Tropical Forests and Manuel Antonio | Trip Itinerary

Day 1: ARRIVAL TO SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA
Upon your arrival in San José, Costa Rica and after you clear customs & immigration, exit the airport terminal, take the right hand side exit door where you will meet our local representative will present you with land portion vouchers and transfer you to the Hotel Buena Vista, located up in the hills near to the ariport. Check-in for an overnight stay.

Day 2:  TRANSFER TO ARENAL/VOLCANO HIKE AND HOT SPRINGS VISIT

****We also offer an option on this tour to add one more night/day in Arenal Volcano area to include visits to additional attractions en-route & at the volcano. Please check our Pricing/Trip Notes  Tab for details
After breakfast, you are picked up at your hotel by your private English speaking driver for your transfer to the Arenal Volcano area. Your journey begins as you leave the urban center of Costa Rica’s central valley and head north into the mountains. Your introduction to Costa Rica continues as you drive through the tropical plantations and cattle ranches of the northern central lowland plains before arriving at your hotel in the Arenal region.  Time for lunch & to explore a bit before your afternoon hike on the Arenal Volcano old lava flows, followed by a visit to one of the areas natural hot springs.  

Enjoy the most extraordinary view of the Arenal Volcano on a gentle hike along the base of this marvelous volcano.The hike begins on one the trails close to the volcano, this trail will take us through the forest over lava flows and a destroyed area by 1968 now in the process of regeneration. Be sure to bring along binoculars for birdwatching!
There are several trail options, and you can select with your guide the one best suited to your energy level and interests. End your day with a visit to the volcanic thermal mineral pools of the Ecotermales hot springs, where you can enjoy a healthy and relaxing soak along with the option to purchase dinner & drinks. (B)
 
Day 3: TRANSFER TO MONTEVERDE VIA LAKE CROSSING + TOUR OF MONTEVERDE RESERVE
After breakfast you'll be picked up at your hotel to begin your journey to Monteverde Cloud Forest. Your shared transfer takes you to the dock of Lake Arenal, where you board a launch for the ride across the lake. Be prepared for beautiful views of the volcano and surrounding forests.  Once on the south shore of the lake, continue by vehicle up the mountain and into the towns of Santa Elena and Monteverde. Check in to your hotel for a 2-night stay.

The Monteverde Cloud Forest is one of the worlds premiere destinations for naturalists. Much of the resident wildlife is unique to these habitats. In addition to forest hikes, visitors can enjoy many other area attractions including horseback riding; dining in numerous restaurants; live frog and butterfly exhibits; bird watching; crafts and gift shopping; zip line tours and bridge walks in forest canopies; a visit to a native orchid garden and more.. Located in the Tilaran Mountain Range of the Puntarenas Province, Monteverde, which translates to Green Mountain, is the name of both the famous cloud forest reserve and a small nearby community. Your transfer will take you through small rural Costa Rican villages, dairy farms and coffee plantations. The small mountain farms of these towns are owned by “campesinos” (country farmers). The most important regional farm products are organic coffee, which can be purchased in local stores, and milk for the local Monteverde Cheese Factory.  In and around the community center there is a large selection of restaurants, and other fun activities, such as butterfly gardens, horse rentals, an orchid garden, art galleries, and an excellent educational bat exhibit.

In the afternoon join your private guide for a  visit the world-famous Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. Hike in this reserve on well-groomed trails with your expert naturalist guide. The reserve was founded in 1972, after initially being set aside as a watershed reserve by a group of Quakers who settled here in 1950. A cloud forest is a montane forest that receives rainfall and abundant mist from low lying clouds (mostly in late afternoons into the night and early morning) and is a very rare type of rainforest, accounting for less than 2% of all rainforests. These conditions create a forest where most of the tree trunks and branches are covered by small plants (termed epiphytes) that include ferns, bromeliads and orchids. Cloud forests harbor unique species of plants and animals, including the Resplendent Quetzal which was revered by the ancient Aztecs and Mayans and which spends about half the year in Monteverde feeding and breeding. The reserve supports a remarkable biodiversity, including over 2,500 plant species (including 420 species of orchids), 100 species of mammals, 400 bird species, 120 reptile and amphibian species and thousands of insects.  As a prime example of a cloud forest ecosystem Monteverde has been intensely studied by scientists, and is the site for pioneering research on the effects of climate change on tropical ecosystems. The income the reserve receives from visitors helps support the local economy, and conserves an important, rare ecosystem. Thus the reserve serves as a good example of how a protected rainforest can be of great value to the region’s local residents. Return to your hotel in the late afternoon. (B)

Day 4: ZIP-LINE CANOPY TOUR & TRAM RIDE
Half day morning tour/shared. Transportation from your hotel & return is included.
The Sky Tram gondolas rise smoothly through the rain forest, offering up endless views during their mountainous ascent. This tour is perfect for people who want to take a different approach on admiring nature, without much physical effort but still be on spot where natures exhibits all its magic. On tour you will be attended by a bilingual guide who will point out different characteristics of the flora and fauna and other interesting facts. The Sky Tram travel up the mountains to arrive in a wide observation platform on the highest point of the reserve, where you can enjoy the view and also have the possibility to walk a short trail.

Sky trek
Sky Trek is a thrilling zip line circuit that’s located in both of our parks, Monteverde and La Fortuna. Your tour will start riding an open-air gondola from the ground to the heights where you’ll be dropped off at an observation area for fantastic views. From this area, you will start riding down on a zip line track stretching across canyons and in between treetops, the exhilarating adventure of zip lining down the mountainside begins; ultimately returning you to the starting point at the main building. This is the most thrilling zip line in the country.

For those who prefer to skip the zip-line experience, we can offer the Sky Walk as a replacement:

Sky Walk uses trails and a series of suspension bridges for a more relaxing introduction of the flora and fauna of the forest canopy. It allows a vision of the forest from a different perspective which starts with a hike on the ground and then taking you to explore the treetops, a hardly discovered habitat called the “canopy” with a naturalist guide. **Please indicate your choice of tours at time of booking**

The Monteverde area offers a variety of restaurants where you can have a break for lunch after your morning tour (lunch not included). Your afternoon is free to explore the area on your own--maybe take a forest night tour? or an afternoon horseback ride? or visit one of the other reserves or specialty tours to learn about snakes, frogs, coffee farms, chocolate, orchids or sugar mills.  Let us know your interests and we can make advance arrangements (strongly recommended) for the tour of your choice.  (B)

Day 5: TRANSFER TO MANUEL ANTONIO
In the morning you will be picked up at your hotel by your English speaking driver for your private overland transfer from Monteverde to Manuel Antonio National Park/Quepos to. Manuel Antonio consists of multiple beautiful beaches on the Pacific coast, a lush forest growing to right to the beach’s edge, easy walking trails and an abundant diversity of wildlife. Manuel Antonio´s outstanding beauty was recognized recently when Forbes Magazine listed it as one of the ¨World’s 12 Most Beautiful National Parks.¨ The area outside the park offers visitors a wide variety of gorgeous hotels, excellent restaurants, and many optional activities such as rafting, sea kayaking, surf lessons and horseback riding. In the afternoon your guide will return to San José.  Check in to your select hotel for a 3-night stay.  (B)

Day 6: HIKE MANUEL ANTONIO NATIONAL PARK
Today, take a shared walking tour of approximately 3 hours with a local naturalist guide through the Manuel Antonio National Park’s species-rich forest. This park is an important refuge for valuable rainforest trees and animal species. Visitors frequently have up-close views of white-faced capuchin, squirrel monkeys, slow-moving sloths, coati mundis, agoutis, colorful black & scarlet land crabs, and black iguanas (known locally as “garrobos”). This park is well known for bird watching. Some birds you might see in the park are: Gray-necked Wood-Rail, Baird´s Trogon, Violaceous Trogon, Golden-naped Woodpecker, White Hawk, King Vulture, Roadside Hawk, Orange-collared Manakin, Chesnutt-backed Antbird, Bicolored Antbird, Black-hooded Antshrike, Fiery-billed Aracari, and Chesnut-mandibled Toucan. After hiking you can enjoy bathing in the tropical Pacific’s warm waters and relaxing on white sand beaches. Return transfer to your hotel is included. Option to stay in the park after the tour is finished, or return later in the day (requires hand stamp at park entrance).  Note the park is closed on Mondays.
Remainder of the day is free to enjoy Manuel Antonio area, and/or take optional tours. (B-Superior option only)

Day 7: SAIL AND SNORKEL TOUR OR KAYAK AND SNORKEL TOUR/Half day including lunch
Sail aboard the Tom Cat or the Spanish Dancer. Come aboard and see the many dolphins, whales, sea turtles, and birds of the Manuel Antonio Marine Preserve. The tour includes snorkeling equipment and a tour of the offshore islands. We also stop for a leisurely swim at one of the white sand beaches and dive on the underwater reefs of the Manuel Antonio Marine Preserve. Enjoy a feast of fresh fruits, grilled fish brochettes, pasta salad, drinks and the finest hospitality. We offer your choice of a morning sail into the Manuel Antonio Marine Preserve or a sunset sail. (B-Superior option only)

If you prefer a bit more activity, we suggest the Kayak and  Snorkel tour.  Come experience one of Costa Rica’s most striking coastlines by open-seat ocean kayak. paddle – for a refreshing swim and delicious local snacks. Feel free to have your bilingual naturalist guide direct you to the best snorkeling spots as you experience three small but growing, active, and astounding coral reef systems nestled very close to the shore of Biezans. Or just relax and enjoy the tranquility of a private white sand beach.  After an unforgettable experience at Biezans, continue kayaking towards Manuel Antonio National Park and wonder at the nearby nesting islands where exotic boobies and frigates call home year round. Finally, a rewarding hot meal in typical restaurant.

**Please indicate your choice of tours at time of booking
(L--or D with Sunset Sail option).

Day 8: FLIGHT TO SAN JOSE
After breakfast you'll be picked up at your hotel and transferred the short distance to the Quepos airport for your quick 30 minute mid-day flight to San Jose. Here you'll meet our local driver for transfer to your select hotel.
Note these are small planes with a maximum checked baggage limit of 1 piece/40 lbs per person. Alternately we can arrange a private overland transfer (approximatley 3.5 hrs).  For tonight you have a choice of hotels that we can help you select depending on your interests, desire to explore, and flight departure time the following day. Select from downtown for history/culture and/or nightlife, artsy boutique hotel, easy airport access, lush gardens & pool or business style with great restaurant access. (B-Superior option only)

Day 9: DEPARTURE
You will be picked up at your hotel at the pre-arranged time for transfer to the International Airport to check in approximately 3 hours before your scheduled flight home. (B)

(B=Breakfast; L=Lunch; D=Dinner)