One-Week Best of Costa Rica Tour: Volcanoes, Waterfalls, Cloud Forests & Coastline

After touching down in San Jose, your private transfer will meet you at baggage claim and quickly whisk you through customs. As you drive through San Jose, you will notice how the city’s vibrant energy and bustling streets are balanced by the mountains that loom in the distance. San Jose brims with activity. Street performers serenade pedestrians with upbeat Latin American music, children shout to one and other in excitement, kicking around a soccer ball in a local park, and vendors sell typical Costa Rican staples as the scent of tamales, empanadas, and meat kebabs drift through the air. Once your driver arrives at your accommodation, you will be free to relax and unwind as you prepare for the next day of your adventure.

Tortuguero is a remote paradise that is only accessible by air or boat. Secluded from society, the soothing sounds of nature are amplified, and you can hear the ripple of the winding canals, the low rib-bet tree frogs, and the chirps of exotic birds. Your tour guide will invite you to board a boat to explore the region by sea. The skinny, freshwater canals curve between Tortuguero’s marshy landscape that is made up of mangroves, swamps, rain forest, and lagoons. A canopy of thick foliage, ferns, and vines surround the waterway, and your guide will point out iguanas as they sun on the shore, crocodiles as they bob out of shallow waters, and tropical river birds that are perched on nearby branches. Following your boat excursion, the sun will set, and you can now prepare to experience Tortuguero’s main attraction: sea turtles. You will follow your guide onto the beach, where you can approach a shallow hole in the sand. Here, you will observe an abundance of ping-pong sized turtle eggs that slowly begin to hatch.

Your private transfer will greet you after breakfast and escort you to your next destination of Arenal. As you near the region, the Arenal volcano will quickly come into view, and at 5,437 feet above sea level, it is unmistakable. As the swirling clouds above the volcano gradually part, you will notice its perfectly symmetrical peak. The Arenal volcano towers over the region's rolling hillsides and the shimmering lake below. After arriving at Arenal National Park, your guide will lead you on a hike. As you climb the trail, you may notice smooth black rocks that are scattered throughout the path. Your guide will explain how these rocks are remnants of the volcano’s active years in which it erupted on a daily basis from 1968 to 2010. The now dormant volcano has become a safe and popular destination for tourists to visit from all over the world. As you hike, you will spot some of Costa Rica’s most elusive bird species that are perched on tree branches and catch glimpses of two-toed sloths as they relax in the day’s heat.

Today, your guide will meet you in the lobby to escort you to your next adventure. After a short walk, you will reach the Mistico Hanging Bridge’s private reserve. As you journey through the suspended walkways, you will have an unparalleled opportunity to experience nature. It will feel as if you are climbing between the trees, and your guide may point out a dark brown eyelash pit viper that is wrapped around a branch. Its coloring makes it nearly invisible, perfectly blending with its surroundings. Next, your guide will lead you to one of Costa Rica’s most coveted destinations: the La Fortuna waterfall. As you descend the steps, you will begin to hear the loud roar of the waterfall. It flows from 75 meters above into a crystal blue swimming hole below. The view is absolutely breathtaking. Dense green foliage surrounds the waterfall from all sides, and you will be invited to refresh your spirit and plunge into the La Fortuna’s waters. Your dip in the waterfall will be a rejuvenating and perfect way to end your day.

Today, you will have the opportunity to channel your adventurous spirit on a zipline tour of the Monteverde region. Following breakfast, your transfer will greet you in your hotel lobby and escort you to your next destination. Upon your arrival, you will be wowed by Monteverde’s unique and misty climate. Fog will fill the air, and you will notice how the greenery seems to cover the region from all sides. Your guide will take you into the Cloud Forest Reserve, which is one of the rarest habitats on Earth. As you begin your zipline tour, you will look down upon the Cloud Forest from great heights. Soaring through Monteverde will feel like flying, and your heart may pump quickly as you reach exhilarating speeds. The wind will briskly flow through your hair, as you feel the humidity stick to your skin like you are suspended within a cloud. The views of the Continental Divide will be awe-inspiring.

On your last full day in Costa Rica, your transfer will greet you in the lobby and escort you to your final, relaxing destination of Tamarindo. Throughout the drive, your eyes will be glued to the window as you observe breathtaking coastal views. Once in Tamarindo, you will feel the warmth of the ocean breeze on your skin. You can sink your toes into the white sand and listen to the relaxing crash of the ocean on the shore. Turquoise waters span as far as the eye can see, and you can watch surfers as they ride giant waves. The waters are so clear that schools of fish can be seen without goggles. You can close your eyes and relax, feeling the hot sun on your face, and as the day winds down, the sun will begin to set, coloring the sky with vibrant pink, yellow, and orange hues.

By waking up with views of the ocean outside your window, you can relax in the calm of the early morning. The sun will reflect a golden hue on the waters as you reflect on the unforgettable memories of your once-in-a-lifetime adventure. After you savor your last Costa Rican breakfast, your private airport transfer will transfer you back to San Jose for your flight home.