Northern Costa Rica

with optional White Water Rafting Adventure Extension

Length: 8 - 9 days

See the bubbling 6,285-foot-high Rincón de La Vieja Volcano, ride a horse to the cooling hacienda’s waterfalls, kayak on Arenal’s pristine lake, make your way up to Costa Rica’s Cloud Forest in Monteverde, and see cows, horses, and cowboys in Guanacaste.

RECENT TOUR DIARIES:

March 3, 2025 - March 10, 2025
April 16, 2022 - April 23, 2022
June 20, 2019 - June 27, 2019

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Day 1 Hola Rincón de La Vieja (groups flying from the west coast may be required to depart day 0)

Meet your tour director, travel to Rincón de la Vieja & check into hotel

Day 2 Rincón de La Vieja

Optional $60

Details: Horseback ride

Accompanied by knowledgeable guides, ride on gentle horses that know the way through this blessed land. On this journey, nature is at your fingertips, as you ride through the forest and its surroundings, passing through rivers, with views of the Rincon de la Vieja Volcano. For safety reasons, weight restrictions apply to this activity.

Day 3 Rincón de La Vieja--Arenal

Travel to Arenal

Details: Rincón de La Vieja Volcano Park visit

The vaporous clouds of this area were once said to hide a witch, a local princess whose angered father had thrown her husband into the volcano. The devastated princess retreated into the volcano’s shadow, where she spent the rest of her life concocting spells for the town’s residents. The volcano’s name, “The Nook of the Old Woman,” comes from this legend. View this haunting landscape of bubbling craters as you approach this 6,285-foot-high, very active volcano.

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: Arenal Volcano and 1968 lava trails hike

Hike through historical lava trails from the 1968 Arenal Volcano eruption that covered most of the surrounding rainforest. Enjoy impressive views of the volcano along the way.

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: 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.

Day 5 Monteverde

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.

Details: Monteverde Cloud Forest reserve night walk

Step into the Monteverde Cloud Forest and be transported to the lush world of the Costa Rican rainforest. The towering trees, abundant shrubs and vibrant flowers create a luscious oasis for a huge array of animals, including jaguars, toucans and monkeys.

Day 6 Monteverde--Guanacaste

Transfer to Papagayo Gulf

Free time on Guanacaste Beach

Details: Palo Verde boat tour

Hop on this river boat for a cruise through the murky water and into the scraggly mangroves of the Palo Verde National Park. Keep a look out for American alligators sunning themselves on the banks, white-faced monkeys swinging through the branches and colorful macaws flying overhead as you make your way through the park.

Day 7 Guanacaste

Free time on Guanacaste Beach

Day 8 Flight home from Liberia

Day 8 Start extension to Guanacaste

Details: Whitewater rafting guided excursion

Test your paddling skills on this thrilling whitewater rafting trip. An experienced guide will help you navigate the rapids that rush through the delightfully lush scenery of the rainforest. No experience is required — just bring your sense of adventure and prepare to get wet! For safety reasons, weight restrictions apply to this activity.

Day 9 Flight home from Liberia

Map of Costa Rican Highlights Educational Tour

Tour Includes:

Round-trip airfare
7 overnight stays (8 with extension) in hotels with private bathrooms
Breakfast daily
Lunch daily
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.

TOUR COST & DETAILS

We are better able to assist you with a quote for your selected departure date and city over the phone. Please call 1.888.378.8845 to price this tour with your requested options.

Please select a postal code

3783.00 total fee

Toronto

Liberia

(round trip)

Departure Date

Mon, March 02, 2026

Return Date

Mon, March 09, 2026

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Include Pre-Paid Tipping ($122.00)

Optional Add-Ons

Canopy zipline tour ($60)

White Water Rafting Adventure Extension

Include White Water Rafting Adventure Extension (1 day)

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Northern Costa Rica Student Tour

with optional White Water Rafting Adventure Extension

Length: 8 - 9 days

Northern Costa Rica

with optional White Water Rafting Adventure Extension

Length: 8 - 9 days

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