Beaches and volcanoes Costa Rica trip

Arrive in San José and ease into your Costa Rica travel experience with a relaxed first day at leisure. After settling into your hotel, take time to rest, explore the neighborhood, or enjoy a casual meal featuring local flavors.

This gentle start allows you to recover from your journey, review plans, and prepare for the adventures ahead, setting a comfortable and unhurried tone for the days to come.

Start your day with breakfast, then head to Poás Volcano National Park for a visit to its dramatic crater viewpoint, with a walking trail of about 1.5 km. Continue to Botos Lagoon, a peaceful former crater surrounded by cloud forest.

Next, visit La Paz Waterfall Gardens to explore rainforest trails and enjoy the hummingbird observatory and butterfly garden. After a hearty lunch, continue to La Fortuna to settle into the Arenal area, with time to relax in the evening and enjoy local dining.

Rise early for Sky River Drift at Arenal Park, where Costa Rica Sky Adventures turns tubing into a full rainforest experience. You will combine river tubing for more than 3 miles with three canopy cables, including a controlled 147 ft descent from a treetop platform. The cable section covers about 1 km, linked by 300-metre connectors, and the full adventure lasts around 2 hours and 45 minutes.

High-tech carbon fibre lines and a DEUS-engineered pulley support a smooth, secure ride, while locally designed tubes keep the experience authentic and made for adventurous travelers.

Enjoy a relaxed morning at your hotel before your private transfer to Manuel Antonio, one of the best places to visit in Costa Rica for beaches, rainforest, and wildlife in one stunning setting. Spend the afternoon discovering white sand shores, guided nature walks in the national park, and close-up encounters with monkeys, sloths, and tropical birds, followed by curated dining.

Your tailored itinerary can also include snorkeling, sunset beach time, and a local guide who knows the hidden coves and prime photo spots, creating an authentic Costa Rica experience.

Join a tailor-made guided morning in Manuel Antonio National Park. A local naturalist leads a 3.2 km loop along varied trails, sharing insight into the park’s flora and fauna as you look for three native monkey species, sloths, tropical birds, reptiles, orchids, and butterflies.

Midway, pause for about 20 minutes at a park beach to relax, swim if you wish, and photograph the shoreline. Your guide may use a spotting scope for close-up wildlife viewing and help you frame memorable shots. After the walk, return to your hotel.

You will be picked up at your Manuel Antonio hotel and transferred to the Quepos dock for a tailor-made ocean adventure that fits perfectly into your Costa Rica itinerary. Paddle for about 2.5 hours past islands and quiet inlets, watching for nesting pelicans, flying fish, and other marine life along the way.

Pause at secluded Bisanz Beach for a snack before a 30-minute snorkel. Visibility changes with the season, but you may still spot parrotfish, angelfish, starfish, and even sea turtles. Afterward, enjoy a homemade meal, then relax on the return transfer.

You will be picked up from your Manuel Antonio hotel and transferred to San José airport for your onward flight. Along the way, enjoy a final glimpse of the Pacific coastline, with optional stops for photos, a short beach walk, or even a coffee farm visit to personalize your Beaches and Volcanoes trip.

Pick up and drop off times are flexible, and your driver can adjust the schedule to match your flight and any last-minute wishes, ensuring a smooth, effortless, and memorable farewell.