Find paradise on this 8-day Costa Rica vacation with adventures set between two stunning oceans and filled with verdant tropical rainforests. Discover the friendly locals and explore the jungle canopy in search of exotic birds and elusive jaguars, find comfort in natural thermal hot springs and witness the powerful conical peak of an active volcano.
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
San Jose – Exuberant Beginnings
Welcome to the capital of Costa Rica, the fast moving city of San Jose. The metropolis quickly shows you its charm, vibrant in sporadic murals and locals’ jovial smiles. Shopping arcades overflow with active people passing the afternoon with friendly faces and window-shopping. Colonial art mansions display contemporary artwork in refurbished modern galleries. Your private guide meets you at the airport and soon you settle into the lovely grounds of your boutique hotel, filled with the famous warmth of Ticos, Costa Rican locals. The scent of rich Costa Rican coffee drifts through the lobby and you are easily swept up into the city’s underlying charm.
The Art Deco Décor matches the home-country edifice to create a chic, yet comfortable ambiance. San Jose was once a small town in the mid 16th century set atop a landscape that continues to rise up to its highest point at 4,100 feet. The Blue Castle is located on Central Avenue and was constructed in the early 1900s. The neoclassical home presents the classic style and color of the past, tinted with the continued blue coloration it is known for today. The beauty of the building represents the magnetism of the city, and hidden around every energetic corner is a treasure waiting to be noticed and uncovered.
What's Included:
Day 2
Tortuguero – Where Turtles Tread
Day 3
Tortuguero – Turtle Friends
Day 4
Arenal – Rushing Water to Remnants of Lava
Day 5
Arenal – Watching the Refuge
Day 6
Tamarindo – The Edge of the Surf
Day 7
Tamarindo – Protected Paradise
Day 8
San Jose – Cheerful Goodbyes
Trip Highlights
- Traverse the canals around Tortuguero on the Caribbean coastline
- Visit the nesting grounds of the endangered leatherback sea turtle
- Indulge in the soothing waters of natural hot springs in Arenal
- Explore the vast rainforest canopy of the birdwatcher’s paradise at Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge
- Discover the combination of natural beauty and cosmopolitan luxury in the city of Tamarindo
- Journey along mangrove estuaries to find the marvelous avifauna and caiman life that populate the areas
- Relax in comfortable and luxurious resorts throughout the Costa Rican countryside
Starting Price
$4,300 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.
Zicasso's travel specialist gave us good service during the planning stage.
The hotels were perfect and the guided tours were professional. The transportation wasn’t so good.
Reviewed By yosef R.
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.