Costa Rica Nature & Beach Experience Superior.
(11 Days / 10 Nights) Price from: $ 1,080.00

Lots of sun and beautiful beaches are two phrases that best define what the province of Guanacaste is all about. Enjoy stunning shorelines, volcanoes, rain forests and more! A visit to the spectacular Arenal Volcano provides guaranteed excitement, as you can see the volcano erupt. The unspoiled Monteverde Cloud Forest is a unforgettable time for birdwatchers hoping to catch a glimpse of the elusive and rare Quetzal bird. Try the Sky Walk for a spectacular combination of suspension bridges with built in walking trails above the tropical forest canopy. Relax at both Pacific and Caribbean coasts at Puerto Viejo and Tamarindo.

San José- Puerto Viejo- Arenal- Monteverde- Tamarindo- San José

Day by day itinerary

Day 01: Arrival at San Jose, Costa Rica. Hotel Grano de Oro. Standard Room (B).

Transfer to hotel in San Jose. After passing through Immigration you will be met by one of our representatives. He will take you to your hotel and give you your welcome kit. Overnight in San Jose City. Situated on a shady street just off Paseo Colón, San José's main thoroughfare, Hotel Grano de Oro. Converted from a Tropical Victorian mansion, the hotel maintains the warmth and comfort of a private home. Hotel Grano de Oro is a true oasis, a sanctuary in the heart of the city. Hallways lined with period photographs and original art meander through the building and present lush tropical flower arrangements and luxurious plants at every turn. Spanish tile fountains grace intimate atriums, ensuring that one is never far from the soothing melody of falling water

Day 02: Car rental delivery at hotel, Self-drive to the Caribbean Coast, Puerto Viejo. Hotel Namuwoki. Bungalow Deluxe (B).  

Namuwoki is at the Southeast of Costa Rica, bathed by the Caribbean Sea, at the entrance of the Shelter of Wild Life Gandoca de Manzanillo, in an area where the most beautiful beaches of the country belonging to the Biological Row of Mesoamerica are waiting for you. All the bungalows have a terrace with a porch and hammocks with decoration in a cosy colonial style and Caribbean color. Punta Cocles lies few kilometers south from Puerto Viejo de Limon. This wonderful beach town on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica holds many surprises. With its laid back attitude and Caribbean life style, you can be assured of a relaxing Costa Rican holiday. Naturally, for those of us who like a more active holiday, Puerto Viejo has it all. Long walks on pristine beaches, experiencing exotic flora and fauna in a wildlife refuge, snorkeling or diving among the many reefs in our crystal clear waters, world-class surfing, mountain biking, kayaking and cultural visits to indigenous people. 

Day 03: Free day at Caribbean Coast, Puerto Viejo. Hotel Namuwoki. Bungalow Deluxe (B).

Relax at the laid-back Caribe. Bean village of Puerto Viejo. Hike through the rainforest, go diving, or just relax! Like Cahuita, the town of Puerto Viejo offers many facilities to ensure an enjoyable visit. Lodging and travel companies and a tour guide association offer trips to other areas of Talamanca. There are also excellent restaurants featuring local and international cuisine, as well as varied nightlife offering traditional music and dancing from the Costa Rican Caribbean. Stretching from the town of Puerto Viejo to its entrance in the north, Playa Negra is famous for its truly black sand, which owes its color to a high manganese content. Shaped in an attractive curve, Playa Negra features moderate to strong surf. Vegetation is limited as the town’s main street runs directly behind the beach. This spot is ideal for sunbathing, swimming and leisurely strolls, which can run northeast to the mouth of the Río Carbón.

Long and wide, Playa Cocles beach has moderate to strong surf. To the north and opposite Punta Pirriplí lies a beautiful rocky island of the same name that lends special appeal to this coast of few islands. This beach is perfect for enjoying activities such as sunbathing, swimming, hiking, horseback riding, beach volleyball and soccer. A small coral reef lies off Punta Cocles. Along the beach there are numerous tourist services, including surfboard and bicycle rentals. Horses and motorcycles may be rented in Puerto Viejo to explore this and other beaches located to the south Puerto Viejo is the translation to what the historic locals really called this area: "Old Harbor". There's a great calmness in the small town of Puerto Viejo and the rest of the coast.

It's nearby surroundings such as Cahuita National Park, Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge, beautiful beaches and impressive hiking spots, make Puerto Viejo the epicenter of the community. Puerto Viejo de Talamanca is a coastal town in the Talamanca Canton in Limón Province. The town is located in southeastern Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica. Everything that you would expect for a tropical destination is served up on a golden platter on Costa Rica 's Caribbean coast. Lush surroundings and friendly people are the ultimate compliments to any traveler's vacation.  

Day 04: Self drive from Puerto Viejo to Arenal Volcano. Hotel Arenal Nayara. Deluxe room (B).

The Arenal Volcano National Park lies within the Arenal Conservation Area, protecting eight of Costa Rica's 12 life zones and 16 protected reserves in the region between the Guanacaste and Tilarán mountain ranges, and including Lake Arenal. Arenal Volcano has been constantly active since it woke up after 400 years. One of the world's most active volcanoes, the Arenal produces huge ash columns, explosions and glowing red lava almost every day. Fascinating fauna and flora exist here in amazing quantities making this a prime location for viewing many different species of both plants and animals.  

Day 05: Arenal Volcano. Hotel Arenal Nayara. Deluxe room (B).

Arenal Nayara Hotel & Gardens is a luxury boutique hotel that is widely recognized for providing premium luxury amenities and ultra-personalized service. Located in the outskirts of the amazing Arenal Volcano, Arenal Nayara is an oasis of tranquility, where guests can experience a profound and organic immersion with nature, while living in luxury at the same time. Surrounded by lush tropical rainforest, each one of casitas (bungalows) provide an exclusive, ultra-luxurious retreat with direct views to the Arenal Volcano.

Arenal Nayara consistently ranks as the number 1 hotel in the Arenal area on TripAdvisor and most other travel websites. Furthermore, TripAdvisor recently named Nayara as the most romantic hotel in all of South and Central America and one of the top 5 most romantic hotels in the World.

Optional activities: Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge, Tour To the Arenal Volcano and Tabacón Resort Hot Springs, Sport Fishing in the Arenal Lake, Arenal Volcano Hike Tour, Mountain Biking, Venado Caves Tour, horseback Riding to Arenal Volcano, Peñas Blancas Safari Float.

Day 06: Self drive from Arenal to Monteverde. Hotel Establo. Deluxe room (B).   

The spectacular Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve is a very important and popular ecotourism destination in Costa Rica. With its unique cloud canopy, this biological reserve located in Puntarenas province is 6 km east of the town of Santa Elena. Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve is one of the most stunning and breathtaking nature reserves in the entire world. Unlike rainforests, cloud forests usually receive much less rain in comparison. However, because a cloud forest is situated at a higher altitude, it has more humidity and is therefore cloudier than a rainforest. This biological reserve sits at an elevation of between 1,200 m to 1,600 m, and is surrounded by a misty cover that supports a fantastic diversity of flora and fauna. Often creating a surreal environment, this reserve is considered to be among the most exceptional wildlife sanctuaries in the New World Tropics. It’s no secret that Monteverde is famous for its cloud forests and abundance of wildlife. This being the case,hikes through the forested mountains – both during the daytime and at night – are a requisite activity. Adventure enthusiasts can consider a canopy tour or mountain bike ride, while culturally inclined visitors will enjoy visits to the coffee plantations or Monteverde Cheese Factory.

The Hotel El Establo is set on a private 150-acre (60-hectare) farm that is adjacent to the Monteverde and Santa Elena reserves. Owned by a Quaker/Costa Rican family, this hotel has everything that one could ever need – restaurants, bars, swimming pools, sports courts, a spa, game room and more. Amazingly, the hotel even runs its very own canopy tour. Here, guests can arrange a tour at their convenience and be led by professional guides across the tour’s 16 cables. Other activities can be enjoyed at the soccer, tennis and basketball courts, swimming pools, or at the hotel’s gym.

El Establo’s two restaurants offer a wide range of options for both lunch and dinner. "Las Riendas" has more traditional Costa Rican food and international dishes, whereas the "Laggus" restaurant offers fine cuisine in an elegant atmosphere. The attendants at the Green Leaf Spa are experts in the art of relaxation. The treatments that are available include aromatherapy and hot stone massage, various exfoliation options, baths, wraps, facial treatments and more.

Day 07: Free day in Monteverde.Hotel Establo. Deluxe room (B).

The Monteverde tourism zone is known around the world for its conservation efforts and lifestyle centered around respect for nature. Situated in the Tilarán mountain range, Santa Elena is a very distinctive community: a mix of rural area and developing city, of paved streets and gravel roads. At an altitude of 1,330 meters, the town enjoys cool temperatures; its irregular topography makes for pleasant scenery. Santa Elena Preserve, as it is commonly known, is dedicated to protecting the cloud forest and contributing to the education of the Santa Elena community. Revenue from the preserve is used to protect the forest and to develop environmental programs.Several trails are available to enjoy the 310-hectare preserve. On clear days, Arenal Volcano may be seen.

Several options are available for observing life and activity in the treetops: several species of monkey, birds, snakes and the forest canopy itself, as well as different varieties of orchids, bromeliads, pinguins, climbing plants, parasites and communities of insects and pollinators. As a complement to all this, tourists can live the adventure of walking over suspension bridges, gliding through the canopy on zip lines anchored to platforms, or swinging from the seat of an aerial tram. Canopy, Sky Walk, Sky Trek and Natural Wonder Tram are options for visitors to enjoy adventure and nature.

Day 08: Self-drive from Monteverde to Tamarindo Beach. Hotel Jardin del Eden. Deluxe room (B).  

Welcome to Tamarindo Beach, Costa Rica. Playa Tamarindo, located on the Pacific Coast, has much to offer besides its crystal clear ocean, exquisite nature and stunning sunsets. Tamarindo is a wide white sanded beach that offers first class sport fishing, sailing, surfing, golfing, ATV tours, turtle watching, diving, horseback riding, canopy tours, jungle boat rides, beauty spa, an art gallery and crafts and pottery stores. As a multi-cultural community, Tamarindo boasts several restaurants, whether you like to eat Vegetarian, Costa Rican style, Italian or Sea Food. The sun shines at the beautiful beach all year round, and the temperature is pleasantly warm, too. The nearby Playa Langosta, (Langosta Beach) boasts pure white sand beaches sprinkled with multicolored shells. Such romantic scenery beckons visitors to stroll along its pristine shoreline, enjoy the serenity of the sapphire waters, or behold a brilliant sunset draping the evening with a silvery moonlight that dances atop tranquil waters. 

Day 09 & 10: Tamarindo Beach. Hotel Jardin del Eden. Deluxe room (B).

In this enchanting small boutique hotel you will enjoy relaxation, adventure as well as water activities. The hotel itself is a unique experience: an irresistible touch of top notch class in the middle of lush tropical gardens, just a three minute walk from the ocean. Non stop activities: These are what you will find in Tamarindo, but if you prefer to relax, just enjoy a wonderful massage to recharge yourself.  Magical hands moving all over your body will make you feel new again!  Playa Tamarindo, along with Playa Grande and Playa Ventanas, make up Bahía Tamarindo. This beautiful beach features rocky areas and an island (Capitán) at its southern end. Its luxuriant greenery includes pink trumpet trees, tamarinds and coconut palms. Excellent and varied services are offered, allowing visitors to enjoy the beach by day and the nightlife after sunset. A Blue Flag beach, Tamarindo is ideal for relaxing, walking, horseback riding and sport-fishing and diving tours, as well as visiting the mangrove swamp and observing nesting sea turtles. South of the bay lies the most important stretch of coast for surfing.

Day 11:  Self drive directly to Juan Santamaría International Airport (Approx 5 hours). 

Drop Off car. Return flight Home, or extension.

Includes:

• Personalized information, maps, brochures, vouchers, visit agent.
• Airport transfers upon arrival and departure.
• Local Travel Program Support 24 hours emergency service.
• 10 nights lodging at hotels indicated at the preceding itinerary.
• Breakfast and local taxes.
• 10 days rental car Daihatsu Bego 4x4 or similar
  • free mileage.
  • Basic insurance not included.

Excludes:

• Other meals.
• National Park entrance fees. US$ 10,00 per person
• Basic-mandatory car insurance US$18,00 per day
• additional insurance options, gasoline or GPS.
• Optional excursions tours and activities
• Airport taxes US$28,00 per person not included
• International Flights.
• Personal expenses.
• Extra´s at hotels.

Price Conditions:

High Season

US $ 1145.00 per person

Double Occupancy

November 01, 2011 to April 30, 2012

July 01 to August 31, 2012

Low Season

US $ 1080.00 per person

Double Occupancy

May 01 to June 30, 2012

September 01 to October 31, 2011/2012

Additional cost apply between Dec 20 – Jan 05 2012

Important Note:

What makes us different? You can customize your Costa Rica trip to fit your exact needs. Maximize fun time and minimize hassles, mistakes and travel time. Every detail from airport pick-up to adventure tours and activities are arranged by us to make sure the only thing you have to worry about is having fun. Use our quick and easy trip customization form and find out how affordable your dream Costa Rica vacation can be! With CRS you don´t just vacation in Costa Rica, you experience it. Why settle for less? Contact us today.

What To Bring:

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.

1 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.
2 Bring plenty of sunblock. Also include insect repellent, a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses and a swimsuit.
3 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.
4 Pack separate clothes for evenings. Simple dresses are great for women, while men will do well in long shorts and a button-down shirt.
5 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.
6 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.
7 Take an electric converter and adapter.

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