Tropical Rainforests & Manuel Antonio

Upon arrival at San Jose’s Juan Santamaria International Airport and clearing customs, exit the airport terminal and be met by a representative and transferred to your hotel in San Jose.

This morning, be picked up at your hotel for a guided tour, stopping first at La Paz Waterfall Gardens. La Paz has manicured gardens, a rescued wildlife preserve with jungle cats and monkeys, a hummingbird garden, live butterfly and frog exhibits and more. Walk along a clear mountain river on an easy-access trail with great views of gorgeous waterfalls. After a delicious lunch at La Paz’s restaurant set amid the lush beauty of the gardens, continue into lowland plains amid tropical farmlands before arriving at your Arenal hotel.

Enjoy a morning guided walk on the private trails within the property of the Arenal Observatory Lodge. Arenal Observatory Lodge lies in the heart of one of Costa Rica’s largest natural areas. Howler monkeys call from the forest and the rich volcanic soil supports primary and secondary rainforest teeming with butterflies, mammals, reptiles and 400 species of birds. Seven miles of manicured, well-marked walking, bike and horseback riding trail system traverses the property and provides safe, easy access to breathtaking natural beauty. The trails are never crowded. There is a hanging bridge, waterfall, Cerro Chato crater lake or hardened lava flow to explore. The guide will help interpret the lush landscape and stop along the way to discuss the volcano, flora and fauna. Afterwards check out from the hotel for a lakecrossing service from Arenal to Monteverde. Transfer to Lake Arenal to board a boat to cross the scenic southern end of the lake where you will be picked up at the Rio Chiquito landing and driven overland to your Monteverde hotel, approximately 2.5 hours in total. Lunch is included at a local restaurant en route.

Monteverde is a small community in the Tilaran Mountains, below the famous Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. In and around the community founded by Quakers and Costa Ricans, there are many restaurants and exhibits including butterfly gardens, horse rentals, an orchid garden, art galleries and the Monteverde Cheese Factory. After breakfast, take an exciting zip line canopy tour. Put on a safety harness assisted by guides, then navigate the horizontal cables that soar you along a series of platforms in the trees. In the afternoon take a guided tour in the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, which harbors wildlife adapted to its cool, misty forest environment.

In the morning, ride overland from Monteverde to Manuel Antonio National Park on the Pacific coast. Manuel Antonio consists of several beautiful beaches, a lush forest growing right to the beach’s edge, easy walking trails and abundant wildlife. Manuel Antonio’s outstanding beauty was recognized when Forbes Magazine listed it as one of the World’s 12 Most Beautiful National Parks. The area outside the park offers visitors a wide variety of gorgeous hotels, excellent restaurants and many optional activities such as rafting, surf lessons and horseback riding. In the afternoon, your guide will return to San José.

Today, hike with a local naturalist guide in Manuel Antonio National Park. Best known for its gorgeous beaches, the park is also an important refuge for rare rainforest trees and wildlife. Search for white-faced capuchin, squirrel monkeys, sloths, raccoons, agoutis, black & scarlet land crabs, iguanas and a variety of birds. After the hike, enjoy free time at the beaches and their tropical Pacific warm waters.

Today choose between a kayak adventure or a half-day surf lesson. For kayaking, explore the canals of the Damas Estuary and mangrove forest near Manuel Antonio with a bilingual naturalist guide by open-seat kayak. Tropical mangroves are fascinating and important ecosystems that serve as buffer zones to protect coastal land from the open ocean, wildlife refuges and nurseries for marine life. Adapted to a constantly changing environment due to tidal action, the mangrove trees have developed bizarre bases and root systems to survive in the intertidal zone. As you paddle along, the guide will explain the unique characteristics of these marvelous ecosystems and point out the variety of wildlife that lives here. For surfing, be met at your Hotel by a local surf instructor who will take you to where the best surf breaks are located, which can be at different points along the Manuel Antonio beach area. Also dependent on tides, wind and weather. After on-sand instructions, hit the water to tackle the waves with the objective of standing up on the surf board successfully to ride the waves. Take the rest of the day at leisure to enjoy the beach, swimming pool and the ocean views from the hotel.

Today be picked up at your hotel for a private transfer to the local airstrip in Quepos, approximately 25 minutes. Take the local domestic flight from Quepos to San José, approximately 35 minutes. On arrival meet a transport representative for guidance to the International departures gate of the Juan Santamaria International Airport. Check in 3 hours prior to your scheduled flight time.

Note: Your departing flight must leave San Jose no earlier than 12:00pm in order to make the connection from Manuel Antonio. If your departing flight leaves before noon, then arrangements will be made for you to overnight in San Jose on day 7.