arrow_back

12 Day itinerary in Costa Rica, Central America & Caribbean

Exotic Paradise

In this 12 day journey you will visit the most exotic parts of Costa Rica. Discover the wildlife, the nature, the beautiful landscapes and the amazing beaches that the country has to offer.

1 / 1
All Photos
IvanEvelyn

By Ivan and Evelyn

Overview

Physical Difficulty

Easy
help_outline

Recommended Age

Everyone

Operated in

English

GUIDANCE

On Some Day Trips

starting point

San José

trip type

Private

trip attributes

Cycling

Kayaking

Hiking

Rafting

Snorkeling/Diving

Skiing/Snowboarding

Outdoors & Nature

Adventure

Classic Sights

Start/End

Night

Highlights

1

Coral reef in Cahuita National Park

2

Relax in some beautiful hot springs

3

Enjoy the amazing view of the volcano in Arenal

4

Whale and dolphin watching

Itinerary

Pending expand_more

Day 1

place Welcome to San Jose!

Arrival and our representative will assist you and take you to your hotel in San José. Overnight at your accommodation.

Accommodation:

  • Pending: * hotel
Day 2

place San Jose - Puerto Viejo

Breakfast and departure to Puerto Viejo of Limon and to the exotic Caribbean of Costa Rica. Rest of the day at leisure to get to know the area and to enjoy all that Puerto Viejo has to offer like delicious restaurants and cheerful night-life. Life here is easy-going, and makes it impossible not to relax and forget about life’s worries. This lovely village is the perfect place to rest. Overnight at your accommodation

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Pending: * hotel
Day 3

place Puerto Viejo

Breakfast and departure for the Coral Reef Tour (snorkeling time) in the Cahuita National Park. Cahuita National Park is located just south of the town of Cahuita, about 43 kilometers south of Limón, on the Caribbean coastline in one of the most beautiful and scenic regions in Costa Rica. Its main attractions are the white sand beaches fringed with endless coconut trees, a calm sea of transparent waters and the coral reefs just offshore. The tour includes a delicious Caribbean lunch. Rest of the day at leisure to relax or to enjoy the beaches. Overnight at your accommodation

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:

  • Pending: * hotel
Day 4

place Puerto Viejo - Arenal

Breakfast and departure to Arenal Volcano. You will find in this area an amazing active volcano, a beautiful lake and a great diversity of wildlife. Arenal is most impressive at night, in the dark, a burst of fire and red-hot rocks are sometimes shoot hundreds of feet into the sky. Incandescent material cascades down the slopes, especially on the northwestern side. Afternoon at leisure to get to know the area and La Fortuna town.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Pending: * hotel
Day 5

place Arenal

Breakfast and a full day of activities for you to enjoy. In the morning experience a horseback ride to La Fortuna Waterfalls. This is a good combination of a horseback ride and a hike. Well train horses will take you until the entrance of the waterfall through pastures, forest and tall hills. The views of the Valley of San Carlos forest that surround it are spectacular. At the end of the road we will leave the horses and we will walk a natural trail to the base of the waterfall, a special place to relax and swim. In the afternoon take an adventurous hiking tour around the Arenal Volcano and afterwards have a great relaxing time at the natural hot spring waters with buffet dinner included. Overnight at your accommodation

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation:

  • Pending: * hotel
Day 6

place Arenal - Manuel Antonio

Breakfast and departure to Manuel Antonio. Manuel Antonio is the most visited wildlife area of the country and it is the best area in the Central Pacific region. It has beautiful nature, biological diversity and amazing scenery. The main attraction are the white sandy beaches that slope into crystal clear waters, and fringed with tall forest that grows down to the high tide line. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight at your accommodation

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Pending: * hotel
Day 7

place Manuel Antonio

Breakfast and to enjoy a ride on a covered boat through the complex and beautiful estuary system of Damas Island. The naturalist guide will describe a variety of biological relationships between many organisms in this delicate habitat, such as white faced monkeys, herons, snakes, crocodiles, iguanas, just to name a few! Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight at your accommodation

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:

  • Pending: * hotel
Day 8

place Manuel Antonio - Dominical

Breakfast and to the south to the beautiful beach of Dominical. The area supports several species of reptiles, mammals, birds and is full of hundreds of different species of exotic animals. Rest of the day at leisure to enjoy the beach and the surroundings. Overnight at your accommodation

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Pending: * hotel
Day 9

place Dominical

Breakfast and to enjoy the whales and dolphins watch tour. You will board a cozy boat to start watching the abundant wildlife along the shores, then to search for some species of Dolphins, Whales and/or possibly the Sea Turtles that inhabit these waters. Your guide will illustrate the trip with interesting facts about these fascinating mammals and their Natural History. Lunch included. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight at your accommodation

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:

  • Pending: * hotel
Day 10

place Dominical - San Jose

Breakfast and morning at leisure. In the afternoon departure to San Jose. Overnight at your accommodation

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Pending: * hotel
Day 11

place San Jose - Irazu Volcano - Orosi Valley

Breakfast and then to enjoy a tour to the Irazu Volcano, Orosi Valley and Lankester Gardens. The trip begins ascending the breathtaking summit of the Irazu Volcano for a view of the massive crater. On a clear day you can actually see the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans! After an exciting tour at the volcano, we will descend to the historical city of Cartago. Here we will visit the mysterious ruins of the old Parish and view the beautiful Basilica of our "Virgen de los Angeles" with rich displays of carvings, statues and art. After our visit to the Basilica de Los Angeles we will drive to the Lankester Gardens. The Lankester Gardens are a Tropical Paradise featuring over 800 varieties of exotic orchids, various tropical flowers and plant life. This tour continues with a ride through the unique beauty of the famous Orosi Valley and Reventazon River. The area is noted for its rich soil, abundant plant life and the outstanding coffee plantations. We will have a stop for lunch in a restaurant surrounded by beautiful coffee plantations and an excellent view to the Cachi Lake. Along the way, we will visit one of the oldest colonial churches and see the enchanting "Dreamers House". Overnight at your accommodation

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:

  • Pending: * hotel
Day 12

place San Jose Departure

Breakfast and transfer to the International Airport to take your flight back home after an amazing vacation in Costa Rica.

Meals: Breakfast

What’s Included

Accommodation expand_less

  • * hotel

Meals expand_less

  • Breakfast (11)
  • Lunch (4)
  • Dinner (1)

Transport expand_less

  • Private transfer in from the airport
  • Boat tour to the estuaries of Damas Island
  • Private transfer out to the airport

Activities expand_less

  • Coral Reef tour in Cahuita National Park
  • Horseback ride to La Fortuna Waterfalls
  • Hiking tour around the Arenal Volcano
  • Whales and dolphins watch tour
  • Irazu Volcano, Orosi Valley and Lankester Gardens tour

Extras expand_less

  • Meeting at the airport
  • Entrance fee in the natural hot spring waters
  • All hotel taxes

Not Included expand_less

  • Personal expenses
  • Travel insurance
  • Tips and gratuities
  • Other meals not mentioned
  • Drinks

About Ivan

TEAM LEAD

+1 Local experts

verified Baboo Certified

star_outline 5 (6 reviews)

Travel that Makes a Difference

By choosing to travel with us, you support local communities, wildlife, and the environment. We are dedicated to positively impacting the world through every journey we offer.

Let’s regenerate the planet together

We overcompensate your entire journey’s carbon footprint including flights - for free.

Learn more
FROM PRICE PER TRAVELER

Ask for Quote