Day 1 Welcome to Costa Rica
Your Costa Rica travel experience begins at 6:00 PM at the Hotel Bosque del Mar, Playa Hermosa in Guanacaste. A transfer from Liberia International Airport to the Hotel Bosque del Mar, Playa Hermosa in Guanacaste is included. Meet your Tauck Director and travel companions at the welcome reception followed by an à la carte dinner at your secluded eco-lodge along the Pacific Ocean as you begin your Costa Rica travel adventure.(D)

Day 2 From a trail ride to a soothing soak at Tizate Wellness Gardens
Kick off your Costa Rica travel with a memorable day at Tizate Wellness Gardens Hot Springs & Spa, nestled within a dry tropical forest on the Tizate River near Rincon de la Vieja National Park. Take your choice of activities including a trail ride over mountainous terrain; a tour of the forest canopy; a thrilling zip line adventure* over the river and through the trees; an organic farm visit; a relaxing massage in the spa; or a luxurious soak in a volcanically heated thermal pool. Cap the day with a beach party and bonfire this evening, weather permitting.(B,L,D)

Day 3 Sky walk through the treetops in misty Monteverde
Howler monkeys, agouti, sloths and toucans are just a few of the species you might spot as you join our expert naturalist to "sky walk" across suspension bridges through the tree canopies at Selvatura Park in Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve, where you'll spend the next two nights at Monteverde Lodge and become a part of the cloud forest's unique ecology. Thousands of plant and animal species call the reserve home – with 400 bird species alone, including 30 hummingbird species – from monkeys to the Resplendent Quetzal. Before dinner this evening, a lecture by one of the original American Quaker settlers who created the cloud forest reserve in the 1950s gives you a new perspective on conservation.(B,L,D)

Day 4 Wildlife galore in marvelous Monteverde
An exciting day of biodiversity awaits in Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve! Meet a wide variety of reptiles at the Serpentarium, and see more than 50 of over an estimated 1,000 native Costa Rican butterfly species, including the stunning blue morpho, at the enclosed Butterfly Garden; our naturalists pass along their expert insights on the butterflies' complex life cycles. The Hummingbird Gallery introduces you to several species of these fascinating birds, and you'll see photos and slides by noted wildlife photographers. After lunch at Sofia featuring eclectic Costa Rican and fusion cuisine in a lovely tropical setting, spend the afternoon on a guided visit to a nearby private reserve; keep your binoculars at the ready to spot wildlife that may reveal themselves. Tonight, relax amidst the orchid-filled gardens of your eco-lodge, where your room boasts bay windows looking out on the cloud forest! (B,L,D)

Day 5 Lakes, volcanoes, a sky trek & a jungle resort
Take in vistas of coffee plantations and cattle farms as your Costa Rica travel takes you to Lake Arenal in Arenal Volcano National Park, home to eight distinct biological zones as well as to Volcano Arenal, one of the world’s most active volcanoes – it's been erupting continuously for over 40 years! Cruise across the lake to see the Lake Arenal Dam, and go for an exhilarating Sky Tram / Sky Trek in a jungle canopy, offering an opportunity to zip line through the treetops of the rainforest for a fast-paced, bird’s-eye view of nature. Or keep your feet firmly planted on the ground for an informative guided rainforest walk. Continue to Tilajari Resort, where you'll spend the next two nights nestled in a rainforest overlooking the San Carlos River.(B,L,D)

Day 6 Meet a farm family as you float through the jungle
Your Costa Rica travel adventure continues in the jungle today with a float trip* down the scenic Peñas Blancas River aboard a raft; your bilingual guide helps you look for wildlife ranging from sloths to crocodiles to giant iguanas along the shore. Meet a local farmer and his extended family who have lived on the river for generations; visit their private home for a glimpse of their daily life. Return to your resort in the heart of one of Costa Rica's most richly diverse ecosystems for lunch, followed by an afternoon spent enjoying all there is to see and do – from swimming and playing tennis to strolling through botanical and butterfly gardens – as well as optional activities (available at additional cost) such as horseback riding, zip line and rafting adventures, and a massage at the spa.(B,L,D)

Day 7 Doka Estate, where coffee is king, and the treasures of San José
There's nothing like fine Costa Rican gourmet coffee... and you'll get to see how it's produced, from the seed to the cup, with your local guide on a tour of the Doka Estate coffee plantation, perched on the slopes of Poás Volcano in Alajuela. Continue after lunch to the capital city of San José. You'll have plenty to talk about with your Costa Rica travel companions tonight at Tauck's exclusive "Golden Evening" farewell reception and dinner at the Museo del Oro (Gold Museum), home to a priceless collection of thousands of artifacts and artworks from the pre-Columbian period.(B,L,D)

Day 8 Adios, Costa Rica!
Your Costa Rica travel adventure ends in San José. A transfer is included from Real InterContinental Hotel & Club Tower Costa Rica to San José's Juan Santamaria International Airport. Allow 3 hours for flight check-in.(B)

Active volcanoes, misty cloud forests, inland rivers, coffee plantations, tropical gardens and the mysterious jungle – all on an eco-rich Costa Rica travel adventure! Visits to a butterfly garden and serpentarium within Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, a float trip along an inland jungle river, and sightseeing excursions with expert naturalists offer insights into the region's unique ecosystems, birds and wildlife. A lake cruise in the shadow of Volcano Arenal... stays at acclaimed eco-resorts... a guided tour of a working coffee plantation... your choice of a horseback ride, forest canopy tour, zip line adventure, organic farm visit or spa treatment at Tizate Wellness Gardens... a visit with a farm family that has lived on a jungle river for many generations... close-up views of a dizzying array of native flora and fauna... a beach party and bonfire... and an exclusive “Golden Evening” dinner at San José's Museo del Oro are all among the highlights of Tauck's Costa Rica travel experience!

• Privately guided exploration within Costa Rica’s Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve and the private Tilajari Reserve
• Exclusive “Golden Evening” featuring a farewell reception and dinner at the Museo del Oro (Gold Museum) in San José
• “Sky walk” on suspension bridges through the cloud forest canopy
• Exotic wildlife viewing on a float trip along the Peñas Blancas River and a Lake Arenal cruise in the shadow of Volcano Arenal
• Choice of activities at Tizate Wellness Gardens ranging from a horseback ride, canopy tour or zip line adventure to an organic farm visit, a massage or a soak in a thermal pool
• Presentation by one of Monteverde Reserve’s original Quaker settlers
• Guided tour and lunch at Doka Estate coffee plantation
• Visits to the private home of a local farmer and Monteverde Reserve’s Serpentarium & Butterfly Garden
• Two-night stays at acclaimed “eco-resorts” in the heart of Costa Rica’s rainforests
• Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted
• All meals – 20 (7 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 7 dinners); gratuities to local guides, taxes, service charges, admission fees and porterage

Guanacaste: Hotel Bosque del Mar, Playa Hermosa
Monteverde: Monteverde Lodge
Muelle: Tilajari Resort Hotel
San Jose: Real InterContinental Hotel & Club Tower Costa Rica

• The following dates are small group departures averaging 24 Tauck guests: January 16, February 13, and December 18.
• Costa Rica departure tax is not included
• Please ask your Vacations To Go travel counselor for more information.

For Tauck terms and conditions, please click here.

* The prices shown are U.S. dollars per person, based on double occupancy, and subject to availability. Prices quoted for land/cruise arrangements are subject to increase without notice. Once we have received your deposit, land/cruise prices are guaranteed. Air prices quoted via phone or email are subject to increase and are guaranteed only from the time that full payment is received. Also, air prices or air promotions mentioned on this site or on the phone do not include baggage fees imposed by airlines.