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Group Classic Costa Rica Tour - departs 7th November 2026

1 nts San Jose, 2 nts Tortuguero, 3 nts Arenal Volcano, 2 nts Monteverde Cloud Forest, 2 nts Alajuela

Departing 7th November 2026 - Small Group Classic Costa Rica Tour - max 12 people - 14 nights at £2,980 per person. Price based on double occupancy. Single occupancy supplement is £1,035. Direct flights with British Airways from London Heathrow to San Jose start from £890 per person, contact us for a quote.

This tour offers a fantastic opportunity to see some highlights of Costa Rica in a small group tour led by an expert guide. Exploring some of the most scenic areas of Costa Rica including the Caribbean lowlands, the impressive Arenal Volcano region and the cloud forests of Monteverde. This tour will give you the opportunity to see a large variety of different wildlife, bird and plant species, yet also experience some local culture.

After your first night in San Jose at a boutique hotel, we then transfer by road and boat along the canals to Tortuguero to explore this unique, vast, rainforest eco-system. Here we explore the canals by boat to observe capuchin monkeys, howler monkeys, great green macaws, toucans, parrots and caimans, our guide will take you into the narrower tributaries so that we are able to get up close to the wildlife

Our next stay is in Arenal, staying at the Arenal Manoa, set in beautiful grounds where you can relax in the thermal fed pools enjoying views of the majestic conical volcano. We will have a guided tour to the hanging bridges, join a local guide to search for two and three toed sloths and enjoy a gentle river safari float along the scenic Penas Blancas River (option to upgrade to white water rafting along the Rio Balsa river). We will then cross Lake Arenal by boat and travel on to the cloud forest of Monteverde. The climate will feel distinctly cooler as you are at a higher elevation. You will visit two different reserves in this area to experience the local flora, fauna and wildlife. You will also have an afternoon to explore Santa Elena town independently. Your final stay is in a small, unique lodge situated in a coffee growing area looking over the central valley. You will visit a local coffee farm and have an authentic experience.

Accommodation will be comfortable but not luxury, the tour will be accompanied by a guide and with a maximum of 12 people. **Option to extend a few nights to finish on the Pacific coast.

Price Guide

10 nights from £2,980 per person based on double occupancy

These prices are excluding international flights. Average direct flight prices to Costa Rica range from £900 per person to over £1,000 per person at peak times (Christmas, Easter and Summer). Flight routes vary, there are direct flight options with British Airways from London Gatwick but also many alternative routes via the US. Please contact us for accurate flight pricing for your timings and place of departure.

Day to Day

Below is an example day by day itinerary

Day 1

Met on arrival at the international airport and transferred to your hotel in downtown San Jose. Overnight Presidente Hotel.

Day 2

Transferred in an air-conditioned vehicle to the Caribbean side of the country. Enjoy the scenery as you pass through the Braulio Carrillo National Park. En route you will stop for a typical breakfast. You will then board a boat as you travel through the Tortuguero canals, spotting wildlife as you travel before arriving at your lodge in Tortuguero. You will arrive in time for lunch, then in the afternoon have a guided visit of Tortuguero village and visit the Turtle Museum. Overnight Pachira Lodge (BLD).

Day 3

This morning you will take a guided walk through the trails at the lodge, where you may see red eyed tree frogs and poison dart frogs, iguanas, monkeys and sloths. Keel Billed Toucans may be spotted and look out for the Great Green Macaw, although endangered in Costa Rica, Tortuguero is a place where they can be seen flying over the jungle. After lunch you will take a boat ride into the Tortuguero National Park and along some of the canals where your guide will help you spot caimans, White Faced Capuchins and Mantled Howler Monkeys swinging through the dense jungle foliage alongside the canals. Birds such as the Agami Heron, Yellow Crowned Night Heron and the Bare Throated Tiger Heron can be spotted alongside American Pygmy Kingfishers and Green Kingfishers. *Optional excursions can include kayaking on the canals, night walks and self guided trails. Overnight Pachira Lodge or similar (BLD).

Day 4

Transferred by boat then meet your driver at La Pavona dock and continue on to Arenal Volcano Region. You will stop for lunch at a local restaurant en route. You will be staying at Arenal Manoa which offers stunning views of the impressive Arenal Volcano. You will have some time to relax and enjoy the pools thermal pools, heated by the volcano and rich with minerals the hotel before enjoying dinner. Overnight Arenal Manoa (BLD)

Day 5

Today you will drive the short distance to the Mistico Hanging Bridges where you will take a guided walk across a series of hanging bridges observing the flora and fauna. In the afternoon you will have a Sloth Tour with a local guide, looking for Two and Three Toed Sloths, you may also see toucans, poison dart frogs and iguanas among other species. Overnight Arenal Manoa (BD).

Day 6

Today you will take a guided, safari float along the scenic Penas Blancas river. Your guide will point out wildlife such as sloths and monkeys en-route, and you will also see a variety of birdlife. The float will last for approximately 2 hours at a relaxing pace exploring the riverbanks for local wildlife. After returning to the dock you will experience tortilla making with a local family at Dona Mara's home. Overnight Arenal Manoa (BL).

Day 7

Today you will depart for the cloudforest of Monteverde. You will travel first to Lake Arenal where you will board a pontoon style boat and transfer across the lake. Have your camera to hand for photos of the volcano. Once across the lake you will disembark at the small, rural town of Rio Chiquito and the final part by vehicle will take approx. an hour and half. In the afternoon you will have time to explore Santa Elena town, or relax at the hotel in the heated swimming pool. Later in the afternoon you will have a guided night walk in the Monteverde Biological Reserve. This will be an opportunity to experience nocturnal wildlife such as dart frogs and bats. Overnight at Poco a Poco (B).

Day 8

Take a guided walk in the Curi Cancha Cloud Forest Reserve. The elevation ranges from 1,450 to 1,615 metres. There are 7km of trails and the hike will take approx. 3 hours. This is a paradise for birdwatchers and is home to an array of species. Mammals that inhabit this reserve include Coati, Agouti, Armadillo, Howler Monkey, White Faced Monkey, Spider Monkey and the two species of sloths. You will have the afternoon at leisure and can walk into Santa Elena town to enjoy the local cafes and restaurants. Overnight Poco a Poco (B).

Day 9

Transfer from Monteverde to Chayote Lodge which is situated between the towns of Naranjo and Zarcero in the outskirts of Central Valley. This small lodge celebrates the coffee culture of the region and the lifestyle, rooms are fashioned out of disused recibidors, which are containers used to store coffee cherries from coffee farmers, before being sent to the mills. At the highest point of Chayote Lodge you will see beautiful views across the central valley. Overnight Chayote Lodge (B)

Day 10

Today you will visit Don Carlos Coffee Estate which is a local coffee farm just 10 minutes from Chayote Lodge. This is an authentic experience away from the crowds. You will walk through the farm and learn more about coffee. You can also prepare a cup at the farmer's house which is set in beautiful gardens. Overnight Chayote Lodge (B).

Day 11

Return to San Jose International Airport by vehicle transfer (approx. 1 hour 15 minutes) in time for your international flight. If you would like to spend a few more days in Costa Rica then we can help arrange an extension for you.