Fun and Beach in Costa Rica

Reward yourself with an exotic vacation by the tropical beach. What can be more relaxing than enjoying the sun on a sandy beach and listening to the roaring sound of waves?

Get away this year to Costa Rica. One of the more affordable vacation havens in the world, there is never a lack of exciting things to do and see in this beautiful area. Fishing, surfing, boating, sightseeing, shopping, excellent dining, jungle tours, canopy tours, horseback riding, and nightlife, are just a few of the many things to do on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica.

Level: Easy Type: Recreation Duration: 9 Days Group: 6-8
No physical challenge on this tour Recreation with some cultural and geographical explorations Duration is 9 days Small groups for a more personal experience

Day 1. San Jose

Arriving to Juan Santamaria Airport and transferring to San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica. We settle in our downtown hotel and take a rest or leave for exploring the city depending on the time of your arrival. San Jose's highlights include the National Theatre, National and Morazan Parks, Jade Museum in front of the Spain Park, Gold Museum, and the among other churches the Metropolitan Cathedral. We will try to see a few of them, then the rest of it when we return from out trip on the countryside. We dine in a restaurant overlooking the Central Valley with a magnificent view of the city by night.

Day 2. Volcano Poas, La Paz Waterfall and Gardens, Arenal

In the early morning we leave for Heredia, a small town in the Meseta Central, which is the name of the region in the capital's vicinty. We stop for a short walk on the town's main square and have a look at the two beautiful churches before continuing our journey to the volcano only about an hours drive from here. Volcano Poas rises to an altitude of 2,708 meters (8,200 feet) above sea level.

It is important to enter the park before the mist covers Volcano Poas' craters and caldera. Here the summit contains a number of explosion craters, and one of them has a small lake of sulfurous steaming water. It is just a short walk from the visitors center. On our way back we choose the trail leading through the forest instead of the paved one and enjoy the awesome vegetation. This leads us from the main crater to a smaller one, which is filled with the Botos Lagoon. Given we are quiet we can see birds and perhaps small mammals here, among them are: the robin, the hummingbird and the spectacular quetzal while the mammals include coyotes, long-tailed weasels, skunks and the Poas green-yellow squirrel.

After lunch we drive on to the next stop the La Paz Waterfall. Here you can easily approach this great cataract which is the last step of the La Paz falls and accessible from the main road. Later we continue to a small restaurant on the mountain top to marvel at the different hummingbirds sipping nectar from feeders. You can have a distant look at the La Paz fall from the terrace while these small birds return to the feeders from time to time. We continue to the La Paz Waterfall Gardens to take a tour and see their selection of butterflies, hummingbirds, and snakes. We spend some time here on the walking trails while discover the forest and the rest of the falls.

In the Afternoon we head for the Arenal Volcano area where we settle in our hotel and drive to the Tabacon Hot Springs to have a hot spa after the wearying day. From here we can occasionally hear the roar of the nearby volcano. If lucky we will see an eruption afterward from a close viewpoint.

Day 3. Arenal - Tamarindo Beach

After breakfast we drive to the La Fortuna waterfall where we do a short walk to reach the lake and the fall.

After driving to the other side of the volcano we continue to the Arenal Volcano National Park. Before entering the park we go for an hour boat trip on the Arenal lake to have a complete view of the volcanic cone from the surface of the water. In continuation we drive on to visit a viewpoint to observe the volcano in the daylight and to hear the roaming eruptions. The 1,633 meters (5,358 feet) high Arenal Volcano is a picture-perfect cone. Unfortunately it is most often covered in clouds and getting to see an eruption is a matter of luck. It is regarded as one of the world's most active volcanoes. Its lava flows and activity have been constant, and on virtually any day you can see smoking cinder blocks tumbling down the steep slope from the crater, or at night watch a fiery cascade of lava spewing from the crater.

From here we depart for Tamarindo Beach passing breathtaking scenery and have dinner in our hotel.

Day 4-6. Tamarindo Beach

Relaxing and doing whatever the area has to offer which includes canopy tours, surfing, boogey boarding, horseback riding, bicycle rental, just enjoying the beach or for the enthusiast returning to the National Park to short hikes or to enjoy its solitary white sand beaches. In the afternoon leaving for San Jose, where we will have our farewell dinner.

Day 7. San Jose

After breakfast we go for an optional sightseeing shopping walk in Central San Jose. Depending on the time of your departure we visit the Central Market, the crafts market close to the National Museum and some souvenir shops if needed. Alternatively, you can explore the city on your own if you are not into shopping. When it is due we leave for the airport for your departure.

Alternative extensions

  • Irazu Volcano, Cartago and Orosi Valley: 1 day
  • Turrialba Volcanolcano Hike: 1 day
  • Turrialba Volcanolcano Hike and Horsback Riding: 2 day
  • Central Pacific Beach with Carara and Manuel Antonio National Parks: 3 days
  • Tortuguero Canal Trip: 3 days

Highlights of this trip:

Airport to airport service
Exploration of the tropical beach in Costa Rica;
Flexible and adaptable program, many extensions available
Local cuisine -- fresh and healty dishes
Small groups for more personal experiences
Expert and nature enthusiast tour guides
The description of this program is provided as a general indication of the tour's route. Your program could be slightly different according to weather conditions, availabilities or changes in the accessibility of a site or a region.

What is included? What is not included?
  • Transportation in a modern and private minibus
  • Expert tour guide
  • All breakfasts plus one complete meal per day
  • Lodgings in nice and comfortable hotels
  • Museum and park entrance fees included
  • Boat fares
  • Admission fee to Tabacon Hot Springs
  • International flights and taxes
  • Personal insurance
  • Tips, drinks and personal expenses.
  • Admission fees for alternative activities
Price: $1190 / pers. double occ. + $190 / pers. single occ.




   Customer Questions

Home   Bookings and reservations   More Costa Rica Vacations   Terms


Copyright 2003-2006, Unicorn Multi Media Costa Rica, S. A.
All rights reserved