2021 & 2022 Globus Guided Tours - Globus® Vacation Packages

Natural Wonders of Costa Rica with Guanacaste (SRE2)

11 days from San Jose to Guanacaste

2025 Tour Details View 2026 Tour Details »

If you were the type of kid who always marched to your own drum, this bold tour of Costa Rica is just the escape for you. Wide-open spaces, multi-hued creatures, and bright, vivid scenery welcome you with open arms and a no-holds-barred spirit. As you make your way through Costa Rica, lava trails, cloud forests, and high-in-the-sky suspension bridges invite you to take a walk on the wild side while scenic boat rides, nature walks, and natural hot springs beckon you to leisurely soak in the views. Frolic among hundreds of species of butterflies, birds, reptiles, and wildlife in the most vibrant rainforests, and feast on your own delicious Costa Rican creations in an authentic cooking class. With visits to an active volcano and exotic fruit plantations, plus several meet-and-greets with the native macaws and monkeys, this vacation to Costa Rica is bananas! If there’s ever a time to imitate the slow-moving sloth, it would be in its native country. A change of scenery and speed await on Costa Rica’s lush, northwestern shore. Add the seaside resort of Guanacaste to your tour of Costa Rica to catch marlin, mahi or just some mellow rays on the beach.

Small-Group Discovery Dates Available

Each Globus South America tour is limited to an average of just 20 guests per departure. There’s always room to roam with extra space between you and other travelers—while still getting up close and personal to the experiences you’ve been dreaming of. Small-Group Discoveries include all the features of a traditional Globus escorted vacation, complete with expert Tour Director, Driver, and Local Guides who ensure that your health and safety is our top priority. A Small-Group Discovery vacation is the perfectly sized tour—without the crowds.

We’ve packed everything you need for the perfect tour—from hand-selected hotels and dining to the friendly expertise of Globus Tour Directors and Local Guides with complimentary headsets to hear every word, to seamless transportation between destinations and VIP access to the world’s most iconic sites! Touring by private, first-class, air-conditioned motorcoach. Enhance your free time with your GlobusGO mobile app!

Prime viewing season for endangered green turtle nesting and egg laying in Tortuguero National Park occurs mid-July to mid-October.

Multiple Vacation Discount: Save up to an additional $100 per person when you book more than one Globus, Cosmos or Avalon Vacation for the same travel year
Natural Wonders of Costa Rica with Guanacaste map

 Photo Highlights

 Meals

 Meals & Itinerary

Breakfast daily, 5 lunches, 5 dinners


Notes:

Maximum elevation on tour is 9,000 ft.

Guanacaste extension guests will depart from Monteverde on day 8. The extension guests will not stop in Sarchi and will not have the included lunch. These inclusions were not included in the price for the extension.

 Itinerary

Day 1 ARRIVE IN SAN JOSÉ, COSTA RICA

Welcome to San José!
Upon arrival, you will be met by your tour director!

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Day 2 SAN JOSÉ–TORTUGUERO NATIONAL PARK

Shell Games
Journey east to the Caribbean shore and Tortuguero National Park. On the way, pass by several banana plantations and see one of Costa Rica’s main exports being harvested. Later, board a motor launch for your cruise along the Tortuguero Canals, waterways crisscrossing a national park dedicated to the protection of endangered turtles. The trained eyes of your guide and boatman help you spot freshwater turtles, caimans, herons, toucans, egrets, and monkeys. An afternoon at leisure lets you explore your jungle lodge until you meet for an informative slideshow presentation on the area.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
WONDERS OF NATURE Tortuguero National Park was once a volcanic archipelago until sediments from the nearby mountains filled in the valleys forming a network of marshy islands and turtle nesting beaches that make this region so famous. With its 11 different habitats, this lush, protected area is rich with wildlife and biodiversity.


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Breakfast Breakfast
LunchLunch
DinnerDinner

Day 3 TORTUGUERO NATIONAL PARK TOUR & CANAL CRUISE

Natural Beauties
A local Naturalist accompanies you on a leisurely boat ride along remote, unspoiled sections of the park’s waterways, explaining the bountiful flora and fauna. Enjoy a fascinating stroll through an accessible portion of the nearby rainforest. During the peak nesting season (mid-July to mid-October) you may be lucky enough to observe an endangered green turtle laying her eggs under the starlight on an optional tour. Later this afternoon, meet a local Naturalist for an informative presentation on the ecology of the area.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
CONSERVATION MATTERS Tortuguero’s turtles that come to nest in the national park named for them are easily considered one of the main attractions of the park. Green Sea Turtles, leatherback, and Hawksbill turtles can all be found nesting on the beaches here. During your time here, learn about the conservation efforts that have been in place since 1955 to help protect these endangered species.


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Breakfast Breakfast
LunchLunch
DinnerDinner

Day 4 TORTUGUERO–SARAPIQUI–ARENAL

Fruitful Experiences
A morning boat transfer begins your journey to the Sarapiqui area. Tour a Globus Local FavoriteGlobus Local Favorite pineapple farm, owned by a local family, and learn about the history, cultivation, and industry of pineapples and other indigenous crops. Continue to your hotel in the lush town of Arenal, located in the shadow of Arenal Volcano. After settling in, experience the magic of the resort before dinner at your hotel

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
ACCOMMODATION SPOTLIGHT Lush tropical gardens, the sound of crashing waterfalls, and striking views of Costa Rica’s famed Arenal Volcano from Volcano Lodge will leave you feeling as though you have been transported into the middle of a hidden rainforest jungle but, with all of the comforts and amenities of a well-tended retreat. Experience the magic of the resort’s pool and hot spring-fed jacuzzi or consider a walk in the nearby nature trail in search of 300- to 400-year-old trees, frogs, monkeys, birds, and possibly small animals native to the area.


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Breakfast Breakfast
LunchLunch
DinnerDinner

Day 5 ARENAL. EXCURSION TO LA FORTUNA & ARENAL VOLCANO NATIONAL PARK

Lava Love
This afternoon, visit Arenal Volcano National Park, where your guide takes you on a walk through lava trails of the volcano and shows you how nature has found a way to recover from past lava flows. Next, enjoy a walking tour of the town of La Fortuna de San Carlos, offering spectacular views of the active Arenal Volcano. This evening, drive to nearby Globus Local FavoriteGlobus Local Favorite Ecotermales Hot Springs for a dip in the curative and relaxing pools. Later, enjoy a dinner at the hot springs.

LOCAL FAVORITE
WONDERS OF NATURE Towering over the town of La Fortuna, 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.

FREE TIME TIPS
EXPLORE MORE During your morning at leisure, you may wish to go on an optional horseback ride or float trip. Or, you can take advantage of your resort’s amenities by walking along the shaded trails nearby. This and more options throughout your tour are available for purchase with MyGlobus. Get local maps and tips for free time on your GlobusGO mobile app.


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Breakfast Breakfast
DinnerDinner

Day 6 ARENAL–MONTEVERDE

Heads in the Clouds
After breakfast, continue to Monteverde, where you will enjoy two days in the cloud forest. This afternoon, take a guided tour on the Sky Walk Hanging Bridges, which combines trails and suspension bridges through the canopy of Monteverde Cloud Forest, to search for flora and fauna.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
PICTURE PERFECT Explore the cloud forest from the Sky Walk Hanging Bridges for a bird’s eye view high above the jungle floor. This Naturalist-guided tour introduces you to the flora and fauna of the Costa Rican cloud forest. Consisting of 6 bridges with some bridges spanning over 700 feet long and over 150 feet high, this is truly a unique way to admire the forest canopy.


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Breakfast Breakfast
LunchLunch

Day 7 MONTEVERDE

SANTA ELENA CLOUD FOREST RESERVE Butterfly Kisses
This morning, visit Santa Elena Cloud Forest for a guided walking tour. Over 600 species of butterflies and 400 species of birds have been recorded inside this private reserve, along with 100 reptile and 120 mammal species that hide within the dense vegetation. Later, visit a family-owned Ecological Sanctuary, where you will explore the trails through the forest filled with endemic wildlife and beautiful scenery. After the walk, enjoy a cooking class focusing on permaculture, conservation, and local traditions. Tonight, your Tour Director hosts a farewell dinner, toasting an unforgettable discovery of Costa Rica.

LOCAL FAVORITE
LOCAL TASTES Treat yourself to a visit to a leisurely stroll through a family owned Ecological Sanctuary, and take a cooking class to learn how to prepare authentic Costa Rican food sustainably, like hand-made tortillas, picadillos, and gallo pinto. Dine on your creations for a homemade lunch!


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Breakfast Breakfast
LunchLunch
DinnerDinner

Day 8 MONTEVERDE–GUANACASTE

Costa Rican Riches
Take a morning drive to Guanacaste. Arrive in Costa Rica’s North Pacific region which offers hundreds of unspoiled beaches lining the shores, making Guanacaste an extraordinary beach destination.

Please note: the Tour Director does not accompany guests on extensions. Guided service is as outlined in the day by day itinerary.

FREE TIME TIPS
EXPLORE MORE Exciting ways to spend your free time in Guanacaste include rainforest canopy tours, 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. Get local maps and tips for free time on your GlobusGO mobile app.


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Breakfast Breakfast

Day 9 GUANACASTE

Follow your Adventure
Enjoy a free day today.

FREE TIME TIPS
EXPLORE MORE Discover a new view of Guanacaste with an exhilarating zipline tour and fly through the forest canopy. This and more options throughout your tour are available for purchase with MyGlobus. Get local maps and tips for free time on your GlobusGO mobile app.


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Breakfast Breakfast

Day 10 GUANACASTE

Unplug & Recharge
Enjoy a free day today.

FREE TIME TIPS
EXPLORE MORE What better way to celebrate your fantastic time in Costa Rica than with a lazy day on the beach? Ask your Tour Director for the best spots on the sand and stretch out for a day of pure relaxation on the pristine shore.


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Breakfast Breakfast

Day 11 GUANACASTE

Safe travels until we meet again!
Your vacation 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

San Jose
Tortuguero
Arenal
Monteverde
Guanacaste

San Jose

Cariari Hotel San Jose
Cariari Hotel San Jose

Cariari Hotel San Jose

Superior First-Class

Cariari Hotel San Jose San Antonio De Belen, Heredia, San Jose,  Costa Rica

San Antonio De Belen, Heredia
San Jose, Costa Rica

This sustainable Costa Rica hotel is typical of San Jose colonial hacienda architecture and offers spacious, comfortable guestrooms and suites with the latest amenities. Enjoy total convenience in its location, personalized services, delicious cuisine, and facilities like the pool and fitness center. Let the friendly staff help you relax while catering to your needs and helping you see all that Costa Rica has to offer.

Hotel Amenities

  • Business Center
  • Spa Services
  • Hot Tub
  • Restaurant On-Site
  • Laundry Available
  • Luggage Storage
  • Concierge desk
  • Pool
  • Bar/Lounge
  • ATM
  • Fitness Room
  • Currency Exchange

Room Amenities

  • In-Room Safe
  • Room Service
  • Hair Dryer
  • Complimentary Toiletries
  • Phone
  • Climate Control
  • Iron/Ironing Board
  • Television
  • Cable/Satellite
  • Internet Access
  • Air Conditioning
  • Coffee Maker
  • Desk

 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)


Arenal
Monteverde
Guanacaste

Arenal

Peñas Blancas Safari Paddle Trip

Peñas Blancas Safari Paddle Trip

Enjoy the sights and the sounds of the rainforest and experience its peacefulness as you quietly paddle the Peñas Blancas river. Monkeys, sloths, iguanas, crocodiles and numerous tropical birds await you! Your professional bilingual guide will share with you educational and interesting explanations of the plants and animals you will encounter on the float. You will truly appreciate the wonders of Peñas Blancas river and the surrounding rainforest as you travel down the river without a motor, this way you will enjoy the journey quietly rowing and taking photos.

Price Range: $$$

Ecoglide Arenal Park

Ecoglide Arenal Park

The canopy Ecoglide Arenal Park is located in La Fortuna de San Carlos. The canopy tour not only offers you a great zipline adventure but also an opportunity to observe the animal life in its natural habitat. Fly like a bird through the treetops from a circuit of 13 cables and 15 platforms, divided into 3 sections, stationed in the primary forest. Each platform has been designed so that you can observe the forest from different angles allowing you to photograph the impressive scenery. Discover what adrenaline really means to nature lovers.

Price Range: $$$

Horseback Ride to La Fortuna Waterfall

Horseback Ride to La Fortuna Waterfall

The La Fortuna waterfall tour starts traveling horseback for 5.5 kilometers until you arrive to the horses rest site. Once here you will receive a quick introduction before setting off on your exciting horseback ride. Through this tour you will be able to see firsthand Costa Rica's rural way of life. You will ride past cattle farms and agriculture sites. As you get to the entrance of La Fortuna Waterfall, the horses will be left in a resting place to start the hike of 530 stairs through the forest in a deep canyon that will lead you into an impressive 230-foot-high waterfall. This natural wonder emerges from an emerald-colored jungle cliff into a natural pool where you can swim in the cold mountain waters for about one hour (weather permitting). However if you do not want to swim enjoy at the riverside of the scenic beauty of the natural surroundings and take some unforgettable pictures while hearing the sounds of nature.

Price Range: $$$$

Arenal Hanging Bridges

Arenal Hanging Bridges

Located only 10 minutes away from town, these Hanging Bridges are located in a 618 acre reserve of primary forest, and are the perfect example of what is ecotourism. It has a 3 km trail through the rainforest that allows you to take in nature¿s beauty at its most pristine state. With 14 bridges from 5 to 100 meters long, one of them located at a height of 45 meters, you will get a 360° view of the tropical rainforest, and if the weather is on your side, you will see the most amazing views of Arenal volcano.

Price Range: $$$

Adventure at Sky Tram & Sky Trek

Adventure at Sky Tram & Sky Trek

You will be able to fly among the trees inside a comfortable and spacious gondola while you watch local wildlife nearly at your fingertips. As you move among the forest, you will see how it starts changing due to the height. Here you will enjoy the fantastic views of Arenal volcano and its highly known lake, as well as great views of the Tilarán mountain range. When you get to the end of the Sky Tram you will be faced with a choice: you can either go back down in the same way or you can enjoy the ultimate adrenaline rush: the Sky Trek. As you fly across the forest, you will be exploring the trees¿ canopies, which are filled with a wide variety of animals and vegetation. Your nerve and sense of adventure will be put to the test when you cross any of the ten zip lines with heights ranging from 30 to 200 meters and with length of over 200 meters. All of these zip lines were built to give you a 360° perspective of the rainforest.

Price Range: $$$$

Monteverde

Cultural Farm Tour

Cultural Farm Tour

This tour will give you the opportunity to visit a Costa Rican family-run business. The main portion of the tour is a walk through a farm that will offer you beautiful views of sugar cane, coffee, banana plantations, among others. You will also have a chance to see the entire coffee process, from drying through roasting, passing by the grinding and peeling of the beans, you will learn important information about how high-quality coffees are produced. You will see how the sugar cane is grinded and how, at the end of the process, brown sugar is obtained. You will be able to sample products that you witnessed produced directly from the farm.

Price Range: $$

Sloth Sanctuary Tour

Sloth Sanctuary Tour

The Sloth Sanctuary Tour was born through cooperation with Caribbean Sloth Sanctuary, a foundation that has worked on the rescue, conservation, reintroduction (if it may be an option), and monitoring of sloths in their natural habitat for over 20 years. In this tour, you¿ll visit the sanctuary, which simulates a natural environment, where sloths can move freely along specially created paths through the foliage of the exhibit. You will learn about the fascinating history and behavior of sloths while searching for some of the 20 individuals that inhabit the sanctuary, a group which include both of the two species of sloth found in our country.

Price Range: $$$$

Guanacaste

Canopy Zip Line Tour

Canopy Zip Line Tour

This tour is a total adrenaline rush! The feeling of whizzing past treetops is exhilarating and refreshing to experience. Not many people get to enjoy the rush of speeding past treetops while viewing the tropical forest from an elevated breathtaking view 13 platforms and 10 cables with a break system based on a suspension that provides you 100% safety. In this journey, you can appreciate a great diversity of birds such as the rainbow toucan, hummingbirds, Toledo birds, Brown and Yellow Marshbirds; monkeys such as the spiders, white faces and howler monkeys; iguanas; a variety of butterflies.

Price Range: $$$

Palo Verde National Park

Palo Verde National Park

Palo Verde National Park is located on over 45,500 acres of land that are protected by law. Palo Verde is part of a geographical unit known in Spanish as Bajuras del Tempisque (the lowlands of the Tempisque River). You¿ll find around 12 different types of habitats, including four different species of mangrove trees, 55 aquatic plants, including water hyacinths, and 150 species of trees, like the one from which the Park¿s name is taken. The visit to this location will consist of a boat ride along the Tempisque River. You will also enjoy the life style to the ¿Sabanero¿ and delicious homemade snacks. Fruits will be served at the Hacienda House, built in the XIX Century.

Price Range: $$$$



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.