7-Nights Experience Costa Rica: Arenal & Guanacaste from $2,454

Itinerary Details

Day 1: Welcome to Costa Rica

Transfer: San Jose Juan Santamaria Aptto San Jose CR

Hotel: Hotel Autentico (3 Star Rating)

Hotel Autentico is located 15 minutes away from the Juan Santamaria International Airport, 10 minutes from downtown, and within walking distance of the Costa Rican Art Museum and La Sabana Park. The hotel features 84 guest rooms with air conditioning or ceiling fan, cable TV, coffee maker, bathroom with hairdryer, hot water, a direct dial telephone, a radio alarm clock, and a safe deposit box.

Today you will be privately transferred from your hotel in San Jose to Arenal, a journey that will take approximately seven hours due to the scenic activity along the way. After hitting the road and driving for approximately one hour, you'll arrive to La Paz Waterfall. Upon arrival to La Paz, meander through the nearby trails that lead to a series of five waterfalls, La Paz the most famous among them. You'll also pause for a buffet lunch (included) and have the opportunity to explore some of the nearby butterfly, frog and hummingbird gardens. Total travel time, including the visit La Paz Waterfall, is approximately seven hours.

Hotel: Arenal Manoa Resort Hotel and Hot Springs (4 Star Rating)

Arenal Manoa Hotel is a beautiful place to rest, relax and enjoy the marvelous view of Arenal Volcano. Surrounded by gardens, pastures and animals, our rooms have been designed so that each one offers you a panoramic view of the volcano. Our visitors can take advantage of our spacious gardens for walking and meditation as well as the opportunities to see the daily operations of a typical Costa Rican farm.

After a shared transfer to the Sky Tram & Sky Trek grounds, the tour begins with the Sky Tram, a delightful activity for people of all ages. Before leaving the main building to start the tour, you will be given the necessary equipment (harness, helmet, gloves), which the guides will be responsible for adjusting correctly. You will then participate in a brief safety talk regarding the proper way to fasten the cables and to use the braking system. From there, the gondolas of the Sky Tram rise delicately above the rainforest, offering beautiful landscapes during the journey. The walk starts at the reception and ends at the highest point of the reserve, on a lookout with an excellent view of the forest, the volcano, and the lake. The gondola ride lasts approximately 20 minutes during which a local guide will explain the vegetation and fauna of the forest canopy. Then, the Sky Trek will take you back to the starting point. From this area, you will begin to slide on a track of zip lines that extend through canyons in the middle of the treetops. So begins the exciting adventure in zip lines descending the mountains and returning to the starting point in the main building. You will be able to experience and observe the rainforest from a bird's eye view, admiring the wildlife from the heights. This adventure includes eight cables with a distance of almost 3 km (2 miles) in length, all while enjoying panoramic views of the forest, lake and Arenal Volcano.

Arenal is well known for its impressively diverse range of fauna, however, the most popular species among them is quite likely the sloth. During this activity, you will have the opportunity to admire two or three finger sloths, and to do so in a completely natural setting. Pioneers in wildlife tours in the region, you'll set out alongside the expert guides with Callidryas Tours to explore the nearby countryside in search of sloths. Thanks to the knowledgeable and eagle-eyed guides (paired with the relatively limited movements of sloths) you are all but guaranteed to spot a few sloths throughout the tour. Along the way, you may also see other incredible creatures like toucans, poison dart frogs, iguanas and monkeys, among others. At the end of the tour, you will be returned to your hotel.

Transfer: La Fortuna - Arenal to Tamarindo

Hotel: Tamarindo Diria Beach Resort (4 Star Rating)

Tamarindo Diria Beach and Golf Resort is the only hotel located on the white sands of the world famous Tamarindo Beach. Spread out over 5 acres and featuring a large outdoor swimming pool overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Tamarindo Diria Beach and Golf Resort offers the best of Costa Rica's natural beauty. This large resort has 3 restaurants, a spa and a casino. Playa Conchal and Playa Flamingo are within a 25 minute drive of the hotel.

This amazing activity begins with an introductory speech about the experience that you will enjoy, then the anchor is pulled and you will be sailing to one of the many pristine beaches in the area. On the way you will be able to admire marine wildlife specially turtles, dolphins, flying fish or whales. The crew will provide snorkel equipment, and you will have the chance to search the waters for one hour approximately, looking for exotic sea life. You will also enjoy a varied food offerings available on board as well as an open bar including sodas, juices, beers and some liquors. Soon after the snorkeling experience you will go back across the bay to finally arrive when the sun goes down. Important: It is recommended that you bring your own beach towel.

Spend your day at leisure soaking up coastal charm. Relax on powdery golden sands or poolside at your hotel, or consider participating in a catamaran cruise to nearby coves. Snorkeling and paddleboarding reveal colorful marine life, while charming towns offer aromatic taquerias and boutique shopping. For a more local touch, visit a resident art gallery, a coastal cafe, or explore trails at a nearby nature reserve. As evening arrives, a relaxing dinner by the water as the sky glows pink and gold is highly recommended.

Transfer: Tamarindo to Liberia Airport