The Pure Life Adventure + Monteverde is a value-packed vacation for anyone with nine days to spend visiting the top 3 Costa Rica destinations, Arenal Volcano, Monteverde, and Manuel Antonio beach. Enjoy soothing hot springs and exciting adventures deep in the natural rainforest at Arenal Volcano. Experience the misty wonders of the high altitude cloud forest canopy in Monteverde. Observe exotic wildlife and unwind at the gorgeous white sand beaches of Manuel Antonio. Similar to all of our amazing vacations, this value-packed itinerary can be 100% customized to your budget and needs. Check pricing notes for details. Take Advantage of Green Season Discounts!
The Pure Life Adventure + Monteverde itinerary will send you off to the three most sought after Costa Rica vacation destinations, ideal for ecotourists and really anybody that wants to experience the very best Costa Rica has to offer, all in one vacation. This exciting trip will transport you to the top of the Continental Divide to see the Monteverde Cloud forest, into the rainforest and hot springs surrounding the majestic Arenal Volcano, then down to Manual Antonio’s gorgeous white sand beaches. You’ll experience amazing activities, great guides, excellent hotels, and easy transportation. Best of all, this vacation is 100% customizable to your needs!
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Number of nights: 8 (customizable)
Per person price from *$1,149
$100 Low Lifelong Deposit, No Charge Rescheduling**
While this vacation is 100% customizable, we recommend using the hotels included in this sample itinerary. These hotels have traveler-friendly policies, allowing for low down payments, easy rescheduling, and reasonable cancellation terms.
The adventure begins upon your arrival at San Jose Airport. Our representative will be waiting for you and then provide a private transfer to the La Fortuna area, at the base of the iconic Arenal Volcano. You’ll stay at Arenal Springs Resort and Spa, offering guests complimentary hot springs, spectacular volcano views, and a tropical eco-resort experience. The Arenal region is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Costa Rica and also one of the best for ecotourists with more rainforest adventures and nature activities than anywhere else in the country. The next day, you’ll go on a guided visit to the La Fortuna Waterfalls. At an elevation of 200 feet surrounded by lush green jungle, the thundering falls are both impressive and beautiful. Afterward, you might like to visit the town and then relax at the resort’s hot springs when you return. On your third day, you will have your choice of going either on a Riverboat Safari in search of wildlife such as caimans, monkeys, and toucans while cruising the jungle river at Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge OR go on an awesome Whitewater Rafting Adventure shooting the rapids at Rio Balsa.
After spending a few days in Arenal, you’ll be transferred by land to beautiful Lake Arenal where you’ll enjoy traveling by boat across the lake. When you reach the other side, another land transfer will complete your journey up to Monteverde. Costa Rica’s most famous cloud forest area, Monteverde’s high elevation along the Continental Divide provides a unique opportunity for nature enthusiasts and adventure seekers to experience spectacular scenery and amazing birdwatching. You’ll stay at The El Establo Mountain Hotel, which is built on a hillside overlooking the cloud forest. When it’s clear, you can see all the way to the Pacific Ocean! The following day, you can choose to either go on a guided nature hike at Aventuras Hanging Bridges OR go on a high-speed Canopy Zipline Adventure. After your tour, be sure to visit the Santa Elena town center for souvenir shops, art galleries, museums, chocolate shops, and more.
By now, you’ll be ready to relax and spend some time at the beach! We’ll provide a transfer down the mountain and then down the Pacific coast to Manuel Antonio Beach. Here you will find one of the prettiest beach destinations in Costa Rica with light golden sand and turquoise water rimmed by palm trees and jungle. You’ll stay at La Vela Boutique Hotel, located between Espadilla Beach and Manuel Antonio National Park, just a few minute's walk from either! This small boutique hotel surrounded by tropical gardens is known for a casual vibe and excellent service. No activities are planned for the next couple of days for you to have some time to relax and unwind. We recommend checking out the beautiful beaches as well as the national park which has an abundance of wildlife. Of course, plenty of adventure activities are available should you decide to customize your itinerary.
This popular Costa Rica vacation offers a great combination of activities, but also plenty of ME TIME so you can explore on your own and enjoy some relaxing downtime. Every aspect of your itinerary can be customized to your personal taste, and we’re here to make it perfect for YOU!
Overview | Itinerary | Destinations | Hotels | Tours | Inclusions & Rates
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Day 1: Welcome to Costa Rica and on to Arenal Volcano!
We will meet you at San Jose International Airport and then provide a private transfer to Arenal Springs Resort and Spa at Arenal Volcano. If you arrive early enough, you may have time to wash away the travel day in the resort’s onsite hot springs!
Arenal Springs Resort and Spa
Day 2: La Fortuna Waterfall Tour (B)
You will go on a guided tour to the spectacular La Fortuna Waterfalls, where you’ll have the option to either take in the view from the various observation platforms or hike down to the base of the 200 foot falls. Afterward, you can return to the resort and luxuriate in the relaxing hot springs!
Arenal Springs Resort and Spa
Day 3: Choice: Riverboat Safari or Rio Balsa Rafting (B, L)
You’ll have your choice to go on a nature or an adventure tour. The nature tour will take you on a guided Riverboat Safari through the wilderness aboard a covered open pontoon boat within the Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge near the Nicaragua border. The adventure tour sends you on a thrilling Whitewater Rafting Adventure where you’ll experience Class II and III rapids as you discover the beautiful area surrounding the Rio Balsa.
Arenal Springs Resort and Spa
Day 4: Transfer to Monteverde (B)
You’ll travel by land to Lake Arenal where a boat will be waiting to take you across this beautiful lake. When you reach the other side, another land transfer will drive you through rural countryside and up into the scenic mountainous region of Monteverde, where you’ll stay at El Establo Mountain Hotel.
El Establo Mountain Hotel
Day 5: Choice Aventuras: Canopy Hanging Bridges or Zipline (B)
You will once again be able to choose a nature or an adventure tour. For adventure, the Aventuras Canopy Zipline tour will take you flying through the trees at high speeds via wheel and harness connected to a steel zipline cable. The nature tour provides an informative guided hike through the cloud forest on both terrestrial trails and suspension bridges. This is a great way to observe various forms of wildlife from the forest floor up into the tree canopy where you’ll experience spectacular scenery as you walk across the hanging bridges.
El Establo Mountain Hotel
Day 6: Transfer to Manuel Antonio (B)
Today we’ll transfer you down the mountains and over to the Pacific coast to enjoy the beautiful beaches at Manuel Antonio, where you’ll be staying at La Vela Boutique Hotel.
La Vela Boutique Hotel
Days 7 & 8: Beach and Relaxation Days (B)
Manuel Antonio offers some of the prettiest beaches in Costa Rica. Your time is your own with no scheduled events so we recommend a bit of beachcombing and a visit to the most popular national park with a number of exotic animals. Of course, you can also just lounge by the pool and enjoy the peaceful ambiance of La Vela Boutique Hotel.
La Vela Boutique Hotel
Day 9: Back to the Airport (B)
Vacation time is never long enough but we’re sure this vacation will leave you with lifelong memories! We will provide a private transfer back to San Jose Airport timed for your personal flight schedule.
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Arenal Volcano is not only one of the most beautiful rainforest destinations in Costa Rica, it is also the Adventure and Hot Springs Capital! The Arenal area offers more nature and adventure tours than any other destination in the country. After your planned activities, you can enjoy a good soaking in the volcano’s thermal hot springs! The lively little town of La Fortuna at the base of the iconic volcano provides a central hub for shopping, dining, and immersing yourself in the local culture. View this destination…
Some animals that live in Arenal… (actual images may have been taken in other locations)
The cloud-shrouded rainforests at Monteverde create an air of mystery for anybody exploring this amazing area high up on the Continental Divide. Canopy Zipline tours provide an opportunity like no other soaring across the jungle overlooking spectacular mountainous terrain. Nature enthusiasts will find the ancient old growth forests teeming with life. Giant trees covered with orchids and bromeliads reach high into the sky creating micro-ecosystems throughout the canopy. Unusual birdlife found nowhere else thrives at this elevation making it a perfect setting for birding enthusiasts. The small village of Santa Elena offers an assortment of artisan and souvenir shops, restaurants, historical museums, and cultural exhibitions. View this destination…
Some animals that live in Monteverde… (actual images may have been taken in other locations)
Manuel Antonio is well known as one of Costa Rica’s most popular beach destinations – and for good reason! Gorgeous golden sand beaches and sparkling turquoise water are backed by palm trees and dark green jungle. Then there is the national park loaded with rare exotic wildlife such as monkeys, sloths, iguanas, and much more. As if that weren’t enough, there are more adventure and nature tours available from Manuel Antonio than any of the other beach destinations in Costa Rica. Whether you intend to spend your days relaxing at the beach in a hammock under a shady palm, rafting down tropical rivers, or searching for sloths in the jungle, Manuel Antonio has something special waiting just for you! View this destination…
Some animals that live in Manuel Antonio… (actual images may have been taken in other locations)
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Offering onsite hot springs and incredible volcano views, Arenal Springs Resort and Spa is a great base for exploring the Arenal Volcano region. The guest bungalows are spread out among tropical gardens, featuring comfortable and well-equipped rooms each with terraces showcasing the magnificent volcano. The hot springs flow through secluded areas and on to a larger pool with a swim-up bar. Can you say pura vida?!? View this hotel…
The El Establo Mountain Hotel rests on a hillside overlooking the cloud forest with rural farms dotted in the distance. Guests of this rustic lodge can indulge in the hotel’s heated swimming pool, luxurious spa, gourmet restaurant, and even tennis courts. While the lodge offers all of these great amenities, it retains a rustic feel as one would expect from an authentic mountain lodge catering to ecotourists. View this hotel…
With only 21 rooms, La Vela is one of the smallest hotels in Manuel Antonio, but don’t let that fool you…this hotel has plenty of personality! Located within a short walk to the beach or the world-famous Manuel Antonio National Park, La Vela is surrounded by tropical forest and gardens and monkeys are frequent visitors! The boutique-style hotel embraces the area’s serenity and jungle vibe plus offers a refreshing swimming pool and lounging patio overlooking the lush gardens. View this hotel…
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The La Fortuna Waterfalls are indescribably gorgeous unless you witness them first hand. The guided tour will bring you right up to the 200 foot cascading falls where you can opt to take in the view from one of the observation platforms positioned in the forest along the descent, or hike the steps all the way down to the bottom. While this isn’t a wildlife tour, animals including monkeys, toucans, and pizotes frequent the grounds and you may have a chance at spotting them! View this tour…
Whether you are seeking adventure or nature, we have you covered! Take your choice of either:
The Rio Balsa Rafting adventure provides an awesome experience as you wind through canyons and countryside crossing Class II and III rapids. On this thrilling tour, your guides will navigate as you splash and dash down one of Costa Rica’s most popular whitewater rafting rivers.
OR
The wilderness area of Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge provides an excellent opportunity to observe Costa Rica’s exotic animals such as caimans, monkeys, and countless other species of wildlife. Most of the refuge is connected by canals and flood zones, so the best way to get around is by boat. This tour will take you along the jungle canals in an open-air pontoon boat complete with a naturalist guide pointing out visible wildlife all along the way. View this tour…
You’ll once again be able to choose a nature OR adventure tour.
The Aventuras Canopy Hanging Bridges offer visitors a unique way to explore the overhead canopy of the cloud forest as well as look for orchids, bromeliads and other epiphytes following terrestrial trails with a naturalist guide. The cloud forest is teeming with life and provides vital habitat to many unique highland bird species, large cats, monkeys, and so much more!
OR
The Aventuras Canopy Zipline tour provides a thrilling way to fly through the canopy of the cloud forest. Your guides will outfit you with a harness that will connect to steel zipline cables so you can soar from platform to platform on this high-speed, adrenaline packed adventure with amazing views! View this tour…
Overview | Itinerary | Destinations | Hotels | Tours | Inclusions & Rates
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Your Package Includes: (remember; you can customize any aspect!)
Award-Winning VIP Service
Hotels & Resorts (hotels can be substituted at an adjusted rate)
Tours, Activities & More (tours can be substituted at an adjusted rate)
Transportation (a rental car or other transportation options can be substituted at an adjusted rate)
Meals & Drinks (based on hotel and tour selections)
This vacation has been priced recently for as low as $1,149 per person, double occupancy. In order to offer the lowest prices possible, we work with a combination of contract and dynamic rates. These rates fluctuate daily, based on the season and hotel availability.
*Your vacation will be 100% customized to your needs. After inquiring with us, you will receive an exact price based on your custom itinerary. Please include special requests in the comments section. The rates listed here include current taxes, hotels, tours and transfers as described unless otherwise indicated. Rates may vary based on your travel dates, room occupancy, and type of transportation selected. Green season pricing and offers listed above are for select travel dates only and restrictions may apply. Inquire for details. Prices are subject to change at any time and do NOT include international airfare, travel insurance or any other services that are not expressly mentioned.
Lifelong Deposits
If you delay or cancel your trip for any reason, your deposit will be valid until you are ready to go. It is also transferable to a friend.
No Charge Rescheduling & Modifications
For travelers with existing bookings and for new bookings, we will waive modification fees for those that wish to change their travel dates to future travel dates for all booking plans. Restrictions may apply. Please review our policies for details.
Overview | Itinerary | Destinations | Hotels | Tours | Inclusions & Rates
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