Highlights of Costa Rica

8 days
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
Additional images not provided by operator
Video not provided by operator
4.8/5 Excellent
100+ reviews  
99%
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
none

USTOA

Cancellation Policy
Self-Guided / Independent Tour
As you venture from the Caribbean to the Pacific, our expert guides make this diverse Costa Rica vacation truly fun and rewarding.
From$2,399
See departure dates

Overview

Trip type
Self-Guided / Independent Tour
Lodging level
Luxury - 5 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Highlights

    • A canal safari along the pristine waterways of Tortuguero National Park reveals a stunning variety of tropical flora and fauna.
    • Enjoy splendid volcano views from the relaxing mineral springs of your Arenal resort!
    • Personalize your trip with the included guided adventure of your choice at Arenal.
    • Travelers love our resorts in Arenal and the wide range of activities available... So feel free to addd extra nights here – or at any of our fine resorts and lodges!
    • Manuel Antonio is the crown jewel of Costa Rica’s national parks... Let our expert naturalist guide reveal the many natural wonders of this pristine coastal reserve.

What's this trip about?

    As you venture from the Caribbean to the Pacific, our expert guides make this diverse Costa Rica vacation truly fun and rewarding.

Compare to similar trips

Details

Itinerary focusActive and Outdoor Sports
Group sizeSmall Group - 24 max
Age range12 years and up
Flights and transportAll internal ground transport included
Start CitySan Jose
End CitySan Jose

Travel Themes

  • Family Friendly
  • High Adventure
  • Hiking & Walking
  • National Parks
  • Nature & Wildlife

Destinations

  • North America
  • Costa Rica

Attractions

  • Arenal Hot Springs
  • Manuel Antonio National Park
  • Tortuguero National Park

Activities

  • Canoeing
  • Hiking
  • Horseback riding & Equestrian
  • Safari
  • Whitewater rafting
  • Wildlife viewing

Trip includes

    • Extensive naturalist-guided excursions and a choice of adventure activity in Arenal Hotspring.
    • 12 meals: 7 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 2 dinners.
    • 7 nights accommodation in your choice of first class or deluxe hotels and lodges.
    • All on-tour transportation and all hotel taxes and service charges.
    • General Assistance, our toll-free 24/7 emergency on-tour assistance.

View Similar Trips

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1 – Welcome to San Jose

Accommodation: President Hotel or the Deluxe Grano de Oro

Check in to your hotel, the first class President Hotel or the deluxe Grano de Oro, an award-winning boutique hotel set in a restored Victorian mansion in the heart of the city.

Day 2 – Travel to Tortuguero National Park

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: First class Mawamba Lodge or The Deluxe Pachira Lodge

Today’s shared transfers over land and water bring you to the less-visited Caribbean coast, a pristine region renowned for its diversity of flora and fau...

Day 3 – Canal safari through Tortuguero

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, enjoy a guided nature walk along the rainforest trails of your lodge. Guests at Mawamba will also visit the Lodge’s own small Butterfly Farm, Ranarium and Iguana Farm. 

Often referred to as “The Amazon of ...

Day 4 – Journey to Arenal Hot Springs

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Arenal Kioro Suites & Spa

This morning’s scenic shared-boat transfer continues overland to Guapiles for lunch. In the afternoon, continue with your own private car and driver to Arenal, where you’ll check in to ...

Day 5 – Personalize your stay in Arenal

Meals: Breakfast

Tailor your vacation this morning with the included adventure of your choice:

- La Fortuna on Horseback: A 90-minute ride and an invigorating hike along forest trails bring you to this lovely waterfall. Don’t forget to bring your swimsui...

Day 6 – Manuel Antonio National Park

Meals: Breakfast

We make it easy and more enriching to explore this magnificent National Park, widely regarded as the crown jewel of Costa Rica’s extensive national park system! With Park entry fee included, enjoy a fascinating guided hike through this pristine coastal forest.

Please Note: Due to the park’s closure on Mondays, your guided hike may be scheduled for the following day

Day 7 – Manuel Antonio

Meals: Breakfast

Manuel Antonio is renowned for its beautiful palm-fringed beaches, spectacular rocky headlands and forests rich with wildlife. Today is yours to enjoy and explore as you wish. Relax by the pool of your idyllic resort, stroll along the beach or join an available excursion such as white water rafting, kayaking or horseback riding.

Day 8 – Bid farewell to Costa Rica

Meals: Breakfast

Your tour with us ends this morning after breakfast. 

Want a tailor-made trip instead?

Your trip, your way, planned by an expert:

  • You choose budget, destinations, activities, transport & lodging type
  • Expert designs the itinerary for you, and once approved, takes care of logistics
Design custom trip

Dates & Availability

Price From $2,399
Price per day$300
Last Updated: 12/6/2018

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Alexander + Roberts.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

Alexander + Roberts Reviews & Ratings

4.8/5  Excellent
Excellent
2,010
Great
291
Average
44
Disappointing
6
Terrible
5
M

Marcia

Dec 2018

Tortuguero was amazing and worth

Tortuguero was amazing and worth the long trip to get there.. We enjoyed the atmosphere at Mawamba Lodge.. The trips by small boat into the national park allowed us ...

Write a Review

Other Alexander + Roberts Reviews

M

Mike & Penny

Mar 2021

Written on

Delighted by the experience

Delighted by the experience.

L

Lynda & John

Mar 2021

Written on

past cultures was outstanding.

The attention of our guide to our needs and assurance of our visiting all sites - his knowledge of the areas and history and insight into the present and past cultur...

M

Marc

Mar 2021

Written on

Superb in both Seba Camp

The Tour Guides were superb in both Seba Camp (Joseph) and Little Makalolo Camp (Paul). We saw virtually every animal possible in closer proximity than we imagined p...

Write a Review

Travelers also viewed

Tour Operator

Alexander + Roberts

none
View Profile

Alexander Harris founded General Tours in 1947 with the conviction that travel could build bridges of cross-cultural understanding. Since our first-of-its-kind tours to the Soviet Union, we’ve remained at the forefront of international travel, helping culturally inquisitive Americans to explore far-flung lands on six continents including new emerging destinations like Tibet, Cuba, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Uzbekistan.

From the start, we have always strived to understand and anticipate our travelers’ needs. The result is our unique portfolio of enriching journeys that allow you to enjoy the world more.

We designed to evoke our personal approach in crafting upscale journeys filled with genuine engagement, unforgettable exhilaration and personal revelation.

Innovative: Our original itineraries encompass a wide range of exotic global destinations.

Personable: We’re well-informed and flexible in meeting your diverse needs and desires.

Refined: The personal experiences we craft for our small group tours with never more than 16 guests and private journeys are honed by nearly 70 years of expertise.

Authentic: We enrich your travels with genuine cultural engagement and real opportunities for learning.

We're committed to value:

Providing our guests with superior value has always been and will always remain at the heart of our company. That is why all of our trips include extensive expertly-guided sightseeeing, unique experiences you won’t find on other tours, and congenial meals that reflect authentic regional flavors. Everywhere we go, we search out the finest accommodations to enhance your journey… from the most evocative luxury hotels and historic boutique properties to the best safari camps and small ships.

We often hear from travelers that our guides are the best! They hail from the lands you’ll visit and speak English easily and casually. Because they’re lifelong residents, they have the knowledge and passion to engage you comfortably and more deeply with the people, history, traditions and natural wonders of their homelands.

Associations

About Travelstride

Find your perfect trip

An epic selection of pre-planned trips on every continent, for every style. Thousands of itineraries from over 1,000 trusted travel companies.

Save time

Use simple search and comparison tools to easily find the best trip. Don't sweat the logistics — travel providers plan for you.

Save money

Book directly with the operator. See inclusive packages for the best values, and get access to amazing deals.

Travel confidently

Read unbiased user reviews, pick the operator that suits your needs, and connect with them directly.

Logistics

What's excluded

    • International Flights
    • Passport and Visa Charges
    • Personal Expenses

Accommodation

,Presidente Hotel San Jose An iconic landmark in San Jose, Costa Rica, Hotel Presidente is a contemporary urban retreat in the heart of downtown San Jose. With its vibrant ambiance, modern décor and great service, our 4-star upscale hotel is the symbol of hospitality and the cultural soul of  Costa Rica's capital city. Celebrated for our eco-friendly tourism practices, Hotel Presidente is a window into Costa Rica's land, people and heritage. Experience an unforgettable vacation adventure, romantic getaway or business trip at our hotel, the place to relax, connect, inspire, dine, and explore Costa Rica! Mawamba Lodge Mawamba Lodge is situated on a sand bar between the Tortuguero Canals and the Caribbean Ocean, an excellent location that provides direct access to the pristine beach and the canals. Nestled in the lush rainforest, this is the ideal hideaway for nature lovers and the perfect place to discover the wonders of the Tortuguero National Park. The Lodge is a 15-acre beach front property located on the right side of Tortuguero, offering nice views to the Tortuguero Lagoon and the canals. Guest accommodations consist of 36 comfortable rooms with private bathrooms, hot water, ceiling fans and chairs for a pleasant, relaxing evening. Hotel facilities include two docks on the canals, swimming pool with Jacuzzi, two family-style restaurants with local and international cuisine (one specially designed for groups and incentives), BBQ, bar, souvenir shop, relaxing ranchos with hammocks, natural trails, beach access in walking distance, sand volleyball court, and and conference room where daily lectures on Tortuguero's natural history are presented. The perfect hideaway for nature lovers. Enjoy great canal views, two restaurants, a refreshing pool, nature trails and walking access to a beautiful Caribbean beach Montana Del Fuego The Montana de Fuego resort is located in La Fortuna, and is privileged to be in one of the most beautiful regions in Costa Rica. All lodgings are built in a way as to accent and not impair the natural beauty of the land, and are equipped with a view, telephone, cable TV, private terrace, and air-conditioning. Additional hotel amenities include pool, gift shop, and exploring locally. El Parador Boutique Resort & Spa Manuel Antonio Hotel Parador Boutique Resort & Spa is located on Punta Quepos in the most pristine and tranquil area of Manuel Antonio, yet within minutes from the World Famous Manuel Antonio National Park and the small sport fishing town of Quepos. Surrounded by beautiful gardens and astonishing views, all our rooms have balconies or terraces with views of either the rainforest or the ocean. All 108 rooms are tastefully decorated with luxurious extras, including room service, cable TV, air conditioning, mini-bar, coffee maker, telephone, safety deposit box, iron and iron board, ceiling fan and hair dryer.
Cancellation policy

Cancellations for are subject to penalties of $1000/person up to 31 days, and 100% of program price if canceled within 30 days. Alexander+Roberts offers a Travel Protection Plan that provides protection for your travel arrangements, your belongings and most importantly, you. Please see our Travel Insurance page for complete details.

Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Meals Included

7 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 2 dinners.

Age Requirements
12 years and up
Optional Activities

Monteverde Extension from Arenal to Manuel Antonio

3-Day Pre-Tour Extension from $399

Our easy-to-add extension includes accommodations, guided excursion and all on-tour transportation.

Add Corcovado & Caño Island after your Tour

4 days from $849

Hailed by National Geographic as the “most biologically intense place on Earth,” the extraordinary diversity of Corcovado National Park on the western edge of the remote Osa Peninsula makes this the perfect complement to your travels through Costa Rica!

Additional Information
Trip ID
alexander-HigCosAle

Become a member

(it's free)
  • Save up to $700 per person
  • Access members-only specials
  • Personalize trip recommendations
Sign up and save
Top Tour Companies on Travelstride:
All 1,600+ companies >