The Rainforest Explorer will take you through some of the most incredible nature and archaeological sites in Costa Rica. This fun filled travel plan includes amazing tours, great ecolodges and everything you need to have an amazing experience in Costa Rica!
Day 1
Welcome to Costa Rica! Upon arrival to San Jose International Airport (contact us for details if arriving at other airport), you will receive a VIP Airport Greeting by a Pacific Trade Winds representative.
Hotel Villa Florencia
Overall 93.4% (15 guest ratings)
Location: Turrialba
Hotel Villa Florencia is a charming and cozy hotel located in the picturesque town of Turrialba, Costa Rica. Surrounded by beautiful gardens and offering breathtaking views of the Turrialba Valley and the nearby mountains, this family-owned hotel provides a warm and welcoming atmosphere for its guests. The hotel features comfortable and spacious rooms, designed with rustic elegance and equipped with modern amenities for a comfortable stay. Guests can enjoy the on-site restaurant that serves delicious traditional Costa Rican cuisine, made with fresh and locally sourced ingredients. The hotel also offers a range of facilities including a swimming pool, a Jacuzzi, and a bar, providing the perfect setting for relaxation and enjoyment. With its convenient location, Hotel Villa Florencia serves as a great base for exploring the natural wonders of the area, including the Turrialba Volcano, white-water rafting on the Pacuare River, and the enchanting Tapanti National Park. Whether you're seeking adventure or simply looking for a peaceful retreat, Hotel Villa Florencia provides a cozy and memorable experience in Turrialba, Costa Rica. Hotel amenities include swimming pool, jacuzzi, restaurant, conference room, and internet.While at Hotel Villa Florencia, the room you will enjoy is a Family Room. Family RoomMeals: Breakfast
Free day to explore Turrialba on your own. This is a fun little tourist geared town with shops, restaurants, and activities. Go explore the rainforest, volcano, lake, or contact us for choices of an added activity. Free days are for descriptive purposes only and do not include any services.
Today you will be embarking on the Guyabo Archeological Hike to witness what remains of an ancient civilization. You’ll be picked up from your hotel and taken to the site where you will go on a guided hike through the ancient ruins of a 3,000 year old civilization consisting of up to 10,000 people that mysteriously vanished. You will see interesting petroglyphs while learning the history of the area as well as the most recent discoveries. This tour includes admission, a bilingual historian guide, and transportation from Turrialba. One way transport can take from 15 minutes to 1 hour to get to the site depending on the location of your hotel. Combined time of tour and round trip transportation is typically 4 to 6 hours. Please bring walking shoes, rain jacket, sunscreen, bug repellent, camera and a bottle of water.
Nestled in the stunning natural beauty of San Gerardo de Dota, Costa Rica, Trogon Lodge offers a peaceful and enchanting escape for nature lovers and birdwatching enthusiasts. Surrounded by lush cloud forests and pristine rivers, this eco-friendly lodge provides a cozy and inviting atmosphere for guests to immerse themselves in the tranquility of the surroundings. The comfortable accommodations, designed with warm wood accents and rustic charm, offer a comfortable retreat after a day of exploration. Guests can embark on guided birdwatching tours to spot the elusive resplendent quetzal and a variety of other avian species. The lodge's on-site restaurant serves delicious Costa Rican cuisine, made with fresh local ingredients. Whether hiking through scenic trails, enjoying a soothing yoga session, or simply taking in the awe-inspiring natural landscapes, Trogon Lodge offers a serene and rejuvenating experience amidst the captivating cloud forests of San Gerardo de Dota. Lodge amenities include a trout pond, restaurant, bar, nature trails, conference room, and internet.While at Trogon Lodge, the room you will enjoy is a Standard. Standards offer the following amenities: hair dryer, jungle view, terrace.Meals: Breakfast
In the morning you will go with a guide on a birdwatching tour on the Trogon Lodge property. This tour is great for any birdwatcher and particulary those seeking Resplendent Quetzals as this is one of the few areas in the world that has the right features to harbor Quetzals year round. With a little luck and cooperation from Mother Nature, we should be able to spot many species of birds. The tour lasts 2 hours and includes guide. No transportation is needed from Trogon Lodge. Transportation is not included from other area hotels.
Pirate Cove Hotel is an affordable beachfront accommodation located in the picturesque Drake Bay, Costa Rica. The hotel offers budget-friendly rooms and bungalows that provide comfortable and cozy lodging options for travelers on a budget. The rooms are well-equipped with essential amenities and feature balconies or terraces with beautiful views of the surrounding gardens or the ocean. Guests can relax by the outdoor pool, take leisurely walks along the nearby beach, or simply unwind in the hammocks scattered throughout the property. The on-site restaurant offers affordable dining options, serving delicious local and international cuisine. The hotel also organizes affordable tours and activities, including snorkeling, hiking, and boat tours, allowing guests to explore the stunning marine and rainforest ecosystems of Drake Bay. With its affordable rates and convenient location, Pirate Cove Hotel is an excellent choice for budget-conscious travelers looking to enjoy the natural beauty of Drake Bay without breaking the bank. Lodge amenities include a restaurant and bar. There is a 25-pound-per-person baggage-luggage weight restriction for flights or boats to the hotel. NOTE: The included $15 per person national park fee cannot be refunded if cancellations occur.
You will begin this tour at Drake Bay where you will board a boat to Cano Island and snorkel over a protected coral reef. Your bilingual guide will provide you with clean, high-quality snorkeling gear and take you to the best snorkeling places. After your first snorkeling adventure, you’ll get off the boat at the island for a refreshing water break. Hiking is restricted to the beach area and only drinking water is allowed on the beach. Then you will be taken on another guided snorkeling adventure before returning to Drake Bay. Once on the mainland, you’ll be treated to lunch. This tour includes a bilingual, certified guide, all snorkeling equipment, park admission fee, drinking water, and lunch. Note: The $15 per person park admission fee and $11 for lunch cannot be refunded in the event of cancellation. One-way boat transportation to the island can take from 45 minutes to an hour. The combined time of this tour with a round trip boat ride, two snorkeling adventures, and lunch, typically takes between 4 to 6 hours and can be influenced by the number of scuba divers who may also be taking the boat. Please bring a dry change of clothing, bathing suit, towel, sunblock, binoculars and camera. This is the perfect opportunity to take memorable underwater photos of this living reef where treasure may be hiding!
Today’s Corcovado National Park tour is known as the backpacker’s dream. You will begin the tour from Drake Bay where you will meet the boat captain and board the waiting boat. A 30 to 45-minute boat ride over to the protected park will give you an opportunity to look for marine life and shore birds. Once you arrive at the San Pedrillo Ranger Station you will go on a guided hike of approximately 2 miles through a wide variety of eco-systems supporting different kinds of wildlife in their natural habitats. Your naturalist guide will share a wealth of information about the ecosystems and their inhabitants and help identify any wildlife you may encounter. The hike will include a visit to the San Pedrillo Waterfall. Lunch will be provided. Your tour includes boat transportation to and from the ranger station, a naturalist guide, park entrance fees and lunch. Note: The $15 per person park admission fee and $11 for lunch cannot be refunded in the event of cancellation. . Total time of tour and round trip boat transportation combined can take from 5 to 7 hours depending on the size of your group. Please wear non-skid, completely enclosed hiking shoes, lightweight sun-protective clothing, and bring sunscreen, insect repellent, rain gear, binoculars, and a camera. You might like to have additional snacks and plenty of drinking water. This is a moderately difficult hike that will take the backpacking enthusiast into the wonderful world of an untamed jungle where you can experience firsthand Costa Rica’s tremendous biodiversity.
Embrace the natural beauty of Costa Rica at Hacienda Baru Lodge in Dominical. Surrounded by lush rainforest and near pristine beaches, our eco-friendly lodge offers rustic accommodations blending with the environment. Explore extensive grounds, encounter diverse wildlife, and enjoy sustainable cuisine at the on-site restaurant. Engage in eco-adventures or unwind by the pool, immersing yourself in serenity. Committed to sustainability, our friendly staff ensures a memorable stay. Experience the raw beauty of Hacienda Baru Lodge, where adventure and tranquility converge in this extraordinary Costa Rican destination. Hotel amenities include a swimming pool, restaurant, bar, and internet.While at Hacienda Baru, the room you will enjoy is a Pool View Room. Pool View Rooms offer the following amenities: coffee service, fan, mezzanine bedroom, safe deposit box, terrace.Meals: Breakfast
Beach day at Playa Dominical to explore on your own. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the tropical sun on the palm studded beaches of the Pacific coast. Free days are for descriptive purposes only and do not include any services.
The Damas Island Riverboat Ride is an amazing experience and opportunity to see numerous species of wildlife. The refuge is home to large populations of caimans and crocodiles, which can be observed at nearly every turn. It is not only reptiles though as the area is also home to Capuchin monkeys, anteaters, sloths and other mammals. Birdwatchers will delight as many species either live here or migrate through including parrots, toucans, roseate spoonbills, herons and other waterfowl. This fun filled safari includes transportation, bilingual guide, and a meal. The timing of the tour is dependent on the time of the high and low tides, as is the time of transportation and timing of the included meal, which will be explained once the booking date is known.
Another Playa Dominical beach day to explore on your own. You can sit back, relax, and perfect that tropical tan, or contact us for choices of an added activity. Free days are for descriptive purposes only and do not include any services.
Hilton DoubleTree Cariari Resort in Cariari, Costa Rica, is an affordable but luxurious and inviting retreat situated amidst lush tropical gardens and tranquil lagoons. This upscale resort offers a perfect blend of relaxation and convenience, located just minutes away from San Jose's international airport (SJO). The spacious and elegantly appointed guest rooms provide a comfortable sanctuary for guests, while the resort's array of amenities, including a sparkling outdoor pool and a fitness center, ensure a pleasurable stay. Indulge in exquisite dining experiences at on-site restaurants, serving a variety of international and local cuisines. With its serene ambiance, attentive service, and proximity to both nature and urban attractions, Hilton DoubleTree Cariari Resort is an ideal choice for business and leisure travelers seeking a refined and convenient getaway in Cariari, Costa Rica. Hotel amenities include a restaurant, bar, swimming pool, fitness center, business center, barber shop, beauty salon, concierge, tropical gardens and internet.While at Hilton Doubletree Cariari Resort, the room you will enjoy is a Executive Room. Executive Rooms offer the following amenities: air conditioning, alarm clock, cable tv, coffee service, hair dryer, internet, iron, phone, radio, safe deposit box, tub.Meals: Breakfast
Final Day — All good things must come to an end, though memories last a lifetime.
Transportation will be provided back to San Jose International Airport scheduled to arrive three hours prior to your departure flight.¡Pura Vida!
Summary
Travel assistance while in Costa Rica
VIP Airport Greeting
All Domestic Transportation as described
3 nights at Hotel Villa Florencia
Free Day Turrialba
Guayabo Archeological Site
2 nights at Trogon Lodge
Early Morning Birdwatching
3 nights at Pirate Cove Hotel
Cano Island Tour and Snorkeling
Corcovado National Park Tour San Pedrillo Station
4 nights at Hacienda Baru
Free Day - Beach Day Playa Dominical
Damas Island Riverboat Safari
Free Day - Another Beach Day Playa Dominical
1 nights at Hilton Doubletree Cariari Resort
Inquire for details about Included Meals/Drinks
Current sales and turismo taxes
Footnotes
This fun filled safari also includes all meals at Pirate Cove Hotel!