Solo Traveller: Costa Rica Complete – Jungles, Volcanoes & Coast

Today marks the start of your journey to Costa Rica. Board your flight from NEW YORK to San José. Return economy-class flights from NEW YORK are included in your holiday price. Departures from selected regional UK airports may be available at an additional cost and can be selected, where available, during the online booking process. All flight arrangements are subject to airline schedules and availability.

Upon arrival at San José International Airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. After check-in, the remainder of the day is at leisure to relax following your journey.

After an early departure from San José, travel towards Costa Rica’s Caribbean lowlands and Tortuguero. Breakfast is included during the journey before continuing towards the river embarkation point.

Board a boat for the journey through the waterways to Tortuguero, passing through an area of tropical vegetation and waterways characteristic of this part of Costa Rica. There may be opportunities to observe local wildlife along the way; however, as with all wildlife experiences, sightings cannot be guaranteed.

On arrival, continue to your lodge and enjoy an included lunch. Later, visit Tortuguero village with your guide and learn more about the local community and the conservation work associated with the area. The order and timing of activities may be adjusted according to local and operational conditions. Return to your lodge, where dinner is included this evening.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Today, explore the waterways of Tortuguero National Park with your guide. Travel by boat through the network of canals and lagoons surrounded by tropical rainforest, while your guide provides an introduction to the natural environment and wildlife of the region.

During the excursion, there may be opportunities to observe birds, monkeys, reptiles and other wildlife that inhabit the park. As these are wild animals in their natural habitat, sightings and their location cannot be guaranteed. After your excursion, return to the lodge with time to relax and enjoy the surroundings.

During the turtle nesting season, an optional guided turtle-watching experience may be available in the evening at an additional cost. This activity is subject to seasonal conditions, local regulations and availability, and turtle sightings cannot be guaranteed. Further information can be provided locally.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

After breakfast, depart Tortuguero by boat and travel through the waterways to the river embarkation point. From here, continue by road towards Costa Rica’s northern region. Lunch is included during the journey.

Continue to the Arenal region, home to the distinctive Arenal Volcano and an area known for its tropical landscapes and natural surroundings. On arrival, check in to your hotel.

The remainder of the afternoon is at leisure, giving you time to relax and enjoy the facilities and surroundings of your hotel. Views of Arenal Volcano are naturally dependent on weather and local conditions.

Optional Experience at Extra Cost: Arenal Hot Springs

This evening, you may choose to visit one of the Arenal region’s hot springs, where naturally heated thermal pools provide a relaxing way to spend the evening. This optional experience is available at an additional cost and can be added during the online booking process. The exact hot springs venue and arrangements will be confirmed with your travel documents and are subject to local availability and operating conditions.

Meals included: Breakfast and Lunch

After breakfast, enjoy the morning at leisure in the Arenal region. Relax at your hotel or spend the morning as you wish before this afternoon’s included experience.

Optional Experience at Extra Cost: Arenal Volcano Guided Walk

For those wishing to explore further, an optional guided walk in the Arenal Volcano area is available this morning. Accompanied by a local guide, follow designated trails while learning about the volcanic activity that has shaped the surrounding landscape and natural environment. The walk involves outdoor trails and uneven surfaces, and views of the volcano are dependent on weather conditions. This optional experience is available at an additional cost and can be added during the online booking process.

Included Experience: Guided Sloth Tour

This afternoon, join a local guide for an included sloth tour in the La Fortuna area. Walk along nature trails through tropical vegetation as your guide helps you look for sloths and provides information about their natural habitat and behaviour. Other flora and fauna may also be encountered during the walk. As sloths and other animals are wild and move freely within their natural environment, sightings cannot be guaranteed.

Following the tour, return to your hotel and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.

Meals included: Breakfast

After breakfast, depart the Arenal region and travel towards Monteverde. The journey typically combines road and boat transportation across Lake Arenal, providing a convenient route between the two regions. The exact transfer arrangements may vary according to local and operational conditions.

Continue into the highlands towards Monteverde, an area renowned for its cloud forest environment and rich variety of plant life. On arrival, check in to your hotel and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.

Optional Experience at Extra Cost: Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve

For those wishing to explore further, an optional guided visit to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is available. Walk along designated forest trails with a local guide and learn about the plants and natural environment of this protected area. There may also be opportunities to observe birds and other wildlife; however, sightings cannot be guaranteed. This optional experience is available at an additional cost and can be added during the online booking process.

Meals included: Breakfast

After breakfast, enjoy an included visit to the Monteverde Hanging Bridges. Follow forest trails and suspended bridges through the cloud forest, offering a different perspective of the surrounding vegetation and forest canopy. Your guide will provide information about the natural environment along the way. Wildlife may also be encountered; however, sightings cannot be guaranteed.

Following the experience, return to your hotel and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.

Optional Experiences at Extra Cost

During your stay in Monteverde, you may choose to add either or both of the following optional experiences. These are available at an additional cost and can be selected during the online booking process, subject to local operating schedules and availability.

Birdwatching at Curi-Cancha Reserve

Join a local guide for a birdwatching experience at Curi-Cancha Reserve, following forest trails through this protected natural area. Your guide will help identify the birds encountered and provide information about their natural habitat. The species encountered will vary and sightings of any particular bird cannot be guaranteed.

Monteverde Night Walk

Explore the forest after dark on a guided night walk. Accompanied by a local guide, follow designated trails and learn about the nocturnal environment of the cloud forest. There may be opportunities to observe animals, birds, insects and other species active at night; however, wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed.

Meals included: Breakfast

After breakfast, check out of your hotel and depart Monteverde for the journey towards Manuel Antonio on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast. As you leave the highlands, the landscape gradually changes from cloud forest to the warmer tropical surroundings of the Pacific region.

On arrival in Manuel Antonio, transfer to your hotel and check in. The remainder of the day is at leisure, giving you time to relax and enjoy the hotel and surrounding area at your own pace.

Optional Experience at Extra Cost: Jungle Night Walk

This evening, you may choose to join a guided Jungle Night Walk. Accompanied by a local guide, explore designated forest trails after dark and learn about the nocturnal environment of the region. There may be opportunities to observe insects, amphibians, reptiles and other creatures active at night; however, sightings of any particular species cannot be guaranteed. This optional experience is available at an additional cost and can be added during the online booking process.

Meals included: Breakfast

After breakfast, join your local guide for an included visit to Manuel Antonio National Park. Follow designated trails through the tropical forest while your guide provides information about the natural environment, plants and animals found within the park. There may be opportunities to observe wildlife during your visit; however, sightings of any particular species cannot be guaranteed.

Following your guided visit, enjoy the remainder of the afternoon at leisure. Relax at your hotel or spend time enjoying the surrounding area at your own pace.

Optional Experience at Extra Cost: Pacific Coast Catamaran Cruise

Where the local operating schedule permits, you may choose to spend the afternoon on a catamaran cruise along the Pacific coastline near Manuel Antonio. Enjoy time on the water and, subject to sea and weather conditions, there may be an opportunity for swimming or snorkelling. Marine wildlife may also be encountered during the cruise; however, sightings cannot be guaranteed.

This optional experience is available at an additional cost and can be added during the online booking process. Operation is subject to availability, weather, sea conditions and the excursion provider’s schedule.

Meals included: Breakfast

After breakfast, depart Manuel Antonio and travel south towards Piedras Blancas, an area of tropical rainforest close to the Golfo Dulce. As you continue south, pass through the landscapes and communities of Costa Rica’s Pacific region before arriving at your rainforest lodge.

On arrival, check in and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure. Take time to settle into your surroundings and relax at the lodge before tomorrow’s included rainforest experience.

The lodge is surrounded by a natural rainforest environment, and birds and other wildlife may occasionally be encountered around the property. As with all wildlife experiences, sightings cannot be guaranteed.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

After breakfast, join a local guide for an included rainforest nature walk in the Piedras Blancas area. Follow forest trails while your guide provides an introduction to the plants, wildlife and natural environment of this tropical rainforest region.

During the walk, there may be opportunities to observe birds, mammals, reptiles, insects and other wildlife in their natural habitat. As wildlife moves freely within the forest, sightings of any particular species cannot be guaranteed. Trail and weather conditions may vary, and suitable walking footwear is recommended.

After the guided experience, return to your lodge for lunch. The remainder of the afternoon is at leisure, allowing you to relax and enjoy the natural surroundings of the lodge at your own pace.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

After breakfast, depart Piedras Blancas and travel inland towards the highlands of the Savegre Valley. During the journey, the landscape gradually changes from the tropical lowlands to the cooler mountain environment of Costa Rica’s cloud forest region.

On arrival in the Savegre Valley, check in to your lodge and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure. The valley is known for its cloud forest environment and variety of birdlife, including the Resplendent Quetzal.

You may spend the rest of the day relaxing at the lodge or enjoying the surrounding natural environment at your own pace. Birds and other wildlife may be encountered around the area; however, sightings of any particular species, including the Resplendent Quetzal, cannot be guaranteed.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

After breakfast, enjoy a full day at leisure in the Savegre Valley. Surrounded by the highland environment of Costa Rica’s cloud forest region, today gives you time to relax and enjoy the surroundings at your own pace.

You may choose to spend time at your lodge, explore the surrounding area independently where permitted, or simply enjoy a slower day during your journey. The region is known for its birdlife and natural environment, and birds or other wildlife may be encountered; however, sightings cannot be guaranteed.

The remainder of the day is yours to enjoy at leisure before tomorrow’s included guided experience.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

After breakfast, enjoy a relaxed morning at leisure in the Savegre Valley, with time to enjoy the surroundings of your lodge before departing for San José.

Later, travel by road through Costa Rica’s highland landscapes towards the capital. The journey takes you through mountain and rural areas before continuing towards San José. A stop will be made along the way for lunch, which is at your own expense.

On arrival in San José, check in to your hotel and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.

Meals included: Breakfast

Today marks the end of your journey through Costa Rica. At the appropriate time, you will be transferred from your hotel to Juan Santamaría International Airport for your return flight to London Heathrow.

Your airport transfer will be arranged according to your confirmed flight schedule. Please refer to your final travel documents for the confirmed departure and transfer details.

Board your flight to the UK, taking with you memories of Costa Rica’s rainforests, cloud forests, wildlife and varied landscapes.

Meals included: Breakfast, subject to hotel serving times and your flight departure schedule.