Active Costa Rica hiking tour

Pura Vida, and welcome to Costa Rica. Upon arrival in San José, a private transfer will take you comfortably to your hotel, where your Costa Rica hiking tour begins.

After time to settle in, enjoy an optional afternoon walk in a nearby urban nature reserve, an easy introduction to the country’s rich biodiversity and a gentle way to stretch your legs after travel.

Later, meet for a trip briefing and hiking overview, where you will review upcoming trails, terrain, and elevation changes, setting the tone for an active and rewarding Costa Rica travel experience.

Travel by private transfer to La Fortuna, set at the foot of Arenal Volcano and considered one of the best places to visit in Costa Rica for dramatic scenery and accessible trails.

Upon arrival, begin exploring with the Arenal 1968 lava field trail, a moderate loop hike offering sweeping volcano views and insight into past eruptions that shaped the landscape.

In the evening, choose to visit nearby natural hot springs to relax and recover after your first full day on the trails, easing into the rhythm of your active adventure in northern Costa Rica.

Today continues your Costa Rica hiking tour with a guided hike to La Fortuna Waterfall. Descend the forested trail to the base of the cascade, watching for birds and wildlife along the way, and enjoy time to swim in the cool pool beneath the falls. After the hike, share a riverside, home-cooked lunch with the Rodríguez family, complete with freshly brewed Costa Rican coffee.

In the afternoon, explore deeper into Arenal Volcano National Park with an extended rainforest trail hike across old lava flows and regenerating forest. Learn how past eruptions reshaped the region and keep an eye out for wildlife along the route. For advanced hikers, an optional longer ridge trail adds elevation gain and broader views.

This day also fits beautifully into our beaches and volcanoes Costa Rica trip.

Continue your Costa Rica itinerary with a scenic transfer around Lake Arenal, climbing from volcanic lowlands into the cool highlands of Monteverde. As the landscape shifts, enjoy sweeping views of the lake and surrounding hills before arriving in the cloud forest region.

In the afternoon, set out on a guided cloud forest hike that combines hanging bridges and well-maintained forest trails, offering a different perspective from the rainforest hikes of previous days.

Walk beneath mist-draped trees rich with epiphytes and listen for birdlife in the canopy. As evening approaches, take a short sunset viewpoint walk in the highlands to admire expansive views and the changing light over the mountains.

Begin the morning with a final cloud forest reserve hike in Monteverde, exploring misty trails rich with biodiversity and panoramic viewpoints. This elevated walk adds depth to your Costa Rica hiking tour, completing your time in the highlands before descending toward the coast.

Later, transfer to the Central Pacific, where lush mountains give way to a tropical shoreline. Upon arrival in Manuel Antonio, enjoy an optional coastal sunset walk along scenic paths overlooking the ocean.

This relaxed yet active transition balances your itinerary and can also be included in a luxury tour in Costa Rica for travelers seeking both refined comfort and immersive outdoor experiences.

Begin your final day of this Costa Rica hiking tour with a guided hike in Manuel Antonio National Park, including the scenic Punta Catedral loop. This coastal trail combines rainforest paths with elevated viewpoints overlooking the Pacific, offering opportunities to spot monkeys, sloths, and tropical birds along the way.

After the hike, enjoy time at the beach or choose an optional waterfall hike at Rainmaker Conservation Project for one last immersion in lush jungle scenery.

Later, a private transfer will take you to San José Airport for international departure, or continue your Costa Rica trip with a tailor-made extension designed around your interests.