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Costa Rica Beach Holiday & Wildlife Safari: Arenal Volcano + Monteverde + Tamarindo

Costa Rica Beach & Wildlife: Arenal + Monteverde + Tamarindo

14 NIGHTS FROM:

$3,201

Per person sharing

Scheduled flights quoted separately

RRC14S

• Costa Rica Beach Holiday

• San Jose

• Arenal Volcano

• Hanging Bridges & Waterfalls

• Hot Springs

• Sloth Trail & Sky Tram

• Costa Rica Wildlife Safari

• Monteverde Cloud Forest

• Tamarindo

• Pacific Beaches

This wonderful Costa Rica beach holiday & wildlife safari combines the rainforests and hanging bridges that surround the Arenal Volcano, with the cloud forests of Monteverde with their hummingbirds and many walking trails, and the wonderful beaches of Tamarindo on the Nicoya Peninsula. All shuttle transfers & specified activities included.

Detailed itinerary ▶

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Day 1

You will be met at San Jose Airport and transferred to your hotel. Check in and relax in the beautiful Central Valley, surrounded by the Talamanca Mountains to the south and the volcanoes of Poas, Irazu and Turrialba.

Check in to your hotel conveniently situated near the airport.

Day 2

Today transfer 4-hours by shared shuttle from San Jose, travelling through beautiful Costa Rican mountain scenery towards the Arenal Volcano - one of the most active in Central America, with a perfect cone that on a clear day is visible from almost anywhere in the area.

After driving through the mountains on narrow roads, your route crosses a large cattle and agricultural area, where chocolate is grown. Cacao was very important in the ancient Mayan and Aztec civilizations and today it is enjoyed throughout the world. Continue to La Fortuna, where you can relax surrounded by rainforests, waterfalls and thermal hot springs.

Note: Your driver will only speak Spanish. When travelling by shuttle, your luggage is restricted to one suitcase and one item of hand luggage.

Day 3

This morning enjoy a privately guided tour to the Mistico Hanging Bridges - a series of ten fixed and six suspension bridges, located in a natural corridor followed by migratory birds travelling between North and South America and offering wonderful views of the lake and volcano.

This 2-mile (3-km) trail will allow you to enjoy the great diversity of flora and fauna found inside this mountainous zone, as well as outstanding bird watching. Keep an eye out for howler monkeys, sloths, anteaters, coati, racoons and other rainforest wildlife. Birds you can hope to see include the Yellow-throated toucan, Crested guan, Grey-headed chachalaca, Baltimore oriole, Clay-coloured thrush and Red-throated ant tanager, amongst others.

Afterwards relax at the Tabacon Hot Springs with its many waterfalls and pools, as well as a large swimming pool with swim-up bar. Dinner at the hot springs is included this evening.

Note: The Hanging Bridges trail is not suitable if you have a fear of heights. Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring binoculars & rain gear. Also sun hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, swimwear and water shoes for the hot springs.

Day 4

This morning you will be transferred to Arenal Observatory, where you can spend the day birding, photographing and observing wildlife in the garden with its frog pond, and walking or hiking along the many trails (pay for entrance and lunch locally).

Situated on the slopes of the Arenal Volcano, wildlife found here includes the lesser anteater, sloth, white-faced capuchin monkey, deer and coati. You can also hope to see toucans and one of the country's most elusive and beautiful birds - the endangered resplendent quetzal. In the late afternoon you will be transferred back to your hotel.

Note: If you would like to spend more time exploring these trails, we suggest you ask to be upgraded to stay at Arenal Observatory.

Day 5

At leisure to explore more of the magnificent surroundings of La Fortuna (pay any entrance fees locally).

In 1968 the Arenal Volcano erupted after centuries of lying dormant, converting this quiet agricultural town into a hot spot for adventure travel. Many optional activities are available - including the Sky Tram and several ziplines, several different hanging bridges in the treetop canopy where you can search for birds and rainforest wildlife such as sloths and monkeys, a Sloth Trail, La Fortuna waterfall and a visit to Arenal Observatory, with its wildlife and many walking trails around the Arenal Volcano.

You can enjoy kayaking or paddle boarding on Lake Arenal, horse riding, mountain biking, ATV tours or a gentle cruise down the Penas Blanca River. If you are adventurous you can also try river tubing and waterfall canyoning, or venture into a world of stalactites, stalagmites and subterranean species on a visit to the Venado Caves. Alternatively you can simply relax at one of the many Hot Springs.

Day tours are also available to the Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge, the rainforests of Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui, the turquoise waters of the Rio Celeste, or across the border into Nicaragua to view the Penas Blancas Massif.

In the evening you can enjoy an optional guided night trail in search of nocturnal wildlife.

Day 6

This morning transfer by shared shuttle from La Fortuna to the lake for a 1-hour boat crossing to the small settlement of Monteverde, situated high in the mountains on the continental divide.

Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve was gifted to the nation by a small community of conservation-minded Quakers, who moved here from the United States in the 1950s to avoid being drafted to fight in the Korean War. Shrouded in mist for most of the year, this pristine primary rainforest comprises six different ecological zones spread over 10,500 hectares (26,000 acres) at different elevations - 90% of which is virgin cloud forest. As a result, it has an exceptionally large plant biodiversity.

On arrival you will be collected from the boat and transferred to your hotel in the mountains. Check into your lodge and on a clear day enjoy distant views over the Gulf of Nicoya.

Note: Your driver will only speak Spanish. When travelling by shuttle, your luggage is restricted to one suitcase and one item of hand luggage.

Day 7

This morning enjoy a private tour exploring Monteverde Cloud Forest with a naturalist guide.

Set on Costa Rica's continental divide, this high elevation cloud forest offers miles of walking trails and is a magnet for certain flora and fauna thanks to its high rainfall and constant veil of mist. Woodlands give way to rainforests and tall trees festooned with orchids, bromeliads, ferns, vines, strangler figs, epiphytes and mosses rise high into the sky. In other parts you will find swamp forests and deep gorges with numerous streams creating waterfalls, rapids and pools.

Monteverde Cloud Forest sustains over 2,500 different plant species including the highest number of orchids in the world, over 90 different avocado species, 120 reptiles and amphibians and thousands of butterflies and other insects. Although not often seen, more than 100 small mammals are present (including sloths, white-faced and spider monkeys). However be aware that spotting birds and wildlife in this cool high altitude region is much more difficult than elsewhere in the country.

Over 400 bird species can also be found here including two toucan species, the Three-wattled bellbird, Bare-necked umbrella bird, Golden-browed chlorophonia, Black-breasted wood quail, Bananaquit and the magnificent resplendent quetzal, which is most often seen during the breeding season from February to May. Up to 14 different hummingbird species can also be seen at the Humming Bird Gallery outside the gate, including the Magenta-throated woodstar, Coppery-headed emerald, Lesser violetear, Violet sabrewing, Purple-throated mountain-gem and Green-crowned brilliant.

Afterwards various optional activities are available, such as a visit to Selvatura Nature Park or a thrilling Ziplining Canopy Tour, travelling at speed along lengthy ziplines through the cloud forest canopy.

In the evening we suggest an optional visit to the Monteverde Frog Pond (pay locally).

Note: Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring binoculars, camera, jacket & rain gear. Also sun hat, sunscreen & insect repellent.

Day 8

At leisure to independently explore some of the hiking trails surrounding the Monteverde Cloud Forest.

A wide variety of optional activities are available including the spectacular hanging bridges, thrilling ziplining through the cloud forest, hiking to El Tigre Waterfalls, horse riding, visiting the Monteverde frog pond, or an agricultiral tour to see coffee and sugar production (pay locally, if not booked in advance).

Day 9

Today transfer 4-hours by shared shuttle to the small town of Tamarindo, located on the northwest coast of the beautiful Nicoya Peninsula.

Here your guide will drop you off at your hotel in this great surfing centre on the Pacific, with its lovely sandy beaches.

Note: Your driver will only speak Spanish. When travelling by shuttle, your luggage is restricted to one suitcase and one item of hand luggage.

Days 10 To 11

At leisure to enjoy the splendid beaches of Tamarindo.

Many optional activities are on offer in this beach town - including sailing, tree-top ziplining, horse riding, golf, river tubing and sunset cruises. Surfing lessons are also available, as well as snorkelling and diving off the Catalinas Islands.

The mangrove-lined estuary of Tamarindo Wildlife Refuge protects animals such as howler monkeys and crocodiles and nearby Playa Grande beach, forming part of Las Baulas National Park, is a major nesting site for huge leatherback turtles.

Day 12

Today we suggest rising early and transferring 35-minutes to Playa Flamingo for a morning of optional snorkelling in the warm clear waters around the Catalinas Islands - a sprinkling of 20 rocky islands in the Gulf of Papagayo.

Enter the water for two 40-minute sessions, following the rock formations and looking for angelfish, butterfly fish, various pufferfish, starfish, white-tipped reef sharks and schools of jacks and grunts.

The 'Cat' Islands are famous for their concentration of giant manta rays, some with wingspans up to 20 feet (6 m). The best time of year to see mantas is from November to May, when they are most common and visibility is at its best, with their numbers peaking between January and March.

From September to March you may also see humpback whales from the boat on your way to or from the islands. All equipment and snacks are included, but be aware that there can be strong currents.

Note: Ask your hotel for a boxed breakfast. Minimum 4 pax on the day.

Day 13

Enjoy another day relaxing on glorious Tamarindo Beach.

Day 14

Today transfer 5-hours by shared shuttle from Tamarindo to San Jose.

Check into your hotel in a location convenient for the airport.

Day 15

Take the free hotel shuttle to San Jose Airport for your flight home.

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