DAY 1 UK/San José
Meet your travelling companions in the executive lounge prior to your scheduled flight to San José for a three night stay. Enjoy a welcome drink before dinner this evening. Meals: D
DAY 2 San José
The capital of Costa Rica, San José is a vibrant city set in the centre of a ring of mountain peaks. It’s a fascinating place, where the bustle of everyday life lays a hectic veneer over a surprising wealth of culture. Our included walking city tour this morning will show us a few of the sights, including the Gold Museum and National Theatre. The rest of the day is free for you to explore San José at your own pace. Lunch will be included today. Meals: B/L
DAY 3 San José
Today we embark on a full day’s included sightseeing. We will visit the Doka Estate Coffee Plantation to discover how Costa Rica’s most famous product is made. We then continue up the slopes of the spectacular Poas Volcano where – within the swirling mist of the summit lies one of the world’s largest craters. Meals: B/L
DAY 4 Tortuguero National Park
We leave San José for the journey by road and boat to the Tortuguero National Park for a two night stay in a lodge at what is considered one of the country’s most important ecological sites. Here, the green, leatherback and hawksbill turtles nest (June to September). Some of the animals we may see include monkeys and sloths plus a staggering range of reptiles, cayman alligators and crocodiles, insects and birds. Our drive today will also take us through the Braulio Carrillo National Park crossing the Continental Divide with breathtaking views of primary forests taking lunch en-route. This afternoon includes a visit to Tortuguero Village and the beach. Dinner is included at the lodge. Meals: B/L/D
DAY 5 Tortuguero National Park
This morning, enjoy a guided nature walk through the lodge’s frog, iguana and hydroponic gardens, aquarium and butterfly farm. After lunch this afternoon, we include a fascinating boat trip through the jungle-sheltered Tortuguero Canals. Dinner is included at the lodge. Meals: B/L/D
DAY 6 Arenal
We journey by boat and road to Guápiles, where we stop for lunch, before driving into the northern plains for a three night stay at the Volcano Lodge or similar in La Fortuna near Arenal. From the lodge there are direct views towards the active Arenal Volcano. Meals: B/L
DAY 7 Arenal
Enjoy a leisurely morning, or join an optional morning river float along the Peñas Blancas River, through stunning scenery. In the early afternoon you have the chance to take the optional canopy tour and aerial tram known as the Skytrek to get a birds eye view of the dense forests. Meals: B/L
DAY 8 Arenal
Today we get a taste of the local traditions and cultures on our included Culture Day. We will watch a typical lunch being prepared on an original wood stove or take a ride on a tractor through the village and plantations to visit a school and a private home. We will have an opportunity to try activities such as making tortillas or preparing coffee the Costa Rican way. Lunch is included today. In the late afternoon, we offer an optional excursion to the Ecotermales Hot Springs close to the magnificent Arenal Volcano, which has been active since 1968. It is best seen on a clear night, when its red and orange hues contrast sharply against the dark sky. Meals: B/L
DAY 9 Manuel Antonio
We leave Arenal early this morning for the drive to Manuel Antonio on Costa Rica’s Central Pacific coast, where we stay for three nights. En route, we make a stop for an exciting tropical mangrove and crocodile safari boat tour. Meals: B/L
DAY 10 Manuel Antonio
Today’s included visit takes us to see the Manuel Antonio National Park on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast. This is a beautiful and unspoilt reserve, where monkeys, toucans and many more wonderful creatures make their home. We include a guided walk along the trails through the park this morning, then the afternoon is free for you to make your own discoveries. Meals: B
DAY 11 Manuel Antonio
Today you can take an optional catamaran cruise with lunch included - exploring the bays of this area or take time at leisure to relax on the beautiful forest-backed beaches, keeping an eye out for white-faced capuchin monkeys, before sitting down to a farewell dinner at the hotel this evening. Meals: B/D
DAY 12 San José/UK
Return to San José and transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK. Meals: B
DAY 13 UK
Arrival in the UK.