Journey through Costa Rica at an easy, unhurried pace—beginning and ending in cosmopolitan San José, then tracing a perfect arc from the lava-scarred slopes of Arenal to the mist-wreathed cloud forests of Monteverde, and onward to the jungle-fringed shores of Manuel Antonio. Each region reveals a different face of the country: coffee-scented valleys and city culture, rainforest trails alive with birdsong, and palm-lined beaches where the Pacific glitters at sunset.

This itinerary balances transfers with generous leisure time, so you can linger by hot springs, wander canopy walkways, and watch capuchins and scarlet macaws in their natural habitats. Handpicked accommodation, daily breakfast, and seamless airport/intercity transfers keep the logistics effortless, leaving you free to soak up pura vida—from morning mists to warm, starlit evenings.

To personalise your adventure, add curated optional experiences such as waterfall hikes, hanging bridges, catamaran cruising and mangrove kayaking. These enhancements are at additional cost, must be pre-booked, are subject to availability, and typically require a minimum of 2 people. All options are clearly itemised during the online booking process so inclusions and exclusions remain transparent.

Whether you’re chasing volcano views, cloud-forest wildlife or that perfect stretch of beach, this route showcases the country’s headline wonders—and the small, serendipitous moments in between—that make Costa Rica unforgettable.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

San José: Vibrant capital with rich culture and history; visit museums, the European-inspired National Theatre, and stroll charming historic barrios.

Arenal: See the iconic volcano and its wildlife-rich national park, with scenic trails and nearby soothing hot springs.

Monteverde: Ethereal cloud forest of multiple “life zones,” home to rare species, lush epiphytes, and atmospheric canopy paths.

Manuel Antonio: Coastal jewel where jungle meets tropical beaches; renowned national park teeming with wildlife and vivid flora.

The short itinerary

Day 1 : DEPART NEW YORK AND ARRIVE SAN JOSE
Day 2 : SAN JOSE – ARENAL (130 KM – 2.5HRS)
Day 3 : ARENAL
Day 4 : ARENAL – MONTEVERDE (160 KM – 3.5HRS)
Day 5 : MONTEVERDE – MANUEL ANTONIO (180KM – 4HRS)
Day 6 : MANUEL ANTONIO
Day 7 : MANUEL ANTONIO – SAN JOSE (180KM – 2.5HRS)
Day 8 : DEPARTURE SAN JOSE

AVAILABILITY OPTIONS

Please note important information

Entry requirements: British / American / Canadian nationals do not need a visa to enter Costa Rica for stays less than 90 days. Valid passport is required with at least six months validity.

Currency: Costa Rican Colón (CRC; symbol ₡) = 100 céntimos. Notes are in denominations of ₡50,000, 20,000, 10,000, 5,000, 2,000 and 1,000. Coins are in denominations of ₡500, 100, 50, 25, 20, 10 and 5. US dollars are also widely accepted.

Language: Spanish is widely spoken in the country.

Health: You should consult your doctor or travel clinic at least four to six weeks prior to travel — they’ll have access to the most up-to-date requirements for your destination. They’ll also be able to advise on what’s appropriate for you personally, taking into account your medical history and any pre-existing conditions. This is important as some vaccinations aren’t recommended for everyone.

Card: Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa credit cards are all accepted; American Express slightly less so. Many banks will only process MasterCard for cash credits. Cash may be the only form of payment.

ATMs are common throughout the cities and small towns. They will usually accept foreign cards but in some regions only Visa cards are accepted. Occasionally, paying with credit cards may not be possible for technical reasons. Bringing a good supply of US dollars in cash is advised, as many things such as personal expenses or meals at restaurants, can be paid for with US dollars.

Climate And Weather: In the Central Valley, where the main centres of population are located, the average temperature is 22°C (72°F) and the region enjoys a spring-like climate year round. In the coastal areas, the temperature is much hotter and humid, while the Pacific Northwest can be extremely hot and dry. The rainy season starts in May and finishes in November, although there are distinct regional variations. June and July are the wettest months, particularly on the Caribbean side, but the season can run from May until December. The ‘warm’ dry season is December to May, though temperature differences between summer and winter are slight. March is the height of the dry season, and the humidity is lower at this time, making this a popular time for visitors.

Clothing And Dress Recommendations: Lightweight cotton and linen clothing is recommended for most of the year with warmer clothes for cooler evenings. Waterproofing is necessary during the rainy season. Loose-fitting clothing is best. Wear neutral browns and greens for birding and wildlife viewing. Always bring mosquito repellent for both day and night.

Internet Availability: There are internet cafes throughout the country, and most tourist hotels also provide facilities such as Wi-Fi. Internet speed may be rather slow but this should improve as the government aims to improve infrastructure to allow for faster broadband connections.

Electricity And Plug Standards: Electric sockets in the Republic of Costa Rica are Type B (NEMA 5-15) and/or Type A (NEMA 1-15). If your appliance’s plug doesn’t match the shape of these sockets, you will need a travel plug adapter in order to plug in. Travel plug adapters simply change the shape of your appliance’s plug to match whatever type of socket you need to plug into. If it’s crucial to be able to plug in no matter what, bring an adapter for all three types. Electrical sockets supply electricity at 120 volts AC / 60 Hz frequency. If you’re plugging in an appliance that was built for 220-240 volt electrical input, or an appliance that is compatible with multiple voltages, then an adapter is all you need. If your appliance isn’t compatible with 120 volts, a voltage converter will be necessary.

Flights: Your round-trip flight is included in your holiday package. The flight will have 1 stopover and 1–6 hours layover (however, in some tours, there are likely to be touchdowns or 2 stopovers with slightly longer layovers). We will contact you with flight details before issuing the flight ticket. If your flight transits through the USA or Canada, an ESTA (for the USA) or an eTA (for Canada) is mandatory before traveling. More information can be found at the below link.

ESTA: https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/.

eTA: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/eta.html.

Airport: Your holiday package includes the return flight from the airport outlined in the itinerary. However, you can fly from a choice of various local airports at extra costs. The easily overlooked details can have a major effect on your holiday. One of the ways we aim to plan your holiday as carefree as possible is to offer flights from local airports. With a more extensive selection of departures, set off on your holiday at a time that suits you best. Find out where you can fly from during stage 4 of the online booking process.

Travel, Transport And Getting Around: Costa Ricans drive on the right side of the road. Stretches of the Pan-American Highway leading to and from the major cities tend to be okay, but the rest is a mix of dust, gravel, potholes and mountainous roads.

Transportation: Transportation is based on air-condition tourist vehicle. Transfers are assisted without English speaking guide.

Sightseeing: Sightseeing is assisted by local English speaking guide.

Food, Drink And Cuisine Advice: Costa Rica is a not a major foodie destination, but what it lacks in sophistication it makes up for in choice. The Caribbean coast tends to be more influenced by the island nations. Jamaican-style jerk chicken is a staple; rice and beans (gallo pinto) are ubiquitous, but more likely to be prepared with coconut milk; and curry spices feature heavily as ingredients, creating dishes with a very distinct flavour from their counterparts on the Pacific coast. The Costa Rican diet is fairly healthy with low use of dairy or high-fat dishes. Fresh fruits and vegetables make up a high proportion of meals, while pork, chicken and beef are the most popular.

Check-in: 15:00 hours (Early check-in is subject to availability and incur extra costs).

Check-out: Until 12:00 hours (Late check-out is subject to availability and incurs extra costs).

Room occupancy: Maximum 2 adults.

Triple Room: The third bed will be a rollaway bed.

Offer: Offer is based on Twin share so 2 people must book to complete the offer. So valid with 2 full paying adults.

Hotels: Your accommodation at the hotels is as indicated. If the hotels mentioned in the itinerary are unavailable you will stay in hotels of a similar, or a higher standard. The rating and category of the hotels are not standardized across the world. Therefore, the criteria may differ depending on the destination country’s standards.

Wheelchair access: The hotels and tours are not suitable for wheelchair users. If you have reduced mobility, require the use of a wheelchair, or would prefer this tour to be a private tour for you, you must contact us by email at sales@lumle.com or by telephone at 0203 006 2722 (UK) and 1-888-214-4856 (USA & Canada) before booking to ensure that your needs can be met. We try our best to assist but please note each trip are unique operation in different parts of the world and it may always not be possible to cater to specific needs.

Mobile number: Please be sure to fill in your mobile number when booking. This is so that the driver can get in touch with you.

Flight Times: Please note that flights may be subject to change, delay, or postponement by the provider and that flight times are provisional. We search for the best times for you and will do our utmost to provide you with the flights detailed above. However, please note that flight times are subject to availability and may be amended.

E-Ticket: Please remember to print your e-ticket to confirm the times of your flights and to complete online check-in using the airline’s website, or directly at the check-in desk at the airport.

Personal Information: Please ensure that your details are filled in identically to the data on your passport. If this information does not match, you cannot travel to and from your destination. Amendment to this information if entered incorrectly will result in additional charges. If married, please fill in your surname as it appears on your passport.

Tour Itinerary: Please note that in exceptional circumstances viz adverse weather conditions, for safety reasons or for any other reasons deemed appropriate, the itinerary and/or excursions included in the program may be subject to change or cancelled without any notice for reasons outside of the control of Lumle Holidays.

Vaccination: If you are travelling to Costa Rica, you may need to be vaccinated. For the most up-to-date health advice, you should visit your local doctor/GP or consult www.gov.uk (UK), travel.gc.ca (Canada), or wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel (USA).

Tipping: Tipping in Costa Rica ultimately depends on your discretion, yet it is typical for servers or service providers to expect it. In these cases, please bear in mind that, the typical tipping standard is around $6/person/day for guides, and half of that for drivers and servers.

Optional activities/sightseeing: Sightseeing as per the itinerary is supported by the local English-speaking guide. Please note that, the optional activities/sightseeing are not exclusive to Lumle customers and groups will be mixed with customers from other travel companies.

Attractions and Sites: Some of the attractions included in programs such as National Parks, private reserves, museums, could be closed certain days of the week for maintenance. When necessary, and if the availability of the itinerary allows us to program the excursion it will be for some other day trip excursion. If the itinerary does not allow modify the tour, our reservations department would inform you about possible substitutes options and if applicable any rates difference.

Climate: Costa Rica being a tropical country, it presents weather conditions which vary from one area to another, so it is important to consider that various attractions (flora and fauna) as mentioned in the program are subject to climatic conditions of each site.

Photos