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Day 1 Welcome to San Jose!

After arriving at Juan Santamaria Int’l Airport (SJO), a Swiss Travel representative will meet you and provide information about your trip. From the airport, drive through the Central Mountain Range heading to your first destination in Naranjo.

After check in, enjoy the rest of the day and evening at leisure in Costa Rica's Central Valley.

Day 2 Naranjo

Wake up this morning with a delicious Costa Rican breakfast and fresh coffee, then go deep into the history and culture of this ancient beverage on a tour of a coffee plantation. See how coffee was once transported on a traditional carreta!

Later in the afternoon, take an ecological walk along the paths of the hotel as you admire the flora and fauna.

Day 3 Naranjo - Arenal Volcano

Mid-morning you will transfer to the northern lowlands, passing through the towns of Zarcero, San Carlos, and Florencia. Depending on the season, you will see pineapple, banana and sugar cane crops on your drive.

Arrive at La Fortuna Village in the late afternoon where the mighty Arenal Volcano will welcome you with its impressive perfect conic shape. This volcano has been active since 1969 and it has become one of the world’s most active volcanoes and one of Costa Rica’s main highlights. In the evening, visit the Tabacon Hot Springs to relax in the mineral-rich thermal waters.

Day 4 Arenal Volcano

Today is yours to explore the area. We highly recommend a visit to Arenal Volcano National Park (extra cost). The attraction of this volcano has helped to develop the area as a prime destination in the country; formerly a small town of cattle and agricultural farms, it is now home to tour attractions, adventure activities, hot springs and water sports.

Day 5 Arenal Volcano - Manuel Antonio

Travel to your next destination on the central Pacific coast - the famous Manuel Antonio National Park. Pass through a scenic mountain road with various climates and elevations until reaching the town of Quepos.

Arrive at Manuel Antonio National Park where you will be greeted by magnificent beaches and Pacific ocean. Check into your resort and spend the rest of the day lounging by the pool or relaxing in your airy room.

Day 6 Manuel Antonio

Have a beach day! The two main beaches inside the park are Playa Espadilla Sur and Playa Manuel Antonio. The latter is best known for its spectacular views, but if you’re looking to escape the crowds, venture a bit further down the main trail to Playa Espadilla Sur.

The park's light sand beaches are popular for relaxing, swimming, snorkeling, and surf lessons.Manuel Antonio's beaches are also known for their stunning, brightly-colored sunsets, so stick around and be treated to a show.

Day 7 Manuel Antonio

While it may be the smallest park in Costa Rica, Manuel Antonio is home to an abundance of wildlife. Capuchin, Howler, and Squirrel Monkeys are some of the most social creatures of the park and you will likely meet a few along the way. Hike the main trail, a 1.3-mile flat, sandy trail that links the park’s beaches. A slightly more challenging trail is Punta Catedral, a beautiful 0.9 mile loop trail with a few steep inclines.

Day 8 Manuel Antonio - San Jose

Today you will be transferred back to San Jose where you will enjoy one final evening at your leisure. Thanks to an influx of artists, foodies, and entrepreneurs, San Jose has become less of a stopover and more of a destination. Head to the downtown area and stop in one of the restaurants to try casado, a dish of meat, rice, plantains and beans. Toast to your last night with a shot of guaro, Costa Rica's national drink!

Day 9 Depart San Jose

Your Costa Rican adventure ends today. After breakfast, you will be transferred to San Jose Int’l Airport for your departure flight back home.

Day 1 Join trip in San Jose

Arrive in San Jose. The cosmopolitan Costa Rican capital lies in a fertile valley at an altitude of 1150 metres. Coffee and sugar cane are big industries here and coffee is even planted between new buildings and along the roadside on the outskirts of the city. For those arriving on time our Leader plans to meet you in the hotel reception at 7pm for the welcome meeting, and for those that wish there is the chance to go out for dinner. There are no other activities planned today, so you are free to arrive in San Jose at any time. If you would like to receive an airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive into San Jose's Juan Santamaria International Airport (airport code SJO) which is 18km, around thirty minutes from our hotel. Should you miss the welcome meeting, your Leader will inform you of any essential information as soon as you catch up. If your flight arrives earlier in the day, perhaps you might choose to head out to explore the city which is easy to navigate with a grid pattern of avenues and streets with a good choice of local eateries, which you may choose to sample this evening. The National museum (Museo Nacional De Costa Rica) is also well worth a visit.

Meals Provided : None

Day 2 Visit the Poas Volcano; try out traditional oxcart painting

This morning, an hour's drive will take us to the Poas Volcano National Park, where the smoke from one of Costa Rica's most active volcanoes rises majestically from the tropical rainforest. At almost a mile in diameter, the main crater is one of the largest in the world. Due to recent volcanic activity, time at the crater viewpoint is restricted to 20 minutes. If activity increases again the authorities may choose to close the park, and in that case you'll visit the Doka coffee estate, including a tasting session of Costa Rica's finest export. After our visit to Poas, we'll continue on to the town of Sarchi, well known throughout Costa Rica for its beautiful and intricate arts and crafts. It is famous for producing colourful and decorative oxcarts, which are a huge part of Costa Rican culture today, and even considered one of Costa Rica's national symbols. We're going to meet one of the town's hard-working artisans and learn to paint a traditional oxcart with some of the patterns and designs familiar to the area. Finally, we travel to Arenal (approximately 2.5 hours), where we will catch our first sight of the famous Arenal Volcano. This classic cone, which rises to 1633 metres, is covered by a tangled mass of vegetation on one side, while the other is starkly barren. Our accommodation for the next two nights is in La Fortuna. The town was renamed after a big eruption in 1968, when it was seen as being 'fortunate' that its location, on the volcano's eastern side, saved it from decimation. This evening, we can make the most of the local geothermal activity by enjoying an optional bathe in nearby hot springs.

Meals Provided : Breakfast

Day 3 Wildlife float trip on the Penas Blancas river; free afternoon with options including a waterfall hike

The Arenal area is well known for its diverse wildlife, and this morning we'll set out on a tranquil rafting safari to spot some of the most sought-after species. There is no white-water here, we'll simply be floating down calmly with our local guide, who will scour the water and the canopy to point out a variety of colourful creatures from toucan and sloth to jesus-christ lizard and caiman. We'll most likely see capuchins swinging from the trees, and a wide array of birdlife during the float trip. In the afternoon we're free to explore Arenal as we choose. There are beautiful local hikes to waterfalls and along lava trails, whilst those keen to relax can enjoy an optional trip to the local Hot Springs. Our Tour Leader will be able to provide information on all the options available.

Meals Provided : Breakfast

Day 4 Drive to Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve; night walk through the forest

Today we will travel around Arenal Lake up into the cloud forest region of Monteverde - one of the most well-known places in Costa Rica to see wildlife. Perched on the Continental Divide between the Pacific and the Caribbean, it is thought that there has been indigenous habitation in Monteverde since 3000 BC. However, the turning point in its recent history came in 1950, when a group of pacifist Quakers from Alabama moved here to avoid subscription in the Korean War. They sought a lifestyle in a country in which they could embrace their peaceful beliefs and continue to cultivate their dairy farms. These families went on to establish the community of Monteverde and some of its famed cloud forest reserves. The drive takes approximately 5 hours from Arenal, and on arrival we are at our leisure to enjoy one or several of the many optional activities available in the area. One of the most popular activities in the area is to walk the hanging bridges that extend over the reserve, giving you the chance to take a bird's eye view over the canopy. Couple this with the thrill of zooming through the trees on a zip wire and it makes an exhilarating afternoon. For something less adrenaline-filled, choose to visit the local butterfly or orchid garden. This evening we will have the adventure of a guided night walk in the cloud forest, in search of nocturnal species such as pacas and tarantulas.

Meals Provided : Breakfast

Day 5 Free morning in Monteverde; drive to Manuel Antonio National Park

We leave Monteverde at approx. 10:30am. For those who wish, there is the option to revisit the cloud forest reserve in the early morning (the reserve opens at 7:00am). The paths here wind their way through gigantic ferns, underneath the lichen and moss that hangs from the giant trees. The famous, but now very rare, resplendent quetzal is fairly commonly seen in this area, one of the last remaining places in Central America where its habitat has been preserved. Sacred to the ancient Maya and Aztec peoples, it is considered one of the most beautiful birds in the world and the best time to see it is during its breeding months of March and April. Leaving the cloud forest behind us, we descend to the Pacific Coast, enjoying staggering views over the Gulf and Peninsula of Nicoya. Heading south, we cross the Rio Tarcoles Bridge from which huge crocodiles are regularly seen. We then pause at Carara Biological Reserve, famed for the scarlet macaws and abundant birdlife which populate this transitional forest. Finally, we continue along the Pacific Coast to Manuel Antonio National Park, where we will spend the next two nights.

Meals Provided : Breakfast

Day 6 Explore Manuel Antonio's wildlife and beaches

Manuel Antonio National Park is famed for its beautiful beaches and rich wildlife. We'll spend the morning exploring the park, where white-faced capuchin monkeys swing from the trees, and poison-dart frogs hide under a protection of lush tropical plantlife. Coatimundi (part of the raccoon family), tiny squirrel monkey and howler monkey also make their home in the park - we may well see them on our exploration. Manuel Antonio is also one of the best places in Costa Rica to see sloths. As their diet of leaves and buds provides little energy, sloths move only when necessary and even then very slowly, making them very easy to spot. Our guides will know where they are most likely to be found. The remainder of the day can be spent relaxing on the white sandy beaches, enjoying a swim in the warm azure waters. The sunsets from this coast are spectacular and have to be seen to be believed.

Meals Provided : Breakfast

Day 7 Free morning in Manuel Antonio National Park; return by vehicle to San Jose

This morning is free to relax in Manuel Antonio. You could choose to revisit the park*, or relax on the beaches around the town of Manuel Antonio. There are also lots of other activities on offer if beach time isn't for you, including white water rafting or snorkelling trips. In the early afternoon we'll leave the Pacific Coast, driving back inland to San Jose, a journey of approximately four hours. *Please note that Manuel Antonio National Park is closed on Tuesdays.

Meals Provided : Breakfast

Day 8 Trip ends in San Jose

The trip ends this morning at our hotel in San Jose. There are no activities planned today, so you are free to depart at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day, luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you would like to receive an airport transfer today, you'll need to depart from Juan Santamaria International Airport (airport code: SJO), approximately a 30 minute drive from our hotel.

Meals Provided : Breakfast