Costa Rica 8-day tour: Tortuguero, Arenal & Tortuga Island

Five waterfalls, jungle canals and a day sailing the Gulf of Nicoya

This 8-day tour from San Jose covers five of Costa Rica's most visited destinations: Tortuguero National Park, Arenal Volcano, Tortuga Island and La Paz Waterfall Gardens. You stay in three-to-five-star hotels, travel by boat through jungle waterways and overland by shuttle, hike to waterfalls and cloud forest, swim and snorkel at a private island, and choose one adventure activity at Arenal: horseback riding, canopy tour, waterfall hike or hanging bridges. A naturalist guide leads the way. All park entries and meals listed in the itinerary are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and hotel check-in

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

Day 2: Travel to Tortuguero National Park

• Transfer from San Jose to Caño Blanco
• Boat trip to Tortuguero
• Check in at Pachira Lodge
• Enjoy cocktail and lunch
• Explore museum, beach, and town
• Dinner at lodge

Day 3: Explore Tortuguero National Park

• Breakfast at Pachira Lodge
• Hike Tortuguero Hill or canal tour
• Lunch at lodge
• Enjoy private trails or boat ride
• Dinner at lodge
• Optional night turtle nesting tour

Day 4: Transfer to Arenal Volcano

• Breakfast at lodge
• Boat and bus transfer to Arenal
• Meet private transport after lunch
• Check in at Hotel Arenal Paraiso
• Free time at leisure

Day 5: Arenal Volcano activities and return

• Breakfast at hotel
• Choose adventure activity
• Afternoon transfer to San Jose
• Check in at Aurola Holiday Inn Hotel

Day 6: Tortuga Island cruise

• Early hotel pick up
• Sail past San Lucas and nearby islands
• Stop at Tortuga Island for activities
• Enjoy seafood lunch
• Return to San Jose hotel

Day 7: La Paz Waterfall Gardens tour

• Breakfast at hotel
• Visit La Paz Waterfall Gardens
• Explore waterfalls, wildlife, and exhibits
• Lunch at the park
• Return to hotel

Day 8: Departure day

• Breakfast at hotel
• Transfer to International Airport
• Farewell and end of tour

The experience

How do you fit Costa Rica's best destinations into one trip without spending weeks planning the route? This package strings them together in sequence, starting with a night in San Jose, then moving north by boat and bus to Tortuguero. The journey itself is part of the experience: a 90-minute boat ride through rivers and lagoons lined with wildlife, crossing from the Central Valley into the Caribbean lowlands. You stay at Pachira Lodge, a base for exploring the national park's canals and Tortuguero Hill on foot or by water.

From Tortuguero, you travel overland to Arenal Volcano, where you pick one included adventure: horseback riding to the volcano, a canopy tour, a hike to La Fortuna Waterfall, hanging bridges, or kayaking on Lake Arenal. The next day you return to San Jose by land transfer. Then comes Tortuga Island: a full-day sailing trip from 6am to 7pm into the Gulf of Nicoya, with stops for swimming, snorkeling and shell collecting in a private cove, plus fresh seafood lunch on board. Your final full day is at La Paz Waterfall Gardens, where a naturalist guide walks you past five waterfalls through cloud forest and rain forest, shows you the aviary, butterfly observatory, hummingbird garden and rescued wildlife: jaguars, pumas, ocelots, capuchin monkeys, spider monkeys and over 100 animal species in one place.

You sleep in high-quality hotels throughout: the five-star Aurola Holiday Inn in San Jose, Pachira Lodge in Tortuguero and Hotel Arenal Paraiso near the volcano. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are provided on days when the itinerary lists them. Professional naturalist guides lead the tours and explain what you're seeing. All national park entrance fees and transportation (from airport pickup to the final transfer out) are covered. Specialized infant seats are available for children from age four and up.

What’s included

• Seven nights in high-quality hotels (five-star in San Jose, three-star lodge in Tortuguero, four-star near Arenal).
• all meals listed in the itinerary.
• professional naturalist guide throughout.
• all national park entrance fees.
• boat transfer through Tortuguero's canals and lagoons.
• land transfer from Tortuguero to Arenal.
• one included adventure activity at Arenal (your choice of horseback riding, canopy tour, waterfall hike, volcano hike, hanging bridges or kayaking).
• full-day Tortuga Island sailing cruise with lunch.
• private tour of La Paz Waterfall Gardens.
• airport pickup and all ground transportation in a deluxe vehicle.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

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

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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 7 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats available

Operated by Greenway Nature Day Tours

Is this one for you?Pick this if you want to see five major Costa Rican sites in one week with a guide who speaks your language, moving to a new destination each day rather than staying put.

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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 the boat ride through Tortuguero like?

The 90-minute journey from Caño Blanco into Tortuguero takes you through rivers and lagoons surrounded by jungle flora and fauna. You'll see the landscape change as you leave the agricultural lowlands and enter the national park's waterways, arriving at Pachira Lodge for lunch and a refreshing drink.

Can I choose which adventure activity I do at Arenal?

Yes. On day five you pick one included option: horseback riding to Arenal Volcano, the Arenal Mundo Aventura Canopy Tour, a hike to La Fortuna Waterfall, an Arenal Volcano hike, hanging bridges, or Lake Arenal kayaking. Your choice is added to your final itinerary before the trip.

What happens on the Tortuga Island day?

You depart your hotel at 6am and sail into the Gulf of Nicoya, passing San Lucas (a former jail island), Gypsy Island and Sugar Loaf Island before landing at a private cove around midday. There you swim, snorkel, collect shells or relax for several hours. Lunch features fresh seafood and local fruits and vegetables. You return to San Jose around 7pm and stay overnight at the hotel. Dinner is on your own.

What will I see at La Paz Waterfall Gardens?

La Paz is Costa Rica's most visited private ecological attraction. Your naturalist guide takes you to five waterfalls, through cloud forest and rain forest on safe hiking trails, and past an aviary, butterfly observatory, hummingbird garden with 26 species, rescued wildlife including jaguars, pumas, ocelots, capuchin and spider monkeys, a serpentarium, frog exhibit, orchid and heliconia displays, and a traditional house with petting zoo.

Are meals included in the package?

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included on all days when the itinerary lists them. On the Tortuga Island day, lunch is served on the boat. Your final dinner in San Jose is on your own.