‘Quintessentially Costa Rica’ is perfect for:
Families with teens looking to explore three of the country’s most-visited natural highlights as well as some of its hidden gems.
This is the ultimate two-week holiday in Costa Rica. Visit not only the iconic Arenal and Monteverde, but discover more remote regions: the Caribbean and Nosara, in Guanacaste. Explore Costa Rica’s most iconic highlights to see for yourself while the country’s biodiversity is its real treasure.
The Caribbean: Secluded Immersion into Nature
After spending the night in San Jose, start your trip with a trip to the Caribbean coast. Stay at Aninga Rainforest Lodge, a secluded hotel right in the natural canals of Tortuguero. Let your family immerse into the rainforest, mangroves, and wildlife of the coast. Be ready to snap pictures!
Arenal: Discover the Rainforest
Arenal is an area with excellent opportunity to enjoy nature. Arenal Kioro is a hotel with prime views of Arenal Volcano and on-site pools fed by natural hot springs. This is a place to sit back while surrounded by nature.
Then get some exercise by exploring the famous hanging bridges in the area. These trails go up and down the rainforest, letting you hike along the trees from their roots to their canopy. It’s your chance to spot as many birds as you can!
Finally, take a tour dedicated to spotting sloths. A private reserve allows you to walk along trees with their favorite food so you can watch them in action (or asleep!).
Monteverde: Cloud Forest in Luxury
The next stop is at Senda Monteverde. This hotel provides you with plenty of gardens and easy on-site trails to admire the local flora and fauna. What is more, take a tour to meet the unique cloud forest. Quetzals, toucans, and a myriad of other birds and insects are among the sights.
Nosara: Relax by the Beach
Next up is a gem off-the-beaten-track. Spend the next 5 days in a hotel with a laid-back atmosphere. Relax at the pool and take the short walk to Nosara beach. This is a place away from outside visitors, even if popular among locals. Surf, swim, and sunbathe under the Guanacaste sun. The area is great to relax with a cocktail.
When your time at the beach is over, head to the Nosara airstrip for a domestic flight to spend one last night in San José before heading home. If this is the ultimate two-week Costa Rican vacation of your dreams, contact us and we’ll gladly help you.
What’s included in ‘Quintessentially Costa Rica’?
Lodging & Meals:
- 1 night at Hilton Garden Inn—including breakfast.
- 2 nights at Aninga Rainforest Lodge—including three daily meals.
- 3 nights at Arenal Kioro Suites & Spa—including breakfast.
- 2 nights at Senda Monteverde—including breakfast.
- 5 nights at The Gilded Iguana Surf Hotel—including breakfast.
- 1 night at Gran Hotel Costa Rica—including breakfast.
Transportation:
- Private ground transfer from the San Jose International Airport to Hilton Garden Inn
- Private ground transfer from Hilton Garden Inn to Aninga Rainforest Lodge
- Private ground transfer from Aninga Rainforest Lodge to Arenal Kioro
- Private boat and ground transfer from Arenal Kioro to Senda Monteverde
- Private ground transfer from Senda Monteverde to The Gilded Iguana
- Domestic flight from the Nosara airstrip to the San Jose International Airport
- Private ground transfer from the San Jose International Airport to Gran Hotel Costa Rica
- Private ground transfer from Gran Hotel Costa Rica to the San Jose International Airport
All private transfers include an English-speaking driver.
Tours and Activities:
Round transportation for all tours is included.
- Hanging bridges tour
- Sloth sanctuary hike
- Monteverde’s cloud forest guided tour
You will receive a 100% accurate price when you inquire with us and share your travel dates. Final package pricing includes taxes, domestic transport, tours and lodging as described unless otherwise indicated. The package does NOT include international airfare or optional travel insurance or any other services not expressly mentioned.
Day 1: Welcome to Your Quintessential Costa Rica Experience!
This two-week Costa Rica holiday starts as soon as you land. A member of our team meets you off the plane and guides you through customs.
Afterward, a private transfer takes you to the Hilton Garden Inn overlooking San José’s La Sabana Park, with panoramic views of the city. This is a stop before the adventure into nature begins.
Stay at Hilton Garden Inn
Day 2: Central Valley to the Caribbean
Take a transfer from the Hilton Garden Inn to Aninga Rainforest Lodge, in the Caribbean. The scenic trip takes you along the Braulio Carrillo National Park and into Tortuguero. Hop on a boat to reach the boutique hotel, nestled among the trees and right next to the famous canals. Cool off and relax at the turtle-shaped swimming pool while admiring the surrounding gardens.
Stay at Aninga Rainforest Lodge
Day 3: Explore the Canals
Being at Aninga Lodge means the jungle is just steps away. Tortuguero has a variety of habitats you can immerse yourself into – mangroves, rainforest, swamps, and beaches are just among some of the options. Take tours or walk these areas to spot as much wildlife and verdant vegetation as possible. There are sloths, frogs, monkeys, caimans and a myriad of birds living in the area.
After a day exploring the outdoors, relax with a spa treatment or by catching some live music in the hotel’s bar area.
Stay at Aninga Rainforest Lodge
Day 4: Visit the Arenal Volcano Area
Continue with a scenic drive to the Arenal area in a private transfer. Admire the mountains and farmlands along the way while making friends. Arrive to the Arenal Kioro, a hotel with breahttaking views of the volcano and the rainforest around it. With a peaceful atmosphere, this is the perfect opportunity to relax.
Stay at Arenal Kioro
Day 5: Hanging Bridges Tour
Head out to see one of the country’s greatest highlights. The tour takes you into the lush canyons of this area, in a hike up and down the forest. Cross the bridges that let you see nature from different heights, and don’t forget your camera to snap photos of the flora and fauna that abound.
Stay at Arenal Kioro
Day 6: Sloth Sanctuary, Hot Springs, and Relaxation
This day is for you to enjoy nature’s gifts. Head to a private, family-owend sanctuary just outside of La Fortuna, where two and three-toed sloths live in safety. Hike the trails and paths and keep your eyes open to spot as many as you can. Snap the perfect photo, and then head back to the hotel.
Arenal Kioro has a top-notch spa for you to take a rejuvenating treatment, as well as a game room for you to pass the time. The most attractive spot is the on-site pools, which are fed with natural hot springs from the volcano. Soothe your muscles from the hike and enjoy the pampering.
Stay at Arenal Kioro
Day 7: Boat Trip to Monteverde
The best way to get to Monteverde is across Arenal Lake, on the foot of Arenal Volcano. A van drives you to the boat, where you can enjoy the views of the volcano and the surrounding trees and birds. Then another van takes you across the hills to Senda Monteverde, a hotel that provides ample gardens and gourmet dining so you can admire nature from the comfort of your own porch.
Stay at Senda Monteverde
Day 8: Monteverde Cloud Forest Tour
Head into the unique Costa Rican cloud forest. This type of habitat is present nowhere else in the country, and it provides a home for one of the most iconic birds in Central America: the quetzal. There are also toucans, sloths, colorful insects, and reptiles living in the forest. Keep your eyes open to spot as many of them as you can.
Stay at Senda Monteverde
Day 9: Nosara: Hidden Gem
After several days of exploring the mountains and volcanoes of Costa Rica, it’s time to head to the beach. Take a scenic route to one of Costa Rica’s off-the-beaten-path destinations: Nosara. Located in Guanacaste’s Nicoya Peninsula, Nosara and The Gilded Iguana are particularly good for surfers and those in search of a laid-back atmosphere to relax close to the beach.
Stay at The Gilded Iguana
Day 10-13: Free Time at the Beach
These days at the beach are yours for the take. Sunbathe in the white sand at Nosara beach, a short walk away from the hotel. Or head out with a board and ride the waves of the Pacific Ocean, and sip drinks at the hotel’s pool. Fill your days with snorkeling, surfing, warm sunshine, and true relaxation.
Stay at The Gilded Iguana
Day 14: Nosara to San Jose
Time to head back to the bustling city of San Jose. Take a short domestic flight from the Nosara airstrip to the San Jose International Airport. A private transfer then takes you to one last hotel
Spend your final night in the country at the Gran Hotel Costa Rica. This is a historically significant hotel, as it’s the first to ever open in the country. With modern facilities and international standards, this hotel takes its history and brings it back to life. With great views and centric location, it’s a great spot to absorb one last sip of Costa Rica before heading back home.
Stay at Gran Hotel Costa Rica
Day Fifteen: Head Home
Head to the San Jose International Airport to catch a flight home. Say goodbye to Costa Rica, and until we meet again!
