Discover the remarkable landscapes, wildlife and natural beauty of Costa Rica on a memorable journey combining tropical rainforest, volcanic scenery, cloud forest and the Pacific coast. Beginning in San José, travel through the waterways and wilderness of Tortuguero, the landscapes surrounding Arenal Volcano and the distinctive cloud forests of Monteverde before concluding with time on the shores of Guanacaste.
Book Solo. Travel Together. This option is designed for customers booking individually, with your own private room included at the hotel accommodation forming part of the main tour, while travelling as part of a regular Lumle small-group tour. Your group may include couples, friends, family members and other customers travelling individually. The number of other solo travellers on your departure is not guaranteed, and you may be the only customer travelling individually within the group.
Tour Highlights
San José: Begin your Costa Rican journey in the country’s capital, where historic neighbourhoods, cultural landmarks and city life provide an introduction to Costa Rica. Sightseeing and visits are included only where specifically stated in your itinerary.
Tortuguero: Journey into one of Costa Rica’s remarkable natural environments, characterised by tropical rainforest, waterways and abundant wildlife. Explore the area through the experiences specifically included in your itinerary. Tortuguero is an important habitat for sea turtles and numerous other species; however, wildlife and turtle sightings are seasonal and cannot be guaranteed. Activities and access are subject to weather, water levels, local regulations and operational conditions.
Arenal: Discover the impressive landscapes surrounding Arenal Volcano, one of Costa Rica’s best-known natural landmarks. Enjoy the scenery and experiences specifically described in your itinerary, with opportunities to appreciate the area’s tropical vegetation and natural surroundings. Views of the volcano and access to particular areas are subject to weather and local conditions.
Monteverde: Experience the distinctive environment of the Monteverde cloud forest, renowned for its remarkable biodiversity, lush vegetation and mist-covered landscapes. Visits, trails and activities are subject to local access, weather and operational arrangements.
Guanacaste: Conclude your journey on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast, with time to relax and enjoy the surroundings or explore independently. Activities, excursions, meals and other services during leisure time are not included unless specifically stated in your itinerary or booking.
Your Costa Rica Essentials & Guanacaste Journey – Travelling Solo
This option is designed for customers travelling individually, but the tour itself is not exclusively for solo travellers. You will travel as part of a regular Lumle small group of 1–20 passengers, which may include couples, friends, family members and other individual travellers.
Your own private room is included at the hotel accommodation forming part of the main tour. Where the itinerary includes a different style of accommodation or an optional extension or add-on is selected, the applicable accommodation and occupancy arrangements will be as specified in the itinerary or your booking.
This option is offered on selected guaranteed departure dates. Once your booking is confirmed, Lumle will not cancel your holiday simply because a minimum number of participants has not been reached. As with all holidays, operation remains subject to our Booking Terms & Conditions and circumstances beyond our reasonable control.
Price for individual travellers: The price displayed for this selected departure is per person based on one person occupying their own private room at the hotel accommodation included in the main tour. Prices for the same or a similar tour displayed elsewhere on our website may be based on different departure dates, availability or occupancy arrangements and may therefore differ.
The short itinerary
Day 1 : DEPART NEW YORK / ARRIVAL SAN JOSE
Day 2 : SAN JOSE – TORTUGUERO (135KM – 4 HRS BY ROAD / 2 HRS BY BOAT)
Day 3 : TORTUGUERO NATIONAL PARK
Day 4 : TORTUGUERO – ARENAL (210KM – 5 HRS BY ROAD / 2 HRS BY BOAT)
Day 5 : ARENAL VOLCANO NATIONAL PARK
Day 6 : ARENAL – MONTEVERDE (60KM – 2.5 HRS BY ROAD / 45 MIN BY BOAT)
Day 7 : MONTEVERDE
Day 8 : MONTEVERDE – PACIFIC COAST (190KM – 4 HRS)
Day 9 : PACIFIC COAST
Day 10 : PACIFIC COAST –SAN JOSE (260KM – 4.5 HRS)
Day 11 : DEPART SAN JOSE
We carefully select accommodation to complement your journey through Costa Rica, with consideration given to location, comfort and the overall touring experience. The Standard-category hotels shown below form the accommodation basis of the main tour and are included in the package price. Superior and Deluxe hotel categories may be available at an additional supplement during the online booking process, subject to availability.
Accommodation for individual travellers: The price displayed for this option is based on one person occupying their own private room at the hotel accommodation forming part of the main tour. You will not be required to share a room with another traveller. Room type, configuration, size, facilities, location and views may vary between properties and are subject to the accommodation provider’s availability and allocation.
| Location |
Standard – Included |
Superior – Supplement Applies |
Deluxe – Supplement Applies |
| San José |
Sleep Inn or similar |
Park Inn or similar |
Hilton San José La Sabana or similar |
| Tortuguero |
Turtle Beach Lodge or similar |
Evergreen Lodge or similar |
Aninga Lodge or similar |
| Arenal |
Arenal Montechiari or similar |
Arenal Springs or similar |
Arenal Kioro or similar |
| Monteverde |
Monteverde Country Lodge or similar |
Poco a Poco or similar |
Fonda Vela Hotel or similar |
| Tamarindo / Guanacaste |
Pasatiempo or similar |
Wyndham Tamarindo or similar |
Tamarindo Diriá or similar |
Please Note: The hotels shown above are those currently planned for this tour and are subject to availability. If a listed property is unavailable, alternative accommodation of a comparable category or standard may be used. Hotel ratings, classifications and standards are not internationally standardised and may differ from those in your home country.
Important Information
- Travelling Individually: This option is designed for customers booking individually, but the tour itself is not exclusively for solo travellers. You will travel as part of a regular Lumle small-group tour. Certain transfers, excursions and activities operate on a shared basis and may include other travellers, so the participants and group composition may vary during different stages of your journey.
- Private Room: Your own private room is included at the hotel accommodation forming part of the main tour. Room type, bed configuration, facilities, location and views are subject to the accommodation provider’s availability and allocation.
- Local Guides: Local guides accompany the scheduled guided activities as specified in the itinerary and do not necessarily travel with you throughout the entire tour. Different guides may therefore provide services in different destinations.
- Shared Services: Certain transportation, excursions and activities are provided on a shared basis. You may travel or participate alongside other customers who are not travelling on the complete Lumle itinerary.
- Transportation: Transportation is provided as specified in the itinerary. Vehicle type, routing, departure times and journey duration may vary according to operational requirements, road conditions, traffic and group size.
- Meals: Meals are included only where specifically stated in the itinerary. Other meals, beverages and refreshments are at your own expense.
- Sightseeing and Activities: Visits, excursions, walks and other activities are included only where specifically stated in the itinerary and remain subject to local opening, access, weather and operational conditions.
- Wildlife: Costa Rica’s wildlife is encountered in its natural environment and sightings cannot be guaranteed. Wildlife experiences, including those in Tortuguero, are subject to seasonality, weather, water levels, local regulations and natural conditions.
- Weather and Local Conditions: Weather, road conditions, local restrictions and other operational circumstances may occasionally require adjustments to transportation, activities or the order of the itinerary. Where necessary, appropriate alternative arrangements will be made where applicable in accordance with our Booking Terms & Conditions.
- Check-in and Check-out: Hotel check-in and check-out times vary between properties. Early check-in and late check-out are subject to availability and may incur an additional charge.
- Flights and Baggage: Flight schedules, routings and operating airlines are subject to the arrangements applicable to your confirmed booking. Baggage allowances are determined by the airline and fare applicable to your confirmed flights.
- Passport, Visa and Entry Requirements: It is your responsibility to ensure that you meet the passport, visa, immigration and entry requirements applicable to Costa Rica and any country through which you transit. Requirements vary according to nationality and may change, so please check the latest official requirements in sufficient time before travel.
- Health Requirements: It is your responsibility to check the latest health and vaccination guidance applicable to Costa Rica and to seek appropriate medical advice where necessary before travelling.
- Accessibility: This itinerary includes road journeys, walking, boat journeys and visits to natural areas where terrain and accessibility may vary. If you have reduced mobility or require assistance, please contact us before booking so that we can discuss the suitability of the arrangements.
- Unused Services: Services included in the package that a customer chooses not to use are not normally refundable, subject to your Booking Terms & Conditions and applicable law.
- Itinerary Changes: The itinerary and order of activities may be adjusted where reasonably necessary because of weather, local conditions, operational requirements or circumstances beyond our reasonable control.
- Travel Documents: Please check your final travel documentation carefully before departure, including confirmed flights, accommodation, transfers and other travel arrangements.
- Booking Conditions: Your holiday, including amendment and cancellation rights and charges, is subject to the Lumle Holidays Booking Terms & Conditions applicable to your booking.
What to Bring
Comfortable, lightweight clothing and suitable walking footwear are recommended for travelling in Costa Rica. Depending on the season and areas visited, you may also find sun protection, sunglasses, a hat, insect repellent and lightweight rainwear useful. For visits to religious, cultural or official sites, appropriate clothing should be worn in accordance with any local requirements. Conditions can vary considerably between Costa Rica’s tropical lowlands, cloud forests and higher-altitude regions, so suitable layers are also recommended.