Volcano, Mountain & Beach, combines the best of Costa Rica. The perfect way to explore the three most important things that the country has to offer.
Day 1
Meet and greet at Juan Santamaria International airport and private transfer to your hotel in San José.
Night in selected hotel in San Jose.
Day 2
Breakfast included in the hotel. Shuttle transfer (air conditioning and Wi-Fi ) to Arenal area.
During this shuttle transfer you will have the opportunity to visit Poas Volcano National Park and also to have a nice typical lunch while enjoying the panoramic views of the Hule Lagoon.
One of the attractive features about this volcano is that you can get all the way to the edge of the crater. A 600 meter trail leads to a spectacular lookout where visitors can observe the main crater with its constant fumaroles. Another trail leads to Botos Lagoon, an old crater filled with cold and crystal clear water. Poás Volcano National Park was created on January 25th, 1971 to protect the wildlife and important water resources.
This beautiful lagoon is located at the base of the Cerro Congo Volcano, 11 km from the famous Poas Volcano. This area is renowned for its excellent trekking trails due to the variety of scenery and terrain, from clay, to dirt, volcanic rock, and grasslands in a rainforest at 800 m above sea level.
Check in at selected hotel in Arenal area.
Night in selected hotel in Arenal
Day 3
Breakfast included in the hotel. Shared tour to Arenal Volcano National Park and Hot Springs (entrance fee, lunch or dinner included).
On this hike along the trails of Arenal National Park we will enter into the tropical forest and areas which were once devastated by the fury of the volcano. During the hike, it is possible to see a great variety of flora and fauna. We will also observe the lava slides of 1992, a large accumulation of solidified volcanic material ejected during the very active period of that year. On clear days, you will enjoy incredible views of the impressive Arenal Volcano, Arenal Lake, the Tilarán mountain range, and Cerro Chato. The guide will give interesting information about the main characteristics of the volcano, which has been active since 1968 and many other details about flora and fauna.
After this hike, you will have the opportunity to relax in the hot springs of Paradise Hot Springs. These waters are naturally heated by the Arenal Volcano and are pure and without any kind of added chemicals. They are rained waters that are filtered through the earth, circulating through different depths, gathering minerals and gaining temperature when making contact with very hot materials. According to a study performed by Gala Termal, a Spanish consultancy company for thermal water centers, Paradise Hot Spring’s water is Hyperthermal water of mild mineralization with sodium chloride, magnesium and sulfates and it also contains a high proportion of calcium and bicarbonates. To boost the water’s beneficial properties, the different pools and Jacuzzis have hydromassage for different body muscle groups.
Lunch or dinner (depending on the hour) is included in the hot springs’ restaurant.
What do you need to bring: Hiking shoes or sneakers, comfortable clothing, raincoat, insect repellent, bathing suit and towel.
Departure: 08:00 hrs. or 15:00 hrs.
Night in selected hotel in Arenal
Day 4
Breakfast in the hotel. Shared boat transfer via Arenal Lake to Monteverde. Duration: 3 hours approx.
This service, half tour half transfer, is a picturesque and fastest way to go to Monteverde from Arenal Volcano area. After a 30 minute ride to the dam, you will board a very comfortable and safe pontoon boat. After crossing the lake, (a 30 to 40 minutes boat ride), you will arrive to Río Chiquito, a little town at the other side.
Arenal Lake is the largest and the most important lake in Costa Rica. It was man made in 1974 to provide hydroelectric energy for the country. The lake is also a place where you can find different kinds of resident and migratory birds; sometimes mammals such as monkeys and sloths can be seen. In addition, in a clear day, there are great views of the Arenal Volcano. Once at Río Chiquito, a bus will take passengers to the selected hotel in Monteverde.
Costa Rica is one of the most biologically diverse countries in the world, having 4% of all the known species of plants and animals in only 0.04% the earth’s surface. Due to its altitudinal variation and climatic factors that vary between the Pacific and Caribbean slopes, Monteverde is perhaps one of the richest regions in the country where there are 3,021 known species including a total of 755 species of trees.
The town of Monteverde, located at the south end of the cloud forest, had its beginnings in the early 1950s with the impetus of a group of Quakers from the United States, a group that came to Costa Rica attracted by its pacific inclinations and disarmament. They established themselves in the region and devoted themselves to produce milk and quality cheeses. Monteverde is located 172 kilometers northeast of San José. The climate is template and humid, with an average of 17ºC (60ºF). Nights are cool and sometimes even cold, especially when the trade winds blow.
Night in selected hotel in Monteverde
Day 5
Breakfast in the hotel. In the morning, Adventure Combo Tour in Selvatura, including Canopy Tour, Suspension Bridges, visit to the Butterfly Garden, and transportation.
Selvatura Park is a cloud forest conservation project where a wide variety of tours is hosted. Visitors can glide through cables and zip lines through the cloud forest or take the Treetop Walkways consisting of a 3-kilometre trail and eight different bridges. The park also has a butterfly garden hosting more than 50 different species of butterflies and a hummingbird garden, a treat for photography lovers and a spectacular show for anyone who loves nature. There is also an Education Center with a large private insect collection, property of world famous entomologist Dr. Richard Whitten. A Cloud Forest History walk teaches visitors about the natural history of Monteverde and all about the cloud forest ecosystem.
Night in selected hotel in Monteverde
Optional suggested tour (not included):
One of the main attractions of Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve is its 13-kilometer network of trails. While walking the trails, visitors are presented with a number of options. One alternative is to walk to “La Ventana” scenic overlook, where they may witness the contrasting panorama exhibited naturally by the Continental Divide, a geographical feature that traces the principal mountain ranges of Costa Rica. At this location, visitors can experience the force of the moisture-laden trade winds blowing in from the Atlantic coast, and witness how they descend at high velocity toward the Central Pacific and Northern coastal plains of Costa Rica.
There are over 500 bird species there, including the majestic quetzal and the three-wattle bellbird; 120 species of reptiles and amphibians, and more than 3000 plants, including the highest diversity of orchids in the world. In the main building visitors will find a restaurant and a Gift Shop.
Includes: Entrance fee, tour with a bilingual naturalist guide, and transportation.
Day 6
Breakfast in the hotel. Shuttle transfer to Guanacaste, specifically to Tamarindo Beach. Duration: 5 hours approx.
Tamarindo Beach, located on the Pacific coast, is part of a bay formed by a cape where Playa Grande lies to the North of it, inside the bay. The two beaches are separated by a large mangrove estuary, Estero de Tamarindo. South of Tamarindo there is another beautiful estuary, Estero de San Francisco, and beautiful Playa Langosta. These beaches and estuaries are part of Las Baulas National Park. Most of the native people are descendants of the Chorotega Indians who for many centuries were isolated by the challenging surrounding terrain. While the cultivation and export of coffee and bananas has long fueled most of Costa Rica’s economy, this region stands apart. Due to its drier climate and sprawling geography, this area has instead developed a prosperous cattle industry. Dating back to Colonial times, the proud ranching tradition fostered a Hacienda System of land ownership which enabled the local Indian population to share in the region’s economy. Nowadays, although the cattle trade still flourished, tourism is now Guanacaste’s most thriving industry.
Night in selected hotel in Tamarindo Beach
Day 7
Breakfast in the hotel. Day at leisure to relax at the beach or to take an optional tour.
Night in selected hotel in Tamarindo Beach
Optional suggested tour (not included):
If you want security, fun and easy going tips to learn how to surf, try this lesson. Tamarindo and the surrounding area is one of the most popular destinations for surfing in Costa Rica. Long sandy beaches and warm waters create an ideal environment for experienced as well as beginner surfers. To learn how to surf all you need is the ability to swim and a good sense of humor. Lessons last two hours and include an introductory on-beach instruction where you will learn the basic surfing techniques, as well as safety and etiquette. Once in the water, the instructor will guide you until you feel confident. The instructors guarantee that you will be able to stand up on your surfboard and ride your first wave in your first class!
It includes: transfers from hotel in Tamarindo, bilingual instructor, a bottle of water, surf board and surfing equipment.
Important Notes:
Day 8
Breakfast in the hotel. Around noon, shuttle transfer back to San José.
Duration: 5 hours approx.
Night in selected hotel in San Jose
Day 9
Breakfast in the hotel. Transfer to Juan Santamaría International Airport. Check in at airline counter must be done three hours prior to flight departure.
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