Discover the Wonders of Birdwatching in Costa Rica

Discover the Enchantment of Costa Rica: A 7-Day Itinerary

Enjoy beautiful Costa Rica on this seven-day tour, including wonderful rainforests, volcanoes, cloud forest and natural trails combined with the incredible opportunity to see wildlife. You will fall in love with this tropical paradise.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

Sarapiqui: A nature lover’s paradise with a marvelous diversity of wildlife and plant life. Sarapiqui is known throughout Costa Rica for its amazing and rich biodiversity as well as for being an adventure seeker’s dream destination.

Arenal Volcano: This region is considered by many to be one of the most spectacular ones in the country. Today there are no lava eruptions, but you can still see smoke/ash spew out of the top of the volcano. The Arenal region offers numerous hiking trails, stunning waterfalls, relaxing and natural hot springs, gushing rivers, beautiful vegetation, and wildlife.

Dota: The deep mountains of Dota may be less congested than larger cities, but it is home to some of the best destinations in Costa Rica. Boasting the best coffee in the country, some of the most intense hiking and eclectic array of bird species is ideal for nature lovers.

Itinerary

Day 1: Welcome to Costa Rica! A representative will greet you and assist you at the airport. Private transfer from the airport to the hotel in San Jose city. Upon arrival, check-in and enjoy leisure time to refresh, relax and get comfortable at your hotel room. Overnight at San Jose.

Day 2: Wake up to breakfast at the hotel and around 10 am a representative will pick you up at the lobby and take you on a private transfer to your next destination: the always verdant Sarapiqui region. Around 2:00 pm you will join an expert guide to take a naturalist hike through the rainforest. Experience first-hand the wonder of exploring a tropical rainforest. Learn more than just the names of rainforest plants and animals, discover their secret lives and fascinating natural histories. Be on the lookout for monkeys, mot-mots, toucans, and poison dart frogs, and remember to bring your camera! Savour dinner at the hotel. Overnight in Sarapiqui.

Day 3: Have breakfast at the hotel and enjoy free time to relax at the pool surrounded by nature and a delightful lunch at the Lodge. After lunch (included), around 12:00 pm a representative will pick you up at the lobby and take you in a private transfer to your next destination: La Fortuna de San Carlos, home of the wonderful Arenal Volcano. Upon arrival, admire the natural beauty of Arenal region; explore the area your own or simply relax at the hotel. Overnight in Arenal.

Day 4: Early start around 5:15 am, to hop on the transfer to Mundo Aventura Natural Park. Arrive by 5:30 am, and ends around 9:30 am, after a delicious light breakfast of fresh fruit, juice, and coffee. With an expert naturalist guide, you will explore the incredible birdlife of the rainforest. The tour takes around 4 hours. Afterwards, return to the hotel. Around 2:00 pm hop on the transfer to El Silencio Private Reserve, to get as close to the base of the Arenal volcano as possible by vehicle. Next, you will walk approximately 1 kilometre along a volcanic stone path with a moderate degree of difficulty, until we reach the viewpoint, the closest point to volcano permitted to access. At the viewpoint, our guide will provide relevant information on the formation of the Arenal Volcano, its periods of activity, as well as unpublished details of its first eruption in 1968. You can also enjoy the excellent views of the Green Lagoon and Lake Arenal. At the end of the tour, the driver will be waiting for you with a delicious snack of tropical fruit before continuing to the relaxing part of this experience: Tabacon Hot springs. At Tabacon, you will enjoy the thermal mineral waters for approximately three hours on your own. The Resort has pools and a river of thermal waters coming from the veins of the majestic Arenal Volcano. At the end of the night, enjoy a delightful dinner included at Tabacon. Around 8:30 pm, the transportation will pick you up to take you back to your hotel. Overnight in Arenal.

Day 5: Recharge your energies with breakfast at the hotel and around 9:00 am check-out and departure on a private transfer to your next destination: Dota, near the Los Quetzales National Park. Sitting along the foothills of the Talamanca Mountain Range, Dota will charm you with its natural beauty. Travellers come here to hike through the pristine wilderness and view some of the region's most predominant flora and fauna. This quaint village is one of the best locations to get away from the hustle and bustle of daily life. Enjoy free time in the afternoon to explore the area on your own or just relax at the Lodge facilities. Overnight in Dota.

Day 6: Today, wake up early and around 5:30 am join one of our guides to explore the forest and see quetzals in their natural habitat. A gentle 1.5 km walk through the cloud forest will lead you to the Quetzal´s habitat. The hike will take approximately 2 hours, led by a professional guide equipped with a spotting scope and a bird guide. The guide will provide detailed explications along the way. Rest of the day at leisure to relax surrounded by pristine nature or take an optional experience in the area. Overnight in Dota.

Day 7: Delight in one last breakfast at the hotel and at a convenient time, check-out and departure on a private transfer to Juan Santamaria International Airport to take your flight back home.

Inclusions

• Operated with English- and Spanish-speaking local guide during the scheduled activities on a shared basis. Please note you will be accompanied by local guides for the activities only. There is no guarantee that you will be part of a group, or part of the same group during the tour.
• 6 nights accommodation
• Standard Hotel Category = Hotel Park Inn or similar 3*
• Standard Hotel Category = Selva Verde Lodge or similar 3*
• Standard Hotel Category = Arenal Montechiari or similar 3*
• Standard Hotel Category = Paraiso Quetzal Lodge or similar 3*
• 6 Breakfasts
• 1 Lunch (Day 3)
• 2 Dinners (Day 3, 4)
• Private transfer in an air-conditioning vehicle from/ to Juan Santamaria Airport
• Private transportation in an air-conditioning vehicle throughout the tour
• All entrance fees and activities mentioned in the itinerary: (Shared) Naturalist Hike at Selva Verde Natural Trails in Sarapiquí; (Shared) Birdwatching Morning tour at Mundo Aventura in Arenal; (Shared) Hiking to El Silencio Private Reserve in Arenal; (Shared) Tabacon Hot springs in Arenal; (Shared) Quetzal Tour in Dota
• Meet & Greet

Exclusions

• Visa fees
• Domestic flights
• International flights
• Drinks during meals (unless specified otherwise)
• Optional tours (if any)
• City tax not included, payable on the spot
• Any visit not mentioned in the program
• Porterage and gratuities
• Expenditures of a personal nature, drinks and meals or items not stated explicitly in the program
• Any alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, mineral water, camera/video camera fee (if any)
• Travel Insurance or any loss or extra cost arising due to unforeseen circumstances such as flight delays, accidents, etc.

Enjoy beautiful Costa Rica on this seven-day tour, including wonderful rainforests, volcanoes, cloud forest and natural trails combined with the incredible opportunity to see wildlife. You will fall in love with this tropical paradise.

• TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
• Sarapiqui: A nature lover’s paradise with a marvelous diversity of wildlife and plant life, known for its biodiversity and as an adventure seeker’s dream.
• Arenal Volcano: Offers hiking trails, stunning waterfalls, hot springs, and beautiful vegetation and wildlife, with occasional smoke/ash from the volcano.
• Dota: Known for the best coffee, intense hiking, and a variety of bird species, it's a must-visit for nature lovers.

• We reserve the right to change itineraries and activities due to weather conditions, technical problems or security reasons.
• Early check-in, late check-out, connecting or adjoining rooms in the hotel are subject to availability and not guaranteed.
• In many hotels in Costa Rica, triple rooms are a double room with an additional bed or sofa bed, having lower comfort conditions than international standards.
• No refund for unused services. Splitting of the package is not allowed.