Premium Costa Rica in Depth

12 Days | Discover the National Parks and cultural treasures of Costa Rica

5 out of 5 based on 9 reviews submitted.
Explorer
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CHF  5,009
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Welcome to Costa Rica, where trendy gastronomic neighbourhoods rub shoulders with wild rainforests and pristine beaches. Join a local leader to discover the natural, indigenous and modern sides of Costa Rica on an immersive 12-day Premium journey. From the lively charm of San Jose to the cloud forests of Monteverde, culturally significant coffee plantations, pristine wildlife refuges, and spectacular scenery of Arenal National Park – this adventure takes you straight to the heart of it all. Take time to soak up quiet moments of local life and get beneath the surface of a remarkable country that will captivate you at every turn.

Trip overview

Map of Premium Costa Rica In Depth including Costa Rica
Start
San Jose, Costa Rica
Finish
Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Theme
Explorer
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
Premium
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1 - Max 12
Trip code
QBPT
This trip generates 16 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.
Premium accommodation

Our best 4-star accommodation and the highest level of service

Premium experiences

All must-see locations plus authentic experiences exclusive to Premium

Premium knowledge

Trips led by our most experienced and highest-rated local leaders


Why you'll love this trip
  • Learn about the culture of Costa Rica with Premium exclusive experiences: spend time with a local family and learn how to create traditional dishes in their kitchen, and visit Matambu, the only indigenous territory of the Chorotegan people, to learn ancient pottery techniques passed down for generations.
  • Experience the magnificent landscapes Costa Rica from all angles with a gentle hike in Arenal Volcano National Park, a cruise on the Tortuguero canals, and a treetop walkways experience in the Monteverde Cloud Forest.
  • Enjoy two nights at your Feature Stay – a stunning and sustainable jungle hotel next to the electric-blue Rio Celeste River. Settle into your cosy casita (bungalow), an exclusive retreat just for you, and surround yourself with the sounds of nature.
  • End your trip with a free day at the beach, capped off with a sunset sailing cruise and a farewell dinner – the perfect way to reflect on your journey across Costa Rica.
  • Costa Rica is a nature lover’s dream. Keep your eyes out for green turtles, sloths, monkeys, coatis, anteaters, tropical birds, and more as you cross the width of Costa Rica, experiencing a variety of different habitats and environments.
  • By travelling on this trip, you’ll directly support our Intrepid Foundation partner, Eden Reforestation Projects. Donations help them provide local employment opportunities and tackle climate change one tree at a time as they restore forests across 10 different countries.

Is this trip right for you?
  • This trip is new to our range this year. And while we have thoroughly researched every detail of the logistics, new destinations and working with new partners can sometimes throw us some unexpected surprises. More often than not, it’ll be a great surprise. But every now and again there might be a hiccup. We like to think that’s what puts the ‘adventure’ in ‘adventure travel’.
  • Tortuguero is a unique natural destination with rustic, fan-cooled accommodation that offers amazing access to nature. As you are staying in the heart of the rainforest, there will be some bugs along with the other animals that inhabit this part of Costa Rica.
  • 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.

Itinerary

Map of Premium Costa Rica In Depth including Costa Rica

Inclusions

Meals

11 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 6 dinners

Transport

Private vehicle, shared bus, boat

Accommodation

Comfortable hotel (9 nights), Feature Stay (2 nights)

Premium Inclusions
  • Arrival airport transfer
  • Tipping for accommodation, activities and transport
  • Luggage transfer
  • Daily breakfast and signature local meal experiences
  • 24/7 on-ground support
Activities
  • San Jose - Welcome Dinner
  • Tortuguero - Town Visit
  • Tortuguero - Canal Boat Tour
  • Tortuguero - Garden Walk
  • Tortuguero - National Park Entrance
  • La Fortuna - Arenal Volcano Base Hike
  • La Fortuna - Tortilla Making Class
  • Monteverde- Cacao & Coffee Experience
  • Monteverde - Cloud Forest Reserve Hike
  • Monteverde - Hanging Bridges Tour
  • Rio Celeste - On Site Activities
  • Matambu - Pottery Demonstration
  • Tamarindo - Sunset Sailing Tour
  • Guanacaste - Farewell Dinner
Add on activities
  • Tortuguero - Night Hike - USD35
  • Tortuguero - Turtle Watching Night Tour - USD47
  • Tortuguero - Sunrise Canoe Trip - USD45
  • La Fortuna- Caño Negro boat tour - USD84
  • La Fortuna - Ecotermales Hot Springs (entrance fee) - USD49
  • Monteverde - Canopy Zip Lining (Entrance, Equipment & Transport) - USD65
  • Rio Celeste - River Tubing Adventure - USD58
  • Rio Celeste - National Park Guided Trail Walk - USD74
  • Guanacaste - Mangrove Boat tour - USD65
  • Guanacaste - Surfing lessons - USD75

Dates and availability

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Important notes

1. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm on Day 1 in San Jose.

2. 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.

3. A complimentary airport arrival transfer is included; valid if you are arriving on Day 1 or if you have booked pre-tour accommodation through us. You must provide your flight details to your booking agent at least 14 days prior to travel.

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

5 out of 5 based on 9 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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John · Traveled April 2024
Liza Villalobos was an outstanding guide on this, our first visit to Costa Rica. Working in tandem with our fantastic driver Chepe "Chuck Norris), she ensured that we had an amazing trip to this amazing country. We loved every minute of the 12 days we were here, saw some incredible flora and fauna, met some wonderful people, stayed in some great places and dined on sumptuous food, but best of all were Liza and Chepe - these guys are brilliant! Pura Vida!
Review submitted 28 Apr 2024

Jinan · Traveled April 2024
A fun trip to see the north part of Costa Rica from the Caribbean to Pacific with so many different changes in terrain. Liza and Chepe were an exceptional team, providing information, stopping when they knew the group would be interested to see or try something new!
Review submitted 24 Apr 2024

Vicki · Traveled December 2023
This was an amazing trip!! I learned so much about Costa Rica: the rainforest, history, and culture. There is a lot of driving from location to location, however we covered so, so much from Caribbean coast to Pacific coast. The accommodations were beautiful and helped you be immersed in the experience. Words can’t adequately describe our incredible guide Malo…funny, smart, powerhouse, talented. It was my first Intrepid trip and would definitely use Intrepid again.
Review submitted 17 Dec 2023

Lena · Traveled December 2023
The Premium Costa Rica in-depth is an excellent trip allowing you to see & experience so many different aspects of Costa Rica, the itinerary is well planned out allowing enough time at each location. You experience all the wildlife, nature and additional activities if you choose, ending with a relaxing boat trip and beach location. Lodgings and food were of a high standard and our guide Malo was exceptional! Pura Vida!
Review submitted 17 Dec 2023

Liz · Traveled October 2023
For us, this was the trip of a lifetime; Costa Rica is such an amazing destination. We saw a wide range of wildlife, travelled to some beautiful locations and had many wonderful experiences. Our guide was exceptional and we learnt so much about the country. Pura Vida!
Review submitted 21 Oct 2023
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