8-Nights Adventure in Costa Rica: Arenal & the Osa Peninsula from $7,467

Itinerary Details

Day 1: Welcome to Costa Rica

Transfer: San Jose CR to La Fortuna - Arenal

Hotel: Tabacon Grand Spa Thermal Resort (5 Star Rating)

Featuring hot spring baths, sauna, massages services, luxury spa treatments and 5 swimming pools, Tabacon Grand Spa Thermal Resort is 15 minutes' drive from the Arenal Volcano National Park.

Activities such as volcano tours, rappel, hiking through suspension bridges and rafting are also available.

This complex is a 20 minute drive from La Fortuna main square and 1 hour drive from Venado Caves. Juan Santamaria International Airport is 2 hours' drive away.

This tour combines the enjoyment of a boat ride with a walk through the rainforest of the National Park to get the most impressive views of the colossus, Arenal Volcano, from all angles. The tour begins with a 20-minute drive from the hotel to the Peninsula section of the National Park, near Lake Arenal. Here you will begin a 1 mile (1.6 km) long walk along an easy trail for about an hour. Throughout the tour, you can enjoy excellent views overlooking Lake Arenal and the Tilaran Volcanic Mountain Range in the observation bays that are found along the trail. At the end of the walk, you will have the opportunity to climb to the observation platform approximately 40 feet (12 meters) high for a closer and amazing view of the volcano, where you will also receive a full explanation of its history, activity cycles, and geological formation. At the end of the trail, you will enjoy a snack of fresh fruit before taking the boat for a tour along the forested shores of Lake Arenal and islets to try to find some animals. This is the ideal place to take scenic photographs of the volcano if it is clear. You will cross the lake until you reach the town of El Castillo, a small developing community where a family business will welcome you with open arms to share a snack of traditional food accompanied by typical drinks; "café chorreado", "agua dulce", or natural juice, all while enjoying the view of Lake Arenal. After this relaxing break, you will take the boat again to navigate the lake to the pier where the minibus will be waiting for you and then you will return to your hotel.

Transfer: La Fortuna - Arenal to Quepos /Manuel Antonio

Hotel: Gaia Hotel & Reserve (5 Star Rating)

Gaia Hotel & Reserve, a luxury, boutique resort, located in Manuel Antonio Beach, Costa Rica, is a 5 star eco-friendly hotel. Enjoy a luxurious tropical getaway in a spectacular exotic location. The hotel has managed to achieve an ideal blend of modern amenities and natural scenery for guests to enjoy. Nestled in the magnificent coastal forests of Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica, the hotel´s well-appointed, terraced suites and villas offer amazing views of lush and pristine surroundings that are beyond compare.

Set out on a fun and informative foodie experience and learn how to prepare local Costa Rican cuisine along the way. The tour starts with a quick stop to browse the vibrant farmers' market in Quepos to see firsthand where locals congregate to sell their fresh produce. From there, you will go to a private ranch in the quaint town of Londres, where you will be welcomed by the local team and brought to see goats, turkeys, ducks, geese, cows, peacocks, and more. Walking through the lush organic garden, you will also pick out the perfect ingredients to add texture, color, and flavor to your lunch such as cilantro, green onion, and tomatoes. Local cooks will then guide you through the preparation process, giving you hands-on experience in making traditional corn tortillas, exotic ceviche's with plantain or banana, and hearty tomato-based chicken dishes, just to name a few. Afterward, sit down and savor the delicious meal you helped create, and let your taste buds take a journey through the unique flavors of Costa Rican cuisine. You will leave not just with a full belly, but also with the skills and inspiration to recreate these dishes at home using your own seasonal ingredients. You will also have some time to explore the ranch and take a dip in the refreshing waters of the nearby Naranjo River, weather permitting. Following the experience, you will be privately transferred to your hotel in Manuel Antonio.

Today you will arrive to the Osa Peninsula, one of Costa Rica's most spectacular and biodiverse regions. Long before the pillars of sustainable tourism had been established, Lapa Rios was envisioned as a project whose objective would be to protect its endangered surroundings. Today, the lodge preserves more than 1,000 acres of primary and secondary rainforest, where a host of wildlife including Scarlet Macaws - locally known as Lapa, and from which the lodge gets its name - are found. In this incredible environment, you can look forward to once-in-a-lifetime rainforest adventures, wildlife encounters and ocean activities. Throughout your stay at Lapa Rios Lodge, you will have access to a range of guided activities including waterfall hikes, rainforest tours and explorations of wildlife hotspots in and around the lodge which will be arranged locally and determined by your interests and prevailing weather conditions. Pending on the timing of your arrival today, perhaps you will have the opportunity to set out on a guided birdwatching tour. In the evening, settle in for a delicious farm-to-table dining experience before retiring for a night of rest.

Meal(s): Dinner

Hotel: Lapa Rios Lodge (4 Star Rating)

Lapa Rios Lodge protects 1,000 acres of Central America's last remaining tropical lowland rainforest. In this immersive destination, the real luxury is in living and breathing the jungle. Every inch is waiting to be discovered. Here, you'll encounter iconic frogs and macaws; endangered monkeys and over 300 bird species. It's a pristine environment where nature thrives in its rawest form. No matter which suite you choose, the properties enchanting accommodations and serene, welcoming atmosphere will ensure your Costa Rica vacation is an authentic, nature-filled experience.

Transfer: Quepos /Manuel Antonio to Puerto Jimenez

Rise early to make the most of your day, and consider setting out on an early morning birdwatching tour or post-breakfast rainforest hike. As the morning wanes, consider arranging afternoon surfing lessons (available at additional cost) or simply view the wildlife and spectacular scenery from the lodge's pool, balcony lounges or private beach club on Playa Pan Dulce. For pampering treatments, Lapa Rios also offer a selection of in-room Spa & Massage services (available at additional cost). Alternatively, discover the rainforest's profound medicinal and edible bounty on a guided tour that focuses on the unique properties of some of the Osa Peninsula's flora.

Hotel: Lapa Rios Lodge (4 Star Rating)

Lapa Rios Lodge protects 1,000 acres of Central America's last remaining tropical lowland rainforest. In this immersive destination, the real luxury is in living and breathing the jungle. Every inch is waiting to be discovered. Here, you'll encounter iconic frogs and macaws; endangered monkeys and over 300 bird species. It's a pristine environment where nature thrives in its rawest form. No matter which suite you choose, the properties enchanting accommodations and serene, welcoming atmosphere will ensure your Costa Rica vacation is an authentic, nature-filled experience.

Meal(s): Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch

If you haven't yet had the opportunity to explore the rainforest ridge hike, consider setting out with a bilingual guide on this excursion today. A challenging hike, though not extreme in nature, you'll set out in the morning on a short drive, soon arriving at the Lapa Rios Reserve under the shade of primary and secondary rainforest as curious monkeys, parrots and scarlet macaws feed on treetop seeds and fruits. The trail descends along the ridgeline to a river crossing and two spectacular waterfalls where you can refresh in the cool, clean waters. The final stretch of the hike involves an uphill hike, and so if you are more inclined to tackle a less demanding nature experience, consider the Osa Trail Hike or the mini-rainforest ridge hike.

Hotel: Lapa Rios Lodge (4 Star Rating)

Lapa Rios Lodge protects 1,000 acres of Central America's last remaining tropical lowland rainforest. In this immersive destination, the real luxury is in living and breathing the jungle. Every inch is waiting to be discovered. Here, you'll encounter iconic frogs and macaws; endangered monkeys and over 300 bird species. It's a pristine environment where nature thrives in its rawest form. No matter which suite you choose, the properties enchanting accommodations and serene, welcoming atmosphere will ensure your Costa Rica vacation is an authentic, nature-filled experience.

Meal(s): Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch

Following breakfast, and arranged to coincide with your travel plans, you will either be picked-up by a private vehicle for your onward transfer within Costa Rica or to the nearby airport. If time permits, perhaps you will have the opportunity to enjoy a final jungle experience in this uniquely wild and beautiful corner of the country.

Meal(s): Breakfast