Day 1
Arrival at International Aiport in San Jose – Transfer to Arenal Nayara Spa & Gardens
Welcome to Costa Rica! Once you have passed immigration and customs and exited the airport doors, you will meet one of our travel representatives with a sign reading your name. He will drive you to your hotel and give you your welcome kit.
The Northern Plains of Costa Rica showcases some very scenic countryside towns. Small agriculture communities and cattle ranches cover rolling hills and deep valleys. The plains, rainforests and rivers make the north central a must-see in any Costa Rica program. The main attraction is the iconic Arenal Volcano. The Arenal Volcano area is Costa Rica’s premier region of exploration and excitement: Arenal is synonymous to adventure and Eco-discovery, where you can embark in a wide variety of activities. Enjoy the thrill of whitewater rafting or canyoning, or combine adventure with ecological discovery in a canopy tour. Hike the volcano or explore the rainforest strolling through hanging bridges. Feel transformed by the beauty and variety of our wildlife and tropical jungle. Get ready for a life changing adventure!
Arenal Nayara is a true oasis. Voted one of Central and South American’s most romantic getaways, this hotel is opulent and unceasingly beautiful. The property is surrounded by rainforest and set on a hilltop overlooking the lush Arenal valley. The Arenal Volcano is in constant view, and vibrant flowers line footpaths and patios, dining areas and swimming pools.
The bungalows at Arenal Nayara are the epitome of comfort. Spacious and wooden, these bungalows have beds with 300 count linen sheets, large private bathrooms, and volcano view balconies. The balconies are equipped with a private Jacuzzi, providing guests with an ideal place to relax and soak up the tranquility of Costa Rica’s outdoors. Just beyond the balcony is a private garden. Here, guests can relax in the hand-carved furniture or enjoy bathing in the outdoor shower.
The Arenal Nayara Hotel maintains beautiful tropical gardens and a reflection pond that sets a tranquil tone for the entire property. The swimming pool, Jacuzzi and wet bar provide a place to rest after enjoying the Arenal area, while the onsite Altamira Restaurant offers tasty, full service dining. Here, local ingredients blend with a world-class cuisine to provide an incomparable dining experience. The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and boasts a direct view of the volcano.
Private transfer from San Jose International Airport to Arenal volcano
Nayara Hotel Spa & Gardens (6 Nights)
Room Type: Casita Deluxe
Meals Plan: Breakfast
Day 02 Arenal Volcano National Park by Arenal Lake
There is no greater attraction in the northern region of Costa Rica than the Arenal Volcano. So why not enjoy it in the most picturesque way possible? This tour combines an attractive boat ride exploring Arenal Lake with a hike through the National Park, and provides you with impressive views of this mighty wonder. The tour begins with a short 20 minute ride to the Peninsula Sector at Arenal Volcano National Park near the Arenal Lake, once on the trail we will walk for 1 hour approximately.
During the whole trip you will be able to enjoy excellent views of Lake Arenal. At the end of the trail we will have the opportunity to walk up to the observation platform of approximately 10 m high, to enjoy a closer look at the volcano and to receive a complete explanation of the history and geological formation of this colossal.
At the end of the trail, we will enjoy a fresh tropical fruit buffet, then we will board our boat for the ride along the edges of this enormous man-made lake, allowing us to observe the rainforest, islands, aquatic birds and some of the animals which make this area their home. This is the best possible place to take incredible pictures of the Arenal Volcano, if the clouds permit. After 45 min on the boat, we will arrive to the Arenal Lake boat station sector.
Included: Transportation from your hotel in comfortable air-conditioned mini vans with Wi-Fi, bilingual naturalist guide, National Park entrance fee, bottled mineral water, snacks, boat transportation, gear, and insurance policies.
Day 03 Sky Walk
The Sky Walk uses trails and a series of suspension bridges for a more relaxing introduction of the flora and fauna of the forest canopy. It allows a vision of the forest from a different perspective which starts with a hike on the ground and then takes you up to explore the treetops. In Costa Rica Sky Adventures was the pioneer in building hanging bridges and introduced the Sky Walk to admire the forest from unique viewpoints. The bridges span across canyons and bring visitors face to face with the upper level of the forest canopy.
Included: Bilingual guide, entrance fee and transportation.
Day 04
Sloth Watching Tour + Campesino Farm Experience + Lunch
We will start at 8:00 am, our guide will pick you up at your hotel, we will make a short trip to reach the Territory of Sloths, this beautiful privileged land is approximately 5 minutes from the town of La Fortuna. There we can observe one of the most beloved animals of our country, the popular sloth, that captivates us always with its tenderness and peculiar behavior slow.
Our specialized guides are experts in finding the sloths, so we can guarantee their observation. We will end this part of the tour with some delicious seasonal fruits as a snack to continue our trip to a town called Agua Azul de La Fortuna, where in approximately 15 minutes we will be arriving at an agroecological farm, owned by a local peasant family that always receive us with their open arms.
There we will start the tour with a delicious natural juice as a welcome drink made on the basis of fresh fruits from the area where our guide will detail the main objectives of this family project, among which are the promotion of the sustainable use of natural resources and the preservation of Costa Rican customs.
After this warm welcome, we will carry out the manual milking of cows where any person can participate of this unforgettable peasant experience. The youngest can participate in the milking and also feed small calves, chickens, observe rabbits, geese, quail, among other animal species that exist in a small farm. Then we will participate in the process of extraction of sugar cane juice, being able to taste the fresh juice completely pure and also in combination with different ingredients such as liquor, mint and some other organic products obtained in the same farm. Then, we will go on to make a tasting of artisan liquor and other traditional products obtained through the fermentation process while we share observing the distillation process of artisanal liquor in the traditional Costa Rican way.
We will visit a small archaeological ranch where we can observe different indigenous pieces found in the same lands of the farm and at the same time use them in the creation of artisanal cacao with the chance to taste from the fruit, to the chocolate itself.
Finally, we can appreciate the garden with variety of beautiful orchids that adorn the patio of the house, as well as “the pharmacy”, an orchard with interesting medicinal plants, which are still used by this family in the treatment of diseases, just as grandmothers did in the past.
At the end of the tour, we will enjoy a delicious typical Costa Rican lunch made with products made on the farm such as coffee, cheese, tortillas, among others. Without doubt an experience full of culture, tradition and Costa Rican customs.
Included: Transportation from your hotel in comfortable air-conditioned mini vans with Wi-Fi, bilingual naturalist guide, entrance fees, lunch.
Day 05 Safari float and chocolate tour
Your day of adventure and sweet indulgence starts with a Safari Float down the Peñas Blancas. This is a wonderful river trip for the youngest to the oldest nature lover in your group. You will move along at a leisurely pace down the Peñas Blancas River to improve your opportunities to sight the abundant life that inhabit this river. Monkeys, the Long-Nosed bat, iguanas, Jesus Christ lizards, caimans and much more reside along the banks of the River. After returning to the dock, you will depart for the Sweet Chocolate Tour, where you will learn about the history of chocolate from its discovery and through the process of making chocolate in the delicious forms, we enjoy eating now. During this hands-on discovery, you will participate in the production, harvesting of the cacao, drying techniques and grinding the seeds. At the end of the tour, you will get a chance to sample some of the high-quality gourmet chocolate! Sweet day, indeed.
Included: Bilingüal guide, transportation, entrance, snacks and drinks.
Day 06 Free day to enjoy your hotel or for other optional activities
Day 07
Departure to San Jose Airport
Private Transfer Arenal Nayara Resort & Spa – San Jose airport
A privately driven vehicle will provide you with a transfer from your hotel to San José Airport today. Depart from International Airport. End of itinerary.
- INCLUDED
| · All services indicated as mentioned.
· Personalized information, complete voucher list. · Local Travel Program Support, 24-hour emergency service. · Airport transfers upon arrival and departure (San José Airport – Arenal – San José Airport). · 06 nights of accommodation in hotel specified in the proposal. · Daily Breakfast and taxes included. · Excursions included (shared): · Arenal Volcano National Park by Arenal Lake · Sky Walk · Sloth Watching Tour + Campesino Farm Experience + Lunch · Safari Float + Chocolate Tour |
- NOT INCLUDED
- Other meals than indicated as included
- Other excursions, tours and activities indicated as optional or not included
- International flights
- Personal expenses. Tips and extras at hotels.
- National Park Entrance fees.
- Airport taxes (US$ 29.00 per person not included)
If you need additional information, please let us know. Our reservations team is ready to assist you!
- The most important things to bring are your travel documents: a valid passport, flight and hotel information, health insurance card and driver’s license (if you plan on renting a car in Costa Rica). We advise you to make three copies of these documents. Put one copy in your carry-on bag, one copy in your suitcase and leave one copy at home.Basic Tropical forests, colorful wildlife and spectacular beaches are part of daily life in Costa Rica. The climate varies depending on where you are, so pack accordingly.
- Prepare for hot, humid summers. Shorts, T-shirts, sundresses, skirts and tank tops in lightweight fabrics should keep you cool. Take a sweater for evenings at a higher elevation.
- Bring plenty of sunblock. Also include insect repellent, a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses and a swimsuit.
- Take rubber-soled sandals or hiking boots for journeys into the rain forests. Flip-flops and sandals are great for resorts and hanging out by the beach.
- Pack separate clothes for evenings. Simple dresses are great for women, while men will do well in long shorts and a button-down shirt.
- Prepare for cool winters, particularly in the northern regions and at higher elevations. Long pants and long-sleeved shirts are a must, while a fleece jacket or a sweater is advisable.
- Take an umbrella if you plan to travel between May and November – Costa Rica’s wettest period.
- A rain slicker will come in handy while hiking.
- Take an electric converter and adapter.