Costa Rica: Wildlife, National Parks & Hidden Gems of the Northwest

G Adventures · 14 days

Use code BONUS10 to get an extra 10% off all tours — for a limited time only. T&Cs apply

Costa Rica: Wildlife, National Parks & Hidden Gems of the Northwest
Costa Rica: Wildlife, National Parks & Hidden Gems of the Northwest
Costa Rica: Wildlife, National Parks & Hidden Gems of the Northwest
Costa Rica: Wildlife, National Parks & Hidden Gems of the Northwest
Costa Rica: Wildlife, National Parks & Hidden Gems of the Northwest
Costa Rica: Wildlife, National Parks & Hidden Gems of the Northwest
Costa Rica: Wildlife, National Parks & Hidden Gems of the Northwest
Costa Rica: Wildlife, National Parks & Hidden Gems of the Northwest
Costa Rica: Wildlife, National Parks & Hidden Gems of the Northwest
Costa Rica: Wildlife, National Parks & Hidden Gems of the Northwest
Costa Rica: Wildlife, National Parks & Hidden Gems of the Northwest
Costa Rica: Wildlife, National Parks & Hidden Gems of the Northwest
Costa Rica: Wildlife, National Parks & Hidden Gems of the Northwest
Costa Rica: Wildlife, National Parks & Hidden Gems of the Northwest
Costa Rica: Wildlife, National Parks & Hidden Gems of the Northwest
14 Days
From AUD $3699
Trip Type
Small Group
Activity Level
Light

Rating

Costa Rica: Wildlife, National Parks & Hidden Gems of the Northwest

Costa Rica: Wildlife, National Parks & Hidden Gems of the Northwest

G Adventures · 14 days

Use code BONUS10 to get an extra 10% off all tours — for a limited time only. T&Cs apply

Duration

14 days

Tour Type

Small Group

Accommodations

Budget

Physical Rating

Light

Guide Language

English

Experience Overview

Beloved by all travellers, Costa Rica is a small but mighty gem — and this 14-day adventure from San José to Playa Flamingo shows you why.

Includes

Activities

  • Your G for Good Moment: Mi Cafecito Coffee Cooperative Tour, Sarapiquí Your Welcome Moment: Meet Your CEO and Group Your Discover Moment: La Fortuna Your Discover Moment: Monteverde Your Discover Moment: Quepos
  • Guided cloud forest night walk (Monteverde)
  • Entrance fee to Manuel Antonio National Park
  • Rio Celeste visit and short hike
  • Night walk on the trails near the lodge in Rincon de la Vieja
  • Entrance and guided hike in Rincon de la Vieja National Park
  • Orientation walk in Playa Flamingo
  • Free time in the rainforest area and Playa Flamingo
  • All transport between destinations and to/from included activities

Accommodation

  • Hotels (13 nts).
  • 3 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 3 dinners

Transport

  • Private vehicle, boat, shared van, walking.

Group Leader

  • CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout, local guides.

Highlights

  • Search for the elusive quetzal bird in the cloud forest
  • Learn about sugarcane and coffee production at a local plantation
  • Enjoy entrance into and free time in Manuel Antonio National Park
  • Visit the sky-blue coloured Rio Celeste in Parque Nacional Volcan Tenorio
  • Hike along the jungle trails in the wildlife-rich Rincon de la Vieja National Park
  • Spend a few days on the lovely beaches of Costa Rica’s northern pacific coast
Costa Rica: Wildlife, National Parks & Hidden Gems of the Northwest

Trip Details

Duration

14 days

Transportation

Private vehicle, boat, shared van, walking.

Guide Language

English

Starts

San José, Costa Rica

Finishes

Playa Flamingo, Costa Rica

Accommodations

Budget

Travel Style

Classic, Budget

Physical Rating

Light

Itinerary

1

Day 1: San José

Arrive at any time.
There are no activities planned until an evening welcome meeting.


Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.Accommodation - Hotel El Sesteo
2

Day 2: San José/La Fortuna

Drive to Sarapiquí to visit the G Adventures-supported Mi Cafecito Community Coffee Plantation. Learn about the impact this project has had on the community and sample some of the products they sell. Continue on to the Arenal region and take advantage of a free afternoon and a full free day tomorrow to experience the adventure activities and natural wonders of the area.
La Fortuna is an excellent base for adventure. Opt to hike the area's nature trails, swim in chilly La Fortuna waterfall or go canyoning.

Meals included: Lunch

Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Activity - Find out where your cup of java comes from. Visit the Mi Cafecito coffee cooperative in San Miguel de Sarapiqui, see shade-grown coffee plants, learn about everything from harvesting, to husking, drying, and roasting the beans before enjoying the best part – a fresh cup! Enjoy a typical lunch of plantains, beans, and freshly caught tilapia fish. Feel good about all this eating and drinking knowing that you are supporting a G Adventures for Good project that helps 200 farmers and their families.Accommodation - Hotel Eco Arenal
3

Day 3: La Fortuna

Free day in La Fortuna. Experience the outdoor adventures, amazing wildlife and natural wonders in this area. There are enough activities here to keep you busy all day long. In the evening opt to soak in one of the many hot springs in the area to cap off an adventurous day.
Spend the day getting your adrenaline pumping, viewing local wildlife, marvelling at the Arenal Volcano and getting to know more about Costa Rica in La Fortuna. There are enough activities here to keep you busy all day long.


Exclusive inclusions: Free_time - Experience the outdoor adventures, amazing wildlife and natural wonders in this area.Accommodation - Hotel Eco Arenal
4

Day 4: La Fortuna/Monteverde

Travel by van and boat through the stunning Costa Rican scenery up into the cloud forest. Take an included guided night walk to learn about nocturnal life in the jungle firsthand.
Travel across Lake Arenal into the mountains and on to Monteverde Cloud Forest.

Arrive to spend time enjoying this nature-lover's paradise.


Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Climb aboard and make friends with your seatmate en route to the next stop.Transport - Climb aboard and get your float on.Transport - Climb aboard and make friends with your seatmate en route to the next stop.Activity - Join a naturalist guide for a 1.5-2 hour tour in the cloud forest after dark. Learn more about the habits of the area's nocturnal wildlife including mammals, birds, insects, reptiles, and amphibians, and keep your eyes and ears open on this slow-paced walk. You never know what you might see – it depends on the day and your luck!Accommodation - Hotel Historias Lodge
5

Day 5: Monteverde

Enjoy a free day to explore the cloud forest region of Costa Rica. Opt to fly across canopy ziplines, walk across suspended bridges through the forest canopy, or go horseback riding in the hills.


Exclusive inclusions: Free_time - Spend free time in Monteverde exploring the cloud forest or visiting nearby attractions.Accommodation - Hotel Historias Lodge
6

Day 6: Monteverde/Quepos

Travel to Quepos, just outside Manuel Antonio National Park. Opt to visit the park or relax on the beach in this fun surf town. Enjoy a night out and perhaps learn how to dance salsa.
Travel to the Pacific Coast. Enjoy Quepos. Opt to swim, fish, kayak, surf or take a sailing trip.


Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Free_time - Enjoy free time to play in the waves, explore Quepos, or dance the night away.Accommodation - Hotel Le Priss
7

Day 7: Quepos

Enjoy an included entrance into Manuel Antonio National Park. Then, take advantage of free time to explore. Opt to swim in the Pacific. Or choose to kayak through mangroves and relax on the beach.


Exclusive inclusions: Free_time - Spend a free day of exploring Quepos, or head to Manuel Antonio to enjoy a full-day of wildlife spotting or kayaking.Activity - Pack your sunscreen, beach shoes, and prepare for a great day in Costa Rica’s smallest yet no less stunning national park. Manual Antonio offers four white-sand beaches, separated by jagged rock outcrops and tidal pools. Swim, sunbathe, and when you’re all beached out, head to the shade of the nearby hiking trails to search for sloths, monkeys, and armadillos. Climb to the lookout to capture views of the pristine Pacific Ocean and the area’s off-shore islands.Accommodation - Hotel Le Priss
8

Day 8: Quepos/San José

Opt to chill at the beach or sail the Pacific in the morning before the journey by private vehicle back to the capital.
Pre-book the Manuel Antonio Catamaran Tour on the checkout page to include this optional activity on your tour or ask your GCO or travel agent for assistance.


Exclusive inclusions: Free_time - Enjoy a final morning at the beach. Do as much or as little as you'd like.Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Accommodation - Hotel El Sesteo
9

Day 9: San José to Rincón de la Vieja

After an early departure from San Jose, the group will travel to the famed ethereal blue waters of Rio Celeste. Set off on a CEO-led walk through the area with views of the river along the route before an included lunch. Continue onwards to the Rincon de la Vieja area where you will have dinner at the lodge restaurant before a night walk on the nearby trails.

Meals included: Lunch,Dinner

Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Sit back and scan the scenery from a private vehicle between San José and Parque Nacional Volcan Tenorio, where Rio Celeste is located.Activity - North of Lake Arenal lies another spectacular protected area called Volcán Tenorio National Park. We'll set off on foot from the main entrance and hike along jungle trails and down a series of stairways to the brilliantly blue Rio Celeste Waterfall. Take in the scenery and watch for wildlife like monkeys and birds in the canopy above before hiking out on the same trail.Transport - Sit back and scan the scenery from the comfort of a private vehicle from the area where Rio Celeste is to the lodge in the Rincon de la Vieja area.Activity - Enjoy a walk on the trails of the lodge's property. Experience the richness of the tropical rainforest's nocturnal noises and wildlife. Walk along as your CEO points out flora and fauna, and you search for mother nature's nightly secrets. Listen to birds still singing and insects buzzing. Surrounded by the thick darkness of trees towering above you, this will be an entirely different experience than the daylight hours.Accommodation - Hotel Buena Vista del Rincon
10

Day 10: Rincón de la Vieja National Park Area

Enjoy breakfast at the lodge before transferring to Rincón de la Vieja National Park where you will embark on a hike in the area to gain a full sense of the tropical and volcanic landscape, while searching for resident wildlife. Travel back to the hotel in the afternoon for free time on the property. Activity options range from ziplining, hiking in the area, and various cultural experiences.

Meals included: Breakfast,Dinner

Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Set off on a 3.2km (2 mile) hike on the Las Pailas trail that cuts through tropical rainforest and weaves through various volcanic activity. The trail begins in an open area with few trees, where you will hear about the legend of the nearby volcano. Be on the lookout for volcanic bubbling mud, small craters, and see if you can smell sulfuric fumes. The rest of the trail is surrounded by dense vegetation and will provide possible opportunities to see wildlife. Difficulty: Moderate Duration: Between 2-3hrs Distance: 3.5km (2.5 miles) total. It is a loop trail.Free_time - Take advantage of a free afternoon back at the lodge to partake in outdoor activities. Opt to zipline or hike in the area. It's the perfect way to gain a real sense of this volcanic and tropical rainforest climate.Accommodation - Hotel Buena Vista del Rincon
11

Day 11: Rincón de la Vieja Volcano National Park Area

Enjoy a full free day in the Rincon de la Vieja area with an abundance of optional activities to choose from. Between hiking, bird watching, or spa treatments and a soak in the hot springs, your day can be as leisurely or busy as you'd like.

Meals included: Breakfast,Dinner

Exclusive inclusions: Free_time - The area is an outdoor lover's paradise! Enjoy access to the lodge's amenities. Opt to swim in the pool, walk along the nearby trails, or partake in other activities on offer like, learning about the growing and artisanal process of sugarcane, or attending a Chorotega workshop, a ceramics unique to Central America—and representative of the region's Indigenous history. Other possibilities are, hiking to the nearby Salitral Waterfall, trying the onsite waterslide through the jungle, or focus on wellness with optional spa and thermal bath experiences. You have all day!Accommodation - Hotel Buena Vista del Rincon
12

Day 12: Rincón de la Vieja Volcano National Park Area to Playa Flamingo

After breakfast at the lodge the group will travel to Playa Flamingo on Costa Rica's northern Pacific coast. Enjoy a CEO-led orientation walk upon arrival to get to know this uniquely set up town, whose central area has remained a pristine beach protected by a large mangrove forest. Then, spend a free evening exploring on your own.

Meals included: Breakfast

Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Activity - Enjoy a CEO-led orientation walk through the small beach town of Playa Flamingo. This popular local destination boasts fine white sand, clear blue waters, lagoons, and a variety of more secluded beaches with rocks reaching into the sea. Become acquainted with the layout as you walk through main area.Free_time - Spend a free late afternoon and evening in Playa Flamingo. Go to the beach, visit some of the local shops, or find a nearby restaurant to try out for dinner.Accommodation - Hotel Casas del Toro
13

Day 13: Playa Flamingo

Spend a full free day in paradise. Opt to prebook a Catamaran excursion to get out onto the water for a whole new view of the Playa Flamingo area. Or choose to enjoy the beach on your own with swimming and sunbathing.


Exclusive inclusions: Free_time - The whole day is yours in Playa Flamingo. Choose to spend it out on the water by pre-booking a catamaran experience, or choose to lie on a fluffy white-sand beach with mangroves gently rustling in the distance. From beach town vibes to secluded lagoons this place is a true taste of Costa Rica's northwestern coastline.Accommodation - Hotel Casas del Toro
14

Day 14: Playa Flamingo

Depart at any time.
Please note that while your tour ends in Playa Flamingo, there are taxis/shuttle services available to the Liberia airport. These services depart from the town of Potrero which is 10 minutes from your Finish Point Hotel. It takes one hour to get to the airport in Liberia from Potrero.


Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.
Exclusions
  • Flights to and from origin and destinations
  • Airport transfers (unless otherwise stated)
  • Anything else not explicitly listed in tour inclusions
  • Recommended gratuities/tipping
  • Optional activities/tours
  • Personal expenses
  • Travel insurance
  • Visas, meals and beverages not stated in the list of inclusions.
Important Information
Meals

When meals are not included, your tour leader (where available) will be happy to help with restaurant recommendations, bookings, and directions. Please let us know if you have any dietary needs or preferences. We will do our best to accommodate these, though we cannot guarantee that every request can be met.

Luggage

You are responsible for your personal belongings throughout the tour. You will need to carry your own bags between the vehicle and your hotel room. Drivers will assist with loading and unloading luggage from the vehicle.

Mobility

Travellers requiring wheelchair access should contact our sales and service team, who can make enquiries on your behalf.

Fitness Level

This tour requires an average level of fitness. Activities are paced gently and include leisure time. You may be expected to join guided walks of up to one hour, navigate short stairways and mild inclines, and manage your own luggage. You should also be able to board and exit all transport without assistance.

Travellers are expected to be self-sufficient and capable of handling all aspects of their journey. Please discuss your circumstances and support needs with your booking agent to confirm this trip is suitable.

If you are unsure, we recommend consulting your doctor before booking or travelling.

Sightseeing

If a planned site visit is unavailable due to changes in operating hours or holiday closures, the itinerary may be altered, or a comparable activity will be substituted where possible and subject to availability.

Visas

Visa conditions can change. Once you receive your travel documents, check with the relevant embassy, consulate, or immigration office of your destination for the latest information.

  • It is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct and valid travel documents and to comply with all entry requirements.
  • Non-Australian citizens must also confirm visa and identification requirements with the appropriate consulate or visa agency.
  • Certain occupations (for example, journalists, government officials, or those working in charities) may face additional restrictions when applying for visas, which could affect the type of application required.
Departure Dates & Surcharges: See checkout for live dates and availability.
AUD $3,699
(Tour only)
Per Person Standard

Duration: 14 days

Trip Type: Small Group

Activity Level: Light

Beloved by all travellers, Costa Rica is a small but mighty gem — and this 14-day adventure from San José to Playa Flamingo shows you why.

Price based on per person in Double Room for departure 13 Jun 2026

Tour Operator

G Adventures, founded in 1990 by Bruce Poon Tip, is a global adventure travel company specializing in small-group tours that emphasize authentic, sustainable, and culturally immersive experiences. Originally launched as GAP Adventures (“Great Adventure People”), the company pioneered the concept of community-driven travel by offering affordable trips that connect travelers with local communities while minimizing environmental impact. Today, G Adventures operates in more than 100 countries, offering a wide range of itineraries across themes such as active adventures, wildlife, wellness, family, and National Geographic–partnered tours, while maintaining a strong commitment to responsible tourism and social enterprise through its Planeterra Foundation.

In Business Since 1990