Costa Rica Within a Week
7 nights / 8 daysSan Jose – Poas Volcano – Arenal Volcano – Natural Reserve Monteverde – Manuel Antonio National Park
Day 1. San Jose, Costa Rica.
Meeting with the Bilingual-speaking guide at the airport, transfer and accommodation at the Hotel in San Jose: Barceló San José Palacio. (Without meal).
Day 2. San Jose – Poas Volcano – Arenal Volcano.
You will leave San Jose after breakfast and head to the Poas Volcano National Park , where one of the largest geysers with the diameter of 1.5 km is placed. Crater activity is represented by the periodical eruptions of steam and gas, but visiting the crater is absolutely safe for tourists. In the surrounding tropical forest you can see the ancient trees which serve as homes to the different types of orchids and bromeliads. Afterwards you will visit Doka coffee plantation, where the best Costa Rican coffee is being grown. You will have the opportunity to learn the processes of growing, collection, processing and roasting of coffee. Don’t miss the chance to buy coffee for the lowest price. Afterwards you will visit butterfly farm. After the farm you will have traditional Costa Rican lunch, then move to the Arenal Volcano, which is known for it’s activity – periodical lava and ash eruptions. Accommodation at the Arenal zone hotel: Hotel Los Lagos. (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner).
Day 3. Arenal Volcano National Park – Tabacon Thermal Spa.
After breakfast you will have walking tour around the Arenal National Park. You will walk on the south-western Volcano slopes, on the road called Los Tucanes, which goes over the still lava flows, which have destroyed this zone in the 1986. The walk will take 2 ½ hours. Lunch in your hotel. After lunch you can take the canopy tour in the private territory of the Arenal Paraiso Hotel (cost is not included in the overall tour cost, price per person – 45$) – this will be an opportunity to get a bright experience under extreme conditions; you will be offered the zip line tour between the platforms placed on the trees, the instructors will be waiting for you on the every platform; you will have a great opportunity to enjoy the beautiful views from the air. At the evening you will be visiting Tabacon Thermal Spa (best thermal SPA in the country) where you can take hot and soothing bath in the natural environment, watching the Arenal Volcano eruptions in comfort; Dinner at Tabacon.
Accommodation at the same hotel (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner).
Day 4. Monteverde Natural Reserve.
Early in the morning you will head out to the famous Monteverde village, which is placed in the zone of the “cloudy forest”. Your trip will start with the individual tour Viento Fresco (Fresh winds) Waterfall, which will help you to feel the might and beauty of the nature, after visiting five waterfalls placed in the Cerro Pelado and Cerro San Jose cliffs. After an hour-long trip with the gorgeous view over the Gulf of Nicoya and the chance to swim in the crystal clear waters of the waterfalls, you will be offered to return back to the tour starting point on the horseback. The tradition Costa Rican lunch will wait for you there. Afterwards you will continue moving to the Monteverde Hotel Accommodation at the hotel (Ficus / El Establo). Dinner at hotel. (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner).
Day 5. Monteverde – Manuel Antonio.
After breakfast you will have “Hanging bridges of Selvatura” tour, which serve as an example of engineering and constriction art, with the complete following to the safety regulations. Tour includes 8 bridges with the different length: from 62 to 146 m. Length of the whole tour – 3 km. After this tour you will drive to the Puntarenas heading towards central Pacific coast. Our individual tour will start at the coast of the Rio Grande de Tarcoles. During the next two hour you will visit real “Animal Planet”. You will have a boat trip on the river Tarcoles until it’s estuary and then move to the Guacalillo water channel. You will have a chance to see American crocodiles, which might be up to 4 meters long. You will see the variety of iguanas and birds (up to 50 species), which include famous macaws. After lunch you will continue your way to the popular tourist town – Quepos, which is placed near with the Manuel Antonio National Park, which is considered to be a “pearl” of Costa Rica. Accommodation at the Hotel Parador. (Breakfast/Lunch).
Day 6. Manuel Antonio National Park.
After breakfast you will visit National Park Manuel Antonio, which is placed in the tropical rainforest zone. This park holds ancient trees of the tropical forest, mangroves, and also coral reefs at the coastal beach zone. Almost all of the Costa Rican jungle animal species are living here: 109 species of mammals (badger, three-toed and Linnaeus’s two-toed sloth, cappuccino and howler monkeys, jaguars) and 184 species of birds. Birds that can be found there : toucan, pelican, green kingfisher, sparrow-hawk. Also there is a huge number of insects snakes and lizards. Accommodation at the hotel Parador . (Breakfast)
Day 7. Manuel Antonio – San Jose.
After breakfast you will have spare time. After lunch you will return to San Jose. Accommodation in the hotel Barceló San José Palacio. (Breakfast).
Day 8. San Jose – Airport.
Individual transfer to the international airport after breakfast according to your flight. (Breakfast).