8-day San Jose tour: Arenal Volcano, hot springs, beach

Arenal Volcano, thermal pools and time to shape your own adventure

This 8-day private tour strings together San Jose, Arenal Volcano, Fortuna Town and Tamarindo Beach with a professional naturalist guide, hotel stays, entrance fees and most meals. Two days in Arenal and one in Tamarindo let you pick your own activity (from canopy tours and horseback riding to kayaking and wildlife boat tours), while the fixed itinerary handles the major sites and all transport between them.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in San Jose

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

Day 2: Arenal Volcano and Hot Springs

• Visit Fortuna Waterfall
• Explore Arenal Volcano area
• Enjoy buffet lunch at Baldi Hot Springs
• Relax in thermal pools until 4 PM
• Transfer to Hotel Magic Mountain
• Dinner on your own

Day 3: Free Day in Arenal

• Choose an adventure activity

Day 4: Travel to Tamarindo Beach

• Breakfast at hotel
• Shuttle transfer to Tamarindo Beach
• Relax at pool or beach
• Free evening

Day 5: Free Day in Tamarindo

• Choose an adventure activity
• Free afternoon

Day 6: Enjoy Tamarindo Beach

• Free time at beach and city

Day 7: Return to San Jose

• Morning free time at beach
• Hotel check out by noon
• Shuttle transfer to San Jose
• Check in at Hotel Radisson

Day 8: Departure

• Transfer to International Airport
• Farewell

The experience

The tour opens in San Jose with airport pickup and a night at Hotel Radisson, then heads north to Arenal. Day two is the anchor: you visit Fortuna Waterfall in the morning, then spend the afternoon soaking in the thermal pools at Baldi Hot Springs (lockers and towels included) with a buffet lunch before you jump in. The pools stay open until 4 p.m., and you overnight in Fortuna Town.

Day three is yours to customize. The operator lists twelve options, half-day and full-day, all included: Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge by boat, horseback riding to the volcano, canopy tours, mountain biking, a hike up Arenal itself, hanging bridges, kayaking on Lake Arenal, or the Venado Caves. Pick one when you book and it lands in your final itinerary. Day four you transfer to Tamarindo Beach on the Pacific Coast, arriving mid-afternoon with the rest of the day free.

Tamarindo gives you the same flexibility: choose from seven included adventures. Zip-lining, kayak tours to the estuary, snorkeling, mangrove boat tours, horseback riding, catamaran cruises with dolphin and whale watching, or a sunset sail. Day six is unstructured beach time. Day seven you transfer back to San Jose by noon, overnight at the Radisson, and depart the next morning. All transport between towns, hotel stays, entrance fees and the meals listed in the itinerary are included. Lunch and dinner in Tamarindo on your free day are on your own.

What’s included

• Professional naturalist guide in English or Spanish.
• eight days and seven nights in high-quality hotels (Radisson in San Jose, La Pradera or similar in Fortuna Town, Wyndham in Tamarindo).
• all entrance fees to Arenal Volcano, Fortuna Waterfall and Baldi Hot Springs.
• daily breakfast and lunch on activity days.
• deluxe transportation between all destinations.
• two customizable adventure activities: one in Arenal and one in Tamarindo, chosen from a list of twelve and seven options respectively.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (11 to 90 years) · Child (4 to 10 years) · Under 4: can't be included in the booking

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

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.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats available

Operated by Greenway Nature Day Tours

Is this one for you?Eight days is long enough to move between three distinct regions without rushing, but short enough to fit a single vacation. The two customizable days mean you're not locked into a set itinerary once you arrive (you pick the activities that match your energy and interests), while the fixed structure handles logistics and the major sites so you don't have to plan them yourself.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

2 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

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

What's included in the Arenal day with Fortuna Waterfall and Baldi Hot Springs?

The day includes the visit to Fortuna Waterfall, entry to Baldi Hot Springs, a buffet lunch there, use of lockers and towels, and transport from your hotel in Fortuna Town. You stay in the thermal pools until 4 p.m., then transfer to your overnight hotel.

How do I choose which adventure activity to do in Arenal and Tamarindo?

The operator lists twelve options for Arenal (wildlife boat tours, horseback riding, canopy tours, volcano hike, kayaking, caves and others) and seven for Tamarindo (zip-lining, kayak tours, snorkeling, catamaran cruises, sunset sails and more). You pick one for each location when you book, and it gets added to your final itinerary. Both are included in the tour price.

What are the hotels on this 8-day tour?

You stay at Hotel Radisson in San Jose on arrival and departure nights, Hotel La Pradera or similar in Fortuna Town for two nights, and Wyndham Tamarindo Hotel for three nights on the Pacific Coast.

Does the tour include meals?

Breakfast is included each morning at your hotel, and lunch is included on the Arenal day at Baldi Hot Springs and on whichever activity day you choose in Arenal and Tamarindo. Dinners are on your own except the first night in Fortuna Town, when dinner is not included. In Tamarindo, lunch and dinner on your free day are your responsibility.

Is there a guide with the group the whole time?

Yes, a professional naturalist guide in English or Spanish travels with you throughout the 8 days, handling all the major tours and explaining the sites. On your customizable activity days, the guide either leads that activity or arranges it with the operator.