Costa Rica from Caribbean Rainforest to Pacific Coast

Highlights

• Reach Tortuguero by boat and explore the rainforest canals where monkeys, sloths and hundreds of bird species live among the waterways.
• Swim beneath La Fortuna Waterfall before a traditional lunch with a local family and a guided hike around the base of Arenal Volcano.
• Walk through Tenorio Volcano National Park to see Río Celeste, known for its striking blue water, with suspension bridges and lunch included.
• Cross Lake Arenal by boat on the journey to Monteverde, with views back towards the volcano as you move into Costa Rica’s cloud forest.
• Zip-line through Monteverde’s forest canopy before learning how Costa Rican coffee, chocolate and sugar cane are produced.
• Spend five nights in Nosara on the Nicoya Peninsula, with long Pacific beaches and free days for surfing, yoga or simply spending time by the sea.
• Finish on a working organic coffee farm in Costa Rica’s Central Valley before the flight home.

Tortuguero and the Caribbean Coast

The journey begins by leaving San José behind and travelling towards Costa Rica’s Caribbean lowlands, where roads eventually give way to rivers and canals. Tortuguero National Park protects rainforest, lagoons and a long Caribbean beach, and the only way into this landscape is by boat. A guided trip through the waterways gives you the chance to look for monkeys, sloths, tropical birds and other wildlife from the water, while free time lets you explore the village or walk up Tortuguero Hill for views across the forest and coast.

La Fortuna and Arenal Volcano

From the Caribbean, travel inland towards Arenal, one of the landscapes most closely associated with Costa Rica. The volcano rises almost 1,700 metres above the surrounding forest, and although it is now dormant, heat beneath the ground still feeds the area’s natural hot springs. Over three nights here, swim beneath La Fortuna Waterfall, have lunch with the Rodriguez family and follow a guide across old lava flows in Arenal Volcano National Park. A separate day at Tenorio adds rainforest suspension bridges and the vivid blue water of Río Celeste before the journey continues west.

Monteverde Cloud Forest

The move from La Fortuna to Monteverde becomes part of the experience itself, with a boat crossing of Lake Arenal before climbing towards the cooler cloud forest. Monteverde is known for forest kept damp by low cloud drifting across the mountains, allowing mosses, ferns and other plants to cover the trees. Here, you will see the forest from above on a canopy and zip-line experience, then spend the afternoon learning how coffee, cacao and sugar cane are grown and turned into some of Costa Rica’s best-known products.

Nosara and the Nicoya Peninsula

After rainforest, volcanoes and cloud forest, the journey reaches Costa Rica’s Pacific side for five nights in Nosara. This stretch of the Nicoya Peninsula is known for wide beaches, long surf breaks and yoga, giving you several completely free days after the more active first half of the trip. Before arriving, there is also a community visit in Guanacaste where you can see traditional ceramics being made and join a local cooking class.

Back to the Central Valley

Rather than heading straight from the coast to the airport, the final night takes you back into Costa Rica’s Central Valley for a stay on an organic coffee plantation. It brings the journey back to one of the crops that has played a major role in Costa Rica’s history and gives you one final night in the countryside before flying home.

Terms and Conditions

Return economy flights from Dublin to San José with American Airlines, British Airways and connecting services via Dallas, Miami and London Heathrow, departing on 07-05-2027, with one checked bag per person. Private airport transfers and shared transport to and from Tortuguero are included. Accommodation covers one night in San José, two nights in Tortuguero, three nights in La Fortuna, two nights in Monteverde, five nights in Nosara and one final night at Finca Rosa Blanca in the Central Valley, with breakfast throughout and full board listed for the Tortuguero stay. Experiences include a guided walk in Tortuguero National Park, guided visits to Arenal Volcano and La Fortuna Waterfall, lunch with the Rodriguez family, a visit to Tenorio Volcano National Park with suspension bridges and lunch, a Monteverde canopy and zip-line experience, a coffee and chocolate farm visit, and a community ceramics and cooking experience in Guanacaste. The price is based on two adults. Offer subject to availability and change. The meal basis at Laguna Lodge in Tortuguero should be confirmed before publication.

14 nights from €6,330 per person