Compare Arenal Volcano Package: 4 Nights by Project Expedition vs Wildlife of Costa Rica by Audley Travel

Day 1 - San Jose

One of our drivers will meet you at Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) in order to drive you to the Arenal Volcano National Park Region; the transportation to Arenal takes about 3 hours.Spas. After check in you will have the evening off for optional activities as enjoying the pool or take a massage at Luna Spa with special deals and discounts for our guests Lodging at Casa Luna Hotel

Day 2 - San Jose de Alajuela - Hiking at Arenal Hanging Bridges

Hiking at Arenal Hanging Bridges. Select one tour for Day 2: Option 1/ Arenal Hanging Bridges: This is one of the most popular tours in the area, starts at 8:00 am, and is ideal for hikers who would like to admire the characteristics of the tropical rainforest.Caving at Venado Caves. Select one tour for Day 2: Option 2 / Venado Caves: Go into the insides of the earth with this tour. The tour begins at 8:00 am, and underground trails will lead us through grottos and chambers exploring a world indifferent to light. With flashlights to lighten up our way, we will enter into this labyrinth of ancient underground rivers and sea beds, all exposed now after thousands of years. Live a unique experience in Costa Rica and get ready to get wet, dirty and see this different world that will astound you with a variety of emotions.White Water Rafting at Balsa River. Select one tour for Day 2: Option 3 / Whitewater Rafting Class II & III: If you have sense of adventure and fun then rafting will be the perfect activity for you. This trip begins at 10:00 am, and you will paddle through 10 kilometers of a beautiful section of the Balsa River with over 20 safe and fun Class II and III rapids while you enjoy the natural beauty of the rainforest that surrounds it. Upgrades for class III, IV or V in other rivers are available with extra charge.Eco Tour. Select one tour for Day 2: Option 4 / Nocturnal Natural Experience: Ideal for those who want to take advantage of every minute in Costa Rica, discovering some of the country’s nocturnal wonders in a night walk. We will begin our tour in a small town known as La Tigra, located just 30 minutes from La Fortuna. Once we arrive we will take the trail in to a small patch of rainforest in the process of regeneration with some mirrored lakes which facilitate wildlife observation. You can expect to see species like nocturnal birds and mammals, insects, amphibians, bats, and more. The trail will go around the mirrored lakes to the frog sanctuary, which is an area dedicated to the regeneration and natural reproduction of frog species. Here you will discover a large amount of species such as the dart frog and the bull frog, the smallest and largest species in Costa Rica, as well as the Red Eyed Tree Frog, and the Glass Frog. After the tour, a typical Costa Rican dinner prepared on a wood burning stove will await us. We will enjoy our dinner viewing the lights of the valleys of San Carlos. Afterwards we will return to La Fortuna. Lodging at Casa Luna Hotel

Day 3 - San Jose

Breakfast will be served between 7:00am and 9:00amLeisure. La Fortuna is the best area in Costa Rica for activities & tours; you will have the day off to do optional activities with extra cost, like our special trip to the Rio Celeste & Tenorio Volcano. You can also explore the local town of La Fortuna, go shopping and enjoy many of the other activities that are available. Lodging at Casa Luna Hotel

Day 4 - San Jose - Ziplining

Ziplining. After breakfast, we will go ziplining along seven cables with a full distance of 1.7 miles and lengths from 400 feet to 3280 feet. This is an incredible experience to quite literally soar through the canopy of the trees, where you can get a new perspective of the jungle.Local Flavor. Next, visit a representation of a Maleku Indigenous Village, members of a tribe dressed in traditional clothes greet you with a refreshing beverage and teach you about their culture, language and traditions. They share stories about animals and the environment, expressing their gratitude for nature. You can then enjoy the butterfly garden or have the choice of a self guided walk to La Fortuna Waterfall.Hiking at Arenal Volcano. In the afternoon, you will be greeted by your guide aprox at 03:10 pm at the front desk, to visit the Arenal Volcano National Park. Here, we will walk through primary and secondary forests (approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes), where we will reach an old lava flow that was formed in 1992, and observe some animals and plants. On clear days, you will enjoy incredible views of the impressive Arenal Volcano, Arenal Lake, The Tilarán mountain range, and Cerro Chato Hill. Hot Springs. At the end of the day, the perfect place to relax will be at the Arenal Paradise Hot Springs, including a dinner served at the onsite Restaurant. At about 9:00 pm you will be picked up to return to the hotel. Lodging at Casa Luna Hotel

Day 5 - San Jose

Today, you have the shuttle back to the Juan Santamaria International Airport in Alajuela at 8:00 am. Please consider this transfer takes about 3 hours to the airport, and you must be there at least 3 hours earlier your flight time for checking in; if you require a transportation on a different time we can arrange a private transportation for some extra bucks.

Day 1 : International outbound flight

Today you begin your journey by boarding your international outbound flight to San Jose.

Day 2 : San Ramon

On arriving in Costa Rica you're met at the airport by an Audley representative and driven to your lodge by private transfer. The drive takes around an hour. After arriving at your lodge in the Los Angeles Cloudforest Reserve, you may wish to spend the rest of the day relaxing in your hotel after your flight. If you're feeling more energetic, you could try out one of the reserve's canopy zip lines.

Day 3 : San Ramon

This morning, you head off on a birdwatching tour with a specialist guide in search of hummingbirds and a variety of other species, many endemic to the region. You have the afternoon free to relax or keep exploring the area under your own steam. We suggest getting out on one of the forest's walking trails or taking a trip to the nearby arty town of San Ramon with a local guide.

Day 4 : Arenal Volcano

Today take a private transfer to your next destination, Arenal Volcano. The drive takes around three hours, passing through mountain ranges, pasture land and several volcanoes before reaching your accommodation. After arriving, relax in your hotel's grounds or start exploring: we can help you to arrange hikes around Arenal Volcano, or a visit to the cyan blue Rio Celeste waterfalls.

Day 5 : Arenal Volcano

This morning you're woken early to depart on a shared group tour to the Arenal Hanging Bridges - a beautiful canopy walkway through the cloudforest, where your guide will point out the flora and fauna that grows in this habitat. This afternoon, explore the geology of Arenal National Park, followed by an evening soak in the secluded hot springs at Eco Termales. Dinner is included as part of this trip, after which you'll be dropped off back at your hotel.

Day 6 : Arenal Volcano

Today enjoy a group trip to the Caño Negro Wildlife Reserve. You're picked up from your hotel by bus and take a four hour journey to Los Chiles near the Nicaraguan border. Here you'll take a rainforest boat safari in search of sloth, caimans, monkeys and turtles. Keep an eye out for Jesus Christ lizards (so-called because they can walk on water), among other species. This full day return trip includes drinks, snacks, and a traditional Costa Rican lunch.

Day 7 : Manuel Antonio

Take a private transfer to Manuel Antonio on the Central Pacific Coast, where jungle meets beach. The journey takes about five hours as you leave the mountains behind and descend through cloudforest via pasture land to the warmer Pacific coast. The final part of the drive follows the coast road southeast. After arriving you're free to relax in your hotel for the rest of the day.

Day 8 : Manuel Antonio

Enjoy a private three hour guided tour of Manuel Antonio National Park. Explore some of the coastline walking trails leading to beaches, and keep an eye out for wildlife such as white-faced capuchin monkeys, racoons and tropical birds. Many trips end with some time to swim in the ocean. After your tour is over, you're free to explore on your own. We recommend bringing a picnic lunch and taking a private transfer back to your hotel in the late afternoon.

Day 9 : El Remanso

Journey by private transfer to Puerto Jimenez, the gateway to Costa Rica's Osa Peninsula. Here you're met by your hotel representative and take a shared transfer to your lodge. The first part of the journey takes four hours, then you continue to your lodge on unpaved roads which may take up to an hour. On arriving, you'll meet with lodge guides who will run through the activities and experiences taking place over the next couple of days.

Day 10 : El Remanso

A day at leisure. To make the most of your time in the wildlife-rich Osa Peninsula, we recommend spending as much time as possible on the forest trails with your lodge's specialist naturalist guides. They help you to spot toucans, macaws, squirrel monkeys and the many local species of butterfly. Enthusiastic birders with a head for heights can take a zip line to a special birdwatching platform, allowing you to immerse yourself in the canopy.

Day 11 : El Remanso

Another day at leisure in the Osa Peninsula. In addition to wildlife walks, we can also help you arrange horse riding, surfing lessons and sea kayaking, or even waterfall rappelling for the more adventurous. Dolphin watching, tree climbing and yoga sessions are also on offer.

Day 12 : International return flight

Take a shared 4x4 transfer back to Puerto Jimenez where you'll catch a domestic flight back to San Jose, in time for your international flight home.

Day 13 : International return flight

Arrive home today to complete your journey.