2021 & 2022 Globus Guided Tours - Globus® Vacation Packages

Costa Rica: Coast to Coast (SC)

9 days from San Jose to Guanacaste

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Small groups lead to big experiences on this Small Group Discovery tour of Costa Rica! From tropical rainforest canopies to captivating city sights, your Central American tour of Costa Rica is rich in countless ways. Explore the untouched beauty of jungle ecosystems, with expert naturalist guides, to discover mangrove trees, rivers, coastlines, nature preserves, and national parks in the country’s colorful landscapes and legendary villages. This tour of Costa Rica is by no means roughing it, however! You’ll return to the relaxation and rejuvenation of your hotel or lodge each day to find all the creature comforts of home in luxurious style! This is a Small Group Discovery tour to awaken the senses, naturally!

Special features included in this tour:

  • Scenic cruise along the [LF] Tárcoles River through mangrove forests with crocodile and bird sightings
  • Guided hike in Manuel Antonio National Park
  • Stay at a rainforest resort in Arenal with views of the volcano, nature trails, hot spring fed jacuzzi, and more
  • Guided tour of Arenal Hanging Bridge’s canopy trail to spot flora and fauna
  • Evening soak and dinner at [LF] Eco Termales natural hot springs near Arenal
  • Guided sightseeing includes a hike in Arenal Volcano National Park and a walking tour of La Fortuna
  • Scenic drive around Lake Arenal and through the Tilaran Mountain range
  • 2-night stay in Guanacaste with ample free time for optional excursions, beach time, or other ocean activities

Dates & Prices Book Online
800.268.3636
Costa Rica: Coast to Coast map

 Photo Highlights

 Meals

 Meals & Itinerary

8 breakfasts, 2 lunches, and 3 dinners

 Itinerary

Day 1 ARRIVE IN SAN JOSÉ, COSTA RICA

Your Small Group Discovery tour begins! Welcome to San José!

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Day 2 SAN JOSÉ–GUACALILLO–MANUEL ANTONIO NATIONAL PARK AREA

Welcome to The Jungle! Take a morning drive to Guacalillo for a Globus Local FavoriteGlobus Local Favorite tropical mangrove cruise on Tárcoles River. Enjoy lunch before continuing south to the town of Quepos, home of Manuel Antonio National Park in the Central Pacific region of the country. Scenic drive to the Pacific shore to Manuel Antonio for a free evening.

LOCAL FAVORITE
SMALL GROUP EXCLUSIVE Explore the Tárcoles River by boat, home to the largest colonies of crocodiles in the world, recorded as having between 80 and 240 individuals per mile of river. Travel along the mangrove, an extraordinary ecosystem featuring four different species of mangrove trees, providing an important nesting site for birds, including the beautiful scarlet macaw, and a shelter and nutrient spot for many fish and invertebrates. As the boat approaches the riverbanks, get a close-up look at wild crocodiles, each up to fifteen feet long. In addition to the scarlet macaw, the estuary also hosts over 250 different kinds of birds, including kingfishers, roseate spoonbills, great herons, anhingas, night herons, and many more!

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Breakfast Breakfast
LunchLunch

Day 3 MANUEL ANTONIO NATIONAL PARK AREA

Explore, Relax, Rediscover Visit Manuel Antonio National Park with your guide this morning, then return to the resort for lunch followed by a free afternoon and evening.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
SMALL GROUP EXCLUSIVE Join your small group for a guided walk in search of sloths, toucans, monkeys, and more in the natural sanctuary of Manuel Antonio National Park. Your guide will take you for a hike through the paths of this beautiful park where you will be able to see many species of birds and mammals, and at the end you will have chance to enjoy some time in one of the beaches into the park, all of them recognized as some of the most beautiful beaches in the world.

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Breakfast Breakfast
LunchLunch

Day 4 MANUEL ANTONIO NATIONAL PARK AREA–LA FORTUNA–ARENAL AREA

Tropical Treasures Depart the Costa Rican coast for the rainforests. Visit the outdoor adventure hub of La Fortuna for free time before continuing to Arenal area. Free time this afternoon to experience the resort’s amenities.


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Breakfast Breakfast
DinnerDinner

Day 5 ARENAL AREA. ARENAL HANGING BRIDGE–ECO TERMALES HOT SPRINGS

Rainforest Canopies & Thermal Springs Morning at leisure. This afternoon, join a naturalist guide for a tour of the Arenal Hanging Bridges, which combines trails and suspension bridges through the rainforest canopy, to search for flora and fauna. This evening, drive to nearby famous Globus Local FavoriteGlobus Local Favorite Eco Termales Hot Springs for a dip in the curative and relaxing pools before dinner at the hot springs.

LOCAL FAVORITE
WONDERS OF NATURE Towering high above, Arenal Volcano is a perfect conical shape. It was once the most active volcano in Costa Rica with its lava flowing and gas consistently flowing from the crater amazing visitors of the area. In 2010, it entered a resting phase. But, because of the seismic activity of the area, you will find some of the best natural thermal hot springs.

ENHANCE YOUR FREE TIME
EXPLORE MORE with your morning at leisure to consider an optional horseback ride or float trip, or simply relax while enjoying your resort’s amenities or walk along the shaded trails nearby. This and more options throughout your tour are available for purchase with MyGlobus.

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Breakfast Breakfast
DinnerDinner

Day 6 ARENAL AREA. EXCURSION TO LA FORTUNA & ARENAL VOLCANO NATIONAL PARK

Lava Love On a guided visit to Arenal Volcano National Park, see lava trails and how nature has found a way to recover from past lava flows in this dramatic landscape. Next, a walking tour of the town of La Fortuna de San Carlos, offering spectacular views of the active Arenal Volcano. Return to the resort for a free evening.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
SMALL GROUP EXCLUSIVE Ever since the 1500s, locals considered Arenal to be a mountain. However, everything changed on the morning of July 29, 1968, when what appeared to be a peaceful mountain suddenly erupted. The eruptions continued non-stop for several days, covering more than 15 square kilometers with lava, rocks, and ash, affecting crops, livestock, and properties across three towns. From that time until 2010, Arenal Volcano was quite active, often spewing out rocks, lava, ash, and smoke. Join your small group for an up-close view of this dramatic landscape on a guided visit to the park.

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Breakfast Breakfast

Day 7 ARENAL AREA–GUANACASTE

Unplug & Recharge Bid farewells to the rainforest, as we depart for the beautiful beaches of Costa Rica. Start the journey with a scenic drive around Arenal Lake before descending the Tilaran Mountain range to reach the plains of Guanacaste’s countryside and finally to the golden sands of Tamarindo Beach. The evening is at leisure to relax or take in the sunset.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
ACCOMMODATION SPOTLIGHT The Tamarindo Diriá Beach & Golf Resort, your home for the next two nights, is surrounded by exotic, lush, beautiful tropical gardens and with direct access to the beach, a stunning sunset is only a stroll away. Soak in the beauty of Costa Rica then with a lazy evening on the beach. Ask your Tour Director for the best spots on the sand to stretch out for pure relaxation on the pristine shore.

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Breakfast Breakfast

Day 8 GUANACASTE

A Day at Leisure Full day at leisure to relax at the poolside, explore the town on your own, take an optional adventure, or visit the beach and enjoy the sun and the waves. Tonight, join your Tour Director for a farewell dinner to celebrate your Costa Rican adventure with your fellow travelers.

ENHANCE YOUR FREE TIME
EXPLORE MORE Exciting ways to spend your free time in Guanacaste include rainforest canopy tours, zipline, river rafting or floating down the Corobici River, horseback riding, and fishing. Snorkel in the Pacific Ocean, or just relax on the beach. This and more options throughout your tour are available for purchase with MyGlobus.

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Breakfast Breakfast
DinnerDinner

Day 9 GUANACASTE

Safe travels until we meet again! Your tour ends with breakfast this morning.

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Breakfast Breakfast

 Tour Director

With GLOBUS, there’s no better way to get to know your destination than through the eyes of a Tour Director. We’d like you to meet one of our Tour Directors, who average over a decade of experience and are representative of the type of expert that will be with you on your vacation.

JORGE AVILA

Escorting tours for more than 20 years

“My name is Jorge Avila from Costa Rica, I'm a general naturalist tour guide licensed by the Costa Rican Tourism Institute. I really love my job because I can share with all visitors the exuberant flora and fauna of my beautiful country, I enjoy walking and spotting all kinds of animals such as monkeys, sloths and especially birds, as well as talking about plants, trees, flowers and orchids. I also love when people ask about our typical phrase "Pura Vida" and I can explain to them that this is everything in Costa Rica. It is the way to say "very nice", "beautiful", and "OK"!! I like when people come to Costa Rica looking to learn about our efforts for conservation and our culture and I can be part of these memorable experiences that I'm sure they will share with their families and friends when they return to their countries. I have one of the best jobs in the world.”

Tour Director - JORGE AVILA

 Accommodations

 Optional Excursions

No matter what you’re into: food, wine, history, art, music or anything else, we give you the freedom to personalize your vacation with optional excursions that speak to your interests.

When you book your excursions with us, you can be assured that every optional excursion that we offer coordinates with the free time that you'll have in your destination, so you'll never have conflicts between included and optional activities. Our team of travel experts carefully selects each optional excursion that we offer to ensure that you receive the highest quality at a great value. Our tried-and-true partners have a finger on the pulse of the city in which they operate so they deliver the very best experiences. We offer experiences you cannot create on your own and because you’re booking with us, we coordinate all your transportation and timing needs.

The following optional excursions are examples only for this vacation. These may or may not be offered, and availability is subject to days of operation and seasonality. Please select a departure date to view optional excursions and pricing for a specific date (due to currency fluctuation, pricing shown is subject to change until purchased). Optional excursions are available for purchase on our MyGlobus site 90 days prior to the tour start date.

Price Ranges

$ ($50 CAD and under)
$$ ($51 - $100 CAD)
$$$ ($101 - $150 CAD)
$$$$ (Over $150)

No Excursions are available at this time.



The “Starting at” or listed price is based on the lowest price available to book. Price is per person based on twin occupancy and any applicable port charges, non-commissionable taxes and fees and intra-vacation flight are included in the price shown. Any included overnight stay in Canada, applicable GST/HST is also included in the price shown. International airfare, however, is not included. If price is crossed out, the new price shown includes a limited time promotional offer(s). Please review current promotions or deals for additional information.