Few destinations can come close to rivaling the splendor and diversity inherent in Costa Rica's natural environment and we explore every face of it on this incredible 11-day tour. From gliding past lush coastal rainforests on a riverboat canal cruise, to meandering the trails of one of the country's many wildlife-brimming national parks, and from taking it easy in bubbling hotsprings near Arenal Volcano, to being spellbound by the enchanting mists of Monteverde Cloud Forest, we experience the gamut of Costa Rica's natural bounties and see how it warrants a name that is translated as 'rich coast'. We see banana and cocoa plantations, as well as hundreds upon hundreds of species of colourful and endemic flowers and tropical plants; we tour the ever-popular Butterfly Gardens; we have the chance to see Costa Rica from a different perspective on a magical canopy walk; and we spend time in the bustling capital, San Jose.
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival in San Jose. Today we arrive in San Jose, Costa Rica. Overnight in San Jose. Hotel Balmoral or similar. Dinner if required.
Day 2: San Jose - Tortuguero. This morning we travel by bus from San Jose through Braulio Carillo National Park, one of Costa Rica's largest. Later we visit a working banana plantation and pass through a region known for its cocoa production. We then board our riverboat and spend the afternoon journeying through myriad interconnecting rivers and canals that take us finally to the Caribbean coast and Tortuguero Park. Overnight in Tortuguero. Laguna Lodge or similar. All meals.
Day 3: Tortuguero Forest Walk & Village. Tortuguero Park is a fascinating place to explore. An early morning boat ride offers an opportunity to observe an awakening coastal rain forest full of lush vegetation and unique bird life. Overnight in Tortuguero. Laguna Lodge or similar. All meals.
Day 4: Tortuguero - Baldi Hotsprings - Arenal Volcano. After an early breakfast we travel by boat 1½-hour from Tortuguero to the Cano Blanco dock. From there we continue by road (+/- 5 hours) to the la Fortuna / Arenal area. Overnight at Arenal. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 5: Arenal - Monteverde Cloud Forest. We travel today through a rustic rural countryside to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve area (+/- 4 hours). Covered in a mantle of moss, ferns and orchids, this private reserve is home to over 400 species of birds and a great number of animals. Overnight at Monteverde. Heliconia Hotel or similar. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 6: Monteverde Cloud Forest. We have a full morning exploring the cloud forest reserve with the help of a local naturalist guide. There is more to the forest than the trees and lesser plants. Of over 320 bird species, the most notable is the quetzal with its long arc of tail feathers. It nests in the trunks of dead trees. Overnight at Monteverde. Heliconia Hotel or similar. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 7: Monteverde - San Jose. Today we return by road to San Jose. Time permitting, we recommend a visit to the Gold Museum in downtown San Jose (optional), easily the country's best with thousands of different examples of Pre-Colombian gold artifacts (the museum closes at 16:30). Overnight in San Jose. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 8: San Jose, Costa Rica - San Pedro Sula, Honduras. Today we fly from San Jose to San Pedro Sula and transfer to our hotel. Honduras is an agricultural country of succulent tropical forests with much to offer the visitor. As a nation situated in a region of turbulent political and economic history, Honduras is known by many as one of the participants in the so-called Football War of 1969 when disagreements between fans of El Salvador and Honduras football teams escalated into a full-scale if short-lived war. Today the country is peaceful and beginning to develop a tourist infrastructure partly based on eco-tourism. Overnight in San Pedro Sula. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 9: San Pedro Sula - Copan. Today we travel by road from San Pedro Sula to Copan. During our time in Copan we will visit the World Bank funded Children's Museum in the town center. Small but informative, it displays a Mayan rubber ball used in the famous ball games and a video presentation offers visitors the opportunity to see a re-enactment of the game. Overnight in Copan. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 10: Copan Site Tour. Copan is a superb site and the highlight if any visit to Honduras. The Copan Maya created a ceremonial center that is unparalleled in its architectural beauty. The architects who planned Copan wanted it to be distinctive, unlike any other Maya city, and the design for this ceremonial center was meant to be impressive. Overnight in Copan. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 11: Copan - San Pedro Sula - Departure. Today we travel by road to San Pedro Sula. Departure from San Pedro Sula* Breakfast. NOTE: LAND ONLY participants must take into account the journey time back to San Pedro Sula (+/- 2.5 hours) when booking their flights. Passengers with early flights may have to spend an additional night in S.P.S. at their expense. Buen Viaje!
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price Includes:
- Breakfast and dinner daily (hotels and local restaurants)
- All transport, sightseeing and entrance fees for sites noted as 'visited' in the detailed itinerary
- Gratuities for local guides, drivers, restaurant staff, hotel porters (if available)
- Airport transfers for land / air customers arriving / departing on tour dates.
Price Excludes:
- Tour Leader gratuity, lunches, drinks, personal items (phone, laundry, etc), departure taxes, domestic and international air taxes (if applicable)
- Airport transfers for early / late arrivals / departures or Land Only customers
- Optional trip cancellation insurance
- Our post-reservation trip notes offer further guidance on not included meal costs, shopping, and locally paid departure taxes.
Also see tour packages in:
Central America and Caribbean
Costa Rica
Honduras
Cultural Journey
Ecotourism
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