Overview
This Costa Rica itinerary is the perfect blend of action-packed outdoor activities and relaxation—go mountain biking, rafting, or rappel down waterfalls, and then soak in hot springs or unwind on the beach. Experience the county’s incredible biodiversity in the Monteverde Cloud Forest, hiking in the shadow of Arenal Volcano, and exploring the coves and beaches the Nicoya Peninsula.
Days: 10
Best time to visit: December-April
Ideal for: Families, Couples
Trip Itinerary
Day 1 – Arrive & Travel to La Fortuna
Fly into the northwestern city of Liberia and drive east to the town of La Fortuna and settle into your lodging near the iconic Arenal Volcano. This breathtaking landscape is filled with wildlife and offers a host of outdoor adventures—soak in natural hot springs, go for scenic hikes, and get your adrenaline pumping on mountain biking and rafting tours.
Day 2 – Canyoning & Rafting
Kick off your vacation with an exhilarating, family-friendly day of adventures. Take a short hike through the tropical rainforest of Arenal Volcano and then rappel along a series of waterfalls and canyons to descend to the canyon floor. Hike out of the canyon and gear up for the next adventure, whitewater rafting on the Balsa River.
Day 3 – Arenal Hanging Bridges Tour
Discover the Arenal Hanging Bridges, a network of suspension bridges and trails crossing ravines and waterfalls that offer views over the rainforest stretching all the way to Arenal Volcano. Next up, embark on a guided tour of Parque Nacional Volcán Arenal and get acquainted with the flora and fauna of this volcanic ecosystem—toucans, poison dart frogs, and a number of species of monkeys call the area home. End the day with a soothing soak in natural hot springs.
Day 4 – Travel to Monteverde, Cloud Forest Night Tour
Travel to Monteverde, to the southwest of Arenal Volcano, and explore another of Costa Rica’s unique ecosystems—cloud forest. A premier destination for outdoor enthusiasts, the Monteverde Cloud Forest is a mist-shrouded environment defined by massive trees, luxuriant vegetation, and abundant endemic wildlife. Take a night tour through the forest of the Curi Cancha Reserve for a mystical nature experience.
Day 6 – Monteverde Reserve
Trek through the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve with a knowledgeable guide to identify wildlife such as coatimundis and agoutis, and prolific flora ranging from giant trees, to carpets of moss and brightly colored orchids. Next, get an aerial perspective of the forest on the Monteverde Sky Tram-Sky Trek—a lift-ride up to the Continental Divide begins a thrilling zip line adventure 500 feet above the ground.
Day 7 – Travel to Punta Islita
Travel to Punta Islita in Guanacaste Province, and settle into this serene coastal paradise. The Nicoya Peninsula offers the perfect blend of relaxation and adventure, where sandy beaches nestle in peaceful coves, rainforest meets the ocean, and hiking and biking trails are abundant.
Days 8-9 – Explore the Peninsula
Spend a couple of days exploring the area on horseback or cycling, lounging on the beach, enjoying yoga or cooking classes, or playing a few of rounds of golf. To the south you can take your pick of beautiful beaches, and at the right time of year, the sands of the nearby Refugio de Vida Silvestre Camaronal are the nesting grounds for leatherback, olive ridley, hawksbill and black turtles.
Day 10 – Departure
Return to Liberia for your international flight home.
Remarkable Journeys has partnered with Lost World Adventures to create this journey. We partnered with Lost World due to their well-mannered relationships with tour guides, hotellers, airlines, and ground management services in the region. In our opinion, they offer the best value and experience in the region.
What’s next?
Whether this itinerary is exactly what you are looking for or isn’t even close…
Meet with a Consultant
The first step is to call or email us with your desired travel dates, the number of people in your group, your price range, and whatever other information you want to share to get us started. One of our consultants will then reach out to you to set-up an in-person meeting or phone consultation.
Keep on Looking
Together we can discuss your travel options, customize your trip and narrow in on your ideal journey. Once we know exactly what you want, we will send you a detailed-itinerary with hotel options, activities, transportation logistics and a total trip price.
Get a Detailed Itinerary
With your seal of approval, we’ll book your Remarkable Journey. From there, you can sit back and relax while we arrange all of the services, prepare the final documents and present you your trip before you go.