Beach Roundtrip of Costa Rica - 9 Nights/10 Days
A cheap holiday package from only $ 645 USD per Person
Including accommodation for 9 nights, Rental Car for 8 days. Hotels are subject to availability (minimum 2 pers. required)
Day 1: San José
Arrival at San José airport (flight not included in package). A private transfer to your hotel is included. Casa Leon is right in the center of town and San José is easy to explore: don't miss the Central Market and its plentiful fruit and vegetable stands, the newl pedestrian and shopping areas near the Plaza de la Cultura, and the national theatre and museums.
Accommodation at Casa Leon B&B (Comfort Room incl. breakfast)
Day 2: San José - Arenal Volcano
Breakfast at Casa Leon. Your car (4x4, Daihatsu Bego with automatic transmission) will be delivered at 7:30am. Departure to Arenal Volcano, one of the world’s most active volcanoes and Costa Rica’s gem. On the way you will have the opportunity to visit Volcan Poas – featuring the world’s biggest crater on an altitude of 2700m.
Continuation to La Fortuna and check in at your hotel, which has one of the best views on the Arenal Volcano. Enjoy the evening watching the lava streams flow down the side of this massive volcano.
Arenal (1600m) has a perfect cone shape and regularly emits lava streams. It is therefore a great attraction for visitors all over the world. With a bit of luck you can see the entire volcano, but nighttime is best to observe the glowing lava streams.
Accommodation at the Hotel Linda Vista del Norte superior (Standard Double Room incl. breakfast)
Day 3: Arenal Volcano
Breakfast at the hotel. Today you can explore the surroundings of Arenal Volcano and its thermal waters.
Optional Activities:
- A tour of Arenal National Park (approx. 1.5 to 2 hours) on the petrified lava fields. The path is easily accessible and flat, except for the most interesting parts, where you will climb volcanic rocks on a stretch of about 200-300 meters. From the high rocks you will clearly see the volcano and the lava fields. ($ 55 p.p.)
- Arenal Hanging Bridges: A lovely trail to watch the animals and plants stretches itself between 3km of rainforest and offers beautiful views on Arenal volcano. On the route you find 8 fixed bridges and 6 suspension bridges ranging from 48 to 98m length. The bridges are safe to walk on and offer some unusual views on the rainforest’s canopy. ($ 22 p.p.)
- Hot Springs One of the best things about the Arenal area definitely are its hot springs! Spend the afternoon or evening at one of the numerous hot springs (most are open until 10pm). We offer a package including dinner at the romantic Tabacon Hot Springs. It’s an incredible experience to enjoy the various hot and cold pools and the wet bars in the tropic climate. This is definitely our favorite activity at Arenal. ($ 85 p.p.)
- Walk around Lake Arenal and hike to the La Fortuna waterfall. On Lake Arenal you can fish, windsurf, kayak or kite-surf. Also, there are ATV and Quad bike rentals available.
Accommodation at the Hotel Linda Vista del Norte superior (Standard Double Room incl. breakfast)
Day 4: Arenal Volcano - Playa Samara
Breakfast at the hotel. Early departure for Playa Samara on the Pacific coast. Pass beautiful Lake Arenal and Tilaran and take the Puente de La Amistad for a quick passage of the Nicoya Gulf.
Check in at the Hotel Brisas del Pacifico. The hotel lies right at the beachfront and offers direct access to one of Costa Rica’s most renowned swimming beaches. Playa Samara is the safest beach you can find in the country.
Accommodation at the Hotel Brisas del Pacifico superior (Double Garden Bungalow incl. breakfast)
Day 5 & 6: Playa Samara
Breakfast at the hotel. Two days at your disposal to enjoy the Pacific beach life. There are various opportunities for activities:
Accommodation at the Hotel Brisas del Pacifico superior (Double Garden Bungalow incl. breakfast)
Optional Activities:
- Take a Snorkeling or Diving Trip off the coast of Samara. There are 2 or 3 tank dives for certified divers, discovery scuba dives for uncertified divers (1 tank) and PADI Open Water Courses available. There is a variety of sea life to be seen on various spots. Those who don’t want to immerse quite as deep can go snorkeling on the same or similar spots to discover fish and corals. Equipment, a diving guide and snacks are included (a minimum of 4 person is required). ($ 35 p.p.)
- Dolphin/Whale Watching: The Pacific Coast off Costa Rica is one of the richest waters with plankton and therefore an important feeding ground for many whales and dolphins. Around 30 species can be found in Costa Rica. Benefit from this great opportunity and book a 3 hour whale & dolphin watching cruise (minimum 4 pers. required). ($ 50 p.p.)
- Sea Kayak: Discover the Pacific Coast along Samara Beach on a double sea kayak. This is easy for beginners as there is no surf. It’s also possible to do a combined kayak/snorkeling tour (with guide). Paddle to the best spots and dip into the marine wildlife!
- Horseback Riding: Ride across the countryside and beaches of the area on a horseback and watch the wildlife. There are morning or afternoon rides with certified guides. The horses are of small size and therefore also suitable for intermediate and first-time riders. Experienced equestrians might enjoy a gallop on the beach.
- Flying Crocodile: Fly on an Ultra Lightweight Delta Plane to discover the Nicoya peninsula from above. A flight takes about 20 minutes. You will fly along the coastline, over beaches, jungle and rivers. The pilot has 15 years of experience and is commercially trained. ($ 80 p.p.)
Day 7: Playa Samara - Manuel Antonio
Breakfast at the hotel. Departure for Manuel Antonio: Manuel Antonio is probably Costa Rica’s most popular National Parks. Due to its compact size and the great peninsula it is situated on it has a high density of extraordinary tropic wildlife.
Optional Activity on the way:
Barra Honda National Park (70 min from Samara). The main attraction are its extensive cave systems and caves reach depths as far as 250 meters. If you want to visit the more spectacular caves (such as “Terciopelo”) you should book one week ahead. This is Costa Rica’s prime and most easily accessible location for spelunking. ($ 45 p.p.)
We suggest to spend today at the beach and visit the park tomorrow early in the morning. Manuel Antonio has a number of (public and private) beaches. Your hotel is at the public beachfront and also has a private pool: this is one of the best deals at Manuel Antonio’s beachfront.
Activity suggestion for the evening:
Sail the coast around Manuel Antonio until sunset with Sunset Sails Tours. This is a great occasion to watch marine wildlife such as sea turtles, whales and dolphins with a professional crew. You will be able to swim and snorkel on the trip (duration: 4 hours); dinner, drinks and beer are included. ($ 70 p.p.)
Alternatively, we recommend dinner at Gato Negro, after enjoying a sunset drink in the “El Avion” – an old airplane turned into a bar overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
Accommodation at the Hotel Verde Mar (Standard Double Room without breakfast)
Day 8: Manuel Antonio
We advise you to visit Manuel Antonio’s National Park early in the morning today. That way, you will avoid the crowds and at the same time have the best chance of spotting plenty of wildlife. Manuel Antonio National Park is one of the few places where you can see all of Costa Rica’s four monkey species. Of course, there is much more wildlife to see: sea turtles, sloths, ocelots, corals and fish. Over 109 animal species live in this beautiful Pacific landscape – don’t miss it!
Optional Activity:
Visit the park with a certified naturalist guide to learn about the natural wonders of Costa Rica’s nature. We can arrange an English-speaking guide that will accompany your exploration of Manuel Antonio for 2 hours. If you wish to see lots of animals, we advice you to benefit from our guide's experience. ($ 135 for 2 persons)
Accommodation at the Hotel Verde Mar (Standard Double Room without breakfast)
Day 9: Manuel Antonio - San José
Departure for San Jose. On the way you will pass the river Tarcoles, which is famous for accommodating Costa Rica’s largest crocodiles. You can just watch the reptiles from the bridge or:
Optional Activity:
Take a 1.5 hour crocodile boat tour through mangroves to spot the crocodiles (up to 600 kg) at an incredibly close range. Over 50 bird species (e.g. the scarlet macaw) live in the area, next to the great American crocodile and other reptiles in the remote mangrove vegetation. This is as close as you will (and should…) ever get to these huge crocs! ($ 35 p.p.)
Continue to San Jose, where your rental car will be picked up at your hotel.
Accommodation at Casa Leon B&B (Comfort Room incl. breakfast)
Day 10: San José - Airport
Breakfastat Casa Leon. Depending on the time of your departure you will have time for a visit of San José.
The city has undergone a lot of improvement in recent years and is showing an increasingly friendly face to visitors. There are pedestrian zones with shopping opportunities, some small parks to watch the city life and, of course, a number of museums: the National Theatre (Sunday closed), Gold Museum (Monday closed), Jade Museum (08.30-15.30, Saturday and Sunday closed), and National Museum with terraces and view over the city (Monday closed).
Also, we recommend a drink on the top floor of Gran Hotel Costa Rica to enjoy a view of the city.
Around 4 hours before your departure you will be picked up by your driver for a private transfer to the airport (note that check-in in 3 hours before departure).
We guarantee cheaper retail prices for hotels, rental cars and activities as direct suppliers. In addition, you are more likely to get superior quality, as we only cooperate with approved and reliable partners. We assist you in planning, booking and provide English-speaking travel assistance around-the-clock.