Caribbean to Pacific - Guided Tour

Upon arrival to San Jose, meet and greet services at Juan Santamaria International Airport will direct you to your transport who will drop you off at your hotel in San Jose for your first night in Costa Rica. Arrival transfer will be offered at any time for your convenience. Overnight in San Jose hotel on a bed-and-breakfast basis

This morning after breakfast, depart the capital towards Puerto Viejo, passing through Braulio Carrillo National Park and its rainforest, spectacular mountain scenery and quaint villages of Costa Rica Caribbean region. Arrive to your hotel around midday and enjoy the remainder of the afternoon at leisure to explore the surrounding region on your own or join an optional activity. Overnight in Puerto Viejo hotel on a bed-and-breakfast basis.

Today, after breakfast, prepare yourself for an active day of snorkelling and hiking through the nearby Cahuita National Park. First, venture out on a snorkelling tour, going out in a 12-person boat with captain and guide, riding the coast of Cahuita National Park. Here, we snorkel for about two hours in the most important coral reef of Costa Rica. Packed full of sea life, be prepared to see many different species of coral, an abundance tropical fish, sharks, eels, sea urchins, shellfish, crustaceans, algae, sea turtles, lobster, shrimp and more. Snorkelling equipment included (mask, fins and snorkel tube). After discovering the beauty of the underwater world, savour a tropical fruit snack and some water to reenergize before beginning the second part of the tour, hiking through Cahuita National Park with a naturalist guide. The guide will take you to different points of interest between Cahuita Point and the small town of Cahuita on a 3.5 kilometre stretch, with the possibility of observing various types of snakes, such as boas, bush master, eyelash vipers; sloths, white-faced and howler monkeys, anteaters, armadillos, raccoons, blue Morpho butterflies among others, birds and much more. At the end of the tour, delight in a delicious Caribbean lunch. After lunch, return to your hotel with the rest of day at leisure to relax at the hotel and live the Southern Caribbean coastal experience. Overnight in Puerto Viejo hotel on a bed-and-breakfast basis. Lunch included.

Start the day with breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, you will be picked up in a shared transfer and taken to the village of Turrialba, a journey that last around four hours, where you will have the rest of day at leisure to explore surroundings or just relax at your hotel to prepare for tomorrow’s rafting adventure down the River Pacuare. Overnight in Turrialba hotel on a bed-and-breakfast basis

Have a nice breakfast to make sure your energy reserves are high for today’s adventurous outing. Today you embark on a Pacuare white-water rafting adventure, riding down class III and IV rapids, considered one of the best rafting rivers in Costa Rica. Feel the adrenaline pump as you paddle through the thrill of the rapids, and observe the natural beauty that surrounds you, such as cascading waterfalls and a variety of tropical flora and fauna. Halfway through the tour, we make a stop to admire the tremendous views of the Pacuare along with a break for lunch. It will be a day full of safe and exciting adventure. Once at the point of disembarkation, return back to the hotel and have the afternoon free to enjoy the hotel and surroundings. Overnight in Turrialba hotel on a bed-and-breakfast basis. Lunch included.

After breakfast at the hotel, you will be picked up in a shared transfer to San Gerardo de Dota, in the Los Quetzales National Park, a cloud forest reserve where the iconic quetzal bird lives. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure to explore the area on your own or join an optional activity. Overnight in San Gerardo de Dota on a bed-and-breakfast basis

Begin your day early to go out on a ‘quetzal quest’. Join the local guide for coffee before departing at 06:00 hrs on a quest to find the beautiful quetzal. Your guide will lead the tour to try and spot at least one of these magnificent birds. Its metallic green plumage, bright red breast, spikey head and its incredible streaming tail feathers make spotting a male quetzal in flight a magical experience. San Gerardo de Dota is a proud home to a large population of these birds, one of the most beautiful in all of the Americas. Return to the lodge at 08:00 hrs for breakfast. Take advantage of the rest of the day free - take a self-guided hike inside the forest, or simply relax at hotel. Overnight in San Gerardo de Dota hotel on a bed-and-breakfast basis.

This morning after breakfast, transfer to the Central Pacific Coast down the Pan-American Highway to San Isidro de El General. You then take the road to the South Pacific and finally the coastal route will take you to the town of Quepos, just outside of Manuel Antonio National Park. Check in to your hotel and have the afternoon to enjoy the area on your own. Overnight in Manuel Antonio hotel on a bed-and-breakfast basis.

After breakfast, you will be picked up from your hotel to transfer to the Manuel Antonio National Park. During today’s tour of the park, your knowledgeable nature guide will walk you through the Manuel Antonio National Park and explain the mysteries of the rainforest. The trail is flat and picturesque and loops through the park making your course about two miles long. Throughout your hike, your guide will stop and narrate the park’s natural history, which includes thorough descriptions of the plants and animals that can be observed along the way. The park is a great place to take pictures or just to admire the impressive views. One of the highlights of this tour is that Manuel Antonio is home to three of the four existing tropical primates living in Costa Rica. Half way through the hike, enjoy a leisurely stop at the world-famous ‘Third Beach’. Take a rest on the soft sand or play in the waves. The stop will last around 20 minutes. Throughout the hike it is common to see sloths, birds and reptiles as well as admire wild orchids, butterflies and tropical vegetation. Your guides are equipped with Pentax and Swarovski monocular/telescopes, so you can observe wildlife and take pictures from a different perspective. Once the tour is over, transportation is provided back to your hotel. (Note: Manuel Antonio National Park is closed on Mondays). Overnight in Manuel Antonio hotel on a bed-and-breakfast basis

At the appropriate time, transfer to Juan Santamaria International Airport to catch your flight back home or on to your next destination. Recommended departure time: after 15:00 hrs. Breakfast included.