13-day Costa Rica tour: San Jose to Manuel Antonio

Thirteen days across Costa Rica's national parks, beaches and cloud forest

A 13-day guided tour starting in San Jose and moving through six regions: Tortuguero National Park's canal systems, Cahuita's reef and tropical forest, Arenal Volcano's hot springs and ATV trails, Monteverde's cloud forest canopy, and Manuel Antonio's white sand beaches. The itinerary includes 12 nights' accommodation, a professional bilingual guide, transport by air-conditioned minivan, all national park fees and six full-day excursions.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in San Jose

• Arrive at San Jose International Airport
• Transfer to hotel in San Jose city

Day 2: San Jose to Tortuguero National Park

• Pick up at hotel early morning
• Transfer to Guapiles City with breakfast en route
• Board boat to Tortuguero
• Enjoy cocktail and lunch at lodge
• Tour canals and wildlife photography
• Dinner and lodging at Pachira or Laguna Lodge

Day 3: Tortuguero National Park Exploration

• Breakfast at the lodge
• Walking tour on lodge's private trail
• Lunch at the lodge
• Visit museum, beach, and Tortuguero town
• Dinner at the lodge
• Optional evening turtle walk (Jul-Sep)

Day 4: Tortuguero to Cahuita Beach

• Breakfast at the lodge
• Depart to Guapiles
• Lunch on the way
• Arrive at Cahuita and Puerto Viejo beach

Day 5: Cahuita National Park Visit

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Explore Cahuita National Park and beaches
• Lunch included in the tour

Day 6: Cahuita to Arenal Volcano

• Transfer to Arenal Volcano area
• Visit hot springs resort
• Dinner at hot springs resort

Day 7: Arenal Volcano ATV Adventure

• Pick up at hotel
• ATV driving practice and safety briefing
• Drive through private farm and nature views
• Rest and shower at Arenal River
• Lunch at restaurant

Day 8: Arenal to Monteverde via Lake Crossing

• Pick up from hotels in La Fortuna
• Drive to Arenal Lake Dam
• Boat ride across Arenal Lake
• Arrive at Monteverde area
• Leisure time in afternoon

Day 9: Monteverde Sky Park Adventure

• Breakfast at hotel
• Explore Sky Adventures Monteverde Park
• Enjoy cloud forest biodiversity
• Lunch included during tour

Day 10: Monteverde to Manuel Antonio

• Transfer from Monteverde to Manuel Antonio
• Arrive near Manuel Antonio National Park
• Explore town and local options

Day 11: Manuel Antonio Free Day

• Free day to explore or relax

Day 12: Manuel Antonio Free Day

• Free day to explore or relax

Day 13: Manuel Antonio to San Jose Departure

• Morning free time
• Transfer to San Jose International Airport

The experience

You arrive at San Jose International Airport and transfer to your hotel in the city for the first night. The next morning, pickup happens at 6:30 am for the drive to Guapiles, where you board a boat to Tortuguero National Park. Two nights there let you walk the lodge's private trail, visit the museum and small town, and tour the canals by boat: the optional evening walk to watch green turtles spawning runs July through September. From Tortuguero, you travel back to the coast and south to Cahuita Beach, where two nights give you time in Cahuita National Park: 1,067 hectares of tropical forest and reef with capuchin monkeys, iguanas, blue herons and white sand beaches.

The journey inland takes you to Arenal Volcano area near La Fortuna. One day includes a visit to a hot springs resort with dinner. The next is an ATV adventure through private farmland to the Arenal River, where you can swim and rest before lunch. From there, a scenic lake crossing (30 to 40 minutes by pontoon boat across Arenal Lake, the largest in Costa Rica) carries you to Monteverde. Two nights in the cloud forest put you at Sky Adventures Monteverde Park, where the altitude between 1,200 and 1,750 meters supports over 2,500 plant species, more than 400 bird species and 100 species of mammals. The park offers multiple ways to explore the canopy and forest floor.

The final leg moves you to Manuel Antonio on the Pacific Coast, where three nights split between a free day to explore and relax on the beach, and time in Manuel Antonio National Park itself: one of the smallest parks in Costa Rica but the most visited, with 109 mammal species and 184 bird species. The tour ends with a morning free (depending on your flight time) before ground transfer back to San Jose International Airport. All accommodation is included for 12 nights. Meals are 12 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 3 dinners as detailed in the itinerary.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off.
• professional bilingual guide in English or Spanish.
• transport by air-conditioned minivan throughout.
• 12 nights' accommodation.
• 12 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 3 dinners as per itinerary.
• all national park fees.
• six full-day excursions.
• all taxes, fees and handling charges.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (11 to 65 years) · Senior (66 to 90 years) · Child (4 to 10 years) · Infant (under 4)

GroupUp to 10

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 6 days before the start.Between 2 and 6 days before the start, 50% refund.After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 17

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Destiny Travel Costa Rica

Is this one for you?Choose this tour if you prefer a single guide leading the same group through multiple regions rather than switching guides, and if two nights per location suits your pace better than daily moves.

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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); Infant (under 4).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 6 days before the start.

What animals might I see in Tortuguero National Park?

Tortuguero's tropical forest and marshes shelter capuchin monkeys, pacas, raccoons, Northern tamanduas, opposums, porcupines, green iguanas, basilisks and many bird species including frigatebirds, green ibis, blue herons and gulls. Green turtles spawn on the beach July through September, viewable on the optional evening walk.

How does the transfer from Arenal to Monteverde work?

The route combines three transport modes: a 30-minute minibus drive from La Fortuna to Arenal Lake Dam, a 30 to 40-minute pontoon boat ride across Arenal Lake to Río Chiquito on the far shore, then a car transfer to Monteverde. The boat crossing offers views of the lake, surrounding wildlife and the Arenal Volcano on clear days.

What is included in the 13 days and what costs extra?

The tour includes 12 nights' accommodation, all transport by air-conditioned minivan, a professional bilingual guide, national park fees, 12 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 3 dinners, hotel pickup and drop-off, and six full-day excursions. Tortuguero National Park entrance fees (USD 15 per person) and the Green Turtle Museum donation (USD 2) are paid directly at the park and not included.

Are there free days to explore on my own?

Yes. In Manuel Antonio, you have two free days to relax on the beach, explore the town, book optional activities or use the hotel facilities. The final morning in Manuel Antonio is also free, depending on your flight schedule.

What is the Sky Adventures Monteverde Park experience like?

Sky Adventures is located in Monteverde's cloud forest at high altitude, where the climate supports extreme biodiversity: over 2,500 plant species, 400 bird species, 100 mammal species and 120 reptilian and amphibian species. Visitors explore the forest canopy and treetops in multiple ways, learning about the ecosystem as they move through it.