Journeys: Highlights of Costa Rica
Use code BONUS10 to get an extra 10% off all tours — for a limited time only. T&Cs apply
From AUD $3104 Was AUD $3449
Small Group
Light
Rating
(10 reviews)
Journeys: Highlights of Costa Rica
Use code BONUS10 to get an extra 10% off all tours — for a limited time only. T&Cs apply
9 days
Small Group
Moderate
Light
English
Experience Overview
Home to lush rainforests, pristine beaches, and an astonishing diversity of wildlife, Costa Rica has long been a leader in conservation and the protection of natural heritage.
Includes
Activities
- Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Tortilla Making and Home Dinner, La Fortuna Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Monteverde Institute Lecture, Monteverde Your G for Good Moment: Mi Cafecito Coffee Cooperative Tour, Sarapiquí Your Discover Moment: La Fortuna
- Arrival transfer
- 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 – 8 nts.
- 8 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 1 dinner
Transport
- Private vehicle, walking, boat.
Group Leader
- National Geographic Expedition Leader throughout, local guides.
Highlights
- Devour a delicious lunch at a G Adventures-supported coffee co-op
- Learn how to make tortillas in a local home
- Listen to a lecture from a Monteverde Institute researcher
- Hike the trails of cloud forest reserves and breathtaking parks
- Search for wildlife while exploring the Pacific coast
Trip Details
9 days
Private vehicle, walking, boat.
English
San José, Costa Rica
San José, Costa Rica
Moderate
National Geographic Journey, Budget
Light
Itinerary
Day 1: San José
If you arrive early enough, you'll have time to head into the city to visit a museum, shop, or visit the main plaza in the city centre.
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/La Fortuna
Meals included: Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
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.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 3: La Fortuna
Meals included: Breakfast
Exclusive inclusions: Free_time - Free day to set out and explore nature near La Fortuna.Accommodation - Hotel Monte Real
Day 4: La Fortuna/Monteverde
Meals included: Breakfast
Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Climb aboard and make friends with your seat mate en route to the next stop.Transport - Climb aboard and get your float on.Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Accommodation - Sibu Lodge
Day 5: Monteverde
Meals included: Breakfast,Lunch
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.Activity - Visit the Monteverde Institute which 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.Accommodation - Sibu Lodge
Day 6: Monteverde/Manuel Antonio
Meals included: Breakfast
Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Accommodation - Hotel Villas Lirio
Day 7: Manuel Antonio
The park has fabulous beaches, abundant wildlife, and a great trail system for those who want to spend the day hiking. Look for monkeys, armadillos, coatimundis, sloths, and some 350 species of birds that are present in the park.
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 8: Manuel Antonio/San José
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 9: San José
Meals included: Breakfast
Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Not ready to leave? Your Expedition Leader can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.
- 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.
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.
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.
Travellers requiring wheelchair access should contact our sales and service team, who can make enquiries on your behalf.
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.
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.
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.
From
AUD $3449
Duration: 9 days
Trip Type: Small Group
Activity Level: Light
Home to lush rainforests, pristine beaches, and an astonishing diversity of wildlife, Costa Rica has long been a leader in conservation and the protection of natural heritage.
Price based on per person in Double Room for departure 06 Jun 2026
Customer Reviews
05/20/2025
This tour is one of the finest way to experience Costa Rica. Our CEO really brought it to life, and his ability to connect with us and earn our trust made it easy to relax into the adventure. Every single guide was excellent.
05/20/2025
We loved it. Amazing group. Amazing tour and country. I would 100 recommend GAdventures and will use again. I cannot imagine Costa Rica on our own after having seen everything we did with help from local guides. But credit goes to our CEO.
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
05/20/2025
This tour is one of the finest way to experience Costa Rica. Our CEO really brought it to life, and his ability to connect with us and earn our trust made it easy to relax into the adventure. Every single guide was excellent.
05/20/2025
We loved it. Amazing group. Amazing tour and country. I would 100 recommend GAdventures and will use again. I cannot imagine Costa Rica on our own after having seen everything we did with help from local guides. But credit goes to our CEO.
05/20/2025
We loved our trip. We will recommend it to friends. We are grateful that Esteban was our CEO. We will need to borrow him for future trips!
05/20/2025
My first trip with G Adventures is one that will stay with me forever! I was beyond lucky to have chosen a trip that had people from all walks of life on it. We went from total strangers to cherished friends.
05/20/2025
An unforgettable mother and daughter trip! We saw more than we could ever imagine planning by ourselves. We felt safe and were in the best hands with our CEO Aaron! He truly had an eye for nature.
05/20/2025
The detailed information we received from G Adventures prior to the trip was late in arriving and not always clear and accurate. The actual trip was more than we expected and absolutely wonderful. There was nothing that we lacked.
05/20/2025
Daniel made this a great trip with his intellect and enthusiasm about his country and culture. Some of the accomadations are not above average. Nice to have breakfast included. Plenty of low cost and regular cost excursions to do. We enjoyed the trip.
05/20/2025
The tour gave a great overview of what Costa Rica has to offer from the cool climate down to Manuel Antonio, and experiencing the most gorgeous beach in the world, and all the exotic birds and different wildlife.
05/20/2025
Our first trip with G Adventures/NatGeo was outstanding. This was our first extended group tour and our first time in Costa Rica. The focus was the natural beauty of Costa Rica and there was so much to see in this beautiful country.
05/20/2025
Great experience. Excellent Value. Balanced itinerary.
- Offer valid from 09:00 Monday 2 March, for a limited time only, and applies to tour bookings.
- Enter the coupon code BONUS10 at checkout to receive 10% off any tour booking.
- Only one coupon code may be used per booking. Discount applies per booking, not per traveller.
- Discount applies to the land portion of the tour price only.
- All tours are subject to availability and the individual tour operator's terms and conditions, shown at checkout.
- Offer may be withdrawn at any time without notice.
- Coupon codes can only be used once against one booking, cannot be used against existing bookings, and cannot be redeemed or exchanged in any other way. If multiple coupon codes are available at the same time, they are not cumulative and it is at the discretion of the customer to select the coupon code they wish to apply.
- Webjet's standard booking Terms & Conditions apply.
Family trips cannot be booked online.
Please contact webjet customer service to book the trip.
Email: [email protected]