Highlights of Costa Rica (4 Star Hotels)
Highlights of Costa Rica (4 Star Hotels)
9 Days Starting and ending in San Jose, Costa Rica
Visiting: San José, Tortuguero, Arenal, Monteverde, Manuel Antonio
Tour operator:
Tour code:
CR1
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
25 - 30
Age range:
0-0
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians
Tour operated in:
EnglishInterests:
Tour Overview
Embark on an unforgettable journey through Costa Rica with the "Highlights of Costa Rica" tour, perfect for nature enthusiasts seeking adventure off the beaten path. This tour offers a unique blend of cultural experiences and natural wonders, starting in the vibrant city of San José. Explore the lush rainforests and canals of Tortuguero, meet local families, and witness the diverse wildlife. Relax in the volcanic hot springs of Arenal and marvel at the stunning La Fortuna waterfalls. Discover the rare Cloud Forest in Monteverde and unwind on the pristine beaches of Manuel Antonio. With optional activities like a night walk in the Cloud Forest and a zipline adventure, you can tailor your experience to your liking. Enjoy comfortable stays in 4-star hotels, delicious meals, and the expertise of local guides, ensuring a seamless and enriching travel experience.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : San José
Location: San José
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Park Inn San Jose by Radisson Hotel – 5 Star
Hola San José! Watch out for the Travel Talk sign at the airport for your transfer to hotel. Explore San José at your own pace before an informal meeting with your tour group in the hotel lobby at 7.00pm. After the meeting, join an optional group dinner at a local restaurant to get to know your new travel mates.
Day 2 : San José, Tortuguero
Location: Tortuguero
Accommodation Name: Pachira Lodge - 4 Star
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today we’ll head towards the North Caribbean Coast where jungle meets the sea in Tortuguero! Hop on board a small boat and journey through the jigsaw of canals towards our secluded lodge in the rainforest surrounding Tortuguero. After lunch, join your guide for a visit to the tiny village of Tortuguero. Accessible only by air or water and not by car, this little village embraces strong Afro-Caribbean roots with a population of only 500 people. Take a walking tour with your guide to meet the local families and learn about their way of life in this small but bustling village. If you’re lucky, you may even spot a few freshwater turtles basking on the banks of the canals.
Day 3 : Tortuguero
Location: Tortuguero
Accommodation Name: Pachira Lodge - 4 Star
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Wakey, wakey – the canals, beaches and jungles of the pristine Tortuguero National Park await you! Start the morning with a hike through the trails of the lodge. Then we take a guided boat trip to explore the eco-paradise and keep a look out for the wonderful range of wildlife that resides here including caiman, tropical birds, monkeys, sloths and the emerald green basilisk Lizards. Then, enjoy some downtime back at the Lodge in the afternoon to relax by the pool, beach or park up in a hammock.
Day 4 : Tortuguero, Sarapiqui, Arenal
Location: Arenal
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Montaña de Fuego Mountain Resort & Spa – 4 Star
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Today we'll farewell Tortuguero for Arenal! Stop in the small town of Sarapiquà Valley along the way to embrace that fresh Costa Rican air along the riverbanks. Keep an eye out for adventure seekers rafting through the river rapids! Then grab a window seatback on board the private coach and keep your eyes peeled for our first glimpse of one of the most stunning volcanoes in Costa Rica, Arenal! We’ll stay in the small town of La Fortuna de San Carlos with incredible views of the volcano above. This afternoon, enjoy leisure time to relax in the famed hot springs of Arenal or explore the surrounding rainforests before night falls.
Day 5 : Arenal, Monteverde
Location: Monteverde
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Poco a Poco Hotel – 4 Star
Meals Included: Breakfast
Wake up and get set to embrace adventure at its best in Arenal today! Explore the rainforest canopies from above on the hanging bridges of Arenal and keep an eye out for sleepy sloths high in the trees. Then follow your guide on a hike to the charming La Fortuna waterfall to familiarise yourself with this wonderful region. Later in the day, travel to the scenic region of Monteverde’s Cloud Forest. These rare forests cover only 1% of the world and thrive only in tropical mountainous environments where the atmospheric conditions allow for a consistent cloud coverage. And at night, this region truly comes to life! Tonight, join an optional night walk through the Cloud Forest to see the nocturnal world of species come to life after dark.
Day 6 : Monteverde, Manuel Antonio
Location: Manuel Antonio
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Shana Hotel – 4 Star
Meals Included: Breakfast
Make the best of Monteverde before we make our way to the Pristine beaches and dazzling coral reefs of Manuel Antonio. Start your adventure with an optional Selvature zipline adventure to have an arial view of the tropical jungle. Enjoy some personal leisure time or one of the optional activities available, the Curi Cancha Biological Reserve, Butterflies Garden, or Coffee Tour! Travel towards Costa Rica’s Central Pacific Coast to the small oceanside village of Manuel Antonio. Famous for its national park and treasured biodiversity, this place is any beach lover or eco-travellers dream come true! Picture white sandy beaches fringed with dense jungle and tropical palm trees. Enjoy free time here in the afternoon to relax by the turquoise beaches or poolside at our ocean-front hotel.
Day 7 : Manuel Antonio
Location: Manuel Antonio
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Shana Hotel – 4 Star
Meals Included: Breakfast
Get set to explore Manuel Antonio National Park and its wide variety of flora and fauna with a knowledgeable nature guide. While you’re hiking, stay alert for reptiles, birds and sleepy sloths. Enjoy a stop at the world-famous Tres Beach (Third Beach). The afternoon is yours to enjoy this tropical paradise. You can soak in the spectacular nature from ashore or join the optional Isla Damas Mangrove Tour to witness the wildlife up close.
Day 8 : Manuel Antonio, San José
Location: San José
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Park Inn San Jose by Radisson Hotel – 5 Star
Meals Included: Breakfast
Say goodbye to Costa Rica’s coastal paradise as we return to San José. On the way, stop at Costa Rica’s most famous crafts centre – Sarchà – where artisans produce the colourful ‘carreta’. You’ll know you’ve arrived when you spot ornately painted oxcarts transporting coffee and fruit. Then, welcome back to San José! Explore the historic neighbourhoods and colonial mansions on a guided walking tour through the city.
Day 9 : San José
Location: San José
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today we saw our goodbyes! Enjoy a final breakfast together before hotel check-out at 11.00am. Roam through San Jose one last time before your included airport transfer to Juan Santamaria International Airport.
What's Included
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Accommodation
Stay in 4 Star Hotels throughout the tour.
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Meals
Enjoy 8 breakfasts, 3 lunches, and 2 dinners during the tour.
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Transportation
Travel in a private air-conditioned vehicle with shared transfers from San Jose to Tortuguero and shared boat transfers in Tortuguero.
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Airport Transfer(s)
Arrival transfer on Day 1 and departure shuttle to the airport on Day 9 are included.
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Tour Guiding
Benefit from the services of experienced Travel Talk local guides licensed by the Ministry of Tourism.
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Free Wi-Fi
Complimentary hotel Wi-Fi access is available where possible.
What's Not Included
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Entrance Fees
Entrance fees to sights and museums are not included.
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Items of a personal nature
Personal expenses are not covered.
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Tipping and Gratuities
Tips and gratuities are not included.
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Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is not provided.
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Optional activities
Optional activities are not included in the tour price.
Add Ons
Local Payment: £
Mode of Transport
Travel in style with private air-conditioned vehicles, shared transfers from San José to Tortuguero, and shared boat transfers in Tortuguero. Arrival and departure airport transfers are included, ensuring a seamless travel experience.
Accommodation
Experience comfort and luxury with stays at 4-star hotels such as the Radisson Hotel, Doubletree by Hilton Cariari, Crowne Plaza San José La Sabana, Pachira Lodge, Montaña de Fuego Mountain Resort & Spa, Poco a Poco Hotel, and Shana Hotel. Enjoy complimentary Wi-Fi access where available.
Check out our Q&As
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What kind of wildlife can I expect to see in Tortuguero National Park?
In Tortuguero National Park, you can expect to see a variety of wildlife including caiman, tropical birds, monkeys, sloths, and emerald green basilisk lizards. You might also spot freshwater turtles basking on the banks of the canals.
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What activities are included in the visit to Arenal?
During the visit to Arenal, you will explore the rainforest canopies from above on the hanging bridges and take a hike to the charming La Fortuna waterfall. You will also have leisure time to relax in the famed hot springs of Arenal or explore the surrounding rainforests.
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What is special about the Monteverde Cloud Forest?
The Monteverde Cloud Forest is special because it is one of the rare forests that cover only 1% of the world. These forests thrive only in tropical mountainous environments where the atmospheric conditions allow for consistent cloud coverage. At night, the region comes to life with nocturnal species.
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What can I do in Manuel Antonio National Park?
In Manuel Antonio National Park, you can explore a wide variety of flora and fauna with a knowledgeable nature guide. You can hike and stay alert for reptiles, birds, and sloths. There is also a stop at the world-famous Tres Beach (Third Beach) and optional activities like the Isla Damas Mangrove Tour.
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What cultural experiences are included in the tour?
The tour includes cultural experiences such as meeting local village families in Tortuguero, exploring historic neighborhoods in San José, and visiting Costa Rica's most famous crafts center, SarchÃ, where artisans produce colorful 'carreta'.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
There are always single travellers on our tours. If you don't mind being roomed with another single traveller of the same gender, then you do not need to pay a single supplement, however, this excludes all of our North American tours where the sharing option for a solo traveller is not available, and the single supplement must be applied if you are travelling alone. The single supplement is for travellers who would like to stay in a private room for the duration of the tour. PLEASE NOTE: The single private option is not always available, especially for sailing tours and camping.
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Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?
Our tours are suitable for any traveller above 18 years old. The majority of Travel Talkers are from the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, USA, Canada or Europe, however we always have travellers from all over the world. What brings them together is a passion for travel, discovering authentic cultures and experiencing unique adventures with like-minded travellers.
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
At Travel Talk, we believe that travel is a force for good and show our support through various initiatives and charity organizations, as well as keeping the principals of responsible and sustainable travel at the core of our ethos. These values are engrained in our business culture and the design of our trips just the same. Together with our guests, we strive to make a positive impact on local p
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Over 20 years
Reviews of this operator
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Free Date Changes
Travel Talk Tours allows you to make 2 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 61 days before the start of the tour.
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Low Deposit
Travel Talk Tours requires a minimum deposit of 100 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 60 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of travel talk tours charges.
Up to 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 59 days before tour starts: Forfeit 70% of booking price.
At 29 days before tour starts: Forfeit 85% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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