Independent Costa Rica Wonders with Tortuguero & Guanacaste (ILA4)

11 Day Package from San José to Guanacaste

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Livin’ la Pura Vida! This philosophy of the pure life in Costa Rica is also a common greeting you’ll hear on your Globus Independent tour. From the mind-blowing lava trails and soul-soothing thermal springs of the Arenal Volcano region to the lush tropical forests in the clouds of Monteverde, you’ll encounter pure nature of Costa Rica’s rich and resplendent flora and fauna found nowhere else on earth. Explore Tortuguero National Park to navigate the pristine waterways where turtles nest amid nature at its best. Put your head in the clouds in the Monteverde Cloud Forest, home to over 3,000 plant species, some 120 mammal species, 400 bird species, and 1,200 amphibian and reptile species. Land in Guanacaste to laze and gaze upon the beautiful beaches of the North Pacific. Add a dose of free time to immerse yourself in Costa Rican culture and cuisine in San José, and you’re living your best life, indeed! Treat yourself to a tour that is exclusively yours with free time, me time, and optional adventures that speak to your independent spirit!

Special features included in this tour:

Arrival transfer from San Jose’s Juan Santamaria International Airport to San Jose tour hotel
Transfers to and from Tortuguero National Park via land and water
Visit Tortuguero village to learn about the villager’s sea turtle conservation efforts
Guided boat ride and hike in Tortuguero in search of turtles, caimans, herons, monkeys, and more
Guided visit to Arenal’s hot springs with dinner
Scenic boat ride across Arenal Lake en route to Monteverde
Guided nighttime nature walk in the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve
Transfer to Guanacaste for a 3-night stay with ample free time for beachcombing or optional adventures.

Dates & Prices Book Online

800.268.3636

Independent Costa Rica Wonders with Tortuguero & Guanacaste map

Photo Highlights

Meals

Meals & Itinerary

Buffet breakfast daily; 2 lunches; 3 three-course dinners

Notes:

This is an Independent tour with shared transportation between locations. Though there is no Tour Director, Local Guide service is provided in San José as well as a naturalist in Tortuguero.

Due to the included arrival airport transfer, all land-only guests must provide flight information to Globus to ensure your transfer is there for arrival.

This vacation visits remote locations where hotel facilities may not be up to the first-class standard you expect from Globus. Some lodges may not have air-conditioning, televisions, and other amenities you would expect from most Globus hotels.

Transportation is as outlined in the day-by-day itinerary to include transfers by land and boat to Tortuguero on day 2, transport by car and boat from Tortuguero to Guápiles and then to continue to Arenal on day 4. Transfer by land to Guanacaste for the next three nights on day 8 is also included.

Itinerary

Day 1 ARRIVE IN SAN JOSÉ, COSTA RICA

Welcome to Costa Rica! Be greeted by a Globus representative and transfer to the hotel where rooms are available for mid-afternoon check-in.

Please note:
Information about tomorrow’s adventure will be provided by the Globus representative.

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Day 2 SAN JOSÉ–TORTUGUERO NATIONAL PARK

Begin the day transferring east into the lush lowlands of Costa Rica’s northern Caribbean region, passing through the verdant evergreen mountains and dramatic landscapes of Braulio Carrillo National Park. Upon reaching the Caribbean side, continue to Caño Blanco Dock, where you’ll board a boat and glide into the heart of Tortuguero National Park. Cruise along serene jungle canals, surrounded by dense rainforest and offering opportunities to observe the region’s remarkable flora and wildlife. After arriving at your lodge, enjoy a brief orientation followed by lunch. In the afternoon, visit the village of Tortuguero to gain insight into local life and learn about the vital conservation initiatives dedicated to protecting the sea turtles that nest each year along the park’s 22 miles of protected coastline.

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Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 3 TORTUGUERO NATIONAL PARK

This morning, embark on a leisurely boat excursion through the park’s remote and pristine waterways as your expert guide brings the rainforest to life with insight into its rich ecology. With the keen eyes of your guide and boatman, watch for freshwater turtles, caimans, herons, toucans, egrets, and playful monkeys along the water’s edge. Later, enjoy a guided walk through an accessible section of the nearby rainforest for a closer look at this remarkable ecosystem. During peak nesting season (mid‑July to mid‑October), you may be fortunate enough to witness the extraordinary sight of an endangered green turtle coming ashore under the cover of night to lay her eggs. This afternoon, deepen your understanding of the region during an engaging presentation by a local naturalist focused on the area’s unique ecology and conservation efforts.

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Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 4 TORTUGUERO NATIONAL PARK–ARENAL

Today, travel by boat and car to the lush town of Arenal, set dramatically beneath the iconic Arenal Volcano. After settling in, take time to relax and enjoy the tranquil surroundings of your resort. This afternoon, visit the renowned hot springs for which the region is famous, soaking in naturally heated mineral pools nestled within dense tropical forest. The day concludes with dinner at the hot springs, offering a serene and rejuvenating end to your journey into this remarkable landscape.

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Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 5 ARENAL

Today is free with the freedom to explore independently or choose from a selection of optional excursions to further personalize your experience.

INSIDER PICKS
Perhaps visit the Arenal Hanging Bridges, a network of suspension bridges, platforms, and trails built in the cloud forest. From here, explore the forest canopy with a bird’s-eye view, giving you a different perspective of the local wildlife. Alternatively, you may choose a rafting or horseback riding adventure.

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Breakfast

Day 6 ARENAL–MONTEVERDE

This morning, begin your transfer with a scenic boat journey across Arenal Lake, offering opportunities to observe the many bird species that inhabit the shoreline and surrounding forests. Continue onward through spectacular mountain landscapes into the renowned Monteverde Cloud Forest, an extraordinary ecosystem home to more than 3,000 plant species, along with an impressive diversity of mammals, birds, amphibians, and reptiles. This evening, return to the cloud forest just before nightfall to set out with an expert naturalist on a guided walk in search of nocturnal wildlife, including sloths, foxes, agoutis, frogs, and other fascinating creatures that emerge after dark.

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Breakfast

Day 7 MONTEVERDE

Enjoy the day at leisure, with the flexibility to relax at your own pace, or select from a variety of optional experiences should you wish to explore further.

INSIDER PICKS
Awaken early to visit the eye-opening beauty of Santa Elena Cloud Forest for the best chance to observe animals in their natural forest habitats. Discover this misty and surreal wildlife sanctuary full of mosses, ferns, flowers, and other indigenous plant life. You’ll also notice how the combination of climatic and geographic factors creates temperature and humidity gradients, changing dramatically over just a short distance. Alternatively, you could visit a local family’s farm to learn about sugar cane, coffee, and tilapia farming.

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Breakfast

Day 8 MONTEVERDE–GUANACASTE

Journey to Costa Rica’s Guanacaste region, part of the country’s North Pacific coast, where miles of unspoiled beaches stretch along the shoreline. While celebrated for its sun drenched coastline, Guanacaste is far more than a traditional beach destination. It offers a distinctive blend of rugged landscapes, diverse ecosystems, and a rich cultural heritage.

INSIDER PICKS
During your time here, you may choose a rainforest canopy tour, river rafting, or a float trip down the Corobici River. Consider horseback riding, fishing, or relaxing on the beach and snorkeling in the Pacific Ocean.

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Breakfast

Day 9 GUANACASTE

Enjoy a free day.

INSIDER PICKS
Perhaps opt for a guided visit to Rincon de la Vieja National Park, known as Costa Rica’s Yellowstone, to explore the steamy sulfur water ponds and pungent fumaroles that punctuate this jungle, home to toucans, monkeys, and many other animals. Or take a leisurely boat cruise through Palo Verde National Park, composed of tropical dry forest and mangroves, and admire scores of birds, caimans, and iguanas along the way.

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Breakfast

Day 10 GUANACASTE

Enjoy a free day.

INSIDER PICKS
Why not choose a total adrenaline rush for today’s adventure on a zip line tour?! The zip line system consists of a network of suspended cables up in the treetop canopy that go from one platform to another, letting you zip from tree to tree.

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Breakfast

Day 11 GUANACASTE

Your vacation ends after breakfast this morning.

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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.”

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.

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