Classic Costa Rica
Overview
Highlights
- Swap the concrete jungle for real jungle on this trip into the rainforests, waterways, hot springs and palm-lined beaches of Costa Rica.
- Long-nosed tapirs, white-faced capuchin monkeys, elegant ocelots and three-toed sloths – Costa Rica is home to exotic animals, and this trip puts you in the perfect position to spot them all.
- Go deeper than the average tourist with a homestay in a quiet agricultural community; the perfect opportunity to experience local life and practice your Spanish.
- Refresh after jungle hikes spotting endemic wildlife in the rejuvenating hot springs of volcanic La Fortuna.
- Visit the indigenous Maleku community to share a traditional meal and learn about their way of life – this small tribe has big ambitions for regenerating local forests and natural habitats.
What's this trip about?
Details
Travel Themes
Destinations
Attractions
Activities
Trip includes
- Tortuguero - Boat ride to Tortuguero
- Tortuguero - National Park Entrance
- Santa Rosa de Pocosol - Home-cooked Meal
- Santa Rosa de Pocosol - Homestay experience
- Leader-led Informal Spanish Lesson
- Guatuso - Maleku Community Experience
- Monteverde - Cloud Forest Entrance
- Manuel Antonio - Cooking Class & Lunch
- Manuel Antonio National Park - (Entrance fee)
- Manuel Antonio National Park - Tour with a Naturalist Guide
Itinerary
Hola! Welcome to Costa Rica. With over a third of the country's population living within its parameters, San Jose is packed with both people and culture. Begin with a welcome meeting at 6 pm at your hotel; a good chance for you to meet your group leader and fellow tra...
Leave the hotel this morning and descend to the Caribbean lowlands on a 4-hour scenic (and a bit bumpy) public bus journey that ends at the port of La Pavona. This rustic port is your entry point to Tortuguero National Park. Hop aboard a small boat and journey for aro...
Today you're free to explore the park at your own pace. If you're woken by the chattering of the forests’ some 300 bird species, why not haul yourself out of bed for a sunrise canoe trip? It’s a magical way to see the maze-like canals of the park, and you can look out...
Bid farewell to the evergreen rainforest this morning and make the 4-hour journey to Santa Rosa de Pocosol by private vehicle. Today is a memorable homestay experience, but as the family you'll be staying with doesn’t speak much English, your leader will conduct an in...
After breakfast drive for 2 hours to Tenorio Volcano National Park area, where you’ll visit the Rio Celeste: a river fed by two different water sources, and when they collide, the water takes on a distinctive light blue colour. On the way, stop off to visit an indigen...
Today is as clear as the Costa Rica air, and with plenty of optional activities available, how about a guided tubing excursion at Rio Celeste? The light-blue waters of the river are generally off-limits to travellers, However you’ll have the opportunity to float along...
Beneath the watchful eye of the immense Arenal Volcano lies La Fortuna, a sleepy town with an abundance of hot springs and natural pools to enjoy. Departing at 8 am, you’ll arrive by private vehicle after a 2-hour drive and have the rest of the day to do as you please...
Enjoy a free day to explore La Fortuna as you wish. The region offers a range of sights such as stunning lush forest, rare plants, animal watching and water-based sports on the lake. The volcano’s inner workings also mean that the area has plenty of thermal springs wh...
A morning of travel by bus and boat leads to incredible Monteverde. Cross the lake by boat (45 minutes) and then hop on a bus again to continue on to Monteverde (2 hours). There are options in town for lunch on arrival. Settled by North American Quakers in 1951, the a...
Make the most of your time in lush Monteverde and organise a local guide to take you on a nature walk. There also several local communities that operate cooperatives worth visiting. You may wish to get a different perspective on the forest by walking through the canop...
Wedged between the beautiful Pacific coast and the national park, Manuel Antonio is a laidback town. After a 4-hour journey in a private vehicle you will make a stop in Quepos; a chill town with a vibrant nightlife. This afternoon, you'll get the chance to meet three ...
Today, feel the soft crunch of foliage underfoot while you hike the trails of the national park on a leader-led Nature hike. Keep one eye on the scenic views and the other looking out for the abundant wildlife. Monkeys, armadillos, sloths and hundreds of birds are amo...
Today is free for you to do as you please. If you wish, you could return to Manuel Antonio National Park and continue your search for the solemn, white faces of the capuchin monkeys who live in the trees. Alternatively, why not kick-off your shoes and feel the sands o...
Bid farewell to the coast and return to San Jose via public bus. In the evening, you could head for dinner with your fellow travellers and group leader.
With no activities planned for the day, you are free to depart at any time.
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Dates & Availability
Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Intrepid Travel.
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.
Intrepid Travel Reviews & Ratings
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Do not book any extra nights or transportation to the airport with Intrepid. If you have a change of plans they will not refund your money if you don't cancel 30 da...
Our guide was absolutely lovely and managed
Our guide was absolutely lovely and managed the group in a professional but relaxed and friendly way. The hotels chosen were very good quality. The balance and flexi...
Overall I think the trips are well
Overall I think the trips are well planned and offer interesting and diverse experiences that you wouldn't normally have the opportunity to experience if you were tr...
I would say it was Excellent from
I would say it was Excellent from the point of view of the commitment from the guide, and very good in terms of the overall result. I would suggest Intrepid to my f...
A really good experince with a good
A really good experince with a good guide (Randy) with lot knowledge of the nature, animals, the country, etc. Small, cool,group. Magic moments included, that i w...
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Our group size has an average of just ten travellers, which allows us to get off the beaten track, use local accommodation and transport, and really get to know the culture. It also ensures we are contributing to the local economy; by choosing local suppliers we were able to keep AUD 60 million in local economies in 2012. We’re also working hard to reduce our carbon footprint and were the first in our sector to introduce carbon offset trips. This, along with our many corporate sustainability activities, has meant we’re one of the travel industry’s leaders in responsible travel.
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