Difficulty Information
This tour is classified as Category A
The difficulty of our travels varies greatly. Added to this is the fact that travel difficulty is a very personal perception. To give an impression of the difficulty of a particular holiday we have developed a classification system.
Category A: Light travel, possible for anyone. Short distances, good hotels, slow travelling speed.
Category B: Feasible for anyone who prepares for the trip. Sometimes longer distances, good hotels or camping facilities, some adventure nights, average travelling speed.
Category C: Feasible for anyone who prepares well and is flexible, but some parts of the journey are difficult, distances may be long or require a day’s walk, there may be some basic facilities.
Category D: Reasonably difficult trip because of long travel distances, often primitive facilities or tents, long walks.
Category E: Difficult trip. The traveller knows him/herself and is well prepared, he or she realises that the holiday can be demanding.
The Costa Rica trip falls under category A. Any healthy person can make this trip; the travel distances are average and most hotels comfortable. We overnight in middle class hotels, but take into account that you travel in a developing country, which means a much lower standard of living, than your are used to at home. A flexible and positive attitude is much more important than physical fitness.
Nature of the trip
This tropical country accommodating an enormous diversity of animal and plant life is also called the garden of Central America. Although large parts of the country are covered by jungle, there are smoking volcanoes and stunning palm beaches to be explored. This trip is a real must for nature-lovers.
Day-to-day schedule
Day 1 -
2: San José
The party meets up in San José. The city is situated in a beautiful green valley, encircled by volcanoes. You stay overnight in an attractive classic hotel just a few hundred meters from the central plaza. On day 2 you will have a free day in San José. The small and cosy capital city offers shopping streets and markets. Those who are interested, may embark upon a city tour, led by our guide. Visit the Gold Museum or National Museum, or treat yourself to coffee in one of the coffee houses, a favourite pastime of the friendly locals. Book a day tour to the nearby Poas or Irazu volcanoes; its summits are usually hidden above the clouds.
Day 3 -
4: San José - Punta Cocles
In our own bus we drive along a beautiful route through primary rainforest and beautiful mountains to Costa Rica’s quieter, but splendid Caribbean coast. You may go wild water rafting on the Pacuare or Reventazon, and rejoin the group at the end of the day.
At the Caribbean coast of Punta Cocles you overnight in a nice resort hotel that has a swimming pool in the jungle, great for relaxing and swimming. Take a walk and enjoy the rich flora and fauna area surrounding the resort. Howling monkeys will wake you early in the morning. Visit the Cahuita National Park. If you are lucky, you will spot monkeys, sloths and tucans. Moreover, you will discover a beautiful white sandy bay. In the protected rainforests of the Talamanca region you can embark upon all sorts of different excursions, such as visiting the waterfalls by horse or hiking through the jungle. Visit the pleasant town of Puerto Viejo, which boasts a selection of fine bars featuring reggae music, and restaurants. Visit the Gandocca Manzanillo park with local guides or join a kayak tour. Embark upon a snorkelling or diving trip by boat and enjoy the beautiful coral, home to large quantities of brightly coloured fish.Day 5: Punta Cocles – Sarapiqui
We now move North west to Sarapiquí, one of the richest areas for bird watching: Sun bittern, oropendola, motmot, at least four species of trogons, umbrella birds, fruits crows, jacamars, tinamous, stripe-breasted and black throated wrens are some of more than 400 species that have been recorded in the area (50% of the species of Costa Rica). You can join a safari river tour, guided walks, raft on the white-waters, or horse-ride.
Day 6 -
7: Sarapiqui- La Fortuna
Today we drive alongside one of the world’s most active volcanoes, the Arenal. We overnight in a lovely hotel with a tropical garden, viewing the Arenal. When the evening falls, the sky is clear and with a little bit of luck, you will watch the impressive spectacle of red glowing lava descending from the 1633 meter high summit.
You will stay two nights here. In the surroundings of La Fortuna you could go rafting and horse riding. In the evening we visit the hot water springs around the Arenal volcano. Of course we offer the opportunity, on day 7, to embark upon an (optional) excursion to the magnificent Caño Negro reserve, an area full of water housing a great variety of birds, caimans, turtles, monkeys and reptiles. A special feature here is the Jesus Christ lizard that is able to run across the top of the water.
Day 8 -
9: La Fortuna - Rincón de la Vieja
We take our bus to the northern province of Guanacaste to arrive by the end of the afternoon in Rincón de la Vieja. You will stay two nights in a lodge or hacienda. In the surrounding jungle there are beautiful waterfalls to be explored. You can get to them on foot or by horse. The Rincón de la Vieja National Park is a must for the adventurer or nature-lover. The park accommodates different volcanoes and the nature reserve is great for either short or long hikes. Between rising patches of fog and steaming sulphur you’ll walk along boiling, swirling mud pools. The tropical rainforest is packed with exotic bird and animal species. You can take wonderful (optional) hikes through the nature reserve. Hike or ride a horse along waterfalls and through the jungle seeing more sulphur springs and bubbling mud pools. One extraordinary activity is where you swing among the treetops from one platform to another, just like Tarzan! Real adventurers may climb the crater of the Rincón volcano, with a local guide.
Day 10 -
11: Rincón de la Vieja - Monteverde Cloud Forest
The trip continues to one of the world’s most famous nature reserves, the Monteverde Cloud Forest. The trip alone to 'the green mountain’ is an adventure that rewards you with the most breathtaking views. You stay two nights in a lodge with a good restaurant and large garden. The entrance to the reserve is close by, so is the Butterfly garden and a beautiful Hummingbird gallery. Walking in the reserve is a great pleasure but there are more possibilities: the frog garden, horse riding or crossing suspension bridges, which, harnessed high up in the cloud forest let you experience the forest in a truly unique way. Just a hike through the cloud forest is an enchanting experience that you will never forget. An extraordinary feature is the dramatic diversity of microclimates all a very short distance from each other. A day tour almost always provides fog, sun and rain and an average temperature of 18 degrees C. One thing that makes the cloud forest unique is the variety of shades of green. Due to the high humidity the giant trees are abundantly covered with bromelias, orchids, ferns, elkhorns and mosses. This is also the home of the magnificent red green feathered, shy quetzal bird.
Day 12 -
13: Monteverde Cloud Forest - Playa Tamarindo
On day 12 we arrive in Playa Tamarindo, in the country’s sunniest region, on the coast of the North Pacific. Again this beach has a beautiful bay, wonderful for swimming. During the season (October through March) giant Green Sea and Leatherback turtles come ashore to lay their eggs. You can go snorkelling, diving, (wind) surfing or visit the nearby Tamarindo Wildlife Refuge to see its many bird species. The village has nice bars and restaurants, allowing you to have a break. The cosy hotel has its own swimming pool. The beach is on the side of the road.
Day 14: Playa Tamarindo - San José
On day 14 you will leave by bus for a magnificent drive to San José where you will spend one more night.
Day 15: San José: tour ends at noon
It is the last day of your tour but rather than being about ‘Goodbye’ your thought should be ‘Go further’!
Visit your personal ‘my.shoestring’ page on our website. ‘my.shoestring’ is the perfect way to make contact with other travellers before and after your trip. You can read and create journals from trips and upload your photos onto the photo gallery. Visit my shoestring today.
When booking your tour, please check to see whether you need any post-tour nights, bearing in mind that accommodation for the night of the final day of the tour (day 15) is not included.