Wildlife Luxury Adventure in Arenal, Monteverde & the Osa Peninsula - 16 Days

Day 1: Arrive in San José, Explore Downtown

Welcome to Costa Rica! A driver will transfer you from the airport to your hotel in San José. After settling in, go for a self-guided walking tour of downtown. Depending on your hotel's location, you can walk or take a taxi to your first destination: Mercado Central (Central Market), featuring over 200 shops, food stalls, and sodas (traditional restaurants). It's a short walk to Central Park, a small plaza always bustling with activity. Pass various outdoor sculptures as you walk through the park toward Catedral Metropolitana and continue walking down Central Avenue until you reach the 19th-century Teatro Nacional.

Your first museum stop is the Museo del Oro Precolumbino, accessible from beneath the Plaza de la Cultura and holds the most extensive Pre-Columbian gold collection in Latin America. Next, head to the Museo del Jade, the world's largest collection of pre-Columbian jade artifacts. As you wander among thousands of unique jade pieces, you'll gain an even deeper appreciation for Costa Rica's rich history. 

Read about the top restaurant recommendations in San José here.

Day 4: Snorkel at Isla del Caño Biological Reserve

Today, you'll explore the waters of the Caño Island Biological Reserve (Isla del Caño) on a scuba or snorkeling excursion. This protected marine area is just off the Osa Peninsula's northern tip.

The excursion begins when you board a boat and take a safety lesson geared to all ages and experience levels. Then it's time to plunge into the water, where you'll find abundant marine life, including reef sharks, sea turtles, parrotfish, eels, manta rays, pufferfish, snappers, sea cucumbers, and octopus. There's also a wide variety of coral-building organisms and 19 different species of coral. Visibility is excellent throughout the year, making Caño Island a perfect site for underwater photography.

Day 6: Explore Manuel Antonio National Park, Sailing & Snorkeling Trip

Today you'll go on a guided tour to explore the pristine natural beauty of the world-famous Manuel Antonio National Park, filled with exotic wildlife such as monkeys, sloths, birds, reptiles, and butterflies. Your picturesque hike will take you to one of the country's best beaches, known for its white sand and crystalline blue waters. Have your camera ready as your knowledgeable guide points out diverse flora and fauna along the way.

Later in the day, board a catamaran at the pier in Quepos for a sailing adventure along the coast. Your guide will highlight notable wildlife and vegetation as you admire the region's islands, cliffs, and rock formations. After touring the coastline, the captain will set anchor at Biesanz Bay, where you can snorkel or relax onboard. You may spot parrotfish, starfish, angelfish, and dolphins from the boat while enjoying a barbecue lunch.

Check out the Ultimate Guide to Manuel Antonio National Park for more information.

Day 7: Take a Surf Lesson in Manuel Antonio

Try a challenging and fun activity on the beaches of Manuel Antonio today. Surfboards will be provided, and experienced instructors will teach you to ride the waves. After the lesson, feel free to extend your board rental and spend the afternoon practicing! Alternatively, relax on the beach or go for a hike. 

Learn more here about taking a surf lesson in the national park.

Day 8: Travel to Monteverde, Nighttime Nature Walk

Today you'll leave Manuel Antonio National Park and travel to the Monteverde region of Costa Rica. After checking into your hotel, it's time to head into the jungle on a nighttime nature walk. With the assistance of a knowledgeable guide, it's common to observe frogs and various snake species along the trail. With a bit of luck, you might even see forest dwellers such as the two-toed sloth or the kinkajou.

Read this list of the best luxury hotels in Costa Rica.

Day 9: Tour Monteverde Cloud Forest on a Guided Hike

Explore the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, one of Costa Rica's ecological crown jewels. Known as the "green lung of Costa Rica" due to its rich biodiversity, this sprawling reserve is high in the country's mountainous northwest region. On a guided tour, you'll get an overview of the incredible biodiversity of this region, where upland and lowland rainforest meet. More than 350 bird species live here, including the quetzal. It's a nature lover's paradise.

Check out Best Things to Do in Monteverde for more ideas of what to see and do.

Day 10: Go Horseback Riding in the Cloud Forest

You'll horseback ride today through Monteverde's picturesque landscapes. Keep your eyes open for sloths and toucans, and learn about the coffee, banana, and sugar grown in the area. Two and a half hours of riding will bring you to a secluded clearing on the banks of a river, where you can rest and enjoy a picnic under the trees. During the ride back to the stables, your guide will make time to stop at a local café for a beer or a soft drink.

Find out more about the horseback riding experience here.

Day 11: Continue to La Fortuna, Nighttime Rainforest Walk

By boat and car, you'll transfer to La Fortuna today and check into your hotel. 

You'll head to Ecocentro Danaus in the afternoon, a private ecological reserve located 2.75 miles (4.5 km) east of town. Here, you'll wait for nightfall to embark on a guided nature hike and discover the reserve's nocturnal creatures. As you walk, your guide will point out various insects, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and mammals. Enjoy spotting bullfrogs, the iconic red-eyed tree frog, the translucent glass frog, and perhaps the brightly colored poison dart frog, one of the planet's most poisonous frogs. 

For other ideas, read this list of the best things to do in Arenal. La Fortuna has many excellent luxury hotels, including the Tabacón Thermal Resort & Spa.

Day 12: See Rio Celeste & Tenorio Volcano National Park 

Today you'll venture into Tenorio Volcano National Park for a moderate three-hour hike along the Río Celeste, one of the most stunning natural attractions in Costa Rica. The legend says that after God painted the sky, He washed His brushes in this river, which resulted in its famous electric-blue waters. 

Highlights along the hike include Los Teñideros, the site where two streams of crystalline water come together and form the "heavenly" blue that gives the river its name. You'll also see the volcano's furnace vents, which expel gases at extremely high temperatures, and the spectacular Río Celeste waterfall. Enjoy a gourmet lunch at the end of the journey.

Day 13: Hike Around Arenal Volcano, Canyoning & Hot Springs

Today you'll try waterfall rappelling, also known as canyoning, in the jungle. This activity is one of the most popular adventure sports in Costa Rica. After hiking along winding rivers in the rainforest, you'll strap into a harness and rappel down the side of the waterfall. No experience is necessary, and expert guides will make sure everyone is safe throughout the experience.

In the afternoon, go for a hike around Arenal Volcano. Start at the entrance of the 1968 Trail, where you'll hit the well-maintained trails that skirt the base of the volcano and Lake Arenal. This 1.5-hour route offers some of the best wildlife viewing opportunities in the park, and your naturalist guide will keep a well-trained eye out for exotic birds, monkeys, and other animals along the way. After hiking the trails, your guide will drop you off at Tabacon Hot Springs so you can soothe your muscles with a dip in mineral-rich waters. 

Find out more about hiking around Arenal Volcano here.

Day 14: Visit Hanging Bridges & Proyecto Asis 

Today, you'll visit Proyecto Asis, a rehabilitation and rescue center for local animals. The tour, led by a naturalist, begins with a brief introduction to the center. As you walk along the center's trails with your guide, you'll likely see anteaters, snakes, monkeys, parrots, and sloths. You'll also learn about animal conservation, sustainability, and the impact of tourism in the region. Enjoy some hands-on time to help with the animals. You'll have the opportunity to learn how to prepare and give the animals their food. When you leave the center, you'll have a much greater knowledge of local wildlife. Learn more about visiting Proyecto Asis.

This afternoon is your chance to explore the Arenal Hanging Bridges. This trail system features suspension bridges that take you high above the treetops before treating you to a once-in-a-lifetime view of Arenal Volcano soaring above the canopy. With more than 350 avian species found here, birdwatching is superb. 

Learn more about hiking around the Arenal Hanging Bridges here.

Day 15: Return to San José, Night on the Town

Day 16: Depart San José