Costa Rica evokes a patchwork of cultures and styles, and that is celebrated on this custom-tailored 8-day excursion through Costa Rica. Costa Rica’s history is a melting pot of indigenous Indians, rampaging pirates, pre-Columbian civilizations and colonial change. eet two indigenous Indian communities, follow the storyline through plantations and cloud forests, and experience many facets of Costa Rica’s rich culture. Over these eight days, you will discover how culture is not always clear cut.
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
San Jose – Architectural Highlights
Upon your arrival, you will be greeted at the airport and escorted to your charming accommodation in the heart of old San Jose. After checking into your hotel, you will have the afternoon to explore some of the city’s iconic neighborhoods. Mercado Central is a perfect cultural introduction. While in the area, your guide will lead you to Catedral Metropolitana, which is a grand church that showcases the congruence of Orthodox, Baroque, and Neoclassical styles. From here, you will explore Barrio Amon, which is the area of mansions where your hotel is located. For dinner, you will be transferred to a hilltop restaurant that serves fusion food and has live music.
What's Included:
Day 2
San Jose – Through Changing Civilizations
Day 3
La Fortuna – Lounging in Hot Springs
Day 4
La Fortuna – A Tribal Indian Community
Day 5
Manuel Antonio National Park – Flying to a Rainforest Park
Day 6
Manuel Antonio National Park – Searching for Wildlife
Day 7
Manuel Antonio National Park – Pirates to Plantations
Day 8
Manuel Antonio National Park – Departure
Trip Highlights
- Connect with an indigenous Indian culture during a day with a tribal community near La Fortuna
- Explore Costa Rica’s colonial past before following the storyline back to pre-Columbian times in San Jose
- Immerse yourself with the indigenous Boruca people and learn about a recent history that includes pirates and plantations
- Discover Costa Rica’s natural history, including monkeys and birdlife in Manuel Antonio National Park
- Indulge in a tour of a coffee plantation, where you can witness Costa Rica’s evolving coffee culture
- Bask in therapeutic hot springs and on a Pacific, white sand beach
- Delight in the complete range of Costa Rican landscapes from a revered volcano to cloud forests and coastline
- Sample a variety of traditional cuisines in authentic settings and compare these to upcoming fusion styles
Detailed Description
Costa Rican culture often is forgotten in a clamber to experience the country’s natural history. With so many volcanos and capuchin monkeys, it can be easy to forget the culture. However, this country possesses one of the most diverse histories in the Americas. Fortunately, much of that history can still be experienced today. Indigenous Indian communities maintain strongholds in wilderness areas, and colonial legacies paint a picture of past centuries. You can follow the tales of pirates and coffee plantations in addition to pre-Columbian prestige and traditional tribal dance. Moreover, you can do it all in just eight days with this exciting journey.
You will begin in San Jose, which is a capital city that reflects more than a millennium of history. A local guide will lead you around historical neighborhoods and churches, where the architecture combines neoclassical, Baroque, and indigenous ideas. Fusion cuisine complements the cultural highlights, and you will listen to live folk music as part of a tour through Costa Rica’s changing civilizations. You will also visit a coffee plantation en route to La Fortuna, where you will experience a relatively modern side to the country with the nearby Arenal Volcano evoking the unmistakable presence of Mother Nature.
The Maleku tribe continues to practice traditional culture and craftsmanship, including farming cacao and observing antique huacas or tombs. With a day in a Maleku village, you will witness how an Indian community lives in the modern-day, notably the cultural aspects of life that have been preserved in the face of recent change. Part of your tour will include a dance presentation and lunch, where you can experience how the Maleku language is being kept alive. Natural hot springs will also be a highlight during your two nights in La Fortuna and will provide an opportunity to rest your legs and reflect on the cultural encounters.
The rest of your private tour will be spent in Manuel Antonio National Park, which is a rainforest landscape that is perched over white Pacific beaches. Wildlife is a famous highlight here, and you will spend some time exploring the natural history, notably the monkeys and birdlife. There is also a rich human history here as well. This coastline attracted pirates and was the first area to be overrun by colonialists and their plantations. Indigenous Boruca communities lived through all this and continue to survive today. They will be your narrators during a cultural tour on day seven, and like with every day in Manuel Antonio, local encounters will provide you with a lazy hour on the beach before sunset.
Starting Price
$2,400 per person (excluding international flights)
Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.
What's Included
The starting price is based on travel during the low season for a minimum of two travelers staying in shared 3-star accommodations. Please inquire for a custom trip quote based on your travel preferences and travel dates.
Reviews of Zicasso's Referral Service
4.91 stars based on 723 reviews.
We had a near-perfect experience, I would highly recommend Zicasso's tour company.
Reviewed By Zach O.
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.
