Costa Rica
Volcanoes, Rainforest and Manuel Antonio National Park
Arenal Tour - 12 Night Itinerary
Explore Poas, Irazu and Arenal volcanoes, enjoy optional excursions in in Arenal National Park and discover Manuel Antonio National Park.
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Travel Highlights
- Experience abundant wildlife, volcanoes and coastline
- Included excursions to Poas and Irazu volcanoes with expert guides
- Visit a coffee plantation and learn about their production processes
- Spend 6-nights in Arenal, with a wide range of optional excursions and activities
- Explore hanging bridges and rainforest canopy at Arenal National Park
- Optional visit to a local tribe, hike at Arenal volcano or cruise through wetlands
- Relax on the golden Pacific Coast beaches in Manuel Antonio
- Explore Costa Rica's famous coastal National Park
Tour Route
- San Jose, Poás & Irazu Volcanoes - 3 Nights
- Arenal Volcano - 6 Nights
- Manuel Antonio National Park - 3 Nights
- Return to San Jose & Fly Home
This itinerary can be tailored to your preferences by our specialist advisors, who can provide a guaranteed price based on your choice of departure date, route, duration, flights, cabin, hotels, transport and excursions.
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Tour Itinerary
San Jose, Poás & Irazu Volcanoes
3 NightsDay 1 - Departure from UK
Day 2 - Irazu Volcano & Lankester Gardens
Day 3 - Poas Volcano & Coffee Tour
- Full Description
- Accommodation
Departure from UK
Depart on a direct flight to San Jose. On arrival, transfer to your comfortable lodge or hotel in the hills above the city for a 3-night stay on a bed and breakfast basis.
Sunday, 18 May 2025
Irazu Volcano & Lankester Gardens
Today, enjoy a shared excursion to Cartago, the original capital of Costa Rica. At 3432 metres, the Irazu volcano is the highest active volcano in Costa Rica and it is easy to see why Neil Armstrong said that its desolate landscape looks like the surface of the moon. We also visit the lush Orosi Valley with its panoramic view of the Reventazon River and the Cachi Dam, We continue to the famous Lankester Gardens, one of the largest collections of orchids, bromeliads, ferns, and anthuriums of the region. The gardens are the legacy of Sir Richard Lankester, an English botanist who made Costa Rica his home in the late 19th century. Lunch is included today.
Monday, 19 May 2025
Poás Volcano and coffee tour
Today we visit the Doka coffee plantation, owned by Costa Rican Vargas Ruiz family, pioneers in coffee production since 1931. During the coffee tour, you will learn about the whole production and processing. After an included lunch, we then visit the Poás Volcano, with its active, smoking crater and emerald green crater-lake. We continue to the stunning La Paz Waterfalls Gardens, where walkways lead you past a series of waterfalls which cut through the surrounding lush forest.
Henry Porras
Balmoral Hotel
The Balmoral Hotel is located on Avenida Central, San Jose’s most famous street and walking distance to the historic centre. It is easy to visit the Iglesia de la Merced, the cathedral, the central and Morazán parks, as well as the impressive gold and jade museums.
The hotel’s rooms include double beds, complimentary coffee, safe, hair…
Hotel Presidente
The Presidente Hotel is located in the heart of San José in the pedestrian zone of Central Avenue, 2 blocks from the National Theatre and the Cultural Square. The hotel has over 100 comfortable and spacious rooms, which all include cable TV, air conditioning, safety box and en-suite bathroom. The hotel offers amenities such as…
Grano de Oro
Situated on a shady street just off Paseo Colon, San Jose's main street, the Hotel Grano de Oro is a welcome retreat in the heart of this bustling city. Converted from a tropical Victorian mansion, the hotel preserves the warmth and comfort of a private home, with its atrium terrace and corridors of sparkling fountains…
Hotel Alta Las Palomas
Located on the outskirts of San Jose in Santa Ana, the 23 room Hotel Alta is an excellent base to explore the capital city and surrounding attractions, including the Poas Volcano.
Public areas include a swimming pool, excellent dining at the elegant La Luz Restaurant and bar or the more relaxed cafe de Verano.
There are 5…
Buena Vista Hotel
Buena Vista hotel is a Spanish colonial style resort located just outside San Jose, at the top of a mountain offering panoramic views of three volcanoes in the Central Valley - Poas, Barva and Irazu. It is a super place to stay when you arrive in Costa Rica.
The hotel has 30 air-conditioned and comfortable rooms. Deluxe…
Xandari Resort And Spa
Xandari Resort and Spa is perfectly located for excursions to Poas Volcano, La Paz waterfall gardens, and Doka coffee plantation, and is only 30 minutes’ drive from San Jose International airport. Over 3km of scenic trails through coffee and fruit orchards lead into a lush natural tropical setting with a year-round river and five beautiful…
Finca Rosa Blanca
Finca Rosa Blanca Country Inn is situated above the beautiful Central Valley of Costa Rica, offering amazing views of volcanoes, cloud forests and coffee plantations and nestled amongst 10 acres amid hundreds of fruit trees and tropical flora. It offers luxurious rooms including mini bar, Jacuzzi bath and private verandas overlooking the Valley. Each room…
Arenal Volcano
6 NightsDay 4 - Travel to Arenal National Park
Day 5 - Optional Hanging Bridges Tour
Day 6 - Optional Arenal Volcano Trek & Hot Springs
Day 7 - Optional visit to the Maleku Tribe
Day 8 - Optional Sloth encounter and Sky Tram
Day 9 - Optional Rio Frio Boat Excursion
- Full Description
- Accommodation
Travel to Arenal National Park
This Morning, transfer to Arenal National Park where we stay for 6-nights on a bed and breakfast basis at the excellent tourist class Arenal Volcano Inn. The rest of the day is at leisure.
Wednesday, 21 May 2025
Optional Hanging Bridges Tour
Today enjoy an optional half-day visit to the Arenal Hanging Bridges. Here, observe the birds, the flowers and the lush vegetation of the primary rainforest. While walking along the trails in the forest canopy the fascinating world of the tropical forest will open to you as your naturalist guide explains the species you will discover during the walk.
Thursday, 22 May 2025
Optional Arenal Volcano Trek & Hot Springs
This morning, enjoy an optional guided trek in the foothills of Arenal Volcano. You will enjoy amazing views discover a great variety of flora and fauna, such as the toucan, turkeys, orioles, peccaries, snakes and monkeys.
In the evening, opt to visit the largest network of natural hot springs in Arenal, amid the lush vegetation to symphony of rushing waterfalls. Included tonight is an Indulgent dinner experience.
Friday, 23 May 2025
Optional visit to the Maleku Tribe
Today, opt to join other like-minded travellers to the northern plains, where you will walk through a local village to learn about the way of life of the Maleku tribe, their crafts, use of cocoa in their agriculture, their clothing and medicinal plants and trees used by the ancestors. Afterwards, participate in a demonstration of a traditional “Maleku” rite dramatised with his dances, songs and music characteristic of their culture. Finally, enjoy a typical local Costa Rican lunch, the Mafuriseka, which consists of a dish based on fish wrapped in banana leaves, cooked in steam; which is accompanied by vegetables and a natural fruit juice.
Saturday, 24 May 2025
Optional Sloth Encounter and Sky Tram
An optional morning guided tour in the beautiful open areas in La Fortuna where you will observe two or three toed sloths in the wild, as well as the multicoloured toucan, the poisonous blue jeans dart frog, iguanas and monkeys, among others.
In the afternoon, perhaps experience the Sky Tram gondolas that soar smoothly over the rainforest with amazing views of the jungle, Arenal volcano and the lake.
Sunday, 25 May 2025
Optional Rio Frio Boat Excursion
Today enjoy an optional boat tour on the Rio Frio, visiting the magical Rio Celeste Waterfall and the blue lagoon, a stretch of the calm river that makes a beautiful natural lagoon. Also visit an observation deck for the Tenorio Volcano, as well as discovering the fascinating flora, fauna and wildlife on the river. Lunch is included today.
David Jiménez
Arenal Volcano Inn
Arenal Volcano Inn is a cozy hotel located in front of the Arenal Volcano, just minutes away from the main attractions in Arenal National Park.
The hotel has just 25 rooms, from standard to deluxe. Each is air-conditioned with FREE Wi-Fi, private bathroom with shower, cable TV, mini bar, safe and telephone. Choose from a garden…
Arenal Manoa Hotel
Located a short drive from Arenal Volcano in a very natural and private environment, surrounded by the La Palma River, the Arenal Manoa Hotel is an ideal refuge for the great diversity of birds, mammals, lizards, and a large variety of plants. Surrounded by gardens, pastures and animals, the rooms have been designed so that…
Manuel Antonio National Park
3 NightsDay 10 - Manuel Antonio National Park
Day 11 - Exploring the National Park
Day 12 - Relax on the beach
- Full Description
- Accommodation
Travel to Manuel Antonio National Park
Transfer north along the Pacific Coast to Manuel Antonio National Park, staying for 3-nights on a bed and breakfast basis at a hotel surrounded by rainforest and overlooking beaches and coves. The pristine Manuel Antonio National Park is for many the best National Park in Costa Rica. The area has well-marked trails and is teeming with wildlife, including birds, toucans, monkeys and sloths. You can relax at your lodge, on the beach or explore the National Park on a wide range of optional activities bookable locally.
Tuesday, 27 May 2025
Wildlife, hikes and protected beaches
Today perhaps relax at your hotel, on the beach or explore the National Park on a wide range of optional activities bookable from your hotel.
Wednesday, 28 May 2025
Relax on the beach
At leisure on your final day in Costa Rica. A chance to relax on the beach.
Playa Espadilla
A comfortable and friendly tourist class hotel only a 3 minute walk from the entrance to the National Park of Manuel Antonio and a 2 minute walk from the beach. Known as a place in harmony with nature, their private reserve and delightful gardens allow guests to learn more about the flora and fauna of…
Parador Resort & Spa
The Parador Resort & Spa is settled on a hill, immersed in the tropical rainforest and located at a walking distance from the beach. You will enjoy stunning ocean views
The coast offers a wide variety of facilities such as bars, restaurants, supermarkets, banks, stores, natural attractions and beautiful beaches like Biesanz & Espadilla.
The…
Return to San Jose & Fly Home
Day 13 - Return flight to the UK
Day 14 - Arrive in the UK
- Full Description
Return flight to the UK
Transfer to San Jose airport for your direct overnight flight home.
Friday, 30 May 2025
Arrive in the UK
Arrive in the UK in the morning.
Price Guidelines
| Season | Low Season | High Season | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Travel Dates | 31 Dec -19 Jul, 22 Aug-13 Dec | 20 July - 21 Aug, 14 Dec- 30 Dec | ||
| Room Arrangement | Tourist | First | Tourist | First |
| Multiple Travellers - Twin Rooms | £2,811 | £3,656 | £3,014 | £3,833 |
Prices are a guideline per person, for travel within the next year and booking early and are subject to availability. Please see below what is included and request a detailed quotation with a guaranteed price for your specific departure date and for Special Events, Summer, Christmas, New Year's Eve & Easter.
What's Included
- 14 Days/12 Nights
- International flights (1 overnight)
- Accommodation as shown on the itinerary
- Breakfast everyday and meals as described on the itinerary
- Transfers to and from airports
- Transport throughout the itinerary
- Excursions listed, all with expert, English-speaking guides
- Prices are per person
- Prices for Special Events, Christmas, New Year's Eve, Easter on request
Complete a form or call our specialist advisors to start planning your trip. Please provide as much information as possible, and we will aim to respond to your enquiry the same or next working day.
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READY - 14 May 2025
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