Luxury Costa Rica Road Trip Highlights - 10 Days

Day 1: Arrive in San José, Drive to La Paz Waterfall Gardens, Poás Volcano Tour

Welcome to Costa Rica! Touch down in the thriving capital, San José, a cultural hub ringed by mountains and volcanic peaks that rise from the fertile Central Valley. Pick up your rental car and make the one-hour journey north to the valley's Vara Blanca region, which is home to the famous Poás Volcano National Park, a dense rainforest dotted with crashing waterfalls, sprawling strawberry farms, and coffee plantations.

Drive straight to the 5-star Peace Lodge in La Paz Waterfall Gardens Nature Park. This protected area of rainforest features Costa Rica's only animal sanctuary and trails leading to five huge waterfalls. As a Peace Lodge guest, you'll have unlimited access to the park's natural attractions. Settle into your rainforest-inspired cottage, designed with high ceilings and hardwoods, a river-stone fireplace, and a balcony showcasing dramatic views of the surrounding cloud forest. Each room has a Jacuzzi tub and cave-like waterfall shower, while the main lodge has an infinity pool and patio where you can dine overlooking the Poás volcano.

Finish the day with a private tour of the 11-million-year-old volcano. While driving to the national park, you'll witness views of unspoiled countryside, passing through small, traditional towns. Continue your journey on foot with a 2,460-foot (750 m) hike along a paved trail to the active volcano's crater, your guide providing insight into the flora and fauna of the cloud forest along the way. At the peak, peer inside the colossal crater to its sulfurous lake.

Day 2: Guided Exploration of La Paz Waterfall Gardens, Drive to La Fortuna

After breakfast, explore La Paz Waterfall Gardens at your own speed. Walk along scenic trails to five waterfalls, including the tallest, majestic 130-foot-high (40 m) Magia Blanca. Next, roam the butterfly conservatory and observe colorful birds in the aviary, including toucans and delicate hummingbirds. Other highlights include a monkey house, frog garden, serpentarium, and rescued wildcat habitat, home to five of Costa Rica's big cat species, including the endangered jaguar. 

Next, hop in your car and drive 1.5 hours to La Fortuna, a town at the base of Costa Rica's youngest stratovolcano: Arenal. This conical peak erupted regularly between 1968 and 2010 but has remained quiet ever since. The initial eruption created the vast, moon-like lava fields for which Arenal Volcano National Park is known.

Check into your villa at the 5-star Nayara Springs, an adult-only rainforest resort near the national park. Villa features include vaulted ceilings, a four-poster bed, and indigenous wood and stone furnishings. Step into your garden with an outdoor rain shower and plunge pool fed by healing hot springs where you can soak surrounded by the sounds of the forest.

Day 3: Bridges, Waterfall & Volcano Tour, Canopy Ziplining

Explore the Arenal Hanging Bridges in Arenal Volcano National Park with a personal guide this morning. This trail leads 2 miles (3 km) through a 593-acre (240 ha) rainforest reserve, crossing 10 dizzying suspension bridges above the treetops. As you venture across the elevated walkways—some of which tower up to 180 feet (55 m) above the rainforest floor—you'll take in sweeping views of the canopy and Arenal volcano. Look out for over 350 exotic bird species during your hike. 

After lunch, trek through the national park's thick rainforest to the base of Arenal volcano, where you'll take in views of the striking topography from 360-degree viewpoints. Next up is the famous La Fortuna Waterfall, which sits at the foot of the Chato volcano and plunges nearly 250 feet (75 m) into a topaz lagoon. Hike down 530 steps to the base of the falls for the best views and to take a dip in the clear waters. 

Finish your rainforest adventures with a private canopy tour, where you'll fly through the air on a series of ziplines designed to learn about canopy ecosystems. Spend the rest of the afternoon exploring the resort's Perezoso Trail for a glimpse of sloths in the guarumo trees or lounge by the pool, sipping a cocktail from the swim-up bar. Head to the spa for open-air treatment pavilions, where you can enjoy various massages and scrubs using organic coffee, chocolate, and volcanic mud. 

Day 4: Tree Climbing in the Rainforest, Private Dinner at Nayara Springs

Today, embark upon a unique tree-climbing adventure in a primary forest near the Arenal volcano. Your private guide will introduce you to two ancient trees; the first is Joseph, a ficus (strangler fig) that's hundreds of years old and has a hollow core that you'll climb up through to rappel down the outside.

The second tree is Abraham, a giant ceiba that supports an observation platform 110 feet (33 m) above the ground. Climb up using a rope system, or let the guides haul you up in a winch system to admire views of the forest canopy from the viewing platform. You'll enjoy a lavish lunch at the treetop level before descending.

Back at your resort, end the day with a private dinner at Nayara Springs. This gourmet dining experience takes place in a remote part of the rainforest. The resort's expert chefs will create a menu tailored to your tastes, featuring locally sourced ingredients, including fresh seafood, grilled meats, and vegetarian options. Your server will recommend wine pairings as you dine under a sky full of glittering stars.

Day 5: Drive to Monteverde, Río Celeste Waterfall Hike

Drive west toward Monteverde this morning, set in the Tilaran Mountain Range. Along the way, stop at Tenorio Volcano National Park, where you'll join a private guide for a hike along rainforest trails, spotting wildlife such as monkeys, blue morpho butterflies, and anteaters. The park is named after the active Tenorio volcano, which soars 6,286 feet (1,916 m) into the sky, and its landscape is ripe with geothermal activity, from smoking fumaroles to hot springs and bubbling mud pots.

The hike takes you alongside the Río Celeste, passing the confluence of two rivers whose minerals combine to create a turquoise hue. According to local legend, God washed his brushes in the river after painting the sky. Eventually, you'll descend 253 steps to reach the base of the Río Celeste Waterfall, where you'll marvel at the otherworldly blue waters before hiking back to the park entrance.

After lunch, continue your drive to the iconic Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, 26,000 acres (10,500 ha) of highland cloaked in mist. Here, you'll check into Senda Monteverde Boutique Hotel, a secluded 4-star mountain lodge in the cloud forest. Soak up the views from picture windows and your terrace, or take a yoga class in the open-air studio. Tonight, savor a Costa Rican feast with fine South American wines at El Sapo Restaurant, which has wraparound windows with highland views.

Day 6: Cloud Forest Reserve Guided Hike, Treetop Dining

Immerse yourself in Monteverde's astounding nature today on a private hike through the cloud forest reserve, home to 2.5% of the world's biodiversity. This natural haven sits at 4,724 feet (1,440 m) above sea level and is carpeted with vegetation like emerald moss, giant ferns, and orchids, and home to an array of wildlife, including 120 mammal species and over 400 bird species. Highlights include the vibrant green-and-red quetzal and purple-crowned fairy.

Follow your guide along winding trails, learning about the different types of flora and fauna and their ecological importance. Stop to admire everything from frogs to butterflies and birds, as well as varieties of moss, snaking vines, and towering trees. Afterward, you'll enjoy a treetop dining experience at the boutique hotel, San Lucas. Relish a nine-course degustation dinner in a glass box suspended 50 feet (15 m) in the rainforest, offering spectacular canopy views.

Day 7: Drive to Manuel Antonio, Rainforest Night Tour

Escape to Costa Rica's beach-studded Pacific coast with a four-hour drive south to the peaceful town of Manuel Antonio. Surrounded by beaches, Manuel Antonio is beloved for its namesake national park, which is packed with mangroves, waterfalls, and wildlife-saturated rainforests perfect for hiking, rafting, and zipline tours. 

Check into the 5-star Arenas del Mar Beachfront & Rainforest Resort, steps from the soft sands of Playa Playitas and Playa Espadilla. Set in an 11-acre (4 ha) rainforest reserve, you'll regularly spot sloths and monkeys around the resort, and naturalists are on hand to help you discover the native plants. Settle into your modern room or suite with an ocean-view balcony, then take a swim in one of the resort's two infinity pools. Relax before tonight's private rainforest walking tour, where you'll uncover the sights and sounds of the wild with an expert guide.  

Day 8: Manuel Antonio National Park Hike, Rainforest Spa Visit

Start the day with a private guided hike in nearby Manuel Antonio National Park, which is Costa Rica's smallest park, covering just 1,700 acres (688 ha) of land and 136,000 acres (55,000 ha) of ocean. The park is a sanctuary for 109 species of mammals and 184 bird species, as well as migrating whales and marine life that thrive among the pristine reefs.

On your trek, your guide will highlight medicinal plants and wildlife, including howler monkeys, iguanas, and coatis. Along the way, stop at panoramic vistas to drink in coastal views. Afterward, take a well-deserved rest at the renowned Cala Spa, where you'll enjoy a two-hour tropical rainforest relaxation package with a mixture of massage and body scrubs and wraps. Return to your resort for a well-earned beachfront dinner at on-site Playitas restaurant, where you can feast on barbecue, seafood, and international delights with your toes in the sand, accompanied by fine South American wines.

Day 9: Free Morning in Manuel Antonio, Afternoon Sport Fishing

Spend your final morning in Manuel Antonio as you please. Sunbathe on the beach, snorkel or swim in the azure waters, or lounge by the pool. For the ultimate pamper session, head to your resort's Las Brisas Wellness Center, where you can indulge in everything from cocoa scrubs to aloe wraps, hot stone massages, and reflexology. If you're feeling active, book an optional activity, from surf lessons to canyoning and visits to vanilla and spice farms. 

In the afternoon, you'll take a private fishing trip along the rugged coastline. Your skipper will take you to top fishing spots, where you'll have a chance of catching species such as snapper, mackerel, and grouper. Back on dry land, enjoy dinner beneath the stars at the Mirador restaurant, and relish a final night in your opulent suite.

Day 10: Drive to San José, Depart 

Today, your luxury Costa Rica adventure comes to an end. Drive back to San José and drop your rental car at the airport in time to catch your homebound flight. Safe travels!

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