Best of Costa Rica | Trip Itinerary

Click on the following links to view your choice of these 3 itineraries:

Best of Costa Rica--10 night/11 days--our Main itinerary with 3 nights Cloud Forest; 3 nights Quepos/Manuel Antonio Beaches and 3 nights Osa Peninsula/Corcovado National Park.

Main Itinerary + 2 night extension to Santa Juana Rural Community (12 nights/13 days)

"Mini Version" 9 nights/10 days (skips Osa peninsula and includes two nights Santa Juana Rural Community)

Main Itinerary:

Day 1: Arrive San Jose Costa Rica. After clearing immigration & customs you will meet a representative from Villa Blanca Cloud Forest Hotel as you exit the airport. Transfer approximately 45 minutes to the hotel and check-in for 3 night stay/Superior casita. Included: 3 nights lodging with breakfast; tours/meals as indicated for days 2 & 3; and the following discounts:  $55 Voices of Nature Spa Treatment; entrance to the Villa Blanca Research Station.

Day 2: Cloud Forest Reserve Day Tour & Research Station visit. (approximately 2 hrs)
Step into the heart of the mountain cloud forest, part of a unique and precious biosphere that comprises a mere 2% of the world’s remaining woodlands. Beginning right on the edge of the hotel property, the tour takes you into the 2,000-acre Los Angeles Cloud Forest Private Biological Reserve, led by your Greentique Certified Guide. You’ll move within this secret world of lush, colorful tropical life along well-designed, user-friendly trails, each showcasing the incredibly diverse tropical flora and fauna of this stunning, private mountain cloud forest reserve. You’ll see firsthand the layers of dense, diverse plant life clinging to every tree trunk and branch as they reach to the heights of the canopy.
Includes:
• Greentique Certified Guide and a visit to the José Miguel Alfaro Research Station
• Departure Time/Place: Tours by reservation offered 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.; departing from the hotel lobby
• Duration: 2 hours
• Ages: 6+
• Activity level: Easy to Moderate
• Recommend: Hiking shoes/sneakers/closed-toe trail shoes, short pants or lightweight long pants, lightweight waterproof jacket, water bottle, camera, and binocular

The afternoon is yours to explore the surrounding trails & farm, enjoy the spa facilities, or kick back and enjoy the stunning views. Recommended optional tours include half day coffee plantation & Sarchi artisan town visit; nearby Hanging Bridges guided tour; Cloud Forest Birding Tour (2 hrs) and in season Mid-Feb thru May—Central Highlands Birding & Quetzal Tour (half day/off property). There is also an evening version of the Cloud Forest Reserve Tour to explore the nighttime activity of the forest. And something very fun to do beTfore enjoying a great dinner at Villa Blanca! Please advise no later than time of final payment any of the optional tours you may wish to include this day. (B)

Day 3:   Arenal Volcano & Hot Springs full day
Arenal, one of the most popular volcanos in Costa Rica, is located just 70 km./42 miles from Villa Blanca on a very comfortable and scenic drive. The guided tour departs in the morning and includes a nature walk to Arenal Volcano observation points and a visit to the private Ecotermales hot springs, a very relaxing and therapeutic experience. A Campesino style lunch is also included.
Includes: Bilingual guide, transportation, entry fees and lunch.  Take: Comfortable hiking shoes, camera and jacket and poncho, bathing suit and extra clothes (B, L)

Day 4: Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before departing with your private driver for your transfer of about 3 hours along the Pacific coast to the beach town of Quepos. Arrival and check-in to the Si Como No hotel for a 3 night stay/ superior room category w/ AC and private terrace with ocean view.  Included: 3 nights lodging with breakfast; tours/meals as indicated for days 2 & 3; and the following discounts:  $10 lunch coupon; $20 dinner coupon; 10% discount at Regalame gift shop; $75 Cala Spa Treatment (B)

Day 5:  Morning tour of Manuel Antonio National Park (shared tour with naturalist guide).  Explore one of the most famous National Parks in the Costa Rican National Park system. All along this moderate three-hour walk, your Greentique Certified Guide will share the secrets of the Coastal Wet Forest and the wonders of the Park and the region’s natural history. Manuel Antonio is home to species of monkeys, plus sloths, white nosed coatimundi, raccoons, agoutis, iguanas, snakes, birds, butterflies, and other insects. After the tour, we suggest that you spend some time on the beautiful beaches within the park, so take along your bathing suit and hotel beach towel and catch our hotel shuttle later in the day.  Entrance fee to the park is included and valid for the entire day. (note the park is closed on Mondays)  (B)

Day 6:   Full day tour to Santa Juana community.   There is no experience quite like the combination of the “magic of nature” and Costa Rica’s authentic rural heritage on this, our highest-rated tour. Greentique Certified Guides take you on an amazing tour of nature, conservation, and rural culture. You’ll hike along lush jungle-shrouded slopes where three rivers are born, then swim in one of the regions most pristine natural pool beneath a mesmerizing waterfall, spot all kinds of fascinating wildlife, fish for tilapia, visit an authentic sugar mill powered by massive oxen, and horseback ride (optional). Then step back in time to enjoy a traditional Campesino-style lunch while enjoying the panoramic vista of Manuel Antonio National Park and the Pacific Ocean that fills the horizon. You’ll also become a vital participant in the Carbon Offset/Native Tree Reforestation Program, adopting your own tree as you help conserve this priceless watershed within Greentique’s Cloudmaker Nature Reserve.  (B, L)

During your stay at Si Como No, we’ve also included an evening Wildlife Refuge & night tour.  This Jungle Night Tour is a unique odyssey into the nocturnal world of the Pacific Tropical Wet Forest. Led by your Certified Guide through the complex ecosystem of the Refuge’s amphibian water gardens, you’ll be immersed in a symphony of the signature sounds of thousands of jungle residents, including more than a dozen species of native frogs, all engaged in the rituals of life in their natural habitat. An extraordinary photography and video opportunity, a monopole, light tripod, or selfie stick are helpful if you don’t want to use a flash. However, the guides are skilled at lighting the wildlife, making handheld night shooting easy for everyone. The Night Tour is the only opportunity to see local Manuel Antonio wildlife at night, as the National Park closes at sunset.
Optional tours in the area include rafting, horseback riding, bird watching, deep sea fishing, or visiting the beaches & parks of Manuel Antonio. (B)

Day 7: Quepos to the Osa Peninsula.  Breakfast & free morning for optional tours and/or preparing for your trip to the Osa Peninsula. After lunch & check-out, meet your private driver for transfer south approximately 1.5 hours to the riverfront town of Sierpe. Your transfer by local boat departs at 3:30 PM from the Restaurante Las Vegas dock, and takes about an hour to reach Aguila de Osa.  Travel through the mangroves along the Sierpe River and out into the Pacific Ocean. Follow the coastline briefly until arrival to Drake Bay and the Aguila de Osa Rainforest Lodge. Check-in for a 3 night stay in a deluxe ocean view room.
Nestled amidst the jungle-covered hillsides overlooking the tranquil waters of Drake Bay, Aguila de Osa is an exquisite rainforest and marine adventure hotel. It’s here where you will experience life right on the edge of the Osa. Aguila de Osa is the destination for adventurers from around the world, offering the most convenient access to Corcovado National Park, Caño Island Biological Marine Reserve, and a full array of adventures including world-class sport fishing, scuba diving and snorkeling, plus bird watching, hiking, beach trips, river kayaking, mangrove estuary tours, and more.
Your stay at Aguila de Osa includes the following:
• All necessary transfers from Palmar Sur/Sierpe or Drake Bay airport and flight Drake Bay to San Jose airport.
• Complementary welcome cocktail
• Lodging deluxe ocean view room
• All meals (Breakfast, lunch and dinner)
• 1 Full day guided tour to Corcovado National Park
• 1 Full day guided tour to Caño Island Biological Reserve
• Guided night tour
• Appetizers before dinner on the Jungle Terrace
• Unlimited unguided kayak use (sit-on-top 2 person kayaks)
(B, D)

Day 8 & 9: Full day tours:
Cano Island:  Snorkel the clear waters of Caño Island Biological Reserve, an Eden of coral and rock formations, filled with schools of vibrant tropical fish.  **Optional upgrade to dive option available on request.  Our dive masters take snorkelers of all ages and experience levels aboard our 30-foot Island Hopper for some breathtaking adventures in these beautiful waters. Visibility is 30 – 100 feet or more year-round, and the reefs and rocks formations are teeming with exotic sea life. Caño Island is an underwater photographer’s dream and great for families. During the approximately 45 minutes boat ride out to Cano Island, you are usually joined by schools of dolphins, humpback whales (in season), and other marine birds & wildlife.
Includes:
• Professional bilingual guide, dive boat with crew, all park fees, snorkeling gear, towels, picnic lunch
• Departure Time/Place: 7:30 a.m. – 8:00 a.m., Águila de Osa dock
• Duration: Full Day
• Recommend: Shirt or T-shirt, bathing suit, hat, sandals, sunglasses, sunscreen, camera, binoculars

Cordovado National Park Guided Tour-San Pedrillo Ranger Station
This rainforest excursion is an unparalleled opportunity to explore the dense primary rainforest adjacent to San Pedrillo, Corcovado National Park’s northernmost ranger station. From the hotel, you’ll take a 25-minute boat ride along the west coat of the Osa. After the wet landing at the station (our boats go in stern first and drop you a few feet from the beach), you’ll begin your rainforest journey. During the morning hike, your Greentique Certified guide will point out many of the diverse species along the trail You may see white-faced, spider and howler monkeys, white-lipped peccaries, scarlet macaws, coati, and countless other birds and insects. The trails are clearly marked and easy to navigate, ascending and descending through the primary rainforest. After the morning hike and a break for lunch, you will have the opportunity to hike to a beautiful waterfall. Along the way to the falls you will have another chance for your guide to point out more of the bio diverse flora and fauna. The waterfalls offer the perfect opportunity to relax, take a refreshing swim in the cool fresh water, and take some magnificent pictures of this beautiful area. After some time at the falls, you will return to the ranger station to catch the boat back to the hotel, and on the way, if you’re lucky, you may have the chance to see humpback whales or dolphins breaching and spinning in the ocean.
Includes:
• Greentique certified guide, boat transportation, park fees, picnic lunch
• Departure Time/Place: 6:30 AM Aguila de Osa dock
• Duration: Full DayRecommend: Hiking shoes/sneakers/trail shoes, short pants and bathing suit, plus shoes/clothes to wear for a wet landing (hiking sandals or water shoes recommended), lightweight waterproof jacket, hat, water bottle, camera, binoculars
(B, L, D)

During your time at Aguila de Osa we’ve also included a 2-2.5 hour night rainforest tour, which we will schedule for one night during your stay. Venture into the dramatic night world that awakens only after sundown. With so many rainforest inhabitants being nocturnal, a night walk makes you part of a jungle transformation as a myriad of exotic creatures start their “day.” Your guide will explain the intricacies of this complex ecosystem and some of the distinctive characteristics — sounds, sights, and smells, of its nocturnal residents. This is your chance to see all kinds the exotic, the bizarre, and the amazing in our little section of Drake Bay.

Day 10: Osa Peninsula-San Jose.  After breakfast at your hotel, you’ll transfer by boat directly to the bay at Drake Bay, and board a taxi for the short ride to the Drake Bay airport. **alternately and depending on weather conditions & season, you may need to return via Sierpe to the Palmar Sur airport—the reverse of how you arrived on Day 7.
Transfer time from Aguila de Osa to Drake Bay airport is about 15 minutes. Flights are usually mid-day, and on arrival to San Jose you’ll be met by our local representative and transferred to your select hotel for an overnight stay.  We can recommend best hotel option once we know your departing flight schedule & interests.(B)

Day 11: Departure. At the designated time, you’ll be met at your hotel and transferred to the San Jose international airport for your departing flights.  Note there is a Costa Rica Departure tax that currently needs to be prepaid prior to check-in. You’ll find the tax counter located inside the international terminal.  Current fees are approximately $29 and should be paid in cash USD. (WARNING-They will process a credit card as a cash advance.) There are rumors these will soon be included in international ticket prices, so this procedure may change.    (B)

Main itinerary + 2 night extension to  Santa Juana Community Lodge for a 12 night/13 day itinerary: 

 

Day 1: Arrive San Jose Costa Rica. After clearing immigration & customs you will meet a representative from Villa Blanca Cloud Forest Hotel as you exit the airport. Transfer approximately 45 minutes to the hotel and check-in for 3 night stay/Superior casita. Included: 3 nights lodging with breakfast; tours/meals as indicated for days 2 & 3; and the following discounts:  $55 Voices of Nature Spa Treatment; entrance to the Villa Blanca Research Station.

Day 2: Cloud Forest Reserve Day Tour & Research Station visit. (approximately 2 hrs)
Step into the heart of the mountain cloud forest, part of a unique and precious biosphere that comprises a mere 2% of the world’s remaining woodlands. Beginning right on the edge of the hotel property, the tour takes you into the 2,000-acre Los Angeles Cloud Forest Private Biological Reserve, led by your Greentique Certified Guide. You’ll move within this secret world of lush, colorful tropical life along well-designed, user-friendly trails, each showcasing the incredibly diverse tropical flora and fauna of this stunning, private mountain cloud forest reserve. You’ll see firsthand the layers of dense, diverse plant life clinging to every tree trunk and branch as they reach to the heights of the canopy.
Includes:
• Greentique Certified Guide and a visit to the José Miguel Alfaro Research Station
• Departure Time/Place: Tours by reservation offered 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.; departing from the hotel lobby
• Duration: 2 hours
• Ages: 6+
• Activity level: Easy to Moderate
• Recommend: Hiking shoes/sneakers/closed-toe trail shoes, short pants or lightweight long pants, lightweight waterproof jacket, water bottle, camera, and binocular

The afternoon is yours to explore the surrounding trails & farm, enjoy the spa facilities, or kick back and enjoy the stunning views. Recommended optional tours include half day coffee plantation & Sarchi artisan town visit; nearby Hanging Bridges guided tour; Cloud Forest Birding Tour (2 hrs) and in season Mid-Feb thru May—Central Highlands Birding & Quetzal Tour (half day/off property). There is also an evening version of the Cloud Forest Reserve Tour to explore the nighttime activity of the forest. And something very fun to do before enjoying a great dinner at Villa Blanca! Please advise no later than time of final payment any of the optional tours you may wish to include this day. (B)

Day 3:   Arenal Volcano & Hot Springs full day
Arenal, one of the most popular volcanos in Costa Rica, is located just 70 km./42 miles from Villa Blanca on a very comfortable and scenic drive. The guided tour departs in the morning and includes a nature walk to Arenal Volcano observation points and a visit to the private Ecotermales hot springs, a very relaxing and therapeutic experience. A Campesino style lunch is also included.
Includes: Bilingual guide, transportation, entry fees and lunch.  Take: Comfortable hiking shoes, camera and jacket and poncho, bathing suit and extra clothes (B, L)

Day 4: Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before departing with your private driver for your transfer of about 3 hours along the Pacific coast and up into the mountain to the rural community of Santa Juana. Check-in for a two-night stay in a deluxe casita. Your stay at Santa Juana will include the following:
• 2 nights in a deluxe casita with all meals
• Combination tour of Santa Juana Rural mountain Adventure & Zipline Tour with Local guide
• Traditional Costa Rican Cooking Class
(B)

Day 5: Activities in Santa Juana
Santa Juana Rural Mountain Adventure + Zipline tour; There is no experience quite like the combination of the “magic of nature” and Costa Rica’s authentic rural heritage on this, our highest-rated tour. Greentique Certified Guides take you on an amazing tour of nature, conservation, and rural culture. You’ll hike along lush jungle-shrouded slopes where three rivers are born, then swim in one of the region’s most pristine natural pool beneath a mesmerizing waterfall, spot all kinds of fascinating wildlife, fish for tilapia, visit an authentic sugar mill powered by massive oxen, and horseback ride (optional). Then step back in time to enjoy a traditional Campesino-style lunch while enjoying the panoramic vista of Manuel Antonio National Park and the Pacific Ocean that fills the horizon.

You’ll also become a vital participant in the Carbon Offset/Native Tree Reforestation Program, adopting your own tree as you help conserve this priceless watershed within Greentique’s Cloudmaker Nature Reserve.
To complete your Santa Juana Mountain Adventure  enjoy our exclusive Greentique VIP ziplining experience.  Sail through the treetops of the Mountain Wet Forest canopy, Tarzan swing between platforms, and rappel to the jungle floor in one of the region’s most thrilling canopy experiences. Great for families and thrill seekers alike.

Traditional Costa Rican Cooking class—meet with our local chefs at the lodge and  enjoy a hands on workshop as you learn the secrets of Costa Rican cuisine. (B, L, D)

There are many optional tours that can be included during your time in Santa Juana—such as birdwatching tours, horseback riding, and a visit to a local coffee plantation.

Day 6: Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before departing with your private driver for your transfer of about 1 hours  to the beach town of Quepos. Arrival and check-in to the Si Como No hotel for a 3 night stay/ superior room category w/ AC and private terrace with ocean view.  Included: 3 nights lodging with breakfast; tours/meals as indicated for days 2 & 3; and the following discounts:  $10 lunch coupon; $20 dinner coupon; 10% discount at Regalame gift shop; $75 Cala Spa Treatment (B)

Day 7: Morning tour of Manuel Antonio National Park (shared tour with naturalist guide). Explore one of the most famous National Parks in the Costa Rican National Park system. All along this moderate three-hour walk, your Greentique Certified Guide will share the secrets of the Coastal Wet Forest and the wonders of the Park and the region’s natural history. Manuel Antonio is home to species of monkeys, plus sloths, white nosed coatimundi, raccoons, agoutis, iguanas, snakes, birds, butterflies, and other insects. After the tour, we suggest that you spend some time on the beautiful beaches within the park, so take along your bathing suit and hotel beach towel and catch our hotel shuttle later in the day.  Entrance fee to the park is included and valid for the entire day. (note the park is closed on Mondays)  (B)

Day 8:   Your choice of a half day activity in the area (must be confirmed in advance): Sea Kayaking or boat ride in the Isla Damas estuary; Surf Lesson; Wildlife Refuge guided visit includes the Butterfly Atrium, Botanical Gardens & Crocodile Lagoon tour; half day paddle river rafting on the Naranjo River (class III-IV rapids). Remainder of the day is free for beach, enjoying the pool and other facilities of your hotel. Full day options can be added for an additional charge, such as class II-III rafting on the Savegre River.  Remainder of the day is free for beach, enjoying the pool and other facilities of your hotel. (B)

During your stay at Si Como No, we’ve also included an evening Wildlife Refuge & night tour.  This Jungle Night Tour is a unique odyssey into the nocturnal world of the Pacific Tropical Wet Forest. Led by your Certified Guide through the complex ecosystem of the Refuge’s amphibian water gardens, you’ll be immersed in a symphony of the signature sounds of thousands of jungle residents, including more than a dozen species of native frogs, all engaged in the rituals of life in their natural habitat. An extraordinary photography and video opportunity, a monopole, light tripod, or selfie stick are helpful if you don’t want to use a flash. However, the guides are skilled at lighting the wildlife, making handheld night shooting easy for everyone. The Night Tour is the only opportunity to see local Manuel Antonio wildlife at night, as the National Park closes at sunset.
Optional tours in the area include rafting, horseback riding, bird watching, deep sea fishing, or visiting the beaches & parks of Manuel Antonio. (B)

Day 9: Quepos to the Osa Peninsula.  Breakfast & free morning for optional tours and/or preparing for your trip to the Osa Peninsula. After lunch & check-out, meet your private driver for transfer south approximately 1.5 hours to the riverfront town of Sierpe. Your transfer by local boat departs at 3:30 PM from the Restaurante Las Vegas dock, and takes about an hour to reach Aguila de Osa.  Travel through the mangroves along the Sierpe River and out into the Pacific Ocean. Follow the coastline briefly until arrival to Drake Bay and the Aguila de Osa Rainforest Lodge. Check-in for a 3 night stay in a deluxe ocean view room.
Nestled amidst the jungle-covered hillsides overlooking the tranquil waters of Drake Bay, Aguila de Osa is an exquisite rainforest and marine adventure hotel. It’s here where you will experience life right on the edge of the Osa. Aguila de Osa is the destination for adventurers from around the world, offering the most convenient access to Corcovado National Park, Caño Island Biological Marine Reserve, and a full array of adventures including world-class sport fishing, scuba diving and snorkeling, plus bird watching, hiking, beach trips, river kayaking, mangrove estuary tours, and more.
Your stay at Aguila de Osa includes the following:
• All necessary transfers from Palmar Sur/Sierpe or Drake Bay airport and flight Drake Bay to San Jose airport.
• Complementary welcome cocktail
• Lodging deluxe ocean view room
• All meals (Breakfast, lunch and dinner)
• 1 Full day guided tour to Corcovado National Park
• 1 Full day guided tour to Caño Island Biological Reserve
• Guided night tour
• Appetizers before dinner on the Jungle Terrace
• Unlimited unguided kayak use (sit-on-top 2 person kayaks)
(B, D)

Day 10 & 11: Full day tours:
Cano Island:  Snorkel the clear waters of Caño Island Biological Reserve, an Eden of coral and rock formations, filled with schools of vibrant tropical fish.  **Optional upgrade to dive option available on request.  Our dive masters take snorkelers of all ages and experience levels aboard our 30-foot Island Hopper for some breathtaking adventures in these beautiful waters. Visibility is 30 – 100 feet or more year-round, and the reefs and rocks formations are teeming with exotic sea life. Caño Island is an underwater photographer’s dream and great for families. During the approximately 45 minutes boat ride out to Cano Island, you are usually joined by schools of dolphins, humpback whales (in season), and other marine birds & wildlife.
Includes:
• Professional bilingual guide, dive boat with crew, all park fees, snorkeling gear, towels, picnic lunch
• Departure Time/Place: 7:30 a.m. – 8:00 a.m., Águila de Osa dock
• Duration: Full Day
• Recommend: Shirt or T-shirt, bathing suit, hat, sandals, sunglasses, sunscreen, camera, binoculars

Cordovado National Park Guided Tour-San Pedrillo Ranger Station
This rainforest excursion is an unparalleled opportunity to explore the dense primary rainforest adjacent to San Pedrillo, Corcovado National Park’s northernmost ranger station. From the hotel, you’ll take a 25-minute boat ride along the west coat of the Osa. After the wet landing at the station (our boats go in stern first and drop you a few feet from the beach), you’ll begin your rainforest journey. During the morning hike, your Greentique Certified guide will point out many of the diverse species along the trail You may see white-faced, spider and howler monkeys, white-lipped peccaries, scarlet macaws, coati, and countless other birds and insects. The trails are clearly marked and easy to navigate, ascending and descending through the primary rainforest. After the morning hike and a break for lunch, you will have the opportunity to hike to a beautiful waterfall. Along the way to the falls you will have another chance for your guide to point out more of the bio diverse flora and fauna. The waterfalls offer the perfect opportunity to relax, take a refreshing swim in the cool fresh water, and take some magnificent pictures of this beautiful area. After some time at the falls, you will return to the ranger station to catch the boat back to the hotel, and on the way, if you’re lucky, you may have the chance to see humpback whales or dolphins breaching and spinning in the ocean.
Includes:
• Greentique certified guide, boat transportation, park fees, picnic lunch
• Departure Time/Place: 6:30 AM Aguila de Osa dock
• Duration: Full DayRecommend: Hiking shoes/sneakers/trail shoes, short pants and bathing suit, plus shoes/clothes to wear for a wet landing (hiking sandals or water shoes recommended), lightweight waterproof jacket, hat, water bottle, camera, binoculars
(B, L, D)

During your time at Aguila de Osa we’ve also included a 2-2.5 hour night rainforest tour, which we will schedule for one night during your stay. Venture into the dramatic night world that awakens only after sundown. With so many rainforest inhabitants being nocturnal, a night walk makes you part of a jungle transformation as a myriad of exotic creatures start their “day.” Your guide will explain the intricacies of this complex ecosystem and some of the distinctive characteristics — sounds, sights, and smells, of its nocturnal residents. This is your chance to see all kinds the exotic, the bizarre, and the amazing in our little section of Drake Bay.

Day 12: Osa Peninsula-San Jose.  After breakfast at your hotel, you’ll transfer by boat directly to the bay at Drake Bay, and board a taxi for the short ride to the Drake Bay airport. **alternately and depending on weather conditions & season, you may need to return via Sierpe to the Palmar Sur airport—the reverse of how you arrived on Day 7.
Transfer time from Aguila de Osa to Drake Bay airport is about 15 minutes. Flights are usually mid-day, and on arrival to San Jose you’ll be met by our local representative and transferred to your select hotel for an overnight stay.  We can recommend best hotel option once we know your departing flight schedule & interests. (B)

Day 13: Departure. At the designated time, you’ll be met at your hotel and transferred to the San Jose international airport for your departing flights.  Note there is a Costa Rica Departure tax that currently needs to be prepaid prior to check-in. You’ll find the tax counter located inside the international terminal.  Current fees are approximately $29 and should be paid in cash USD. (WARNING-They will process a credit card as a cash advance.) There are rumors these will soon be included in international ticket prices, so this procedure may change.    (B)

Our "Mini version" skips Osa Peninsula, and includes Santa Juana-- 9 nights/10 days, with overland transfer Quepos to San Jose & night #9 in San Jose:
 

Day 1: Arrive San Jose Costa Rica. After clearing immigration & customs you will meet a representative from Villa Blanca Cloud Forest Hotel as you exit the airport. Transfer approximately 45 minutes to the hotel and check-in for 3 night stay/Superior casita. Included: 3 nights lodging with breakfast; tours/meals as indicated for days 2 & 3; and the following discounts:  $55 Voices of Nature Spa Treatment; entrance to the Villa Blanca Research Station.

Day 2: Cloud Forest Reserve Day Tour & Research Station visit. (approximately 2 hrs)
Step into the heart of the mountain cloud forest, part of a unique and precious biosphere that comprises a mere 2% of the world’s remaining woodlands. Beginning right on the edge of the hotel property, the tour takes you into the 2,000-acre Los Angeles Cloud Forest Private Biological Reserve, led by your Greentique Certified Guide. You’ll move within this secret world of lush, colorful tropical life along well-designed, user-friendly trails, each showcasing the incredibly diverse tropical flora and fauna of this stunning, private mountain cloud forest reserve. You’ll see firsthand the layers of dense, diverse plant life clinging to every tree trunk and branch as they reach to the heights of the canopy.
Includes:
• Greentique Certified Guide and a visit to the José Miguel Alfaro Research Station
• Departure Time/Place: Tours by reservation offered 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.; departing from the hotel lobby
• Duration: 2 hours
• Ages: 6+
• Activity level: Easy to Moderate
• Recommend: Hiking shoes/sneakers/closed-toe trail shoes, short pants or lightweight long pants, lightweight waterproof jacket, water bottle, camera, and binocular

The afternoon is yours to explore the surrounding trails & farm, enjoy the spa facilities, or kick back and enjoy the stunning views. Recommended optional tours include half day coffee plantation & Sarchi artisan town visit; nearby Hanging Bridges guided tour; Cloud Forest Birding Tour (2 hrs) and in season Mid-Feb thru May—Central Highlands Birding & Quetzal Tour (half day/off property). There is also an evening version of the Cloud Forest Reserve Tour to explore the nighttime activity of the forest. And something very fun to do before enjoying a great dinner at Villa Blanca! Please advise no later than time of final payment any of the optional tours you may wish to include this day. (B)

Day 3:  Arenal Volcano & Hot Springs full day tour
Arenal, one of the most popular volcanos in Costa Rica, is located just 70 km./42 miles from Villa Blanca on a very comfortable and scenic drive. The guided tour departs in the morning and includes a nature walk to Arenal Volcano observation points and a visit to the private Ecotermales hot springs, a very relaxing and therapeutic experience. A Campesino style lunch is also included.
Includes: Bilingual guide, transportation, entry fees and lunch.  Take: Comfortable hiking shoes, camera and jacket and poncho, bathing suit and extra clothes (B, L)

Day 4: Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before departing with your private driver for your transfer of about 3 hours along the Pacific coast and up into the mountain to the rural community of Santa Juana. Check-in for a two-night stay in a deluxe casita. Your stay at Santa Juana will include the following:
• 2 nights in a deluxe casita with all meals
• Combination tour of Santa Juana Rural mountain Adventure & Zipline Tour with Local guide
• Traditional Costa Rican Cooking Class
(B)

Day 5: Activities in Santa Juana
Santa Juana Rural Mountain Adventure + Zipline tour; There is no experience quite like the combination of the “magic of nature” and Costa Rica’s authentic rural heritage on this, our highest-rated tour. Greentique Certified Guides take you on an amazing tour of nature, conservation, and rural culture. You’ll hike along lush jungle-shrouded slopes where three rivers are born, then swim in one of the region’s most pristine natural pool beneath a mesmerizing waterfall, spot all kinds of fascinating wildlife, fish for tilapia, visit an authentic sugar mill powered by massive oxen, and horseback ride (optional). Then step back in time to enjoy a traditional Campesino-style lunch while enjoying the panoramic vista of Manuel Antonio National Park and the Pacific Ocean that fills the horizon.

You’ll also become a vital participant in the Carbon Offset/Native Tree Reforestation Program, adopting your own tree as you help conserve this priceless watershed within Greentique’s Cloudmaker Nature Reserve.
To complete your Santa Juana Mountain Adventure  enjoy our exclusive Greentique VIP ziplining experience.  Sail through the treetops of the Mountain Wet Forest canopy, Tarzan swing between platforms, and rappel to the jungle floor in one of the region’s most thrilling canopy experiences. Great for families and thrill seekers alike.

Traditional Costa Rican Cooking class—meet with our local chefs at the lodge and  enjoy a hands on workshop as you learn the secrets of Costa Rican cuisine. (B, L, D)

There are many optional tours that can be included during your time in Santa Juana—such as birdwatching tours, horseback riding, and a visit to a local coffee plantation.

Day 6: Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before departing with your private driver for your transfer of about 1 hours  to the beach town of Quepos, and Manuel Antonio National Park area. Arrival and check-in to the Si Como No hotel for a 3 night stay/ superior room category w/ AC and private terrace with ocean view.  Included: 3 nights lodging with breakfast; tours/meals as indicated for days 2 & 3; and the following discounts:  $10 lunch coupon; $20 dinner coupon; 10% discount at Regalame gift shop; $75 Cala Spa Treatment (B)

Day 7: Morning tour of Manuel Antonio National Park (shared tour with naturalist guide). Explore one of the most famous National Parks in the Costa Rican National Park system. All along this moderate three-hour walk, your Greentique Certified Guide will share the secrets of the Coastal Wet Forest and the wonders of the Park and the region’s natural history. Manuel Antonio is home to species of monkeys, plus sloths, white nosed coatimundi, raccoons, agoutis, iguanas, snakes, birds, butterflies, and other insects. After the tour, we suggest that you spend some time on the beautiful beaches within the park, so take along your bathing suit and hotel beach towel and catch our hotel shuttle later in the day.  Entrance fee to the park is included and valid for the entire day. (note the park is closed on Mondays)  (B)

Day 8:   Your choice of a half day activity in the area (must be confirmed in advance): Sea Kayaking or boat ride in the Isla Damas estuary; Surf Lesson; Wildlife Refuge guided visit includes the Butterfly Atrium, Botanical Gardens & Crocodile Lagoon tour;  half day paddle river rafting on the Naranjo River (class III-IV rapids). Remainder of the day is free for beach, enjoying the pool and other facilities of your hotel. Full day options can be added for an additional charge, such as class II-III rafting on the Savegre River.  Remainder of the day is free for beach, enjoying the pool and other facilities of your hotel. (B)

During your stay at Si Como No, we’ve also included an evening Wildlife Refuge & night tour.  This Jungle Night Tour is a unique odyssey into the nocturnal world of the Pacific Tropical Wet Forest. Led by your Certified Guide through the complex ecosystem of the Refuge’s amphibian water gardens, you’ll be immersed in a symphony of the signature sounds of thousands of jungle residents, including more than a dozen species of native frogs, all engaged in the rituals of life in their natural habitat. An extraordinary photography and video opportunity, a monopole, light tripod, or selfie stick are helpful if you don’t want to use a flash. However, the guides are skilled at lighting the wildlife, making handheld night shooting easy for everyone. The Night Tour is the only opportunity to see local Manuel Antonio wildlife at night, as the National Park closes at sunset.
Optional tours in the area include rafting, horseback riding, bird watching, deep sea fishing, or visiting the beaches & parks of Manuel Antonio. (B)

Day 9: Quepos to San Jose hotel overland transfer (option to upgrade to short flight for an additinal fee).  You'll be dropped off  at your select hotel, where you' will check-in for an overnight stay.  We can recommend best hotel options once we know your departing international flight schedule and interests. (B)

Day 10: Departure. At the designated time, you’ll be met at your hotel and transferred to the San Jose international airport for your departing flights.  Note there is a Costa Rica Departure tax that currently needs to be prepaid prior to check-in. You’ll find the tax counter located inside the international terminal.  Current fees are approximately $29 and should be paid in cash USD. (WARNING-They will process a credit card as a cash advance.) There are rumors these will soon be included in international ticket prices, so this procedure may change.    (B)

 

B=Breakfast; L=Lunch; D=Dinner