The Essence of Costa Rica

9 days
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4.8/5 Excellent
91 reviews  
96%
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Group Tour
There are only a few places on earth, where in just one week, you can experience the variety of landscapes, natural habitats and wildlife as you can in Costa Rica. Best of all, it's just a few hours away from most U.S. cities. Costa Rica is known worldwide for its stable, peaceful democracy, genuine hospitality and pioneering conservation efforts, which hav...
From$1,890
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Overview

Trip type
Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

    • Visit San Jose – the capital of Costa Rica.
    • Enjoy the beautiful Sabana Park, Paseo Colón
    • Visit the National Museum, a faithful witness to Costa Rican history, Central Park, the Cathedral and the Congress Building.
    • Visiting the Gold Museum which is also a fascinating experience.
    • Visit Monteverde Cloud Forest, Hanging Bridges- Cheese Making Experience with Samplinga

What's this trip about?

    There are only a few places on earth, where in just one week, you can experience the variety of landscapes, natural habitats and wildlife as you can in Costa Rica. Best of all, it's just a few hours away from most U.S. cities. Costa Rica is known worldwide for its stable, peaceful democracy, genuine hospitality and pioneering conservation efforts, which have enticed millions of travelers to explore the country's parks and reserves. Why Costa Rica with PerilloTours? Steve Perillo and Carol Dimopoulos spent 3 years searching for the ideal winter (and summer) getaway for Americans. Looking for more than just a beach chair/ cocktail vacation, they hit upon Costa Rica - a truly unique experience for the body, mind and soul. They found Fabio Salas, a jovial native Costa Rican with an exuberance for his land and culture. Fabio and the Perillo team are proud to introduce a new and authentic way to discover Costa Rica.

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Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeIntimate group - 12 max
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportAll internal ground transport included
Start City San Jose
End CitySan Jose, Costa Rica

Travel Themes

  • Hiking & Walking
  • National Parks
  • Nature & Wildlife

Destinations

  • North America
  • Costa Rica

Activities

  • Bird watching
  • Hiking
  • Historic sightseeing
  • Nature
  • Wildlife viewing

Trip includes

    • Meet & greet service upon arrival
    • Arrival transfer from Juan Santamari­a International Airport (SJO) to hotel in San Jose
    • 2 nights lodging at the First Class Cariari Doubletree Hotel in Standard rooms
    • 2 nights lodging at the First Class Arenal Kioro Resort & Spa in Suite rooms
    • 2 nights lodging at the First Class El Establo Mountain Hotel in Deluxe rooms
    • 2 nights lodging at the First Class Parador Resort & Spa in Tropical rooms
    • Private English-Speaking guide throughout including/during all airport transfers
    • Private ground transportation throughout in deluxe motorcoach
    • Meals included as noted in the itinerary (8 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches, 4 Dinners)
    • All tours and activities as outlined in the brochure
    • Sales tax & service charge for restaurant meals included on the trip
    • Entrance fees to National Museum (or Gold Museum), Manuel Antonio National Park, Arenal Volcano Lookout and
    • Monteverde Cloud Forest Hanging Bridges.
    • Tips for Bellboys, Maids and Porters
    • Water and snacks during transfers on days 2, 4, 6 and 8
    • Departure transfer from hotel to Juan Santamari­a International Airport to hotel in San Jose

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Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1 - Friday - Fly from the USA to San Jose, Costa Rica - Orientation - Dinner
This morning you're off to your tropical paradise! For your reference, the flight is about 5 hours from New York. Upon arrival at Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), you will be met by a Perillo Tours representative and transferred to your hotel near San Jose Ci...
Day 2 - Saturday - San Jose City Tour - Spanish Class - Scenic Drive to Arenal
After a leisurely breakfast, you’ll visit San Jose – the capital of Costa Rica. Enjoy a drive through the beautiful Sabana Park, passing by the upscale Rohrmoser residential area and Paseo Colón. You will visit the heart of the city to admire the National Theatre, design...
Day 3 - Sunday - Enjoy the Thermal Springs - Visit Arenal Volcano Lookout Point
This morning is yours to relax and enjoy the hotel’s hot-water thermal springs with temperatures ranging between 98º - 107º F degrees. Nature’s own hot-tub! Although currently in a ‘quiet cycle’, the Arenal Volcano’s main eruption was in 1968 and still remains one of the...
Day 4 - Monday - Journey to Monteverde
This morning is your last chance to enjoy the Kioro’s beautiful gardens and private hotwater springs. This afternoon, we’re off to the Monteverde Cloud Forest. Yes, it’s a 4 to 5 hour drive, but filled with adventure as we ascend the Monteverde Mountain Range, crossing t...
Day 5 - Tuesday - Visit to Monteverde Cloud Forest, Hanging Bridges- Cheese Making Experience with Sampling
This morning after breakfast, you will walk the amazing “hanging bridges” through the Cloud Forest of Monteverde. Yes, the bridges are up to 150 feet high, but quite wide, stable and easy for all ages. And you only live once! After a hearty lunch at a local restaurant, y...
Day 6 - Wednesday - Journey to the Pacific Coast & Traditional Cooking Class - Manuel Antonio
Bidding farewell to our home in the mountains, we descend toward the warm, drier air of the Pacific coastline, heading southeast toward the Manuel Antonio National Park. En route, enjoy a unique experiential travel opportunity involving all your senses! At a private Ranc...
Day 7 - Thursday - Guided Visit to Manuel Antonio National Park - Afternoon at Leisure
After an early breakfast, we’ll visit Manuel Antonio National Park which was established in 1972 when the people of Costa Rica decided to preserve, for future generations, one of the most beautiful and bio-diverse areas of the country. Although it’s the country’s smalles...
Day 8 - Friday - Journey Back to San Jose - Farewell Dinner and Local Dancing Show
Morning at leisure to enjoy the hotel pool or take a last visit to the nearby Espadilla Beach. This afternoon we head back to San Jose. En route there will be a short stop at a local arts and crafts shop for some last minute souvenirs. Costa Rica is a peaceful nation, li...
Day 9 - Saturday - Morning at Leisure - Flight Back to U.S.
Morning at leisure. Take a private transfer back to Juan Santamaria Airport (SJO) to catch your flight home. B

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Dates & Availability

Price From $1,890
Price per day$210
Last Updated: 10/4/2018

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Perillo Tours.

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.

Perillo Tours Reviews & Ratings

4.8/5  Excellent
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Jun 2023

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On our trip to Amalfi coast, the bus was parked in a field for two days. The next day, we had an 8 hour bus trip to Sicily. The bus was not properly cleaned before...

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Every single thing went perfectly and smoothly and it was a dream come true

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We would like to introduce you to unique and exclusive customized tours for both first time travelers, as well as your most discerning and well seasoned groups.

For 66 years and three generations the Perillo family has perfected the art of traveling to Italy and beyond, making Perillo Tours America's leading tour operator to Italy. From major cities to the charming hill towns off the beaten path, Perillo's itineraries are crafted with the ideal balance of sightseeing, free time and activities that offer an immersion into rich traditions.

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Why Perillo

For 66 years, three generations of the Perillo family have perfected the art of traveling to Italy. And this means that when you book your vacation, you can relax and let Perillo take care of all the details. For my grandfather, Joseph, and my father, Mario, nothing was better than receiving letters of thanks from the thousands and thousands of travelers who've journeyed with us. That's still true today. We invite you to discover why we've always been number one for travel to Italy.

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Logistics

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
Trip ID
perillo-TheEssCosRicPerTou

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