Itinerary

Day 1       Arrive to San Jose

Fly into San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica. You will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. Depending on when you arrive, you might have time for a visit to one of the city's museums, either the Jade Museum or the Gold Museum.
Hotel Grano de Oro

Day 2       Arenal Volcano

You will be picked up at your hotel for transfer to the region of Arenal Volcano. Along the way, stop to see the handmade crafts of Sarchi and the topiary gardens of Zarcero before arriving to your lodge. You will be staying at the same lodge used by the Smithsonian Institute in conducting its observations of the volcano. Approximately 4 hours drive.
Arenal Observatory Lodge (B,L,D)

Day 3       Arenal Volcano

You'll join your guide from the lodge to take a morning hike around the base of the volcano, where you observe the lava flow and enjoy spectacular views up to the smoldering crater (weather permitting). You will also enjoy the local rainforest environment that surrounds the mountain, filled with a wide variety of wildlife. In the afternoon you will visit the Arenal Hanging Bridges, a canopy walkway of suspended bridges that lets you enjoy the rainforest canopy at eye level.
Arenal Observatory Lodge (B,L,D)

Day 4      Monteverde Cloud Forest

Today say farewell to Arenal Volcano. You will be picked up at your hotel and transferred to Lake Arenal. After a short 30 minute boat ride across the lake you will be met for a 2 hour transfer over the mountains to the Monteverde Cloud Forest, a beautiful area with a charming town and incredibly lush forests. You'll be staying in lovely small hotel with great views of the surrounding area.
Hotel Fonda Vela (B,L,D)

Day 5        Monteverde Cloud Forest

Monteverde is a uniquely beautiful, mountainous cloud forest environment, and if you appreciate nature you can't help but be captivated by the place. In the morning you'll start out on the Selvatura’s Canopy zip line, one of the longest zip lines of its kind, taking you through the virgin cloud forest canopy. For those who wish to have a bit more stable footing they can opt for the "skywalk canopy tour," where you walk along a series of suspended bridges from which you can observe the jungle canopy. If you are feeling a bit more adventurous you can also opt to go on the In the afternoon you have a guided walk through the forest allowing you to appreciate the dense jungle from below the canopy.
Hotel Fonda Vela (B,L,D)

Day 6       Manuel Antonio

After visiting some more of this lovely area in the morning, you'll be picked up at your hotel for transfer to Manuel Antonio, a stunningly beautiful small town overlooking the Central Pacific Coast (about 5 hours drive).
Hotel Arenas del Mar (B)

Day 7       Manuel Antonio

You will be picked up at your hotel for a 1/2 day guided visit to the National Park just south of your hotel This beautiful forest, pushed up against the Pacific Ocean has a wide variety of birds, monkeys and other wildlife which you will be able to spot as you walk along the trails. The afternoon is free for you to visit one of the beautiful beaches or stroll along one of the many trails.
Hotel Arenas del Mar (B)

Day 8       Manuel Antonio

Today you have the day at your leisure or go on one of the many additional activities offered in this area. Among the activities that we can set up are rafting, or a boat trip out to Damas Island (extra costs involved).
Hotel Arenas del Mar (B)

Day 9       Return to San Jose

In the morning you will be picked up from your hotel and transferred to the airport for a quick flight back to San Jose from where you will be transferred to the international airport for your flight home.
(B)

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