One Week In Costa Rica

One Week In Costa Rica

5,415 Views
8 Days From

$650

$631

One Week In Costa Rica

8 Days Starting and ending in San Jose

Visiting: San Jose, Monteverde, La Fortuna, Cahuita National Park - Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

Tour operator:

Intrepid Travel

Tour code:

QBYC

Specialist Group:

18-30 Somethings

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Group size:

1 - 16

Physical rating:

Low

Age range:

18-35 years

Tour operated in:

English
From: $650 $631 Tourhub's Big Adventure Sale: -$20

NB: Prices correct on 04-Nov-2024 but subject to change.

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Tour Overview

Calling all nature lovers! Spend a week in Costa Rica beginning in San Jose – the thriving urban centre abundant with colourful markets, vibrant nightlife and spontaneous art fairs. Explore Monteverde’s Cloud Forest at your own pace, keeping your eye out for sloths and the elusive quetzal bird. Head to La Fortuna, shadowed by the immense Arenal Volcano, and enjoy free time to chase waterfalls and soak away your worries in the natural thermal hot springs. Explore Cahuita National Park with a hike and a swim, then enjoy some beach time on the Caribbean coast in Puerto Viejo. If you're lucky, spot sloths, hummingbirds, iguanas, monkeys, toucans, coatimundis, quetzals and racoons, then take a cooking class to learn the local cuisine. With a local leader with insider knowledge and a likeminded group of travellers – what better way to dive into Costa Rica?

Highlights

  • Explore Cahuita National Park on a hike through the lush vegetation and coastal beaches (where you can take a dip) and look out for the abundant wildlife on the land and in the sky.

  • Take part in a Caribbean cooking class in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca and sit down for lunch with the locals – a blend of African, Indigenous and Spanish flavours mixed with coconut milk, spices, fruits, curry and seafood.

  • Enjoy plenty of free time to choose your own adventure – maybe hike through the lush forest of La Fortuna, go wildlife spotting near Arenal Volcano or explore Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve looking out for sloths.

  • Kick back on the Caribbean coast in Puerto Viejo, surrounded by vibrant coral reefs – the perfect spot for some swimming, snorkelling, surfing or relaxing under the shade of palm trees.

  • Start and end your trip in San Jose, the urban centre of Costa Rica, to balance out the outdoor adventure with some nightlife, bar hopping, markets and museums.

  • By travelling on this trip, you’ll directly support our Intrepid Foundation partner, the Adelante Foundation. Donations help them empower female entrepreneurs from low-income parts of Honduras to grow their businesses and build a livelihood with microfinance.

  • Kick back on the Caribbean coast in Puerto Viejo, surrounded by vibrant coral reefs – the perfect spot for some swimming, snorkelling or relaxing under the shade of palm trees.

Itinerary

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Day 1: San Jose

Location: San Jose

Accommodation: Hotel

Hola! Welcome to Costa Rica. Your adventure begins in San Jose, home to a lively cultural atmosphere and heaps to do. If you arrive early (it’s recommended that you stay an extra few days), maybe explore the markets – you might even be lucky enough to see a spontaneous art fair! If history is your thing, maybe head to the Gold Museum to see the collection of Indigenous gold art. Perhaps visit Arte Contemporaneo if you’re an art lover or get your first taste of the rich coffee that Costa Rica is known for in a nearby coffee shop. You’ll have a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight at your hotel. After, maybe head out to a local restaurant or the Central Market where you can pick up some fresh seafood.

Optional Activities:
-San Jose – Bites and Sights Urban Adventure
-San Jose - San Jose By Night: Food and Culture - Urban Adventures

Day 2: Monteverde

Location: Monteverde

Accommodation: Hotel

Take an early public bus to Monteverde this morning – this area was initially used as an environmentally conscious agricultural community and has now been transformed into the internationally recognised Cloud Forest Reserve. Make the most of your free time in lush Monteverde, maybe exploring the cloud forest at night with a local guide or heading out on a zip lining adventure. There are also several local communities that operate co-ops here, which are well worth the visit. Maybe walk through the canopy on suspension bridges or watch butterflies in the Butterfly Garden and Insects Farm. If food and coffee are more your thing, maybe head out on a chocolate and coffee tour.

Optional Activities:
-Monteverde - Butterfly Garden and Insects Farm (entrance fee)
-Monteverde - Canopy Zip Lining (Entrance, Equipment & Transport)
-Monteverde - Coffee & Chocolate tour
-Monteverde - Suspension bridges tour
-Monteverde - Cloud Forest Night Walk

Day 3: La Fortuna

Location: La Fortuna

Accommodation: Hotel

If you have time this morning, maybe head out on a nature hike and look out for hummingbirds, sloths and the infamous (and seldom seen) quetzal birds. Today you’ll drive to Lake Arenal and take a boat to La Fortuna – a small but vibrant town with abundant hot springs and natural pools. Sitting under the shadow of a towering volcano, this spot is the perfect place to relax, explore or get active. Tonight, maybe grab dinner with your fellow travellers at a local restaurant and try some sopa negra (black bean soup) or pozole (a stew made from pork, hominy, cilantro, bell peppers and achiote).

Optional Activities:
-Monteverde - Cloud Forest Entrance

Day 4: La Fortuna

Location: La Fortuna

Accommodation: Hotel

Enjoy a free day to explore La Fortuna today. Maybe you’d like to take a day trip out of town and go white water rafting. Costa Rica is renowned for its natural beauty, so an adrenaline-filled adventure on the action-packed rivers is highly recommended. Alternatively, stay in La Fortuna and head out on a hike through the lush surrounding forest or go stand-up paddleboarding on Lake Arenal to enjoy the incredible backdrop of Arenal Volcano from a new perspective. If you’re an animal lover, look out for coatimundis, racoons and toucans across the water on a boat tour of Cano Negro Reserve. Soaking in the local thermal hot springs is a popular activity here – these natural springs are fed by the volcano that overlooks the city and are the perfect spot to relax and enjoy the surrounding scenery.

Optional Activities:
-La Fortuna - Ecotermales Hot Springs (entrance fee)
-La Fortuna - La Fortuna Waterfall (Entrance only)
-La Fortuna- Caño Negro boat tour
-La Fortuna - Stand up paddle board
-La Fortuna - Arenal 1968 Volcano View and Lava Trails (Entrance fee)
-La Fortuna - Arenal hanging bridges
-La Fortuna - Arenal Volcano Base Hike

Day 5: Cahuita National Park - Puerto Viejo De Talamanca

Location: Cahuita National Park - Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

Accommodation: Hotel

This morning, leave the volcano behind and take a private transfer to Cahuita National Park, where you’ll explore the lush landscape on a 2-hour hike with your leader. You’ll also visit the beach here, where you can cool off with an ocean swim or go wildlife spotting, looking out for paca, iguanas, giant blue crabs, racoons, opossums, porcupines and the capuchin monkey. This is a great day for photos, so keep your camera or phone on you! Carry on to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, where you’ll spend the night. On the Caribbean seaside, you can spend tonight hopping to different reggae bars and watching the sunset on the palm-fringed beaches.

Included Activities:
-Cahuita National Park - Entrance
-Cahuita National Park - Hike

Day 6: Puerto Viejo De Talamanca

Location: Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: dinner

Explore the area on a bike ride along the palm-fringed coastal road, stopping at various beaches and inlets as you make your way south. Visit Punta Uva Beach, where you can find a little hidden cave with a gorgeous view. This afternoon, you can opt to head to Manzanillo for an immersive forest therapy session, where you'll learn about sustainable eating practices and the medicinal uses of local plants with a guided tour through the gardens. Learn more about local Afro-Caribbean culture, taste breadfruit and take a brief Spanish lesson. Finish your day by watching a Caribbean cooking demonstration. Experience a melting pot of culinary traditions using a mix of spices and fruits influenced by local Indigenous, African and Spanish cuisines. Then, return to Puerto Viejo for the evening to hit the bars with your fellow travellers for a drink.

Included Activities:
-Puerto Viejo de Talamanca - Coastal Bicycle ride
-Puerto Viejo de Talamanca - Caribbean Cooking Demonstration

Optional Activities:
-Manzanillo - Medicinal Plants Experience

Day 7: San Jose

Location: San Jose

Accommodation: Hotel

Journey back to San Jose and explore the historic buildings and artisan markets on an orientation walk with your leader. When you're done with the morning adventure, the afternoon is all yours. You can go café-hopping, hit up some local bars or just wander around soaking in the local scene. Tonight, maybe get your fellow travellers together for a final group dinner to say your goodbyes, and after that, dive into the vibrant nightlife scene to wrap up this epic journey on a high note.

Included Activities:
-San Jose - Leader-led orientation walk

Day 8: San Jose

Location: San Jose

After breakfast, there are no activities planned and your trip comes to an end. If you’d like to explore San Jose in more depth, why not book an Urban Adventures tour like the San Jose Bites & Sights tour. Unmask the beauty and culture of contemporary Costa Rican life on this San Jose walking tour that takes you through the busy streets, bustling markets and tranquil parks. If you want to spend more time in San Jose, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.

Optional Activities:
-San Jose - San Jose By Night: Food and Culture - Urban Adventures
-San Jose – Bites and Sights Urban Adventure

What's Included

  • Accommodation
    Hotel (7 nights)

  • Cahuita National Park - Entrance

  • Cahuita National Park - Hike

  • Puerto Viejo de Talamanca - Coastal Bicycle ride

  • Puerto Viejo de Talamanca - Caribbean Cooking Demonstration

  • San Jose - Orientation Walk

  • Meals

    1 dinners

  • San Jose - Leader-led orientation walk

What's Not Included

  • Insurance

  • International Travel

Transport

  • Shared Vehicle , Private Vehicle , Public Bus , Boat , Taxi

Accommodation

  • The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation.
  • Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available.

Important Information

  • 1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
  • 2. Please be careful when booking flights to/from San Jose; make sure you fly into/out of Juan Santamaria International Airport [SJO]. Please do not book flights to/from Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport [SJC] as this is located in California, United States.
  • 3. This tour includes accommodation in multi-share rooms (triple and quad). This means travelers on the same booking may be split between rooms due to single gender allocation.

Mode of Transport

  • Shared Vehicle , Private Vehicle , Public Bus , Boat

Check out our Q&As

  • Is this trip right for you

    This trip is for travellers who appreciate a bit of independence. You'll get plenty of free time in each location to make your own choices, do your own activities and eat where you like. Your leader is always there to give you tips and suggestions. Please budget spending money for optional activities you want to partake in.

    With so much to see and do, Costa Rica can sometimes be expensive. Expect to pay more than you would in other Central American countries for a lot of things.

    Costa Rica is generally hot and humid year-round, and from May to October can be wet too. At nighttime and in locations at higher elevations it can get chilly. Protect yourself from the sun, bring light clothing you can layer and a waterproof jacket, and stay hydrated. Please carefully consider which time of the year you'll feel most comfortable travelling.

    Most of the activities (both included and optional) on this trip take place in the great outdoors. This means you'll need to be prepared to deal with insects and occasionally rustic conditions. It's all part of immersing yourself in this natural paradise.

  • What policies are in place for Covid-19?

    Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies

  • How long has the tour company been trading?

    Intrepid Travel has been taking travellers around the world for over 30 years

  • Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?

    Yes

  • What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?

    Since 2002, The Intrepid Foundation has supported over 130 organisations across the world. We’re creating positive impact through the joy of travel, community and connection.

  • Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?

    Over 50% of traveller travel solo with Intrepid. You can choose to share a room with another solo travelle of the same sex for no additional charge, or choose to pay a single supplement if you’d like your own room. Please request this when booking, and we will secure you a single supplement wherever possible. Please note, if you are booking a last-minute trip, it may be harder for us to secure a single room

Reviews from travellers on this tour

Miguel Angel Araujo   Usa

One Week In Costa Rica

27-Feb-2024

The trip was amazing, everything was well planned out & there wasn't any issues. The tour guide was very friendly and made the experience fun. During the trip I didn't have to worry about safety as we were never put in harms way. I would definitely recommend & do again.

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Saturday - Saturday

Nov 16, 2024 - Nov 23, 2024
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Tourhub's Big Adventure Sale: -$24

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Operator discount: -$118

Tourhub's Big Adventure Sale: -$20

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Tourhub's Big Adventure Sale: -$20

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$650 $631

Tourhub's Big Adventure Sale: -$20

Saturday - Saturday

Nov 08, 2025 - Nov 15, 2025
$650 $631

Tourhub's Big Adventure Sale: -$20

Saturday - Saturday

Nov 22, 2025 - Nov 29, 2025
$675 $655

Tourhub's Big Adventure Sale: -$20

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$675 $655

Tourhub's Big Adventure Sale: -$20

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$700 $679

Tourhub's Big Adventure Sale: -$21

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Tourhub's Big Adventure Sale: -$21

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Tourhub's Big Adventure Sale: -$21

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Tourhub's Big Adventure Sale: -$26

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Tourhub's Big Adventure Sale: -$25

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Tourhub's Big Adventure Sale: -$20

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$680 $660

Tourhub's Big Adventure Sale: -$20

Saturday - Saturday

Oct 10, 2026 - Oct 17, 2026
$825 $800

Tourhub's Big Adventure Sale: -$25

Saturday - Saturday

Nov 07, 2026 - Nov 14, 2026
$825 $800

Tourhub's Big Adventure Sale: -$25

Saturday - Saturday

Nov 21, 2026 - Nov 28, 2026
$825 $800

Tourhub's Big Adventure Sale: -$25

Saturday - Saturday

Dec 12, 2026 - Dec 19, 2026
$855 $829

Tourhub's Big Adventure Sale: -$26

Saturday - Saturday

Dec 26, 2026 - Jan 02, 2027
$855 $829

Tourhub's Big Adventure Sale: -$26

Book with Confidence

  • Free Date Changes

    Intrepid Travel allows you to make 10 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 56 days before the start of the tour.

  • Transfer as credit to Future Tours

    Intrepid Travel allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform intrepid travel, 56 days before departure.

  • Low Deposit

    Intrepid Travel requires a minimum deposit of 400 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 56 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of intrepid travel charges.

    Up to 56 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

    At 55 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.

    At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.

    At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.

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