Discover Costa Rica’s western region and its authentic attractions!

Welcome to Costa Rica!

Your private driver will be waiting for you at Juan Santamaria International Airport, near San José, at an elevation of 1,150 meters in the heart of the Central Valley, to take you to your hotel.

Your English-speaking representative will then meet you at the front desk of your first hotel. You’ll have the opportunity to ask any questions you may have, and they’ll also be there to offer some practical advice. Overnight stay at the KC Hotel.

Standard Room.

Picking Up Your Rental Car

*Note: You’ll find all the information about your vehicle in the “Other Services” section of your quote.* Rent a Mitsubishi Montero Sport 4×4 or similar vehicle with:

– 5 passengers
– 3 large pieces of luggage and 2 small pieces of luggage
– Automatic transmission
– Air conditioning / Dual airbags / ABS
– Free additional driver / Unlimited mileage
– 4×4

*Note: If you’d like more comfort or extra space for your luggage, please contact us about other available models.* Mandatory Basic Insurance (LDW + PLI)

Included with your car rental.

This mandatory insurance covers accidents (basic coverage) involving a third party and the vehicle in the event of a collision or theft (partial coverage).

A $750 security deposit is required upon pickup.

*Note: For insurance providing full coverage, please contact us.* Comprehensive Insurance (Full Cover)

Included in your car rental.

This insurance provides full coverage for accidents involving a third party and the vehicle.

A $100 security deposit is required upon pickup if you have purchased this insurance, instead of the standard $750.

*Note: This insurance does not cover the vehicle’s tires, windows, or undercarriage.* – Rent a Wi-Fi hotspot for your vehicle to enjoy an internet connection during your trips. Connect up to 5 devices; data usage is included. Route from San José to Poás.

Departure for Poás Volcano.

*Approximate travel time: 1.5 hours.* Walk through the La Paz Waterfall Gardens

Set around an incredible series of five waterfalls formed by the Rio La Paz, cascading down the slopes of the Poas Volcano, you can enjoy one of the country’s largest butterfly gardens, as well as botanical and ornithological exhibits.

*Approximate duration: 2 hours.* Overnight stay at the Villa Calas Hotel.

Junior Suite.

Drive from Poas to Arenal.

Arrival in the San Carlos Valley and check-in at the hotel near the Arenal volcano.

*Approximate travel time: 3 hours.* Discover the Arenal region.

*Enhance your stay by booking one of the following activities:*

– Ecotermales or Baldi Hot Springs (dinner available on-site)
– Arenal Volcano National Park with an English- or Spanish-speaking guide
– Canopy tour (suspension bridges, cable car)
– Arenal Lake tour (boat, kayak, stand-up paddleboarding, fishing)
– Hiking and horseback riding
– Night hike
– Rafting, canyoning, canopy tours, mountain biking
– Excursion to Caño Negro (wetlands—protected area)
– Exploration of the Venado Caves (caving) Overnight stay with full board at the Rancho Margot Hotel.

Deluxe Bungalow.

*While staying at Rancho Margot, you can explore the many attractions of the Arenal region and enjoy the hotel’s facilities and activities (2 yoga classes per day, tour of the estate,* *heated pool, milking cows, hiking trails).*

*Information: Rancho Margot is located in El Castillo, 27 km from La Fortuna (a 45-minute drive).*

Saddle up!

Go on a horseback ride to explore the Arenal Volcano region, heading to a lookout point where you’ll enjoy a breathtaking view of the rainforest and Lake Arenal.

*Approximate duration: 2 hours, easy hike.* Exploring Caño Negro Park

You’ll spend a full day exploring Caño Negro Park, following the rhythm of the river that runs through it.

Along the way, you’ll learn everything there is to know about Costa Rica’s various crops, such as papaya, pineapple, and sugarcane.

You’ll be greeted with a welcome cocktail before boarding the boat for a 2.5-hour river cruise. You’ll spot numerous birds and lush vegetation.

Then you’ll enjoy a traditional Costa Rican lunch before heading back.

*Approximate duration: 8.5 hours.* Overnight stay with full board at the Rancho Margot Hotel.

Deluxe Bungalow.

*While staying at Rancho Margot, you can explore the many attractions of the Arenal region and enjoy the hotel’s facilities and activities (2 yoga classes per day, tour of the estate,* *heated pool, milking cows, hiking trails).*

*Information: Rancho Margot is located in El Castillo, 27 km from La Fortuna (a 45-minute drive).*

Kayaking on Lake Arenal

Enjoy a kayaking excursion on Lake Arenal with breathtaking views of the Arenal Volcano and its lush surroundings. You’ll explore different areas of the lake in search of exotic wildlife, including monkeys and vibrantly colored tropical birds. To further enjoy the tranquility, you’ll stop on a small island where you’ll be served fresh tropical fruit from Costa Rica.

*Approximate duration: 4 hours.* Overnight stay with full board at the Rancho Margot Hotel.

Deluxe Bungalow.

*While staying at Rancho Margot, you’ll be able to explore the many attractions of the Arenal region and enjoy the hotel’s facilities and activities (2 yoga classes per day, tour of the estate,* *heated pool, milking cows, hiking trails).*

*Information: Rancho Margot is located in El Castillo, 27 km from La Fortuna (a 45-minute drive).*

Route from Arenal to Tenorio.

Departure for the Miravalles (2,028 meters above sea level) and Tenorio (1,916 meters above sea level) volcanoes.

*Approximate travel time: 2 hours.* Discover the Tenorio region.

*Enhance your stay by booking one of the following activities:*

– Guided hiking and horseback riding tours – Tenorio National Park
– Encounter with the Maleku Indigenous People (culture, traditions, nature)
– Excursion to Caño Negro (wetlands – protected area)
– Canopy tour (suspension bridges, zip line)
– Miravalles Volcano and its hot springs
– Wildlife (many birds) and flora observation
– Visit to community and/or agricultural projects
– Horseback ride Overnight stay at Finca Mei Tai.

Tiburón Room.

Tubing in Tenorio

You’ll float down one of the country’s most beautiful rivers, with crystal-clear waters, and navigate through turbulent rapids. This fun-filled experience offers a different way to explore this famous river and observe all the flora and fauna around you.

A local lunch will be served before or after the activity.

*Approximate duration: 3 hours.* Night Hike

As night falls, you’ll set out to explore the rainforest on the slopes of the Tenorio volcano just as most of the animals are waking up and taking over the area… Accompanied by a local guide, you’ll encounter numerous insects, frogs, and some nocturnal mammals. An evening that will awaken your senses and reveal a whole new side of the jungle.

*Approximate duration: one and a half hours; easy hike.* Overnight stay at Finca Mei Tai.

Tiburón Room.

Tubing in Tenorio

You’ll ride down the small rapids of the Rio Frio River while standing on your paddleboard. It’s a fun and refreshing way to explore the Tenorio region.

A local lunch will be served before or after the activity.

*Approximate duration: 3 hours, including 2 hours on the river* Drive from Tenorio to Monteverde.

Depart for the Monteverde region, whose nature reserve offers views of alpine pastures in the heart of the Tilarán mountain range.

*Approximate travel time: 3 hours.* Discover the Monteverde region.

*Enhance your stay by booking one of the following activities:*

– Nature reserves: Monteverde, Santa Elena, Curi Cancha, Bosque de los Niños, with a naturalist guide
– Orchid garden
– “Agricultural” tours: coffee plantation, sugarcane plantation, cheese factory
– Canopy exploration (suspension bridges, cable car, zip line)
– Hiking and horseback riding
– Night hike
– Visit to the local market (Friday afternoon) Overnight stay at the Burbi Lake Lodge Monteverde

Lake View Room with Balcony

5-km hike followed by a 3-km ride on horseback or a 4×4 safari

Meet at the front desk, where a staff member will give you a map to help you find your way through the forest, along with instructions to follow.

During this 5-kilometer hike, you’ll explore the forest and listen to the songs of many birds, cross nine suspension bridges, and cool off in the numerous waterfalls you’ll find along the way.

The final 3 kilometers will be on horseback or in a 4×4 safari vehicle, depending on your choice.

*Approximate duration: 3 hours 30 minutes*

*Note: Be sure to bring sturdy walking shoes, a water bottle, and mosquito repellent.*

*Note 2: Lunch is included* Overnight at Burbi Lake Lodge Monteverde

Lake View Room with Balcony

Route from Monteverde to Tarcoles.

Today you’ll leave the highlands of Monteverde and head toward the coast. Enjoy the magnificent scenery along the way and be sure to take some photos!

You’ll take the famous Inter-American Highway before reaching Tarcoles, on the Pacific coast.

*Approximate travel time: 2 hours.* Overnight stay with full board at the Macaw Rainforest Lodge.

Standard Room.

*To get to the Macaw Rainforest Lodge, you’ll need to drive 45 minutes up a dirt road from Carara.*

*The hotel offers free access to a waterfall on its property and to the 5-hectare botanical garden.*

Birdwatching

You’ll set out on a guided hike to observe the birds of the region. Macaw Lodge is located between two ecosystems: the tropical rainforest and the high-altitude rainforest. These bioclimatic and ecological conditions support a rich diversity of over 350 bird species.

*Approximate duration: 2 hours; easy hike.* Overnight stay with full board at Macaw Rainforest Lodge.

Standard Room.

*To reach Macaw Rainforest Lodge, you’ll need to travel 45 minutes up a dirt road from Carara.*

*The hotel offers free access to a waterfall on its property and to the 5-hectare botanical garden.*

The Secrets of Cacao

Discover the secrets and wonders of one of humanity’s favorite foods: chocolate. After exploring the organic cacao plantation, you’ll learn about the natural and cultural history of the cacao tree. You’ll learn about the process by which cacao is transformed into chocolate.

*Approximate duration: 2 hours.* Route from Tarcoles to Uvita

Departure for Uvita. We suggest stopping in the village of Dominical to take a stroll through Hacienda Barú, located in the heart of the tropical rainforest along a beautiful beach at the mouth of the Barú River.

*Approximate duration: 2.5 hours* Marino Ballena National Park

Created to protect the country’s largest coral reef, the national park owes its name to the humpback whales that migrate through its warm waters to breed.

You’ll be amazed by the natural shape of the park’s beach, which looks exactly like a whale’s tail!

*Approximate duration: 2 hours.*

*Tip 1: Be sure to check the tide schedules on the day of your visit to increase your chances of seeing the whale-tail shape.*

*Info 2: Park admission for the Colonia or Uvita sectors is payable on site* *($5.65 for adults and free for children under 12)* *in U.S. dollars or by credit card.*

*Tip 3: Hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (open daily)* Drive from Uvita to Ojochal.

Depart a few kilometers south toward Ojochal.

*Approximate travel time: 20 minutes.* Overnight stay at the Yabá Chiguí Lodge.

Maleku, Cabécar, or Brunka bungalow

Snorkeling at Isla del Caño

Early morning departure from Uvita, traveling south along the Pacific coast. Spend the day exploring the Isla del Caño Biological Reserve, a site once considered sacred by the pre-Columbian Diquis people.

The seabed is perfect for snorkeling. In the warm offshore waters, dolphins, whales, and manta rays swim side by side.

*Approximate duration: 6 hours.* Exploring the Mangroves by Boat

Set out early in the morning to explore the largest protected mangrove area in Central America. You’ll be able to observe a wide variety of animals, and you might even be lucky enough to spot raccoons, crocodiles, monkeys, and numerous birds.
Thanks to the keen eyes of your guide and the captain, you’ll be able to spot animals that tend to stay hidden in their natural habitat.

*Approximate duration: 3.5 hours.*

*Note: A minimum of 4 participants is required for the excursion to be confirmed.* Overnight stay at the Yabá Chiguí Lodge.

Maleku, Cabécar, or Brunka bungalow

Meeting the Boruca People

Accompanied by a local guide, you’ll discover the history and culture of the Boruca people. They are renowned for their Fiesta de Los Diablitos, as well as for their carved gourds (jicaras) and masks. You’ll have the opportunity to participate in a demonstration of the ancestral art of weaving, as well as a workshop on painting traditional Boruca masks. You’ll also share lunch with them.

*Approximate duration: 4 hours.* Overnight stay at the Yabá Chiguí Lodge.

Maleku, Cabécar, or Brunka bungalow

Free day to enjoy the region’s beaches.

Please contact us for information on the various water activities you won’t want to miss while you’re here. Overnight stay at the Yabá Chiguí Lodge.

Maleku, Cabécar, or Brunka bungalow

Route from Ojochal to Uvita

Depart a few kilometers north toward Uvita.

*Approximate travel time: 20 minutes.* Route from Uvita to San Gerardo de Dota.

Depart for San Gerardo de Dota (2,200 meters above sea level), the land of the quetzal, taking the Pan-American Highway via the town of San Isidro de El General.

Arrival at the bottom of the steep valley of the Río Savegre.

*Approximate travel time: 2 hours 30 minutes.* Overnight stay at the Dantica Lodge.
Superior Room.

Birdwatching Tour and Waterfall Visit

Enjoy a magical half-day combining birdwatching in the region, a stroll through a lush forest, and exploring the beautiful waterfalls of the Savegre River.

*Approximate duration: 4 hours* Overnight stay at the Dantica Lodge.
Superior Room.

Route from San Gerardo de Dota to San José.

Depart for the capital. You’ll cross the Cerro de la Muerte (3,400 meters above sea level), named in memory of the farmers who froze to death while transporting their harvest to San José.

*Approximate travel time: 2 hours.* Return your vehicle to our local partner, who will then arrange your transfer to the airport.