeys and more while enjoying light snacks and refreshments. Following your cruise through the mangroves, return to land, reenter your private vehicle, and complete the transfer to your hotel in Manuel Antonio. Total travel time, including the mangroves cruise, is approximately seven hours.

Hotel: Hotel Parador Resort & Spa (5 Star Rating)

Uniquely set among luxuriant coastal rainforest overlooking Costa Rica's famous Manuel Antonio National Park, Hotel Parador Resort & Spa perches atop a 400 acre secluded peninsula surrounded by wild beauty facing the Pacific Ocean and Punta Quepos. Spectacular views can be enjoyed from the terraces, swimming pools and suites. The Resorts boosts its own private natural trails where a great variety of species of wildlife make their home in the middle of an overwhelming flora and fauna.

Manuel Antonio National Park is one of the most famous in the country, thanks to its wide variety of flora and fauna. Home to three of the four species of monkeys in Costa Rica, the park has three different paths that vary in difficulty, from flat to very steep. The path that is covered during this tour is flat and easily accessible, and is approximately 3 km (~2 miles) long. A naturalist guide who knows the area well will escort you during the walk, explaining the different animals and plants that can be observed on the tour. Upon reaching the third beach, a 20-minute break will be taken to rest, sunbathe or take a dip in the sea if you wish. During the tour you can observe monkeys, sloths, birds, and reptiles, as well as admiring orchids, butterflies, and tropical trees. The guides are equipped with Pentax and Swarovski telescopes for a better wildlife observation or for taking pictures with a different perspective. At the end of the tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel.

A day at leisure in Manuel Antonio is all about beachside bliss and natural beauty. You may wish to explore the national park's jungle trails where monkeys and sloths roam freely, take it easy at your hotel, or relax on its postcard-perfect beaches. A visit to the vibrant town of Quepos for local art and fresh seafood makes for a solid morning or afternoon. End your day with the spectacular Pacific sunset, perhaps with a cocktail in hand, overlooking the ocean.

Transfer: Quepos /Manuel Antonio to San Jose Juan Santamaria Apt