Costa Rica Guided Group Tour

Upon arrival in San Jose, Costa Rica you will be met and driven to Hotel Presidente located in downtown San Jose. This modern 70-room boutique hotel is within walking distance of the major cultural and historical landmarks. Take a stroll and explore the National Theatre, the gold and jade museums, the Plaza de la Cultura, the National Cathedral, and more!

After a group breakfast and orientation, you will be driven1 1/2 hours with your guide to Nectandra Cloud Forest Garden, a 295-acre forest and research center. A naturalist guide will introduce you to the flora and fauna of the region as you hike through the gardens. Then, enjoy lunch before being driven approximately 3 - 3 1/2 hours to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Region in Northern Costa Rica for overnight at Monteverde Hotel.

Founded in 1954 by a community of Quakers, Monteverde is a 1,385-acre cloud forest reserve. After breakfast, you will be lead on a 2.2-mile hike through the reserve looking for the unique wildlife of the region such as the three-wattled bellbird, White-faced Monkeys, Howler Monkeys, and the Emerald Toucanet. With a bit of luck, the Resplendent Quetzal bird can be seen in the cloud forest from January to July.

In the afternoon, you will be immersed in the world of chocolate. Follow the process from tree to cup. Discover the cocoa beans past from a bitter drink to the rich sweet treat that it is today.

Today, you will transfer to the Arenal/La Fortuna region by ground and boat via Lake Arenal (3 hours of transportation in total). You will be driven approximately 2 hours to Chiquito River, a small town on the shore of Lake Arenal. Your lake transfer will take about 30-40 minutes to Arenal Dam. From there, you will be met and driven to Arenal Manoa Hotel for overnight. Arenal Manoa is a cozy boutique hotel with spacious rooms and splendid views of Arenal Volcano from each terrace.

After breakfast this morning, start off on a hike through Arenal Hanging Bridges Park with your guide. The park includes eight fixed bridges and six hanging bridges built with the latest safety techniques. Explore the rainforest canopy and wildlife on this 2-mile hike. If it's a clear day, you can even see Arenal Volcano towering above the forest int he distance. Don't forget to check out the waterfall extension trail toward the end of the hike if time permits!

After a hearty lunch, go on an aerial tram and zipline adventure. Take the Sky Aerial Tram up through the forest canopy to a Mirador lookout point with fantastic views of Arenal Volcano, Lake Arenal, and the Tilaran Mountains. From here, take off your zipline adventure. You'll zip from platform to platform on ten cables ranging from 30 to 200 meters in height and 200-750 meters in length for a total of about two miles. Enjoy the thrill and unique perspective of the region!

In the late afternoon, visit Hidalgo Hot Springs, a family-owned cattle ranch with natural hot springs from Arenal Volcano flowing through the property. There are 5 thermal pool set within this natural gorge with temperatures ranging from 100 to 109 degrees. There are an assortment of smoothies and cocktails available from the bar. Enjoy a typical Costa Rican meal from the restaurant this evening for dinner. Overnight Arenal Manoa Hotel.

After an early breakfast, you will be driven 5 hours through banana plantations to Cano Blanco dock for a 1.5-hour boat ride to Tortuga Lodge and Gardens in Tortuguero on the shores of the Northern Caribbean Coast. The roads of the region are the jungle canals, a central aspect of everyday life and the environment in this region. From July to October, a highlight of this region is the Green Sea Turtle nesting that occurs just a few feet away. These magnificent creatures average around 300 pounds and lay between 80 and 100 eggs.

In the morning, discover the jungle canals of Tortuguero National Park with your guide. You'll have the opportunity to explore the Sea Turtle Conservation Center, a research facility dedicated to the tagging and studying thousands of Atlantic Green Sea Turtles every year as they come to Tortuguero Beach, their largest nesting location in the Western Hemisphere. After exploring the area, enjoy lunch at Miss Juney's.

The afternoon is free. Wander the deserted beach of Tortuguero or book additional canal boat trips for an extra cost. Overnight Tortuga Lodge.

This morning, depart Tortuguero by boat and on a 30-minute charter flight to San Jose. Upon arrival, transfer to Doka Coffee Estate in the coffee capital of the country, Alajuela. Learn the stages of coffee production from the seed to product on this large-scale coffee plantation. After your tour, you will be driven back to Hotel Presidente for overnight.

Today you will be driven to San Jose International Airport for your return flight home.