Costa Rica: The Highlights

Fly to San Jose

Fly from your chosen UK airport to San Jose where you will be met and transferred to your hotel accommodation.

Poas Volcano National Park & Doka Estate

This morning, the tour will take you to Poas Volcano, one of the most visited volcanoes in Costa Rica, because of its proximity to San Jose and because of the extensive forest that surrounds the two craters. The park measures 5600 hectares, with an altitude of 2708 metres above sea level. The enormous crater is one of the largest in the world. The National Park offers four different habitats: scarce vegetation, a stunted forest, a cloud forest, and an area of arrayan. There are well-kept but short trails around the craters and into the forest. Afterwards, you will travel to the Doka Estate where you will hear about the history of the coffee farm, it’s owners and its traditional coffee producing methods. Lunch is included at the Doka Estate.

Tortuguero

Following breakfast, transfer from the hotel to La Pavona docks where you will take a boat transfer to the Tortuguero area. The Caribbean coast is home to the beautiful town of Tortuguero and its National Park. The park was previously an archipelago of volcanic islands until alluvial sediments from the interior mountains filled in the spaces and formed a network of marshy islands.  Today, turtles nest on the naturally formed beaches.  The exceptionally high rainfall and rich environment where the freshwater meets the sea makes Tortuguero an area of exceptional biodiversity.  Due to the existence within the reserve of eleven different habitats including rainforest, mangorve forests, swamps, beaches and lagoons.

Afternoon Boat Tour of Tortuguero National Park Water Canals

Spend another day exploring the Tortuguero National Park.  Enjoy an afternoon boat tour down the canals.  Look out for all the animals that call this park home.  The rivers in the park are home to sensitive populations of manatees, as well as caimans and crocodiles. The forests are home to jaguars, three toed sloths, three species of monkey, Basilisk lizards and frogs also inhabit the area as well as 375 species of bird. There are also more than 400 species of tree and approximately 2200 species of other plant and flower.

Arenal

Boat transfer from Tortuguero to Cano Blanco or Pavona docks where you will be transferred onwards by bus to the Arenal area.

Místico Park Hanging Bridges & Arenal Volcano National Park

Visit the Hanging Bridges of Arenal which are located within the corridor followed by birds migrating between North and South America. These trails and bridges will bring closer than ever to the birds, the flowers and the lush vegetation of the primary rain forest. You will be able to walk right into the forest, thanks to the imposing hanging bridges and the beautiful trails.

Before the active period of 1968, a lavish canopy of vegetation covered the Arenal Volcano. People that climbed Arenal’ s summit related that inside the crater there were big trees and at night, they slept in places where there was some heat due to small steam outlets. Right now the green area is located at the east side of the Mountain, and other little green parts can be seen on the north and the south of the volcano. Enjoy the most extraordinary view of the Arenal Volcano on a gentle Hike along the base of this marvelous “Mountain of Fire”. The Hike begins in one the trails close to the volcano, this trail will take you through the forest over recent lava flows and the area destroyed in 1968 now in the process of regeneration. You are going to be on this trail for about 2 ½ hours.

Monteverde

After breakfast transfer from Arenal to journey to Monteverde where you will check in at your hotel and have the remaining of the day at leisure.

Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve

The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, is one of the most famous conservation areas in Central America. It is a tropical rain forest but because of its altitude (1400 meters or 4.600 feet), it’s called a Cloud Forest. A cloud forest is a highland forest characterized by nearly 100% humidity throughout the year. Here in Monteverde, warm north-easterly trade winds, filled with moisture, blow in from the Atlantic. As the winds sweep up to the Continental Divide, they cool and condense to form clouds, bathing the forest in a constant soft mist. The cloud forest receives an incredible four meters of rain every year- over twelve feet! It is home to rare and unusual wildlife, such as jaguars and pumas, and over 450 species of birds including the world’s largest population of quetzal birds.

Manuel Antonio

Transfer to Manuel Antonio which is set high above the enchanting National Park, boasting amazing views of white sandy beaches, shimmering blue waters and the fresh ocean breeze. Afternoon at leisure and overnight in Manuel Antonio.

Manuel Antonio

Two full days at leisure to enjoy the hotel’s facilities or to visit the neighboring Manuel Antonio National Park.

Return back to the UK

Morning transfer to San Jose International Airport for your return flight back to the UK.