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 luxurious accommodation, you will be free to relax and unwind as you prepare for the next day of your adventure.

Today, you will wake up to the bold aroma of freshly brewed coffee. You will indulge in a typical Costa Rican breakfast that includes fresh guava, pineapple, rich Gallo Pinto, and homemade tortillas. Following breakfast, your private transfer will meet you in your hotel lobby to escort you to Tortuguero National Park. As you drive, San Jose’s city skyline will disappear and transform into the tropical, coastal rainforest. 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 personal 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. The night will be quiet beyond the sound of the crashing sea, and you may witness a tiny turtle as it climbs onto the sand and begins to waddle to shore.

The next morning, you will wake up to the sounds of nature outside of your luxury hotel. The ambiance of this remote region is serene. 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 naturalist guide will lead you on a private 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. You will be able to feel the humidity on your skin as you breathe in the oxygen-rich air, and as you scan the surrounding rain forest for wildlife, you can continue to absorb the panoramic views of the Arenal volcano as it looms above.

Your day will begin with a deliciously rich cup of freshly brewed coffee. You can delight in the panoramic views of the Arenal volcano outside of your window and sit outside to enjoy the peace of early morning air. The early humidity creates a mist in the air, and you can watch brightly colored butterflies as they flutter between flowers. The caramel aroma that drifts from your cup will complement the moisture-rich smell of the rain forest. Shortly, 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 private 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 private 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. Following your tour, your private guide will return you to your luxurious accommodation, where you will be free to unwind for the remainder of the night.

On your last full day in Costa Rica, you will wake with the exciting memories of yesterday’s adventurers and indulge in a delicious breakfast, sipping on a cup of locally brewed coffee while enjoying freshly prepared eggs and Gallo Pinto. Your private 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.