Costa Rica Experience

9 Days | Travel through the jungles and beaches of Costa Rica – a real natural paradise

4.9 out of 5 based on 279 reviews submitted.
Wildlife
From
AUD $1,864
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Discover a region of natural diversity, cultural riches and laidback vibes on a nine-day jungle jaunt through Costa Rica. Thanks to a longstanding tradition of preserving its natural assets, much of the country’s primary rainforest still stands. Opportunities for nature-based activities are endless here and the beaches on both coasts are well worth your free time. Kick back in the rustic beach town of Quepos, explore the steamy cloud forests of Monteverde and get to know the locals by lending a hand on a rural farmstay near Santa Rosa de Pocosol. Explore the depths of this colourful and vibrant country with plenty of time to make this trip your own.

Trip overview

Map of Costa Rica Experience including Costa Rica
Start
San Jose, Costa Rica
Finish
San Jose, Costa Rica
Theme
Wildlife
Destinations
Costa Rica
Physical rating
Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
Style
Original
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1 - Max 12
Trip code
QVSS
This trip generates 11 kg of CO2-e per person per day.
We offset these emissions on your behalf. But we know that is not enough, so we also have a carbon reduction target.

Why you'll love this trip
  • Try to spot the elusive resplendent quetzal when you’re exploring Monteverde’s steamy cloud forests. Better yet, why not consider a jungle zip-line to get high in the sky for the best views?
  • Spend time wandering through the Mercado Municipal de Artesanias artisan stalls in San Jose – Costa Rica’s cultural heart. With plenty of time to stop for a refresco (smoothie), this is a good opportunity to people-watch.
  • Lend a hand at a farmstay outside of Santa Rosa de Pocosol and learn some home-cooked recipes and techniques from the locals on a visit to the Juanilama agricultural community.
  • Marvel at the size and stature of the Arenal Volcano on the horizon, maybe taking a soak and relaxing in La Fortuna’s lava-heated thermal springs.
  • With plenty of time to chill out at your own pace, Quepos’ surf vibe is ideal for catching some waves, lazing on the white-sand beaches or hiking the lush trails of Manuel Antonio with your travel pals.

Is this trip right for you?
  • Many of the activities (both included and optional) on this trip take place in the great outdoors. This means you'll need to be prepared to deal with insects and occasionally rustic conditions. It's all part of immersing yourself in this natural paradise.
  • Costa Rica is generally hot and humid year-round, and from May to October can be wet too. At nighttime and in locations at higher elevations it can get chilly. Protect yourself from the sun, bring light clothing you can layer and a waterproof jacket, and stay hydrated. Please carefully consider which time of the year you'll feel most comfortable travelling.
  • There are many opportunities to get active on this adventure. Some of the optional activities require a moderate level of fitness and sturdy walking shoes. If you'd prefer to take it easy, however, there are plenty of other things you can do instead.
  • The homestay is a wonderful opportunity to witness everyday local life. A hearty homecooked dinner and breakfast will be served during your stay, which can be a lot more basic than what you're used to.
  • With so much to see and do, Costa Rica can sometimes be expensive. Expect to pay more than you would in other Central American countries for a lot of things.

Itinerary

This itinerary is valid for departures from 01 January 2025 to 31 December 2025.

View the itinerary for departures between 01 January 2023 - 31 December 2024

Map of Costa Rica Experience including Costa Rica

Inclusions

Meals

1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner

Transport

Private vehicle, Boat, Public Transportation

Accommodation

Hotel (7 nights), Homestay (1 night)

Activities
  • Santa Rosa de Pocosol - Home-cooked Meal
  • Santa Rosa de Pocosol - Homestay experience
  • Leader-led Informal Spanish Lesson
  • Monteverde - Cloud Forest Entrance
  • Manuel Antonio - Homecooked lunch
  • Manuel Antonio National Park - (Entrance fee)
  • Manuel Antonio National Park - Tour with a Naturalist Guide
Add on activities
  • San Jose - Pre-Colombian Gold Museum (Entrance fee) - USD17
  • San Jose - National Museum (entrance fee) - USD12
  • Santa Rosa de Pocosol - Soap-making workshop - USD20
  • Santa Rosa de Pocosol - Waterfall hike - USD11
  • La Fortuna - Ecotermales Hot Springs (entrance fee) - USD49
  • La Fortuna - La Fortuna Waterfall (Entrance only) - USD21
  • La Fortuna - Arenal 1968 Volcano View and Lava Trails (Entrance fee) - USD26
  • Monteverde - Cloud Forest Night Walk - USD45
  • Monteverde - Butterfly Garden and Insects Farm (entrance fee) - USD22
  • Monteverde - Coffee & Chocolate tour - USD47
  • Monteverde - Canopy Zip Lining (Entrance, Equipment & Transport) - USD65
  • Monteverde - Suspension bridges tour - USD58
  • Manuel Antonio - Mangrove Kayak Activity (with lunch) - USD79
  • Manuel Antonio – Cruise - USD100

Dates and availability

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Important notes

1. Full passport details are required at the time of booking in order to purchase entrance tickets to Manuel Antonio National Park. Delays to provide this information may result in changes to your itinerary and we will not be able to guarantee entry. Details provided must be accurate as per your passport bio page.

2. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm on Day 1 in San Jose. There are no activities planned for the final day so you may depart at any time.

3. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights on your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.

4. Please be careful when booking flights to/from San Jose; make sure you fly into/out of Juan Santamaria International Airport [SJO]. Please do not book flights to/from Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport [SJC] as this is located in California, United States.

Essential Trip Information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

Read Essential Trip Information

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 based on 279 reviews submitted.
Reviews are from travellers who have completed their trip and want to share their experience. We show all reviews, but may remove any that include profanity or inappropriate content, are unrelated to the trip or reveal personal details.

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Hannah · Traveled September 2024
What an experience! This trip was seamless. An excellent wait to hit all the main sites, avoid the tourist traps and most importantly avoid the stress of transport and language barriers. A perfect travel experience that I would highly recommend!
Review submitted 17 Sep 2024

Rosie · Traveled August 2024
This was an amazing trip that I would highly recommend to anyone thinking about visiting Costa Rica. You get to see and do a lot within the 9 days and is a great way to learn about the country and its culture. Our tour leader Marvin was fantastic and made it a really enjoyable, informative and inspiring experience!
Review submitted 02 Sep 2024

Catarina · Traveled August 2024
Review submitted 03 Sep 2024

Michael · Traveled August 2024
I cannot recommend this trip enough. I still cant believe how much we managed to accomplish in 9 days. Our tour leader Marvin was outstanding. He is a Costa Rican native and had extensive knowledge of the countries history, culture and biology, which he shared throughout the trip. The trips itinerary is varied and extensive. It includes things such as the homestay which would be difficult to experience if travelling independently. The trip is was well organised and transport/travel were flawless.
Review submitted 03 Sep 2024

Giordano · Traveled August 2024
Review submitted 20 Aug 2024
Costa Rica Experience
From
AUD $1,864