Overview & Highlights
An economical holiday including the top experiences: boating through tropical mangroves on the Caribbean, exploring volcanic landscapes and lodging in mountain cloud-forest before lazing on a Pacific coast beach.
This short budget holiday saves you money by using modern, shared minibuses for transport between hotels. Combine outdoor adventures with beach wind-down time on the Pacific coast. Costa Rica is bursting with an extraordinary diversity of flora and fauna and its people are among the friendliest in Latin America. The comprehensive network of national parks with their extensive trails is very accessible.
Begin your trip visiting the Caribbean jungle waterways and mangrove forests of the wildlife-rich Tortuguero reserve; Move on to Arenal and chose from a variety of activities in the shadow of the picture-perfect volcano; Discover the densely packed canopy in the Monteverde cloud forest, with its rich bird and animal life in view; before travelling to the Pacific coast for a couple of days’ relaxation at a hotel close to Manuel Antonio National Park.
- Discover the wildlife-rich waterways of Tortuguero
- Hike in the foothills of Arenal volcano
- Explore the cloud forest of Monteverde
- Visit Manuel Antonio National Park & relax on the Pacific Coast
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Finn Clennett
Travel Expert
Outline itinerary
Day 1
Arrive in San José and transfer to your hotel.
Day 2
By road and boat to Tortuguero National Park.
Day 3
Wildlife spotting in Tortuguero National Park.
Day 4
By boat and road to Arenal.
Day 5
Hiking in the foothills of Arenal Volcano
Day 6
Optional excursions in Arenal
Day 7
Transfer by shuttle bus to Monteverde.
Day 8
Guided excursion to the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve.
Day 9
Transfer by shuttle bus to Manuel Antonio on the Pacific Coast
Day 10
Guided excursion to Manuel Antonio National Park.
Days 11
At leisure or optional excursions
Day 12
Transfer by shuttle bus to San José airport for your international flight home.
Things to do
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Accommodation
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Inspired by this trip
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Our exciting range of articles on Latin America explore everything from iconic destinations and lesser-known cultural gems to delicious traditional recipes. You’ll also find exclusive travel tips, first-hand client reviews and the chance to get your personal questions answered by our travel experts.
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