Costa Rica Escape

Welcome to your Costa Rica Escape! Arrive in San José, the capital of Costa Rica, and meet up with your tour leader and fellow travellers at the hotel this evening. If you arrive early, explore this gorgeous city which boasts a backdrop of volcanoes in the north and the Talamanca mountains in the south. Tonight, after getting an overview of the exciting upcoming itinerary, head to a local restaurant for a delicious welcome dinner. Get to know your tour leader and new travel buddies with an authentic Costa Rican meal!

Welcome dinner in San José: Get your first taste of Costa Rican cuisine with an included welcome dinner in San José. Tuck into a delicious meal of patacones (fried plantain) and your choice of main course.

After breakfast, say “goodbye for now” to San José and head towards La Fortuna. This small town is known as the gateway to the spectacular Arenal Volcano National Park. Arrive in La Fortuna this afternoon and set off on an orientation walk. This evening is free to spend as you wish. Join the highly recommended Hot Springs optional excursion to experience the tranquil and healing thermal water pools that this area is famous for. Admire the crystalline waterfalls and relax in these hot spring waters before enjoying an included buffet dinner!

Visit La Fortuna: This town may be small in size but its surrounding nature is nothing short of spectacular. La Fortuna is renowned for its natural hot springs as well as being the gateway to the Arenal Volcano National Park, which is home to an active volcano.

Look forward to a full free day in La Fortuna to explore the awe-inspiring nature which can be seen all over the town and beyond. From volcano views to lush rainforests and plenty of hiking trails, La Fortuna has so much to offer those who visit. For those who wish to experience the beauty of the Arenal Volcano and nearby rainforest, be sure to join today’s optional excursion which offers an expertly-guided, leisurely and informative hike around the volcano and national park. This evening, take the opportunity to learn more about (and taste more) Costa Rican cuisine with a fun and interactive cooking class! This is the best way to immerse yourself in local culture.

Farewell, La Fortuna! This morning, the tour begins the journey to Monteverde travelling through the magnificent Cloud Forest. Keep your eyes peeled and cameras ready for stunning scenery as we drive. Arrive in Monteverde in the afternoon and join your tour leader on an orientation walk through the town before enjoying some free time for lunch. The rest of the day is free to explore on your own, relax or join the Coffee Farm Tour and discover how three important and delicious Costa Rican exports (coffee, chocolate and sugar cane) are made. This evening, enjoy a delicious dinner at a vibrant local restaurant surrounded by lush greenery.

Drive through the Monteverde Cloud Forest: Look forward to an incredibly scenic drive as you travel from La Fortuna to Monteverde along the Cloud Forest reserve road. Known as the “Crown Jewel” of the world’s cloud forests, Monteverde is by far the country’s most famous and stretches over 10,000 hectares!

Make the most of a free day in this beautiful part of Costa Rica. Chat with your tour leader to learn about all of the options for excursions today. Explore more of Monteverde’s famous cloud forest and take to new heights on the Hanging Bridges & Sloth Sanctuary excursion for an adrenaline-pumping experience featuring amazing views followed by a visit to a sloth sanctuary! Or, explore the area at your own pace - you could stroll the streets, sit down for a local meal, visit a butterfly farm and learn more about these colourful little creatures, and more! The choice is all yours today!

Moving along from Monteverde, travel onwards to Quepos. This coastal town is a dreamy destination for beachgoers and wildlife enthusiasts thanks to its crystal-clear waters, incredible marine life and rich biodiversity. After checking into the hotel for the next two evenings, enjoy free time to soak up the sun. Take a dip in the Pacific Ocean, sunbathe on the beach or join the sunset catamaran cruise which offers an opportunity to see local marine life and admire exceptional views of the Manuel Antonio National Park. Depending on the season, humpback whales, dolphins and stingrays can be spotted among the waves! Marvel at the awe-inspiring surroundings. go snorkelling, slide down the boat’s waterslide and enjoy a tasty dinner on board.

Soak up the sun in Quepos: Spend two nights in the picture-perfect coastal town of Quepos. This tropical paradise is where the rainforest meets the Pacific Ocean resulting in unparalleled biodiversity. Nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts can look forward to beautiful beaches which boast dazzling blue waters, fascinating marine life such as whales, dolphins and stingrays, and exotic wildlife including monkeys, sloths and colourful birds!

This morning, set off on an adventure through the impressive Manuel Antonio National Park. This park features a vast diversity of landscapes from white-sand beaches to forests and mountains! Within this park, around 184 species of birds and 109 species of mammals reside including sloths, monkeys, toucans and more. Marvel at the picture-perfect fauna and flora in this region and take the opportunity to swim in the crystal clear waters of the beautiful beaches. Later this afternoon, head back to the hotel and look forward to a free evening in Quepos.

Explore Manuel Antonio National Park: Discover the vast beauty and diversity of landscapes within this national park. With 184 species of birds and 109 species of mammals calling this park home, keep an eye out for toucans, monkeys, sloths, iguanas and much more. Don’t miss this opportunity to take a dip in the crystal-clear waters of one of the park’s picturesque beaches.

Departing Quepos this morning, the tour travels back to where it all began - San José! However, this Costa Rica adventure isn’t over just yet. This afternoon, get to know Costa Rica’s vibrant capital on a driving tour through the city. Admire San José’s unique Spanish colonial architecture and see top sights including Casa Amarillo, the National Theatre and the main town square. This evening, sit down for one last farewell dinner with the group. Reminisce about the many memories made over the last 8 days and raise a glass to the many unforgettable Costa Rica travel highlights experienced together!

San José driving tour: Join your tour leader on a driving tour through San José. As Costa Rica’s capital and largest city, San José is full of historic buildings, attractive architecture and natural scenery which can be seen in the city’s parks as well as in the surrounding landscapes. Top sights on this tour include the Casa Amarillo, the National Theatre and the main town square.

Farewell dinner: Sit down for one last dinner with the group as you bid farewell to Costa Rica.

Enjoy the last breakfast with the tour group this morning, after which this jam-packed Costa Rica coach tour comes to an end. Don’t forget to swap contact details with your newfound travel friends before travelling onwards to your next destination. Expat Explore wishes you a safe journey and hopes to see you soon!