San Jose • Arenal • Monteverde • Guanacaste
Overview
Experience the best of Costa Rica in one unforgettable adventure! Start in vibrant San Jose before heading to Arenal for volcano hikes, soothing hot springs, and lively salsa nights. Discover the magic of Monteverde’s cloud forest and dive into rich flavors on coffee and chocolate tours. Then, unwind on the golden beaches of Guanacaste with a full cultural immersion—think traditional meals, rum tastings, and peaceful nature. Every stop brings a new experience, offering the perfect balance of discovery, flavor, and relaxation.
Day 1: Arrival in San Jose
You will be met at the airport in San Jose and transferred to the hotel for a one-night stay.
Overnight at the San Jose Hotel
Day 2: Arenal
Transfer to La Fortuna, Arenal Volcano Hike, and Hot Springs.
Pickup time: 8.00 am
We will start our trip driving north on the Pan American highway over rolling hills of sugar cane and coffee plantations. Inevitably, we must make a stop in the famous town of Sarch, with international fame; it has earned the name of the birthplace of Costa Rica artisans. As we continue our trip, we will go throw diverse plantations with agricultural products, ornamental plants, and cattle ranches until we drive to La Fortuna, for lunch at a cozy restaurant. Later, we will enjoy the most extraordinary view of the Arenal volcano on a gentle hike of approximately 12 hours along the base of this marvelous wonder of nature. After all this excitement,t nothing better than relaxing at Paradise Hot Springs, where you will be able to enjoy a variety of thermal pools and a delicious dinner. Breakfast: at the Hotel. Lunch: on tour. Dinner: at Paradise Hot Springs
Cook Like a Costa Rican and Salsa dancing Lessons
Pickup time: 4:00 PM
There is something special about having an authentic experience while traveling. Cultures identify themselves through their cuisine, and Costa Ricans are no different -- and it's not just "rice and beans..." We invite you to have a delightful, local-style meal and enjoy what may be your most memorable meal in Costa Rica! You'll learn about Costa Rican food and local agricultural products. We'll pick you up from your hotel and drive about 10 minutes to an exclusive, hidden-out place next to the enchanting El Saltwaterfall near downtown La Fortuna. Upon arrival to your Costa Rica Cooking Class, you'll learn about the garden and farm where the fresh cooking ingredients come from. You'll get an understanding of what it takes to get the food from the farm to the table! After this activity, we will teach you Salsa dancing. Just some basic steps for you to enjoy a Latin American traditional type of dance.
Breakfast: at the Hotel. Dinner: on tour
Overnight at Arenal Hotel
Day 4: Monteverde
Transfer to the Monteverde Area
Pickup time: 8:00 am
After breakfast, we will continue our journey to the Monteverde Cloud Forest, known for its biological reserve. Monteverde protects a large variety of endangered species, including amphibians, mammals, and birds. On a spectacular drive of approximately 3 hours, you will enjoy breathtaking views of Arenal Lake and the northern plains of Costa Rica. Our guide will be teaching you the importance of each habitat and the history of each town passing by. After checking in at the hotel, you can relax or take an option of an activity: Canopy Tour, skywalk, frog pond, or Butterfly farm.
Breakfast: at the Hotel.
Overnight at the Monteverde Hotel
Coffee and Chocolate Tour
Pickup time: 8:00 am. Discover the wonder of how chocolate and coffee are made. Explore a coffee plantation and plant your own coffee bean as you learn about how the beans are grown, harvested, and turned into coffee. Then, delight in a delicious demonstration of the chocolate-making process as the rich history of the cocoa plant is explained. Perfect for families, children,coffee-and-chocolate lovers, and anyone looking to spend a few hours engaging in the history and culture of these vital components of Costa Rican culture. The Don Juan Coffee and Chocolate tour is an absolute can't-miss tour while you're in Monteverde!
Breakfast: at the Hotel. Lunch: on tour
Overnight at the Monteverde Hotel
Day 6: Guanacaste
Transfer to Guanacaste
Pickup time: 8:00 am
After enjoying two of the best destinations in Costa Rica for nature lovers, it is time to visit Guanacaste.
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner at the hotel.
Overnight at Guanacaste Hotel
El Viejo Wetlands Cultural Experience
Pickup time: 7:30 am
Hacienda El Viejo is surrounded by sugarcane crops and the most important river in the Blue Zone of Costa Rica, the Rio Tempisque.
The house of more than 150 years old and was formerly the home to presidents of both Costa Rica and Nicaragua. Cultural Tasting We begin the tour at the Trapiche (mill), where we can observe how an ox tied to a yoke makes a needle turn, so the cane can fit inside the mill, and this is how the juice is obtained. As a part of the experience, we will taste slices of sugar cane and its juice, tapa de dulce (raw sugar), and of course, the sugar cane juice. After we try the sweetest thing, it's time to go to a place that will immediately take us back to the ancient times of old ranches that belonged to families from Guanacaste; a space of culture and learning, La Casa del Sabanero. We will taste the delicious traditional meal of Guanacaste, as we observe how the tamales, empanadas, and rosquillas are baked in a wooden oven. All these are prepared with corn, just as our grandmothers do! The women at La Casa del Sabanero will teach you how to make tortillas, as all people do in Guanacaste! Finally, we will drink a delicious coffee or natural fruit juice. Rum Experience by Saband Feel the contact with the earth and our roots, prepare your senses as we experience the whole process of producing high-quality Rum from our purest sugar cane. View the extraction and cooking of the sugar cane juice in an artisanal way, until you reach the distiller, where you will get the first liquors and highest purity. Our Rickhouse awaits your taste buds, which age and improve the flavors of our Saband Rum in its oak barrels. The aged Saband rum, distilled on premises, boasts its characteristics and differences with each sip. Enjoy the end of the tour with a delicious cocktail made with Saband Rum and the stunning views of our lagoon. Relax and enjoy the birds and the peacefulness of the most emblematic haciendas of the last century, in the North Pacific of Costa Rica. Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner at the hotel.
Overnight at Guanacaste Hotel (all-inclusive).
Day 9: Guanacaste - Flight back to the UK
What is included in the offer?
• Return flights from Heathrow
• 1 night at Country Inn & Suites or Similar in San Jose in a Standard room
• 2 nights at Arenal Paraiso Resort or Similar in a Standard room
• Arenal Volcano Hike & Hot Spring Tour
• 2 nights at Monteverde Country Lodge or Similar in a Classic room
• Cook Like a Costa Rican & Salsa Dancing Tour
• Monteverde Coffee and Chocolate Tour
• 3 nights at Tamarindo Diri or Similar, Guanacaste, in a Family Pool view room
• Visit El Viejo Wetlands Cultural Experience
Based on 2 adults sharing
Full Payment
• Z47063 Heathrow from £3309pp