Beaches and Nature with Santa Teresa

This comprehensive 15-day tour takes you to some of the most exotic and picturesque areas of the stunning country of Costa Rica. Relax on the sunny shores of Santa Teresa as well as throughout the tour and enjoy the freedom to choose optional excursions in the different destinations. From soft sandy beaches to fascinating cloud forests and vibrant volcanoes, this memorable tour will allow you to discover the real Costa Rica while experiencing its incredible wildlife and interesting culture.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

Tamarindo: This busy beach resort is great for a night out, surfing, and exploring the eclectic dining scene.

Samara: A relaxed beach town great for soaking up the sun and enjoying the breezy atmosphere.

Santa Teresa: Located on the tip of the Nicoya Peninsula, this beautiful beach getaway is about as far away from the big city as you can get. 

San Jose: Costa Rica’s vibrant capital city was founded in the mid-18th century, boasting great cultural and historical landmarks. Visit its museums, the European-inspired National Theatre, and stroll the charming alleys of its historic neighbourhoods.

Tortuguero: This park is home to the nesting grounds of the green sea turtles, offering spectacular beaches and fantastic opportunities to spot wild animals and birds.

Sarapiqui: Neighbouring the Braulio Carrillo National Park, a great area for animal spotting, this magnificent region is known for its kayaking and white-water rafting.

Arenal: Admire one of the most beautiful volcanoes in the country and its mesmerising park, dotted with trails and rich in wildlife. 

Monteverde: Settled by American Quakers in the 1950s, this primary cloud forest is made up of six unique ‘life zones’ and is home to many endangered species and an enormous variety of plant life. 

Day 1: ARRIVAL LIBERIA – TAMARINDO (85km – 1.5 hrs)

Your Costa Rican adventure begins on arrival to Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport in Liberia, located in the northwestern part of the country. Here, a Destination Services representative awaits to greet you before you depart to the region of Tamarindo Beach for your first night in Costa Rica. Tamarindo is fantastic for having fun and the perfect starting point for your holiday.

• Overnight in Tamarindo.

Day 2: TAMARINDO – SAMARA (110km – 2 hrs)

After a mouthwatering breakfast, check out of the hotel to catch your shared transfer to Samara. Samara is a magnificent beach, perfect for soaking up the sun in an unpretentious, laid-back atmosphere. The idyllic resort village is shaped by its half-moon bay and features a long white sandy beach shaded by picturesque palm trees. Relax with the rest of the day at leisure.

• Overnight in Samara.

Day 3: SAMARA

Indulge in a delicious breakfast at the hotel. Then, have fun in the sun on an ocean safari that includes a boat tour and snorkelling. Enjoy this adventure as you admire the most exotic coastal landscape and search for amazing local marine life, like dolphins, whales or sea turtles. Back on land, return to your hotel with the remainder of the day free to enjoy the beautiful area and hotel facilities.

• Overnight in Samara.

Day 4: SAMARA – SANTA TERESA (170km – 4 hrs)

After breakfast, hop on the shared transfer from Samara to Santa Teresa. Santa Teresa and the Nicoya Peninsula are considered Blue Zone – areas, where inhabitants live longer, healthier lives. Santa Teresa is a booming new travel destination in Costa Rica, attracting beach enthusiasts and adventurous surfers who come to catch a wave or enjoy the exotic sandy beach. Many travellers who arrived only for a surf vacation fell in love with Santa Teresa and decided to call this place their new home. The new residents from around the globe provide a trendy international flare to the local Costa Rican scene, and this can be appreciated in the local shops and restaurants of the area.

• Overnight in Santa Teresa.

Day 5: SANTA TERESA

Have a delectable breakfast and savour the day at leisure relaxing at your hotel or at the lively beach. Indulge in one of the adventurous activities offered in the region or explore the paradisiacal surrounding areas on your own.

• Overnight in Santa Teresa.

Day 6: SANTA TERESA – SAN JOSE (170km – 4 hrs by road / 1 hr by ferry)

After breakfast, you will be picked up for a shared transfer to San Jose, reaching the capital city in the early afternoon. Check in to your hotel and have the rest of day at leisure to explore this fascinating city on your own. Explore the beautifully arranged streets of San Jose, stop at the landmarks that capture your interest, and browse the hip cafes and restaurants spread throughout the city. 

• Overnight in San Jose.

Day 7: SAN JOSE – TORTUGUERO (135km – 4 hrs by road / 2 hrs by boat)

Your day begins early with a morning departure, travelling by bus through the Braulio Carrillo National Park towards the Caribbean plains to enjoy the spectacular mountain scenery and quaint villages. Indulge in a tasty breakfast en route and continue through the jungle by boat, cruising the rivers and canals of Tortuguero National Park. Arrive at your eco-lodge and enjoy a tasty lunch. Board the boat again for a visit to Tortuguero village, where you will get to walk around town, experience the locals’ way of living, and stroll along the beach. During the turtle hatching season, we will look for the baby turtles trying to find their way down to the ocean. Nesting is from July to September and hatching from September to December. Enjoy the rest of the day relaxing at the hotel, surrounded by the beautiful tropical forest and wildlife.

• Overnight in Tortuguero.

Day 8: TORTUGUERO NATIONAL PARK

Today you will have some free time to relax by the pool and experience the Tortuguero National Park on a three-hour trip. Observe over 350 protected species of birds, monkeys, crocodiles, and sloths, as well as lush vegetation. During the July to September season, you can join an optional late night turtle nesting tour, purchasable directly at the lodge.

• Overnight in Tortuguero.
  

Day 9: TORTUGUERO – SARAPIQUI (85km – 3 hrs by road / 2 hrs by boat)

After a tasty breakfast, transfer to Guapiles where we will have a stop for a delightful lunch. Afterwards, you will be picked up in a shared transfer towards the area of Sarapiqui, just north of San Jose. Hidden in the foothills of the impressive Braulio Carrillo National Park and set alongside mountain streams, exuberant rainforest, and pasturelands this is a delightful sight for sore eyes. Encounter the mysteries of the rainforest while enjoying a comfortable stay in the beautifully designed rooms of the lodge you will call home for the next two nights.

• Overnight in Sarapiquí.

Day 10: SARAPIQUI

Indulge in a rich  breakfast and then join a floating safari tour on the River Sarapiqui, where you can appreciate the beauty and the diversity of the flora and fauna hidden in the majestic rainforest. Return to the hotel and have the rest of the day at leisure to enjoy the picturesque surrounding area or take part in an optional tour. Today you can choose between rafting at Sarapiquí River, an interesting chocolate tour, or an exciting Canopy experience. Rafting at the Sarapiquí River offers you the perfect combination of adventure and nature. This section is filled with class II-III rapids and clear, refreshing water that swerves its way through the tropical rainforest of Sarapiquí, making it a true paradise! Rapids with names like “Roller Coaster”, “Superman”, and “Air Force” will thrill you while the incredible surroundings filled with flora and fauna will leave you breathless. If you don´t feel adventurous today, you can enjoy an interesting Chocolate tour. This 2.5-hour experience will open the secrets and wonders of one of mankind’s favourite foods: chocolate. The tour will be led by a trained guide across the suspension bridge and a sector of the Tirimbina forest to a former cacao-growing plot. During the hike, the natural and cultural history of the cacao tree will be explained. The cacao plot, which is not in commercial use, was formerly cultivated in an ancient way – mixed with other forest trees. It was used for research purposes several decades ago and is currently used for environmental education, showing the traditional processes.  If chocolate is not something you want to learn about, get closer to nature during an exciting  Canopy Tour. While from the ground you get visual access to a part of the forest, on the canopy tour you can discover a different perspective. Fill your eyes with nature and your body with adrenaline whole exploring Sarapiqui, one of the most diverse areas in Costa Rica. The zip line adventure is one of the best ways to discover and admire the green world of the treetops. The optional activities mentioned are not included.

• Overnight in Sarapiquí.

Day 11: SARAPIQUI – ARENAL (130km – 2.5 hrs)

Have breakfast at the hotel and drive from Sarapiqui to Arenal, an emblematic destination for adventure lovers, known for hosting one of the most active volcanoes in Costa Rica. Enjoy the remainder of the afternoon at leisure to explore the scenic surroundings of the hotel on your own or join in on an optional activity.

• Overnight in Arenal.

Day 12: ARENAL

Today after breakfast, take a guided walking tour in Arenal Volcano National Park. During the tour, the guide will explain the periods of activity the once very active volcano experienced.  Enjoy the verdant landscapes and the backdrop of the now-dormant volcano, as you keep a lookout for the wild animals living in this national park.  You have the chance to spot sloths, howler monkeys, anteaters, and many others. Afterwards, return to the hotel and spend the afternoon relaxing, exploring the surroundings on your own, or participating in an optional activity. 

You can again choose between the Canopy Tour in Arenal Ecoglide, a Kayaking experience or the relaxing session at the stunning Tabacon Hot Springs, depending on the choice you made yesterday, of course. The optional activities mentioned are not included.

• Overnight in Arenal.
  

Day 13: ARENAL – MONTEVERDE (60km – 2.5 hrs by road / 45 min by boat)

After breakfast, depart to Monteverde, skirting Arenal Lake. Arrive in Rio Chiquito and transfer to your hotel. Located in the Puntarenas province, Monteverde is a place of cloud forests and mist, coffee plantations, monkeys, and friendly locals. The town of Santa Elena is small and quaint, filled with inviting restaurants and folksy artisan shops, while the nearby rainforest hosts a remarkable amount of biodiversity. Enjoy the day at leisure to explore on your own or enjoy our optional activities, like the Selvatura Treetop Walkway guided tour. The Selvatura Treetop Walkway guided tour takes you through and above the rainforest. A series of eight suspension bridges, connected by trails for a total 3 km in length, provides a bird’s-eye view of the rainforest canopy! 

If adventure is not something you are interested in, join the Don Juan Coffee Tour to understand Costa Rica´s coffee, chocolate and sugar cane production (with the emphasis on coffee!). The tour offers an interesting opportunity to learn about coffee and its production as well as to get close to the fascinating Costa Rican folklore. The optional activities mentioned are not included.

• Overnight in Monteverde.

Day 14: MONTEVERDE

After a nourishing breakfast at the hotel, enjoy a hike through the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. Founded in 1972, the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve is world-famous for its outstanding biodiversity, conservation actions and contributions, as well as scientific research. The reserve is home to 2.5% of the world’s biodiversity, and it is one of the most important private reserves, not just in Costa Rica but the world. It hosts hundreds of species of mammals, birds, butterflies, amphibians, reptiles, insects and arachnids, as well as a large variety of flora, such as mosses, vines or the autochthonous trees of the cloud forest. Afterwards, enjoy the afternoon at leisure to relax or participate in an optional activity. You can enhance today´s experience by joining one of the memorable tours you missed yesterday. Whether you choose to explore the cloud forest during the Selvatura Treetop Walkway guided tour, or you prefer getting closer to the fascinating Costa Rican culture while on the Don Juan Coffee tour, your day will be unforgettable. Entrance to Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve and the optional tours are not included.

• Overnight in Monteverde.
  

Day 15: MONTEVERDE – DEPART LIBERIA (130km – 3 hrs)

After breakfast, depart Monteverde in a private transfer to the Liberia International Airport to catch your flight back home or continue your trip with an extension to the beach.

• Breakfast included.

Comfortable and light clothing is the most suitable for travelling in Costa Rica. Visitors should not wear sleeveless shirts, shorts, short skirts or skimpy clothing when visiting temples, religious or official buildings. Sun protection, sunglasses, a hat and mosquito repellent can be very useful during your stay.