Costa Rica Highlights

9 days
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
Map not provided by operator
View all 6 photos
Video not provided by operator
4.1/5 Great
100+ reviews  
87%
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
Self-Guided / Independent Tour
Enter the vibrant life that inhabits Costa Rica on this 8 night adventure. Begin in San Jose with a quick overnight, then move on to Tortuguero, admiring the lush jungle waterfalls, banana farms, and volcano ranges as you make your way to the docks. Tour Tortuguero National Park, watching turtles, birds and small mammals, and identifying rare and unique gree...

Overview

Trip type
Self-Guided / Independent Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Highlights

    • Arenal Volcano
    • Arenal Volcano - Monteverde
    • Monteverde Cloud Forest Private Reserve

What's this trip about?

    Enter the vibrant life that inhabits Costa Rica on this 8 night adventure. Begin in San Jose with a quick overnight, then move on to Tortuguero, admiring the lush jungle waterfalls, banana farms, and volcano ranges as you make your way to the docks. Tour Tortuguero National Park, watching turtles, birds and small mammals, and identifying rare and unique greenery that is protected over the island. You'll also get to cruise along the smaller canals and visit Tortuguero Village. Next, you'll move from humid jungle to steamy volcanoes. Engage in an invigorating hike up Arenal Volcano to the hot springs at the top, passing through vegetation and cooled lava rock formations on the way. After your hike, you'll get a chance to relax in the springs. From your sulfurous stay, you'll move on to misty, cloudy forest packed with dense vegetation and majestic trees. Monteverde is home to a plethora of animals and offers the chance to see the difference between a cloud forest and a rain forest. With so many varied and unique ecosystems so close to one another, this trip brings you the best that Costa Rica has to offer.

Compare to similar trips

Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeIndependent
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportRound trip airfare and all internal transport included
Start CitySan Jose
End CitySan Jose

Travel Themes

  • Local Immersion & Homestays
  • National Parks
  • Nature & Wildlife
  • Relaxing Retreats

Destinations

Attractions

  • Monteverde

Activities

  • Culture
  • Hiking
  • History
  • Homestays & Cultural Immersion
  • Hot Springs
  • Nature
  • Relaxing Retreat
  • Ruins & Archaeology
  • Sailing
  • Wildlife viewing

Trip includes

    • Roundtrip economy class airfare to San Jose (SJO)
    • Roundtrip airport transfers
    • 1 night in San Jose at the Sleep Inn Paseo Las Damas, or similar
    • Ground & boat transportation from San Jose to Tortuguero National Park
    • 2 nights in the Tortuguero National Park area at the Laguna Lodge, or similar
    • Visit to the Tortuguero Village and secondary canals
    • Transfer from Guapiles (Tortuguero) to the Arenal Volcano area
    • 2 nights in the Arenal Volcano area at the Casa Luna Hotel & Spa, or similar
    • Half-day Arenal Volcano Hike & Tabacon Hot Springs
    • Transfer from the Arenal Volcano area to the Monteverde area, including Arenal Lake crossing by boat
    • 2 nights in the Monteverde Cloud Forest, at the Monteverde Country Lodge, or similar
    • Half-day tour of Monteverde Cloud Forest Private Reserve
    • Transfer from Monteverde area to San Jose
    • 1 night in San Jose at the Autentico Hotel, or similar
    • Daily breakfast, 3 lunches & 3 dinners

View Similar Trips

Itinerary

Day 1 Welcome to San Jose!

Touchdown in sunny Costa Rica to meet with your representative who will supply you with all necessary documentation and your itinerary, as well as any other information you might need. Then you'll be transferred to your hotel to check-in for one night in preparation for the rest of your trip!

Day 2 San Jose - Tortuguero National Park

Rise early for a day of travel, beginning with a trip through the North Caribbean Plains where volcanic mountain ranges and jungle-enclosed waterfalls are on all sides, to the docks where you'll board a boat to sail to Tortuguero National Park, which sits comfo...

Day 3 Tortuguero National Park

Today you'll get to navigate along the secondary canals by boat while experiencing a closeness to nature with your expert guides. Get the chance to encounter a variety of birds, reptiles, turtles, and forest mammals that call nearly 300 square miles of protecte...

Day 4 Tortuguero National Park - Arenal Volcano

After breakfast, return to the mainland by boat and continue on through beautiful scenery and rural towns to La Fortuna de San Carlos. Look out to see the mighty Arenal Volcano standing over the town to welcome you. Check into your hotel and prepare for your upcoming adventure.

Day 5 Arenal Volcano

Take the morning to enjoy breakfast or sleep in, and then put on your hiking boots, because you'll be climbing through the Arenal Volcano trails to the Tabacon Hot Springs. 

Hike past an amazing variety of flora and fauna as you climb among rocks that are...

Day 6 Arenal Volcano - Monteverde

Set out in the morning, waving goodbye to Arenal Volcano, and continue on to the next stop of your adventure, touring along the way.

Cross Arenal Lake, the largest and most important lake in Costa Rica, meander through the Tilaran Mountain Range, and fina...

Day 7 Monteverde

Set out on a tour through Monteverde's Cloud Forest Private Reserve. Wander through and spot a beautiful array of bird species, stand in awe under majestic trees, and make your way through dense vegetation that provides a habitat for many animal species.

...

Day 8 Monteverde - San Jose

Make your way back to San Jose, traveling along sparkling coastlines, through imposing mountain ranges, and among thriving rain forest. Check into your hotel and spend your last full day picking out souvenirs and snapping photos!

Day 9 Depart San Jose

Pack your souvenirs safely and transfer to the airport for your flight home!

Want a tailor-made trip instead?

Your trip, your way, planned by an expert:

  • You choose budget, destinations, activities, transport & lodging type
  • Expert designs the itinerary for you, and once approved, takes care of logistics
Design custom trip

Dates & Availability

Price From $2,163
Price per day$240
Last Updated: 11/8/2024

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Great Value Vacations.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

Great Value Vacations Reviews & Ratings

4.1/5  Great
Excellent
12,089
Great
5,470
Average
2,687
Disappointing
1,231
Terrible
1,676
Write a Review

Other Great Value Vacations Reviews

K

Kanwaldip Kaur Bains

Nov 2024

Written on
Great Value Vacations Company Reviewsby Great Value Vacations

It was great experience awesome…

It was great experience awesome customer services and hotels included in the package was very nice.

J

James David Mohr

Nov 2024

Written on
Great Value Vacations Company Reviewsby Great Value Vacations

We enjoyed our 8 days in Porto and…

We enjoyed our 8 days in Porto and Lisbon. Although we joked about staying in an exotic Portuguese hotel named Holiday Inn Express we found both of our hotels to be...

J

J Bishop

Nov 2024

Written on
Great Value Vacations Company Reviewsby Great Value Vacations

Great vacation, provided you don't mind driving

This vacation was great for us, but I don't mind the driving. For the itinerary we had, the minimum total distance you'll travel between hotels is approx 1200 KM (@...

Write a Review

Travelers also viewed

Tour Operator

Great Value Vacations

preferred
View Profile

At Great Value Vacations, our mission is to be the pre-packaged vacation solution provider from the US to the most desirable vacation destinations in the world.

We offer premium, pre-built vacation packages to the top destinations in the world. Our vacations feature itineraries designed by travel experts and superior accommodations which have been hand-picked and vetted for quality.

What’s more, we offer these vacations packages at Great Value prices that are at or better than if you were to purchase the components separately.  Our state-of-the-art technology provides our customers with an easy to use booking system that allows you to book complicated vacations with just a few clicks.

Expert Advice

Our team of product experts are your “feet on the street” creating vacation itineraries we’d send our family on (and they have VERY high standards!) We do the heavy lifting for you by researching the best destinations, hand selecting the most desirable accommodations, designing a perfect vacation itinerary and recommending things to do and see along the way.

Customer Support

We’re there for you at every step – from your first call or visit to our website right up until your flight home. Our vacation specialists and support staff are available to answer questions, provide advice or assist you at any point during the vacation planning process. Plus we offer Trip Protection Plans which allows you to cancel your trip for any reason up to 72 hours prior to travel and received a full refund and have access to 24-hr Emergency Assistance while you travel.

What they’re known for
Budget-friendly vacation packages and expert itineraries designed for independent travelers wanting an easy trip planning experience.

Associations

About Travelstride

Find your perfect trip

An epic selection of pre-planned trips on every continent, for every style. Thousands of itineraries from over 1,000 trusted travel companies.

Save time

Use simple search and comparison tools to easily find the best trip. Don't sweat the logistics — travel providers plan for you.

Save money

Book directly with the operator. See inclusive packages for the best values, and get access to amazing deals.

Travel confidently

Read unbiased user reviews, pick the operator that suits your needs, and connect with them directly.

Logistics

Accommodation

  • Sleep Inn Hotel Paseo Las Damas
  • Laguna Lodge
  • Casa Luna Hotel & Spa
  • Trapp Family Lodge
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Age Requirements
No age restrictions
Additional Information
Trip ID
Greatvaluevacations-PK-GC4P-SH-CRH-SJO

Become a member

(it's free)
  • Save up to $700 per person
  • Access members-only specials
  • Personalize trip recommendations
Sign up and save
Top Tour Companies on Travelstride:
All 1,600+ companies >