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    Costa Rica Extension
    6 nights
    From $5,955* per person twin share
    Single supplement $2,431
    Embark on an unforgettable journey through Costa Rica, designed for curious adventurers and nature lovers alike. Along the way, you’ll discover hanging bridges, soak in natural hot springs, float down wildlife-rich rivers, and enjoy hands-on cultural experiences like coffee and chocolate tastings and traditional cooking. With private guides, comfortable stays, and plenty of time to relax or explore, this trip offers the perfect mix of adventure, nature, and local flavour.

    Important information:
    To participate in this tour you must be able to get on and off the bus unassisted. Some walking is required.
    SmallGroup Travel is not responsible for visa and vaccination regulations.
    Package Inclusions: Included Activities:

    Package Inclusions:

    Included Activities:

    Package Inclusions:

    Package Inclusions:

    Accommodation:

    • 1 night in San José. Gran Hotel Costa Rica Curio Collection by Hilton. Standard rooms.
      Includes: Breakfast and taxes included.
    • 5 nights at The Lost Iguana.
      Includes: Breakfast and taxes included.

    Transportation:

    • Private transfer from Puntarenas Cruise pier to San Jose with English speaking guide.
    • 6 days of private transportation on an AC motorcoach.
      Includes: accommodation and travel expenses of driver. Starting in San Jose on March 16th, ending in San José Airport on March 21st.
    • 6 days of private English-speaking guide.
      Includes: accommodation and travel expenses of guide. Starting in San Jose on March 16th, ending in San José Airport on March 21st.

    Meals:

    • Breakfast daily.
    • 2 lunches (19, 20 Mar).
    • 2 dinners (15, 17 Mar).
    • 1 bottle of water per person, per day.
    Included Activities:

    Included Activities:

    • Private San Jose City Tour.
      Includes: Transportation, English speaking guide and entrance fee to National Theatre and snacks at San Jose Central Market.
    • Private Guided visit to Arenal Hanging Bridges.
      Includes: Transportation, English speaking guide and entrance fee.
    • Visit to Tabacon Hot Springs from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm.
      Includes: entrance, lockers, towel and dinner.
    • Private Peñas Blancas Safari Float.
      Includes: Transportation, English speaking guide and equipment.
    • Private Coffee and chocolate tour at North Fields farm.
      Includes: Transportation, English speaking guide and entrance fee.
    • Visit La Fortuna Waterfall.
      Includes: Entrance fee.
    • Private Sloth Quest with lunch at Doña Priscilla Farm.
      Includes: Transportation, English speaking guide, entrance fee, lunch and Tortilla making activity.
    Valid for travel
    15 March - 21 March 2026.
    Offer expires
    30 Jun 2025 unless sold prior

    Itinerary

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    Day 1

    Punta Arenas to Arenal

    Welcome to Costa Rica! Your private transportation and English speaking guide will greet you at Puntarenas Cruise Terminal. Transfer to San Jose Centre.

    San Jose Centre
    This chaotic metropolitan capital city is your central hub to reach all of the tropical forest, beach, and mountain eco-activities you travel to Costa Rica for. But if you spend a day or two here, you’ll see impressive neoclassic architecture along Central Avenue and neoclassic, art nouveau, and Victorian style mansions in the Barrio Amón neighbourhood. Art and history fans will appreciate the artifacts in the jade museum and gold museum, and families should check out the children’s science museum housed alongside an art museum in a former prison. San Jose’s international restaurants will tempt you, and after dark, the dance scene lights up, with everything from salsa to electro.

    Dinner this evening is in a local restaurant.

    Meals: Dinner.
    Accommodation: Gran Hotel Cosa Rica – Standard Room or similar.
    Services: Private transfer to Costa Rica.

    Day 2

    Arenal

    This morning enjoy a historical tour of San Jose.

    San José Historical City Tour
    After breakfast, start the San Jose City tour with a visit to the National Theatre. On the southern side of the Plaza de la Cultura resides the Teatro Nacional, San José’s most revered building. Constructed in 1897, it features a columned neoclassical facade flanked by statues of Beethoven and famous 17th century Spanish dramatist Calderón de la Barca. The lavish marble lobby and auditorium are lined with paintings depicting various facets of 19th-century life. After this visit, continue to the Democracy Square, one of the most important landmarks as in this place the army was abolished in 1948. Cross downtown in direction to the Central Market. Though Josefinos mainly do their shopping at chain supermarkets, San José’s crowded indoor markets retain an old-world, authentic feel. This main market, lined with vendors hawking everything from spices and coffee beans to pura vida souvenir T-shirt. (3hrs 30mins)

    Travel on your comfortable air conditioned motorcoach to start your journey to Arenal. During the way to Arenal, your bilingual guide will explain to you the areas you will be crossing by before you arrive to the northern plains where the perfect iconic Arenal Volcano is located. The Arenal Volcano region stands as one of Costa Rica’s most sought-after tourist destinations, boasting lush natural beauty. Dominated by the imposing Arenal Volcano, this area showcases magnificent rainforests,
    rejuvenating hot springs, a picturesque lake, and a plethora of thrilling adventures to embark upon. Exploring the region through excursions is an absolute must during your stay. While the volcano has not exhibited any activity recently, scientists still believe that it Arenal is not dormant. There is a good chance that it may return to its previous majesty at any time.

    Arenal Volcano National Park
    Located in central Costa Rica, the Arenal Volcano National Park lies within the Arenal Tilaran Conservation Area and encompasses eight of the country’s 12 protected life zones. The park is home to the majority of Costa Rica’s 850 bird species, and an array of exotic creatures such as capuchin monkeys, parrot snakes, jaguars and deer, and its diverse landscapes include grasslands and volcanic badlands. Overlooking the park is the magnificent Arenal Volcano as well as the Chato Volcano, complete with a stunning lagoon. Experience this exciting region by hiking through lava fields and rainforests, spotting birds and animals, and taking a dip in the hot springs.

    Meals: Breakfast.
    Accommodation: 5 nights in Lost Iguana – Standard Rooms.
    Services:
    • Breakfast
    • Private San Jose City tour
    • Private transportation on an AC motorcoach. Includes: accommodation and travel expenses.
    • Private English-speaking guide. Includes: accommodation and travel expenses.

    Day 3

    Arenal Volcano National Park

    Private Guided visit to Arenal Hanging Bridges

    Experience the rainforest like never before, as you make your way from ground level up through the jungle canopy traversing a series of trails and exciting suspension bridges. The Mystic Hanging Bridges tour takes you on a 3km hike that includes 10 fixed bridges and 6 hanging bridges. Your naturalist guide will point out the different species of plants and animals unique to each habitat and elevation. Your tour also includes time to view an incredible 60 ft. high waterfall tucked within the pristine
    rainforest and a beautiful view of the Arenal Volcano from the highest bridge. You will enjoy a ride on the skytram. The Sky Tram is a gondola that will take you through the rainforest and give you beautiful views of Arenal Volcano and Lake Arenal.
    Duration: 4 hrs

    In the afternoon, Visit Tabacon Hot Springs from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm with dinner included. Discover Costa Rica´s largest network of naturally flowing thermal mineral springs in Arenal’s largest and most beautiful private, rainforest reserve. An essential part of exploring the wondrous world of the Tabacon Hot Springs is soaking in the cascading thermal waterfalls. This natural hydrotherapy is a surefire way to achieve proper relaxation. Guests tend to thoroughly enjoy exploring the numerous river pools, with temperatures range from 72 to 105 degrees Fahrenheit and with the perfect combination of high volume and mineral content. Dinner is included in Tabacon Hot Springs Restaurant (one starter, one main course, one dessert and one non-alcoholic drink per person).

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner.
    Accommodation: Lost Iguana – Standard Rooms.
    Services:
    • Private Guided visit to Arenal Hanging Bridges. Includes: Transportation, English speaking guide and entrance fee.
    • Visit Tabacon Hot Springs from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Includes: entrance, lockers, towel and dinner.
    • Private transportation on an AC motorcoach. Includes: accommodation and travel expenses.
    • Private English-speaking guide. Includes: accommodation and travel expense

    Day 4

    Arenal Volcano National Park

    Private Peñas Blancas Safari Float
    Float trip down to Peñas Blancas River. Enjoy the tranquillity of Costa Rica rainforest soaking in all the sights and sounds of the tropical setting. Be sure to keep an eye out for a variety of monkeys, caimans, iguanas, Jesus Christ lizards (they actually walk on water!) and a wide assortment of colourful bird species. This wildlife river float trip is great for nature lovers of all ages. A short 25- minute drive from Fortuna, this peaceful, slow-flow section of the Peñas Blancas River is easy and relaxing. Your naturalist guide will share local history and knowledge of the plants and animals you encounter on the float. We will spend around 2 hours at a relaxing paddle pace exploring the riverbanks for rainforest inhabitants. After we float down the river, we will make a stop at one of the river side farms where we will refresh with a locally prepared snack and natural drink or a cup of coffee before heading back to your La Fortuna hotel.
    Duration: 4 hrs

    Meals: Breakfast.
    Accommodation: Lost Iguana – Standard Rooms.
    Services:
    • Private Peñas Blancas Safari Float. Includes: Transportation, English speaking guide and equipment.
    • Private transportation on an AC motorcoach. Includes: accommodation and travel expenses.
    • Private English-speaking guide. Includes: accommodation and travel expenses.

    Day 5

    Arenal Volcano National Park

    Private Coffee and chocolate tour at North Fields farm Coffee and chocolate are two of the crops that Costa Rica is most famous for. In fact, Costa Rica’s fine Arabica beans have won competitions across the globe. You may have tried some of this specialty coffee from your local grocer, but it is completely different to taste a cup straight from the farm. We offer two tours in one! The coffee tour, starting with coffee’s historic legacy in the world, followed by Costa Rica’s coffee early ages and the socio-economic impact though the years. Later on, the tour will be showing other aspects of Costa Rican culture as well as some of our traditions. During this part of the tour, we will get to see all the processes carried by the coffee production, from the seed to the delicious final product, the cup of coffee.
    Duration: 4 hrs

    Return to your hotel for an afternoon at leisure. For those keen to continue exploring, we have an optional activity for you to visit the La Fortuna Waterfall.

    Optional Visit La Fortuna Waterfall (Payable Locally)
    The journey has just begun, and you will want more! This time we will be heading towards the amazing La Fortuna Waterfall which is a tall, 75 meters (240 ft) fall right in the middle of a canyon in the rainforest, this is an amazing experience that you cannot miss, you can walk down to the waterfall for about 20 minutes and 560 stairs and get to jump in the water, get this amazing feeling that comes when you are so close to nature, swim and take amazing photos! 560 stairs may sound intimidating, but is not like that, the trails are really well made and you can go slowly, at your own pace while admiring the nature around you, or if can’t make it all the way down because of a hip or a knee problem you can remain upstairs and stay at the observatory point so you can watch the waterfall from above.
    Duration: 2 hrs

    Meals: Breakfast and Lunch.
    Accommodation: Lost Iguana – Standard Rooms.
    Services:
    • Private Coffee and chocolate tour at North Fields farm. Includes: Transportation, English speaking guide and entrance fee.
    • Lunch in a local Restaurant. 1 non-alcoholic drink included.
    • Private transportation on an AC motorcoach. Includes: accommodation and travel expenses.
    • Private English-speaking guide. Includes: accommodation and travel expenses.

    Day 6

    Arenal Volcano National Park

    Private Sloth Quest with lunch at Doña Priscilla Farm and Tortilla making activity
    The sloth watching tour brings you up close and personal with some of Costa Rica’s most-adorable furry critters as they simply hang out at among the treetops near the Arenal Volcano. The sloth is one of our most-endearing icons here in the rainforests of Costa Rica and this tour has been developed for nature enthusiasts who would like to take an easygoing drive around the picturesque Arenal Volcano area as your eagle-eyed, professional, bilingual guide finds the favourite hiding places of the 2-toed, and 3-toed sloth. And as a bonus, you’ll also have the chance to see monkeys, brightly coloured toucans and elusive iguanas. After this visit, your guide will take you to Doña Priscilla Farm where you will enjoy a delicious home-made Costa Rican lunch. Learn from the hand of doña Priscilla the ingredients and how to prepare traditional recipes. You will also have time to practice Tortillas making at Doña Priscilla kitchen.

    Duration: 5 hrs

    Meals: Breakfast and Lunch.
    Accommodation: Lost Iguana – Standard Room.
    Services:
    • Private Sloth Quest with lunch at Doña Priscilla Farm. Includes: Transportation, English speaking guide, entrance fee, lunch and Tortilla making activity.
    • Private transportation on an AC motorcoach. Includes: accommodation and travel expenses.
    • Private English-speaking guide. Includes: accommodation and travel expenses.

    Day 7

    Departure

    Depending on your departure flight time, you will be transferred on time to San Jose International Airport (SJO) to check in on your International flight.

    Please remember that International Airlines request to show up at the airport 3 hrs prior departure.

    Meals: Breakfast.
    Accommodation: None.
    Services: Private transfer from Hotel to San Jose International Airport.

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    * Conditions

    You are required to fill in a signed SmallGroup Travel Booking Form. This booking form acknowledges that you have read and accepted the Terms and conditions. Once completed you will receive an invoice with payment details. Credit card payments will incur a fee.

    A non-refundable deposit of $2000 per person is required to secure your reservation.

    Please ensure you have read and understand SmallGroup Travel Privacy Policy and Booking Conditions.
    https://www.travelmanagers.com.au/terms-and-conditions/

    For full terms and conditions, please refer to http://www.crooked-compass.com/terms-conditions/