12-Day Costa Rica Tour: Tortuguero, Arenal & Manuel Antonio

Boat through jungle canals, hike cloud forest, pick your own adventures

This 12-day tour from San José covers five Costa Rican destinations: Tortuguero National Park, Arenal Volcano, Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve and Manuel Antonio National Park. You travel by van, boat and shuttle between regions, stay in three-star and five-star hotels, and on four days choose your own activity, from canopy tours and horseback riding to wildlife kayaking and volcano hikes. A naturalist guide leads the group through each region's flora and fauna.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and hotel check-in

• Arrive at Juan Santamaria Airport
• Meet representative and receive itinerary
• Transfer to Hotel Radisson
• Free time at leisure

Day 2: Travel to Tortuguero National Park

• Transfer to Guapiles Town
• Stop for typical breakfast
• Continue journey through Caribbean plantations
• Boat trip to Tortuguero
• Arrive at Pachira Lodge and enjoy cocktail
• Lunch at lodge
• Explore museum, beach, and Tortuguero town

Day 3: Tortuguero canals and lodge activities

• Breakfast at Pachira Lodge
• Tour Tortuguero Canals
• Lunch at lodge
• Enjoy private trails or boat ride
• Dinner at lodge
• Optional night turtle nesting tour (Jul-Sep)

Day 4: Transfer to Arenal Volcano area

• Breakfast and hotel check-out
• Transfer and lunch en route
• Shuttle bus to Arenal
• Check in at Hotel Arenal Paraiso

Day 5: Freestyle day in Arenal

• Breakfast at hotel
• Choose adventure activity
• Afternoon free time

Day 6: Travel to Monteverde by van and boat

• Breakfast at hotel
• Jeep ride to Arenal Lake
• Boat across Arenal Lake
• Jeep to Monteverde
• Check in at Hotel Fonda Vela
• Free time

Day 7: Freestyle day in Monteverde

• Breakfast at hotel
• Choose adventure activity
• Afternoon free time

Day 8: Transfer to Manuel Antonio

• Breakfast at hotel
• Land transfer to Manuel Antonio
• Check in at Hotel Costa Verde
• Free time to enjoy pool or beach

Day 9: Freestyle day in Manuel Antonio

• Breakfast at hotel
• Choose adventure activity
• Afternoon free time

Day 10: Leisure day in Manuel Antonio

• Breakfast at hotel
• Free time at leisure

Day 11: Return to San José

• Morning beach exploration
• Lunch
• Land transfer to San José
• Check in at Hotel Radisson
• Free time

Day 12: Departure transfer

• Breakfast at hotel
• Transfer to International Airport
• Farewell

The experience

The itinerary opens in San José, where you're met at Juan Santamaría International Airport and transferred to Hotel Radisson. The next morning you head northeast toward Tortuguero, stopping in Guapiles for a typical breakfast before a 90-minute boat ride through rivers and lagoons into the jungle. Tortuguero National Park becomes your base for two nights at Pachira Lodge, where you travel the famous canals by boat and walk private trails. An optional night tour lets you watch green turtles nesting on the beach (July through September).

From Tortuguero you transfer overland to Arenal, where Hotel Arenal Paraiso sits with views of the volcano. Here you pick one included adventure (Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge, horseback riding to the waterfall, a canopy tour, mountain biking, a volcano hike, hanging bridges, lake kayaking, or safari options), then have the afternoon free. The journey to Monteverde combines van, boat and van again: you cross Arenal Lake by boat, seeing the volcano from the water, then continue by jeep to Fonda Vela Hotel in the cloud forest. Another freestyle day lets you choose between the SkyTram and SkyTrek canopy experience, a nature walk through the reserve, horseback riding, a coffee tour, or a night walk.

The final leg takes you south to Manuel Antonio National Park on the Central Pacific Coast, where Hotel Costa Verde is your base for two nights. You select one more included activity: rafting the Naranjo River, a guided nature walk through the park, canopy safari, mangrove kayaking, island boat tours, horseback riding, mountain biking, or a catamaran cruise. Your last full day is free to explore the beach and surroundings. On day 12, you transfer back to San José with time to rest at Hotel Radisson before your airport transfer.

What’s included

• Twelve days and eleven nights in three-star and five-star hotels.
• all entrance fees to the national parks and reserves.
• professional naturalist guide in English or Spanish.
• deluxe transportation by van, boat and shuttle between regions.
• meals listed in the itinerary.
• airport pickup and transfer.
• four included adventure activities (one per region, your choice from a list).
• hotel check-in and orientation on arrival.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (11 to 80 years) · Child (4 to 10 years) · Under 4: can't be booked

GroupUp to 20

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.

Prices and times updated 10 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats available

Operated by Greenway Nature Day Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to mix guided exploration with self-directed days. You'll move between regions every few days by boat and van, then choose your own activity level (easy walks or challenging hikes) during four freestyle days.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 10 years). Children under 4 can't be included in the booking.

What's included in the meals during the 12 days?

The package includes meals listed in the itinerary at each hotel and lodge. Breakfast is provided daily at your accommodation, and lunch and dinner are included at set times. Specific menus depend on where you're staying each night.

Can I really choose a different activity each day in Arenal, Monteverde and Manuel Antonio?

Yes. On four days (one in Arenal, one in Monteverde, and one in Manuel Antonio). You select one included adventure from a list of options before your trip starts. The operator adds your choice to your final itinerary, and the rest of the afternoon is free time.

What's the boat ride to Tortuguero actually like?

The 90-minute boat journey from Caño Blanco takes you through rivers and lagoons deep into the jungle, surrounded by Costa Rican flora and fauna. You'll see the landscape change as you move from agricultural areas into the rainforest before arriving at Pachira Lodge.

How do you get from Arenal to Monteverde?

The transfer uses van, boat and van in sequence. You travel by jeep from La Fortuna to Arenal Lake, cross the lake by boat (with views of the volcano), then continue by jeep from Chiquito River to Monteverde. This route saves time compared to an overland drive.

What are the hotels like on this tour?

You stay at five-star hotels in San José (Hotel Radisson at the start and end) and three-star lodges in the national parks: Pachira Lodge in Tortuguero, Arenal Paraiso Hotel near the volcano, Fonda Vela Hotel in Monteverde, and Hotel Costa Verde in Manuel Antonio.

Is there a guide with the group the whole time?

A professional naturalist guide leads the tours through each region and travels with the group. Guides speak English and Spanish, and they explain the flora, fauna and landscape as you move between destinations.