Arenal, Monteverde, and Manuel Antonio

  • Hummingbird, Costa Rica
  • Poas Volcano, Costa Rica
  • Arenal Volcano Hike, Costa Rica
  • Manuel Antonio National Park, Costa Rica
  • Squirrel Monkeys, Costa Rica

8 Days/7 Nights

From $2,049 per person

(Dbl. Occupancy, Not Incl. Airfare)

Daily Departures Throughout the Year

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Overview

Discover the awe-inspiring natural attractions and diverse wildlife of Costa Rica. Visit Poas Volcano, Doka Estate Coffee Plantation, and Sarchi on the way to Arenal Volcano. Enjoy a volcano hike and relaxing thermal bath in Arenal, and experience the adrenaline rush of zip-lining in the Monteverde cloud forest. The tour finishes in Manuel Antonio, on the Pacific coast, where you will surely see monkeys, iguanas, and spectacular ocean views.

Lodging, Meals, and Airfare: This tour includes accommodations for 7 nights (1 night in San Jose, 2 nights in Arenal, 2 nights in Monteverde, and 2 nights in Manuel Antonio) and 10 meals (7 breakfasts, 2 lunches, and 1 dinner).

Best Time to Go: December-April.

Destinations: Central America and Costa Rica.

Interests: Adventure, Horseback Riding, Sun & Beach, Wildlife Viewing, and Zip-Lining.

Places Visited: San José & the Central Valley, Arenal Volcano, Monteverde, and Manuel Antonio.

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1: San Jose.
Depart to San Jose. Upon arrival, you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel. You will have the rest of the day free to relax and enjoy San Jose. Overnight in San Jose.

Day 2: San Jose-Poas Volcano-Doka Estate Coffee Plantation-Grecia-Sarchi-Arenal.
Today you will be transported to Arenal by private driver/guide. On the way you will visit Poas Volcano, the Doka Estate Coffee Plantation, Grecia, and Sarchi. Poas Volcano is Costa Rica’s most visited national park. It is an active volcano with a steaming main crater nearly one mile wide, and has two other craters. After viewing the main crater, you can hike the Sendero Botos trail to Botos Lagoon, learn about the park’s different ecosystems, and enjoy the park’s natural scenery and wildlife. At Doka Estate Coffee Plantation, learn about the production, harvesting, and processing of coffee. You will have lunch (included) at the Estate after the tour, and then continue on to Grecia, known for its metal church (the only one in in Central America), and the artisan town of Sarchi, where you can shop for handicrafts. Overnight in Arenal. (B,L)

Day 3: Arenal-Optional Excursions-Volcano Hike and Hot Springs.
In the morning, you have a choice of two (included) half-day excursions: Arenal Hanging Bridges (a private, 250 hectare tropical rain forest reserve located near Arenal Volcano. The tour consists of two miles of trails crossing 15 bridges from 16 to 330 feet long, suspended above the primary rain forest. A wide variety of rain forest plants and animals can be observed) or Horseback Ride to La Fortuna Waterfall (a scenic ride through pastures and rainforest, where wildlife can be observed. At the end of the ride, you will hike down to La Fortuna Waterfall, an impressive 200 foot cascade of rainforest water). Mid-afternoon, you will have a guided hiking tour of El Silencio Trail in close proximity to the volcano. Your naturalist guide will point out indigenous rain forest plants and inform you of their medicinal properties. Frequent wildlife sightings include monkeys, toucans, White-Nosed Coatis, Oro Pendulas, Golden Eyelash Vipers, Boa Constrictors, White-Tailed Deer, and Great Curassows. Before dark, you will stop at the observation point, which offers the closest, most direct view of the Volcano’s lava flow. The day finishes at the Tabacon Hot Springs Resort for a relaxing mineral bath followed by dinner at the restaurant. Overnight in Arenal. (B,D)

Day 4: Arenal-Monteverde-Cloud Forest Biological Reserve Tour.
You will be taken to the Arenal Lake Dam dock for a scenic 30 minute boat ride across the lake. Disembark at the Rio Chiquito dock on the other side of the lake, where a 4 x 4 vehicle will be waiting to take you by gravel road to Monteverde (+/- two hours). Monteverde was founded about 40 years ago by a small group of conservation-minded Quakers who were looking for a peaceful place to live. Its Cloud Forest Reserve is one of the most outstanding wild life sanctuaries in the New World. After checking in at your hotel, and lunch, you will visit the Monteverde Cloudforest Biological Reserve, a 10,500 hectare privately owned reserve that straddles the continental divide. The reserve has several well-marked hiking trails, and is popular with bird watchers, who come to see the Reserve’s more than 400 bird species, including the resplendent Quetzal (the Mayan bird of paradise). The reserve also contains over 3,000 plant species (including 500 orchid species), and a wide variety of mammals, amphibians, and reptiles. Overnight in Monteverde. (B)

Day 5: Monteverde-Selvatura and Canopy Tour.
Selvatura is a cloud forest conservation project located in the Monteverde area. You will have a guided Treetop Walkways tour through the cloud forest on eight different bridges of various lengths from 150-510 feet up. Each of the bridges are five feet wide, and are suitable for people of all ages. The tour also includes a Butterfly Farm, Hummingbird Garden, and a zip-line Canopy Tour. Lunch at Selvatura. Overnight in Monteverde. (B,L)

Day 6: Monteverde-Manuel Antonio.
Morning transfer to Manuel Antonio. You will have the rest of the afternoon free to enjoy the area. Overnight in Manuel Antonio. (B)

Day 7: Manuel Antonio-National Park Guided Tour.
In the morning, you will have a half-day guided tour of Manuel Antonio National Park. This 1,685 acre park is one of the last remaining tropical lowland wet forests in Costa Rica. It is very popular with the native Costa Ricans due to its unspoiled beaches, and also features several hiking trails, spectacular natural scenery, and the possibility of seeing over 350 species of birds, and a wide variety of animals, including sloths, monkeys, white-nosed coatis, agoutis, iguanas, and jesus christ lizards. After the tour, you will be returned to your hotel, and have the afternoon free to enjoy the area. Overnight in Manuel Antonio. (B) Note: Manuel Antonio National Park is closed on Mondays.

Day 8: Manuel Antonio-San Jose.
Transfer to San Jose International Airport for your return flight to your final destination. (B)

B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner

What's Included

Price Includes

  • South American Vacations’ expert pre-departure planning services and documentation.
  • Airport/hotel and other transfers including baggage handling.
  • Hotel accommodations including taxes and service charges.
  • Excursions as indicated on the itinerary including all applicable entrance fees.
  • Meals as indicated on the itinerary.
  • English-speaking tour and naturalist guides.

Price Does Not Include

  • International airfare.
  • International airport departure tax ($29).
  • Meals not indicated on the itinerary.
  • Gratuities to tour guides, drivers, and hotel staff.
  • Gifts and personal items.
  • Travel insurance.

We will be happy to quote the cost of international airfare and travel insurance and to make these arrangements for you.

Accommodations

San Jose

El Rodeo Estancia Hotel, San Jose, Costa Rica

Budget – El Rodeo Estancia Boutique Hotel

Hotel Presidente, San Jose, Costa Rica

Budget – Hotel Presidente

Hotel Grano de Oro, San Jose, Costa Rica

Standard – Hotel Grano de Oro

Courtyard San Jose Escazu, San Jose, Costa Rica

Standard – Courtyard San Jose Escazu

Costa Rica Marriott, San Jose, Costa Rica

Superior – Costa Rica Marriott Hotel

Finca Rosa Blanca, Heredia, Costa Rica

Superior – Finca Rosa Blanca (Heredia)

Arenal

Arenal Paraiso Hotel & Spa, Arenal, Costa Rica

Budget – Arenal Paraiso Hotel & Spa

Arenal Volcano Inn, Arenal, Costa Rica

Budget – Arenal Volcano Inn

Arenal Manoa Hotel, Arenal, Costa Rica

Standard – Arenal Manoa Hotel

Lost Iguana Resort & Spa, Arenal, Costa Rica

Standard – Lost Iguana Resort & Spa

Arenal Kioro Suites & Spa, Arenal, Costa Rica

Superior – Arenal Kioro Suites & Spa

Tabacon Grand Spa & Resort, Arenal, Costa Rica

Superior – Tabacon Grand Spa Thermal Resort

Monteverde

Hotel Montana Monteverde, Monteverde, Costa Rica

Budget – Hotel Montana Monteverde

Trapp Family Lodge, Monteverde, Costa Rica

Budget – Trapp Family Lodge

Hotel Belmar, Monteverde, Costa Rica

Standard – Hotel Belmar

Hotel Fonda Vela, Monteverde, Costa Rica

Standard – Hotel Fonda Vela

Monteverde Lodge & Gardens, Monteverde, Costa Rica

Superior – Monteverde Lodge & Gardens

El Establo Mountain Hotel, Monteverde, Costa Rica

Superior – El Establo Mountain Hotel

Manuel Antonio

Hotel Playa Espadilla, Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica

Budget – Hotel Playa Espadilla

Hotel Costa Verde, Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica

Budget – Hotel Costa Verde

Si Como No Resort & Spa, Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica

Standard – Si Como No & Resort Spa

Superior – Parador Resort & Spa

Arenas del Mar, Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica

Superior – Arenas del Mar