Journeys: Explore Costa Rica

Duration

14 days

Tour Type

Small Group

Accommodations

Moderate

Physical Rating

Light

Guide Language

English

Experience Overview

With a quarter of its land covered in national parks and wildlife refuges, Costa Rica is a dream for the nature lover and adventure buff.

Includes

Activities

Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Turtle Love Conservancy Experience, Tortuguero Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Tortilla Making and Home Dinner, La Fortuna Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Monteverde Institute Lecture & Reforestation Project Your G for Good Moment: Mi Cafecito Coffee Cooperative Tour, Sarapiquí Your Discover Moment: La Fortuna Your Discover Moment: Monteverde Your Discover Moment: Manuel Antonio
Arrival transfer
Boat tour and wildlife viewing in Tortuguero National Park
Guided nature walk in the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve
Guided excursion to Manuel Antonio National Park
All transport between destinations and to/from included activities

Accommodation

Hotels – 11 nts, rustic jungle lodge – 2 nts.

13 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 3 dinners

Transport

Private vehicle, shuttle van, boat, walking.

Group Leader

National Geographic Expedition Leader throughout, local guides.

Highlights

Hear a lecture from a researcher at the Monteverde Institute
Learn how to make tortillas during a visit to a local family home
Spot wildlife while cruising the canals of Tortuguero
Enjoy spectacular volcano views while soaking in hot springs
Learn all about sea turtles at Turtle Love Conservancy

Trip Details

Duration

14 days

Transportation

Private vehicle, shuttle van, boat, walking.

Guide Language

English

Starts

San José, Costa Rica

Finishes

San José, Costa Rica

Accommodations

Moderate

Travel Style

National Geographic Journey, Budget

Physical Rating

Light

Itinerary

Day 1: San José

Arrive at any time. Arrival transfer is included.
If you arrive early enough, you'll have time to head into the city to visit a museum or the main plaza in the city center.

The plaza is a good place to people-watch. A mime, juggler, marimba band, magician, or storyteller may be performing for whatever is collected when the hat is passed. Artisan booths are common, creating a regular arts and crafts fair atmosphere.

Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Activity - The adventure begins tonight. Feel free to explore before your welcome meeting, but make sure you’re back in time to meet the group. Check for the meeting time on the welcome note at the hotel. After introductions, your Expedition Leader will review the details of your tour. Please note that normal check-in times apply at our start hotels, but you can usually store your luggage for the day if you arrive early.Accommodation - Hotel Radisson San Jose

Day 2: San José/Tortuguero

Travel by land and motorized canoe to Tortuguero National Park. Located on the Caribbean coast, Tortuguero—translated as “land of the turtles”—is one of the world's most important nesting sites for the endangered green sea turtle. Settle into our secluded lodge, then enjoy a guided boat trip along Tortuguero's tropical waterways. Afterward, visit the Turtle Love Conservancy, a community-led organization dedicated to protecting sea turtles and preserving the fragile ecosystems they depend on. Learn about ongoing conservation efforts, nesting season monitoring, and local initiatives that support both wildlife and the surrounding community. Later, enjoy time to relax at the lodge pool, take a stroll along the beach, or head out on a kayaking excursion.
Enjoy a delicious Costa Rican breakfast en route as we transfer by road then boat through the famous canals of Tortuguero. This tropical eco-paradise is home to countless bird and animal species, and you will have many opportunities to view and photograph wildlife.

The tropical rainforest gives way to prime secluded beaches, ideal nesting grounds for green turtles (nesting July through October), loggerhead, hawksbill, and leatherback turtles (nesting March through June). We cannot guarantee you will see turtles, but that odds are fairly good from July through October.

Meals included: Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner

Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Transport - Climb in and move swiftly through the water to the next stop.Activity - Visit Turtle Love Conservancy for a science-led educational program led by research connected to National Geographic Explorer Renato Bruno and supported by long-term green sea turtle studies funded by the National Geographic Society. This experience explores how nesting activity in Tortuguero is influenced years earlier at distant foraging grounds, where ocean conditions, food availability, and conservation policies shape reproductive success. Through an illustrated talk and an engaging, participatory activity, learn how scientists track long-term data, interpret ecological patterns, and apply systems thinking to sea turtle conservation.Accommodation - Turtle Beach Lodge

Day 3: Tortuguero

This morning, we'll explore the wildlife-rich canals of Tortuguero National Park once more, seeking out howler, spider, and capuchin monkeys, sloths, and a variety of birds.
There's plenty of opportunity to see a variety of birds, monkeys, and other wildlife. In your downtime, relax at the secluded lodge on a hammock or at the pool or beach. You also have the option to take a kayaking excursion.

Meals included: Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner

Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Hop on board, kick back, and prepare to witness a parade of tropical birds, reptiles, and mammals as we motor through the black water canals of the Tortuguero NP. Scan the trees for toucans, watch the shores for caimans, otters, iguanas and frogs, and look up to see monkeys sharing space with sloths. Bring your binoculars and bug spray. Be prepared for hot, humid, and possibly wet weather.Activity - Take a guided walk along the trails surrounding the lodge to learn more about the flora and fauna of the jungle. Learn about the delicate ecosystem and get a close-up view of some of the frogs and insects that play an important part in nature's cycle. Duration: About 1hr depending on weather conditions Distance: 1.5kmFree_time - Relax at the pool or take a walk along the beach.Accommodation - Turtle Beach Lodge

Day 4: Tortuguero/La Fortuna

Depart early for the town of La Fortuna, situated at the foot of the majestic Arenal Volcano. En route, visit a G Adventures–supported coffee cooperative to gain insight into the process of coffee production, from bean to cup. After a typical lunch—accompanied by an aromatic cup of coffee—continue to La Fortuna. Check in to your hotel and unwind by the pool, taking in views of the surrounding jungle, the verdant hills, and the dark silhouette of the volcano.

Meals included: Breakfast,Lunch

Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Climb aboard and get your float on.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 Monte Real

Day 5: La Fortuna

Spend the day exploring La Fortuna and its surrounding areas on your own. In 1968, the Arenal Volcano erupted after centuries of laying dormant, converting this quiet agricultural town into a hot spot for adventure travel. This evening, visit a local home to learn how to make tortillas. Chat with your welcoming hosts and dig into a traditional Costa Rican meal of black beans, plantains, and your own handmade tortillas.

Meals included: Breakfast,Dinner

Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Learn the art of tortilla making from Doña Mara in her family home. Grind the corn, mix the “masa” (dough) into balls, flatten into circles, and then cook them up on a wood-burning stove. Relax with a fresh tropical fruit juice, get to know the family, and hear about the history of tortillas. Afterwards, dig into a tasty “casado” – a typical Costa Rican dish including black beans and plantains – complete with your own hand-made tortillas.Accommodation - Hotel Monte Real

Day 6: La Fortuna

Enjoy a full free day in La Fortuna. Choose to go stand-up paddleboarding on the tranquil waters of Lake Arenal, or set off on a hike within the Arenal Volcano National Park. Take a boat tour of the Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge, one of the world's most important wetlands; or relax in the shadow of Arenal Volcano at a naturally heated outdoor spa.

Meals included: Breakfast

Exclusive inclusions: Free_time - Choose from a number of optional activities to explore all that Fortuna has to offer.Accommodation - Hotel Monte Real

Day 7: La Fortuna/Monteverde

From La Fortuna, we make our way by road and boat to the misty mountain region of Monteverde. Spend two days exploring this charming little town and the nearby cloud forest reserve—a nature lover's paradise.

Meals included: Breakfast

Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Climb aboard and get your float on.Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Transport - Climb aboard and make friends with your seat mate en route to the next stop.Accommodation - El Establo Hotel

Day 8: Monteverde

Set out on a hike in the stunning Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve, treading past giant ferns and vibrant orchids. If you're lucky, you might catch a glimpse of the resplendent quetzal—a sacred bird in Maya and Aztec cultures. In your free time, embark on a zip-lining adventure, gliding high above the treetops and zooming through the misty foliage.

Meals included: Breakfast

Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Pull on your poncho and boots. It’s time to head into the cloud-covered forest, past over-sized ferns and exotic orchids. Harness your inner Tarzan and Jane as you imagine swinging from the giant vines. Walk along 2 to 3km (about 1.5 mi) of trails at a leisurely pace, watch for wildlife, and trek to the top of the observation tower. Be sure to stop and listen, too. Hear the haunting call of the bellbird and perhaps catch sight of the brilliant green and red resplendent quetzal. Feel good about protecting the forest and sustaining the quality of local schools through payment of your park fees.Accommodation - El Establo Hotel

Day 9: Monteverde

Pay a visit to the Monteverde Institute, a research and educational organization supported by National Geographic. Hear from a researcher about some of the institute's conservation initiatives, including a successful reforestation project; then roll up your sleeves and head to the nursery to help plant trees and collect data for the project. Spend the rest of the day at leisure, opting to visit the Monteverde Butterfly Gardens to see dozens of local species, explore forest trails, or go zip-lining.

Meals included: Breakfast,Lunch

Exclusive inclusions: Free_time - Go wild! Choose from a variety of activities in Monteverde to explore and experience the natural beauty of this cloud forest.Activity - The Monteverde Institute has served as the base for numerous National Geographic-funded explorers and researchers studying the famed canopy of the Monteverde Cloud Forest. Enjoy a lecture by one of the researchers outlining the various projects National Geographic has sponsored including new discoveries, insect and bird studies, and the reforestation of tropical regions. After, play an active role in this project, visiting the National Geographic-sponsored research plot and getting your hands dirty by either planting trees to restore habitat, assisting in tree care in the nurseries, or collecting data to provide information that will aid the success of tropical reforestation programs.Accommodation - El Establo Hotel

Day 10: Monteverde/Manuel Antonio

Leaving the cloud forest behind, travel to Costa Rica's sweeping Pacific coast and settle into your hotel in the seaside village of Manuel Antonio. Soak up the laid-back atmosphere of the area, and opt to spend the remainder of the day relaxing on the beach.
The white-sand beaches and warm Pacific waters are the ideal atmosphere to relax at the end of your adventure. If you opt to chill out at the beach, be sure to walk out into the sea on the incredible natural sand formation that is shaped like a whale's tale when the tide goes out.

Meals included: Breakfast

Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Accommodation - Hotel Villas Lirio

Day 11: Manuel Antonio

Discover the lush tropical forests and white-sand beaches of Manuel Antonio National Park on a guided day trip. Costa Rica's smallest national park—yet one of the most spectacular—boasts an abundance of wildlife, including monkeys, armadillos, sloths, iguanas, and countless species of birds. Hike through the dense forest, climb up to rocky outcrops for views of the dazzling Pacific Ocean, and go swimming in the park's lovely lagoons and tidal pools. Later, enjoy some free time at the beach.

Meals included: Breakfast

Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Pack your sunscreen, snack, and beach shoes and prepare for a great day in Costa Rica’s smallest, yet no less stunning, national park. Manuel Antonio offers four white-sand beaches separated by jagged rock outcrops and tidal pools where you can swim, snorkel, and sunbathe. 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. Today's walking distance within the park is 3km and will take about 2-3 hours.Accommodation - Hotel Villas Lirio

Day 12: Manuel Antonio

Spend a full day exploring Manuel Antonio on your own. Walk along lush jungle trails looking for toucans in the treetops. Opt to take a surfing lesson, or head out for a snorkelling excursion on the nearby reef. Kayak amid the coastal mangroves or in the open sea, keeping an eye out for dolphins and whales.

Meals included: Breakfast

Exclusive inclusions: Free_time - Free time to explore the Manuel Antonio area with options to surf, snorkel, kayak or walk along the nearby picturesque beaches.Accommodation - Hotel Villas Lirio

Day 13: Manuel Antonio/San José

Return to San José. Tonight, choose to join the group for a farewell dinner at a popular local restaurant.

Meals included: Breakfast

Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Accommodation - Hotel Radisson San Jose

Day 14: San José

Depart at any time.
Departure day, depart at any time.

Meals included: Breakfast

Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Not ready to leave? Your Expedition Leader 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.

From
AUD $4199

AUD $3,149

(Tour only)

Offer ends 21 Mar, 2026 Per Person Standard

Duration: 14 days

Trip Type: Small Group

Activity Level: Light

With a quarter of its land covered in national parks and wildlife refuges, Costa Rica is a dream for the nature lover and adventure buff.

Check Availability Brochure

Price based on per person in Double Room for departure 10 May 2026

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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

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