Costa Rica

Day 1 Hola San José (groups flying from the west coast may be required to depart day 0)

Meet your tour director and check into hotel

Day 2 San José--Arenal

Details: Travel to Arenal

Arenal is famous for its volcano, an unavoidable presence while traveling within this part of the country. It is tall, imposing, perfectly symmetrical shape makes it instantly recognizable.

Details: Arenal Volcano National Park visit

Arenal Volcano National Park is located in the northern region of the country and is home to one of the world’s most active and impressive volcanoes. Besides the volcano, this national park has various hiking trails that wind through the tropical highland forest as well as the lowland wet forest. Also within the park is a magnificent man-made lake, Lake Arenal (the largest lake in Costa Rica), which provides over 40% of the country’s energy production.

Day 3 Arenal

Hanging Bridges excursion

Details: Lake Arenal kayaking tour

Glide along the still waters reflecting the perfect cone of Arenal Volcano and the surrounding rolling hills. Lake Arenal, the country's largest, is also among its most scenic, and the area has become popular area to kayak, windsurf, sail, fish, and hike. For safety reasons, weight restrictions apply to this activity

Details: Hot springs visit

Let the volcanoes take you away. At Arenal’s hot springs, bubbling lava fields heat the waters to make nature’s own jacuzzi.

Day 4 Arenal--Monteverde

Details: Travel to Monteverde

Because of its humidity and latitude, the entire city of Monteverde can disappear in a second under a massive cloud cover. Founded by Quakers in 1951, the city boasts the best in Costa Rican creatures. Observe a proud display of howler monkeys, revered quetzals and native frogs in the dense cover of the cloud forest.

Details: Horseback ride

Step back in time as you explore Monteverde on horseback, following time-worn trails through the mountains as you breathe in the mists of the rainforest. For safety reasons, weight restrictions apply to this activity. The location of this activity is subject to change and groups over 20 will likely be split due to the limited number of horses available.

Day 5 Monteverde

Details: Canopy zipline tour

Soar through the treetops for the unmatched close-up of the New World’s best wildlife refuge. Harness yourself to cables that run between platforms high in the trees, then step into thin air and zip from tree to tree. Experience a true bird's-eye view from your new aerial perspective. For safety reasons, weight restrictions apply to this activity

Details: Santa Elena Biological Reserve visit

Get your spider monkey fix as you climb into the clouds. The Santa Elena Reserve reaches high into the atmosphere, bringing the cloudy mists into its lush forests and letting you see all the way to the Arenal Volcano.

Day 6 Monteverde--Coastal Puntarenas

Travel to Coastal Puntarenas

Free time at the beach

Optional $35

Details: Plant your own tree

Contribute your green thumb efforts to local conservation work by planting a tree in a deforested part of Costa Rica.

Day 7 Coastal Puntarenas

Details: Manuel Antonio National Park visit

Combining white sandy beaches with lush tropical forest, Manuel Antonio is the perfect place to see a variety of Costa Rican wildlife, from white-faced monkeys and sleepy-faced sloths, to green turtles and orange-and-black-shelled land crabs.

Day 8 Coastal Puntarenas--San José

Optional $50

Details: Travel to San José via Sarchí

On the way to San José, travel to Sarchí, a highly artistic city known for its painted designs and brilliantly colored wheels of local ox carts.

Details: Sarchí craft village visit

Costa Rica's premiere crafts village provides the perfect opportunity for souvenir shopping. Sarchí became famous in the mid-1800s for its elaborate hand-painted oxcarts, and now its artisans create clothing, shoes, chess sets, and other items all decorated in the traditional manner.

Day 9 Flight home from San José

Day 9 Start extension to San José

Details: Whitewater rafting guided excursion

The perfect way to experience Costa Rica at its best. After getting full safety and paddling instructions from your guide, head off into lush rainforest teeming with toucans, herons, and iguanas. Be on the lookout for basilisk lizards—these reptiles can scurry across the water on their hind legs, a feat that earned them the nickname “Jesus Christ lizards.” End your tour of Costa Rica’s most popular river with a traditional lunch prepared by your guide. For safety reasons, weight restrictions apply to this activity.

Day 10 Flight home from San José

Tour Includes:

Round-trip airfare
8 overnight stays (9 with extension) in hotels with private bathrooms
Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily
Full-time services of a professional tour director
Guided sightseeing tours and city walks as per itinerary
Visits to select attractions as per itinerary
Tour Diary™
Local Guide and Local Bus Driver tips; see note regarding other important tips
Note: On arrival day only dinner is provided; on departure day, only breakfast is provided
Note: Tour cost does not include airline-imposed baggage fees, or fees for any required passport or visa. Optional excursions, optional pre-paid Tour Director and multi-day bus driver tipping, among other individual and group customizations will be listed as separate line items in the total trip cost, if included.

Costa Rica Student Tour

with optional White Water Rafting Adventure Extension

Length: 9 - 10 days

Planning for the 2027-28 school year?

with optional White Water Rafting Adventure Extension

Length: 9 - 10 days

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Teachers and Travellers:

	Folklore evening ($50) learn more
	Crocodile Safari ($35) learn more