Savor Pura Vida, the Pure Life, with an adventurous Costa Rica vacation tailored to your preferred taste for excitement. Listen to the low, intense wails of howler monkeys, paddle the whitewater along class IV rapids, traipse the forest trails on horseback, and soar through the sky on a scenic zip line. The blend of authentic beauty and captivating exploration creates timeless vacations captured in the waterfalls, volcanic...
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
San Jose – Arrive in the Marvels of Costa Rica with a Gold Museum Tour
The beauty and charm of San Jose emanate from the mixture cosmopolitan ambiance and the daily cultural life typical of a Central American capital city. The colorful facades glow against the sporadic dense greenery, and the trees act as natural fences around homes with thick, large roots holding the sloped terraces in place. The scent of sweet mangos and tangy pineapple drift out of the open storefronts of the numerous markets. Booths and stalls in front of the National Museum around Avenida 2 showcase artisan crafts, from hand-woven hammocks to elegant bags.
Your flight lands at Juan Santamaria International Airport, where your private transfer greets you upon arrival. The warm, tropical air of the Central Valley meets you as you exit the airport, and the full scale of the capital city comes into view with a captivating pulse beating through the streets. The Gold Museum offers extensive insight into the rich history of Costa Rica through the priceless pieces of pre-Colombian artifacts. The galleries display historical currency, ornaments, and gold characters, including El Guerrero, a life-sized figure of a warrior adorned with golden accessories. The surrounding architecture resembles a bank vault, glittering with the gold of Costa Rica’s rich cultural history. You find an oasis on the luxurious grounds of your hotel, which offers exceptional views of the Central Valley. The lush hills roll to the bordering volcanic peaks, and sporadic colorful homes shine against the encompassing emerald trees.
What's Included:
Day 2
Limon – Discover the Thrill of Whitewater on a Guided Rafting Expedition
Day 3
Limon – Explore the Caribbean Jungle and Sea at Cahuita National Park
Day 4
Arenal – Visit the Tirimbina Biological Reserve en route to Arenal
Day 5
Arenal – Enjoy an Exciting 4x4 Rainforest Safari and Relax in Hot Springs
Day 6
Arenal – Indulge the Adventures of Arenal with a Day at Leisure
Day 7
Perez Zeledon – Travel to the Central Pacific Coast for a Sea Kayaking Tour
Day 8
Perez Zeledon – Hike the Tropical Forest and Relax with at your Leisure
Day 9
San Jose – Relish the Uniqueness of Manuel Antonio en route to San Jose
Day 10
San Jose – Depart for Home
Trip Highlights
- Ride the whitewater on Pacuare River during an exciting guided rafting excursion featuring class III and IV rapids
- Follow the lead of knowledgeable guides as you rappel down the side of a cliff beside rushing waterfalls that rush into rippling pools
- Fly through the air on a semi-private zip lining tour taking you through the forest canopy where sloths and hawks perch
- Cruise down the placid water of a mangrove forest within reach of spoonbills, Basiliscus lizard, giant iguanas, and rambunctious howler monkeys
- Become an explorer while following a trail that takes you across a 400-foot long suspension bridge, and leads to a 120-foot tall waterfall
- Spend time on the golden sands of the protected shoreline at Manuel Antonio National Reserve where turtles nest and capuchin monkeys rustle the trees
- Trace the history of Costa Rica through the display of pre-Colombian artifacts in the galleries of the Gold Museum in San Jose
- Get up-close to the flora and fauna of Costa Rica on an exciting 4x4 rainforest safari
- Take a moment to soak in the naturally heated waters of the hot springs coursing through the volcanic region of Arenal
Detailed Description
Your Costa Rica vacation was made with adventure in mind, and this 10-day excursion incorporates luxury, natural splendor, and endless action. The excitement begins with your arrival at Juan Santamaria International Airport in San Jose. After settling into the comforts of your luxurious hotel, you can visit the sensational Gold Museum, which offers insight into the history of Costa Rica through the pre-Colombian artifacts glittering with gold.
The following day, you will travel to the banks of the Pacuare River for a guided whitewater rafting tour. Keep an eye out of toucans, sloths, and howler monkeys as you traverse the river. The remainder of the day is yours to relax in the luxury of your comfortable property. The next day will take you to the waters of Cahuita National Park in search of tropical fish and colorful coral reefs. Follow the trails to find monkeys, iguanas, and the exotic dart frog. Your private transfer will greet you after breakfast the next morning and will escort you to The Tirimbina Biological Reserve.
Watch the birds pass around the banks of the Sarapiqui River while traversing the unique protected area that is used for scientific research. The journey continues as you step into a 4x4 jeep that will take you above a series of waterfalls, and allow you to explore the jungle terrain. Rappel down the cliff beside the waterfalls and into the canyon, before spending the evening relaxing in the warmth of the natural hot springs. The next day is at your leisure to horseback ride on the trails around Arenal in view of the cone-shaped volcanic peak, or zip line through the canopy for an invigorating rush.
Travel west towards the Pacific, before stepping into a kayak and traveling along the waters of the mangrove forest. Spend the next day exploring the grounds around your lodge at your preferred pace, discovering the trails of the lowland tropical forest and shimmering beaches of the Pacific shore. In the morning, you return to San Jose by way of Manuel Antonio National Park, enjoying panoramic views and walks along the water of the celebrated protected scenery. Your private transfer greets you at the hotel on your final day, and escorts you to the airport in San Jose for your flight home, bringing a peaceful end to your adventurous Costa Rica vacation.
Starting Price
$3,000 per person (excluding international flights)
What's Included
- Accommodations
- In-country transportation
- Some or all activities and tours
- Expert trip planning
- 24x7 support during your trip
Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.
Reviews of Zicasso's Referral Service
4.91 stars based on 718 reviews.
We celebrated my daughter's high school graduation with a 12-day trip to Costa Rica. I interviewed several local travel agencies and fell in love with Zicasso's tour company from the very first phone conversation. The owner was fantastic to work with, helping me craft the perfect adventure-filled, action-packed vacation for my family. He was honest and took the time to listen to our preferences. He provided great feedback and suggestions.
Prior to our trip, I felt very confident that I was in good hands and knew that every detail was taken care of. During our trip, the company owner checked in with me several times to make sure everything was ok. Unfortunately, someone in my family had to go home early and he was so helpful in coordinating an extra trip to the airport to accommodate our family needs (it required an extra nine hours of driving and a hotel stay for the driver).
The company owner and our agent were generous enough to not charge me for this extra trip. They even canceled all the hotel and activity reservations for that family member, and I received a refund at the end of my trip! It truly was a trip of a lifetime. I found myself thinking, I wish there was a travel company like this for every country because I would use them again to plan my next vacation, wherever it may be!
I also want to give a special shoutout to my driver, who drove my family on several long road trips during our vacation. During our drives, he would spot many interesting animals and birds, and stop on the side of the road so we could get out and get great pictures. Some of my best close-up opportunities to look at animals occurred while in the car. He talked about the agriculture, the school system, and the different rainforests. He even bought plantain chips from the side of the road and shared them with my family. Even though his job was to drive us from point A to point B, I felt his knowledge and his ability to spot animals was better than many of the tour guides we had on the trip. He really cared about Costa Rica and was excited to show us all it had to offer.
I highly recommend this travel company. And ask for our driver to drive you around; you won't be disappointed.
Reviewed By caroline C.
We used a Zicasso travel expert to plan our trip. The trip was absolutely fabulous and the service was very easy to use. We would definitely use them again.
Reviewed By Allison A.
Zicasso's travel company was very attentive and followed up with us throughout the trip to make sure we were doing well. We had an awesome time and would recommend them to anyone planning a trip to Costa Rica
Reviewed By Tara I.
Everything was arranged thoughtfully, with time for "adventures" and downtime at terrific resorts to relax. All pick-ups, travel by limo, and drop-offs went as arranged. The drivers, guides, and hotel staff were all very pleasant and kind. Zicasso's tour operator did a great job planning our eight-day, family-of-10 trip to Costa Rica! We appreciated that most tours, hikes, and ocean experiences were small groups of just our group of 10. This made it a personal and annoyance-free experience all around. Thanks!
Reviewed By Lolli H.
The Zicasso tour company was very accommodating. They put together a great itinerary and when we wanted to add something, it was no problem.
Reviewed By David M.
We had an unbelievably great trip! Everything went smoothly, was already lined up by Zicasso's tour company, and communication was excellent. The private drivers between locations were excellent and very informative. We could not have asked for a better experience!
Reviewed By JESSICA V.