Individual Trip: Costa Rica, Manuel Antonio: Exploring Costa Rica, 10 days

Day 1: Athens – San José

Departure from Athens and via an intermediate stop, arrival at Juan Santamaría International Airport in San José.
After the necessary formalities and luggage collection, transfer to the hotel. Check-in and overnight stay.

Day 2: San José – Tortuguero

Departure early in the morning from San José and driving through the impressive Braulio Carrillo National Park, we will stop for a delicious typical breakfast. The bus route continues through banana plantations that we will have the opportunity to visit until the pier. A two-hour boat ride through the canals will take us to the Lodge, just in time for lunch. In the afternoon, a guided tour of the small town of Tortuguero is included. Before dinner, free time to enjoy the pool or simply relax in a hammock. Dinner at the lodge.

Day 3: Tortuguero National Park

After breakfast, a guided walking tour will follow through the trails in the hotel area. Free time before lunch. In the afternoon, we will visit Tortuguero National Park, exploring the canals in small, open boats for better visibility. Tortuguero is a network of navigable lagoons, rivers, and canals (natural and man-made) used for transportation and is an excellent place for observing local wildlife, such as birds, monkeys, American crocodiles, and caimans. The canals also provide refuge for endangered animals, such as the Oriental Indian Manatee, crocodiles, a wide variety of crustaceans, and about 30 species of freshwater fish, including the Gaspar, considered a living fossil. Free time before dinner.

Day 4: Tortuguero – Arenal

After breakfast, return to the pier by boat, where the journey will continue by bus to our next destination, Arenal. Lunch is included at a local restaurant. Arrival and check-in at the hotel.

Day 5: Visit to the Arenal hanging bridges and afternoon visit to the Arenal Volcano National Park

The trails and bridges of the park are located on the route followed by birds migrating between North and South America and bring the visitor as close as one can imagine to observing birds, flowers, and the lush vegetation of the primary tropical forest. It is a primary forest property of 250 hectares, with trails and bridges built to maintain absolute harmony between man-made structures and nature. The area has impressive views of Arenal Volcano and the lake that feeds the largest hydroelectric plant in Costa Rica. This walk is a fun and educational option to learn more about the forest and the local environment and to enjoy close contact with nature. Walking through the trails, the fascinating world of the tropical forest will be revealed to us. Along these three kilometers of trails, visitors will be impressed by the diverse fauna and flora of the tropical forest, admiring colorful birds and species of tropical plants. More than 50 species of birds can be counted in this area, which offers a unique walk, suitable for all ages and fitness levels. Located 15 kilometers from Fortuna in the northwestern part of Costa Rica, between the foothills of the Cordillera de Tilaran mountain range and the plains of San Carlos, Arenal Volcano National Park is one of the most popular destinations in the Northern Zone. Various trails – Heliconias, Coladas, Tucanes, and Los Miradores – allow for the observation of many species of the park’s flora and fauna, as well as the imprints of lava flows. The park covers an area of 12,124 hectares.

Day 6: Arenal – Manuel Antonio

After breakfast, we will depart towards the Central Pacific to enjoy one of the most beautiful beaches in the country. Arrival and check-in at the Parador Resort & Spa. Perched above the extensive Central Pacific coastline on 12 acres of tropical forest once inhabited by the Quepoa Indians, Parador Hotel is a secluded coastal hotel next to the stunning protected cove of Playa Biezanz and just minutes from Manuel Antonio National Park, the neighboring fishing village of Quepos, and the local airport.

Day 7: Visit to Manuel Antonio National Park

After breakfast, departure for Manuel Antonio Park, covering 683 hectares, which has the most diverse and beautiful landscapes in the region. Surrounded by a lush tropical wet forest where, on its trails, we can see capuchin monkeys, crows, raccoons, iguanas, and many bird species, as well as the squirrel monkey (Saimiri oerstedii citrinellus), endemic to Manuel Antonio. It lives only in this part of the world and belongs to the endangered species. According to the most recent census, only 1,500 monkeys remain. The park also protects 12 islands that represent an exceptional refuge for many species of seabirds. It has excellent beaches: Espadilla Sur, Manuel Antonio, and Puerto Escondido, as well as a lagoon and mangroves covering 14 hectares. The point of the cathedral that connects the beaches of Manuel Antonio and Espadilla Sur is a place of great natural beauty. Return to the hotel and free time.

Day 8: Manuel Antonio

Free day to enjoy the amenities of our hotel or take an optional excursion.

Day 9: Manuel Antonio – San José Airport

After breakfast, transfer to Juan Santamaría International Airport in time for the return flight.

Day 10: San José – Athens

Arrival in Athens and end of the trip.

Travel Notes