Essential Costa Rica

Day One: Welcome to Costa Rica!

Start your Essential Costa Rica holiday the minute you land in San Jose. One of our representatives will meet you at the airport and show you to your private transfer. From there, you’ll enjoy a luxury ride to the beautiful Rafiki Safari Lodge. This hotel is known for its unique “glamping” (glam-camping) experience. You’ll stay in a tent imported directly from South Africa so that you can truly be immersed in the Costa Rican jungle. There are no TVs and cell phone service is spotty at best.
Rafiki Safari Lodge

Day Two: Explore Rafiki Lodge

Take a day to enjoy all that Rafiki has to offer! The property boasts a swimming pool with a jungle water slide! You can also explore the resort’s hundreds of acres brimming with stunning wildlife.
Rafiki Safari Lodge

Day Three: Try Rafiki Lodge’s activities

Try out one of Rafiki’s onsite activities, such as birdwatching, kayaking or the Aqua hike, Rafiki’s must-do tour. You will get to experience it all during this activity: white water rafting down the Savegre river, a hike along a series of waterfalls followed by a hike up to a hanging bridge. After you enjoy a delicious homemade lunch, you’ll get to enjoy the amazing views of the Savegre Valley on horseback!
Rafiki Safari Lodge

Day Four: From the jungle to the beach

A private transfer will take you from Rafiki to the Si Como No Resort, located in Manuel Antonio, one of Costa Rica’s most famous beaches. The resort also doubles as a wildlife refuge, so nature is abundant throughout this study property.
Si Como No Resort & Spa

Day Five: Manuel Antonio National Park Tour

You’ll get to see some of Costa Rica’s more famed wildlife during a guided tour of this incredible national park, such as the white-faced monkey. Your local, English-speaking expert will meet you at the park’s entrance and take you on an informative hike through the area’s stunning natural flora and fauna.
Si Como No Resort & Spa

Day Six: Down Time

Use this day to explore the resort. You can check out one of the adults-only or family pools, take a self-guided tour of the hotel’s butterfly botanical atrium or enjoy a guided night tour through the property. Si Como No has a lot to offer!
Si Como No Resort & Spa

Day Seven: Canopy Tour

Take a tour of Manuel Antonio’s stunning canopy. You will embark on a journey down ten epic ziplines, a suspension bridge, one Tarzan swing and three exhilarating rappel lines. Before the tour begins, you will enjoy a traditional Costa Rican breakfast or lunch.

To lower your heart rate after the canopy tour, you’ll have the chance to visit the on-site butterfly garden with your guide. You’ll also have the opportunity to see different poisonous and non-poisonous snakes– all behind cages, of course!
Si Como No Resort & Spa

Day Eight: Down Time

Use today’s free time to take the hotel’s shuttle down to Manuel Antonio Beach. If the weather is unfavorable, watch a movie in the hotel’s cinema.
Si Como No Resort & Spa

Day Nine: From Manuel Antonio to Arenal

Although your time at the beach has come to an end, there is still a lot more adventure to come! Your private transfer will take you to the Quepos airstrip, where you will then board a short flight to Arenal. Another private transfer will pick you up and take you to the Lost Iguana Resort & Spa, your home for the next three nights.
Lost Iguana Resort & Spa

Day Ten: Hanging Bridges Tour

Enjoy a hanging bridges tour of Arenal’s stunning rainforest! This relaxing nature walk will show you the best that the area has to offer in terms of wildlife and amazing views of the Arenal Volcano.
Lost Iguana Resort & Spa

Day Eleven: Chocolate Tour and La Fortuna Waterfall

Spend the day on two of the Arenal area’s most interesting activities: a nature hike to La Fortuna Waterfall followed by a chocolate tasting. You’ll get the chance to swim in the crystalline pool beneath the impressive waterfall. This always makes for the perfect opportunity to spot some of the area’s famed wildlife.

After you’ve changed into dry clothes, you’ll hop in a private transfer and head to a cacao plantation to learn about how the delicacy is made, as well as taste some freshly-made chocolate!
Lost Iguana Resort & Spa

Day Twelve: Arenal to Monteverde by Boat

Today’s shared transfer is a sightseeing trip in itself! To get from Arenal to Monteverde, you will cross the stunning Lake Arenal by boat. You will then be picked up by a private transfer and taken to the El Establo Mountain Hotel.
El Establo Mountain Hotel

Day Thirteen: Cloud Forest Tour

A local, English-speaking guide will pick you up from your hotel and take you to Monteverde’s cloud forest. You’ll spend the day familiarizing yourself with rich biodiversity of the area. Your naturalist guide will point out everything from camouflaged hummingbirds to the golden toad’s unique habitat.
El Establo Mountain Hotel

Day Fourteen: From Monteverde to San Jose

After enjoying breakfast and a relaxing morning in Monteverde, a private transfer will take you to San Jose. You will spend your final night in Costa Rica at the Grano de Oro Hotel. Take the time to explore downtown San Jose, or enjoy a delicious dinner at the hotel’s restaurant, which is considered to be one of the best in the country!
Grano de Oro Hotel

Day Fifteen: Head Home

Your Essential Costa Rica tour is coming to an end. A private transfer will pick you up at your hotel and take you to the SJO Airport for your flight home.