Your journey along Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast starts with a drive through scenic landscapes via Atenas and Orotina to the mangroves of Guacalillo.

On a boat tour together with other guests, you will have the chance to observe many animals such as caimans, raccoons, iguanas, and the colorful scarlet macaw. At the end of the tour, you will enjoy a delicious typical lunch at the open restaurant.

Afterward, you continue via Jacó to your hotel in Quepos. In the afternoon you will have some time at leisure to explore and observe plants, birds, butterflies, and monkeys.

Today you will visit the Manuel Antonio National Park.

Although one of the smallest parks in Costa Rica, Manuel Antonio is one of the most popular destinations for both tourists and nationals. The park protects 1´624 hectares of rainforest and adjacent beautiful beaches. On the trails inside the park, you’ll have the chance to observe birds and different animals. You might even bump into a squirrel monkey here and there, which is in extreme danger of extinction. There are only two places left on earth where this shy monkey can be seen; Manuel Antonio is one of them, the other one is Corcovado National Park, further to the south.

After your walk in the jungle, you will have enough free time to enjoy the beautiful beaches inside the park.

Please note: Manuel Antonio National Park is closed on Mondays.

Today you will leave Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast and head to the north via Jacó and Puntarenas. Near the small village of Sardinal, you leave the Panamerican Highway and reach the lovely cloud forest area of Monteverde after some partly quite bumpy 20 miles.

The village of Santa Elena is located at 4’500 feet above sea level. Once there, you will unwind and take advantage of the fresh mountain air.

Early in the morning, you will enjoy a walk in a nature reserve, a bewitching cloud-covered evergreen mountain forest. Most of the trees in the reserve are overgrown by moss, ferns, and orchids. They constitute the natural habitat of over 250 species of birds, and you will have a great chance to observe many of them.

If you are lucky enough you may even get to see the famous quetzal, a shy and colorful bird idolized by the Mayas and other aboriginal populations.

In the afternoon, you will have a different experience walking through the canopy of the cloud forest by means of a system of suspension bridges which allows seeing the jungle from a totally different perspective. Your experienced guide will tell you all about the interesting ecosystems that contribute to making life both possible and worth living up there. All bridges have easy access.

Today your journey continues. First, you’ll drive back to the Panamerican Highway and then head north to the Gulf of Nicoya, also located on Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast, and to the driest province of the country, Guanacaste.

Near Cañas, you will visit the Palo Verde National Park, a unique wetland and bird paradise. Over 300 different species of bird have been spotted in the national park. Lunch is also served here.

Afterwards, your journey continues via Liberia to the area of the active Rincón de la Vieja volcano. For the last few miles, you will drive on a gravel road once more, but will safely reach Rincón de la Vieja in the afternoon.

The slopes of this massive volcano are covered by truly captivating tropical dry forests belonging to the Rincón de la Vieja National Park. On a walk in the park, you are most likely to get a close look at different animals and birds. Thanks to its proximity to the volcano, you will notice traces of volcanic activity right in the middle of the forest. Hot springs, fumaroles, and boiling mud holes will make this walk another highlight of our roundtrip.

The afternoon is at your leisure.

You may want to rent a horse and enjoy a ride over the large fields down the volcanic slopes while enjoying the spectacular view of the Nicoya Peninsula or sign up for another interesting tour (not included).

Note: Rincón de la Vieja National Park is closed on Mondays.

The guided Costa Rica Pacific Coast tour ends with the transfer back to San José. We will drop you off at the hotel of your choice in the city center. We recommend booking your outgoing flight only the next day.