Galapagos Safari Camp
Galápagos Safari Encounter flora and fauna seen nowhere else on Earth on islands famed for their biodiversity EXPLORE Ecuador | Days: 6 | From: $5,995
5 Days / 4 Nights*
*If you are interested in a longer trip, we can create an itinerary based on your interests that combines various destinations throughout Costa Rica.
Various Options*
Choose between 3.5 Star, 5 Star or Luxury Accommodation Options
Bienvenidos a Costa Rica! Once you arrive at Juan Santamaría International Airport (also known as the San José International Airport), you will be greeted by a member of our team. As you are transported to your hotel, take in the stunning scenery and natural beauty of this incredible country. Enjoy your first night in Costa Rica.
Today you will hike to the beautiful La Fortuna Waterfall, one of the most popular natural attractions in the area. Afterwards, you will experience authentic Costa Rican culture at Vida Campesina where you will have a guided journey of the property and have the opportunity to gather your own organically produced tubers, fruits, and vegetables. Learn about the traditional process of milling sugar cane and enjoy a refreshing juice squeezed in the handmade trapiche. At La Guaria Morada restaurant, learn to prepare traditional Costa Rican recipes with a local family and participate in a rural, traditional dance before enjoying a family dinner together.
Start your day with a delicious local breakfast at your hotel as you prepare for an exciting day exploring Arenal Volcano. Your day will include two hikes through Arenal Volcano National Park, where a naturalist guide will share the history and wildlife of the area, including a hike through the 1992 lava flow and a hike to the shores of Lake Arenal for a panoramic view of both the volcano and lake. After the hike, cool off with a cold drink before embarking on a boat tour of Lake Arenal to a spot known as “el tapón.” After the tour, you will have the opportunity to relax and rejuvenate in the local hot springs for the afternoon.
Get ready for an adventure-filled day in Costa Rica! Start the morning with an exciting zip-line tour through the rainforest canopy of Arenal Park. The zipline tour starts with a tour in the Sky Tram to reach the top of the Arenal reserve, then begins a tour of adventure full of adrenaline above the treetops, which consists of a system of zip lines that allows you to observe the rainforest and its landscape from a different perspective. After the zip-line, enjoy a delicious lunch before embarking on a Hanging Bridges Adventure, where our experts will guide you through the forest and reveal its secrets. You will have the opportunity to appreciate the balance of the mystical life that happens every moment during the excursion. In the evening, explore the natural beauty of Danaus Ecocentro on a night walk tour, where you will have the opportunity to observe different species of nocturnal fauna in their natural habitats, such as frogs, snakes, insects, bats, skunks and even active sloths. The tour takes about 2 hours with a professional guide from the reserve and is a great way to end the day.
Start your last day in Costa Rica with a delicious breakfast, and then transfer to the San Jose Airport for your journey back home. We hope you had an amazing time exploring this beautiful country and we look forward to your next trip with us. Safe travels!
Please contact us for a complete detailed itinerary.
At Arenal Manoa Resort Hotel & Hot Springs, every guest room offers a breathtaking view of the Arenal Volcano, making it the perfect place to stay for those looking to experience the natural beauty of the area. The unique volcanic region is well-known for its healing hot springs, and Arenal Manoa has its own mineral-rich hot springs. Arenal Manoa offers a fine dining experience at on-site restaurant La Saca, or guests can indulge in a freshly made wood-fired pizza on the patio at Alambique Bistro. Guests can also interact with nature, such as birdwatching from their private patio or exploring the countless trails on the property.
Tabacon Thermal Resort & Spa is a five-star carbon neutral resort located at the base of Arenal Volcano in Costa Rica’s tropical rainforest. The resort offers a unique blend of nature, adventure, and luxury, with luxurious accommodations, services and amenities in a natural setting. The resort’s unique thermal mineral spring river emerges from the volcanic earth, creating waterfalls, streams, tranquil pools, and ponds for guests to enjoy. The resort also features Shangri-La Gardens, an adults-only hideaway where guests can indulge in world-class cuisine inspired by local fares or surprise that special person with a gala dinner in the middle of the rainforest. Inside the gardens is located The Spa, which combines a beautiful location with a singular spa experience, where treatments are rendered in open-air bungalows, all of them with private jacuzzi.
Nayara Tented Camp offers 21 luxury tents, including 12 that are mirror image tents linked together to form a two-bedroom unit that can accommodate two couples or a family with four children. The highlight of the camp are the private tents, which are located on a hilltop and offer stunning views of Arenal Volcano. These luxury air-conditioned tents also feature a signature plunge pool for guests to enjoy. This resort is all about stunning natural beauty, intimate spaces, and connecting with nature. Their mission is to offer you authentic, warm, and extraordinary service and share our “Pura Vida” tradition. Experience natural and cultural richness while being environmentally and socially responsible in everything you do.
There’s loads of things to do around Arenal, especially for adventure seekers. Top of the list are visits to the roaring La Fortuna Waterfall, lazing sessions in local hot-spring baths, and hikes through the jungles that surround Arenal Volcano. The region is also considered a bit of an adrenaliner’s dream, boasting ziplines and canopy walks and the like.
About five days is perfect for a visit to Arenal. That allows time to explore both the namesake national park and surrounding sites. You’ll definitely want to plan at least one hike in the reserve to get head-on views of the cone-shaped volcano. On top of that, visits to the local hot springs and La Fortuna waterfall are a must, while ziplining and whitewater rafting expeditions are there for the adrenaline buffs.
Arenal Volcano is now officially in a resting phase but considered potentially active. However, that’s only been the case since 2010, which marked the end of one of the longest periods of activity of any volcano in Costa Rica. In fact, the Arenal Volcano erupted multiple times in the 42 years that followed the famous 1968 eruption, which was so large that it destroyed three small villages and impacted an area of more than 90 square miles (over 200 km²)!
There’s no bad time to visit Arenal. Each season offers something different and unique in this wild and volcano-carved part of the country. The busiest time of the year matches with the dry season, which lasts from December to April. You’ll see much less rainfall at that time and get clearer skies for views of the mountains. The so-called wet Green Season – May to November – is also fantastic, as the jungles and waterfalls really come to life.
Yes, swimming is permitted in the La Fortuna Waterfall. In fact, it’s one of the most popular ways to cool off after completing the short jungle hike to the site near Arenal. Just be warned that the waters here are often very rough and choppy. Swimming right beneath the falls isn’t recommended. Instead, head down the river about 55 yards (50 m) to find a calm plunge pool that hardly has any waves.
There’s an entrance fee for both adults and children to the Arenal National Park in Costa Rica. They’re valid for a single entry to the reserve but do allow for multiple entries in a single day, so you can visit both halves of the park in the same tour. The good news is that we take care of all your park entry fees as part of our tour packages, so you can concentrate on spotting toucans and tropical orchids.
Arenal is about 80 miles (130 km) to the northwest of San José, the capital of Costa Rica. However, the drive from the city to the volcano can take around three or even four hours – the roads are notoriously windy in Costa Rica! Guests on our tours will be greeted right at the airport when they arrive and have all transfers to Arenal included in the price.
There is no other operator in the travel industry that will provide the same level of personal attention to you before your adventure to Costa Rica. We get very involved with our clients before each trip by offering a series of pre-planning calls in the months and weeks before departure. This provides you with an opportunity to hear directly from us on preparation, and trip experience. It also gives you the platform to ask questions about any aspect of the trip.
Our knowledgeable support staff take care of the details of your in-country transportation, lodging, meals, tours, park fees, and activities. We’ve even scheduled in a bit of free time for you to explore, relax, shop, or eat on your own.
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