Dear Roger,

We are delighted to share the details of this beautiful Costa Rica extension with you—a thoughtfully curated journey that combines the misty cloud forests of Monteverde with the dramatic volcanic landscapes and tropical forests of the Arenal region.

Your journey begins in the highlands of Monteverde, where you will stay at the charming Trapp Family Lodge, ideally located next to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. Surrounded by cool mountain air and lush forest, this is the perfect base for experiencing one of Costa Rica’s most remarkable ecosystems. During your stay, you will have opportunities to explore the cloud forest with a naturalist guide and discover the extraordinary diversity of plants, birds, and wildlife that make Monteverde so special.

From Monteverde, you will travel toward Arenal on the scenic shared van–boat–van journey, crossing beautiful Lake Arenal along the way. Your stay at Arenal Paraíso Resort & Spa places you in the heart of one of Costa Rica’s most iconic destinations, with wonderful views of Arenal Volcano and a relaxing tropical setting.

While in Arenal, your itinerary includes a guided visit to the spectacular Místico Arenal Hanging Bridges, where a naturalist guide will accompany you along rainforest trails and suspension bridges, providing a unique perspective of the forest canopy and opportunities to observe the region’s abundant wildlife.

We have also intentionally included time at leisure, allowing you to enjoy Arenal at your own pace. You may simply relax and enjoy the hotel grounds and facilities or choose from a variety of optional experiences, such as visiting La Fortuna Waterfall, exploring Río Celeste, taking a wildlife or birdwatching tour, enjoying a safari float, or simply spending a quiet day surrounded by the natural beauty of the area.

Your journey concludes comfortably in San José, where we have arranged your final overnight stay before your transportation to Juan Santamaría International Airport for your international departure.

The result is a relaxed and well-paced extension that combines guided nature experiences with plenty of flexibility and time to simply enjoy two of Costa Rica’s most beautiful mountain destinations.

This morning, we have arranged for your door-to-door transportation from the Country Inn & Suites Hotel to Trapp Family Lodge in Monteverde / https://www.trappfamilylodge.cr/

Monteverde is one of Costa Rica’s most renowned nature destinations, famous for its lush cloud forests, extraordinary biodiversity, mist-covered mountains, and abundant birdlife and wildlife. You will be staying at the charming Trapp Family Lodge, conveniently located next to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, providing an excellent base from which to experience this unique environment.

That evening, we have scheduled a guided night walk with a private naturalist guide. Exploring the forest after dark offers an entirely different perspective, with opportunities to observe some of Monteverde’s fascinating nocturnal wildlife.

Activity: Travel to Monteverde and Guided naturalist night tour in Cloud Forest Reserve
Overnight: Trapp Family Lodge  – Superior Room
Meals included: Breakfast

Today, you will enjoy a guided walk through the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve accompanied by an experienced naturalist guide. Your guide will help bring the forest to life, pointing out wildlife, plants, and ecological details that can easily go unnoticed when exploring on your own.

As you walk along the reserve’s forest trails, you will learn about the unique cloud forest ecosystem, where persistent mist and high humidity support an extraordinary diversity of mosses, ferns, orchids, bromeliads, and towering trees. Your guide will also help you look for some of Monteverde’s remarkable wildlife and birdlife, with the possibility of spotting species such as resplendent quetzals, toucans, hummingbirds, monkeys, and other forest inhabitants.

The experience is conducted at a relaxed pace, allowing plenty of time for wildlife observation, photography, and learning about the natural history and conservation of one of Costa Rica’s most celebrated protected areas.

Afternoon at leisure.

Activity: Guided naturalist tour of Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve
Overnight: Trapp Family Lodge  – Superior Room
Meals included: Breakfast

Today is yours to enjoy Monteverde at your own pace. After several days of scheduled activities, you may choose to simply relax and enjoy the peaceful surroundings of the Trapp Family Lodge, or take advantage of the day to experience more of what the Monteverde area has to offer.

For those looking for a little more adventure, Monteverde is famous for its zipline and canopy tours, where you can soar above and through the cloud forest. Another excellent option is to visit one of the area's elevated bridges and walkways, which offer a completely different perspective on the forest canopy while allowing you to explore at a more relaxed pace.

Nature enthusiasts may wish to visit another nearby reserve or spend some additional time birdwatching, as Monteverde is home to an extraordinary variety of species. Those interested in Costa Rican culture and agriculture could instead arrange a coffee, cacao, and sugarcane tour to learn about the traditional production of some of the country's most important crops.

Other possibilities include horseback riding, visiting butterfly or hummingbird gardens, exploring the town of Santa Elena, or simply enjoying a leisurely lunch and a quiet afternoon surrounded by the cool mountain scenery.

Your activities today are not included and may be arranged directly in Monteverde, giving you the flexibility to decide what you feel like doing once you are there.

Activity: None included on this day
Overnight: Trapp Family Lodge  – Superior Room
Meals included: Breakfast

Today, you will leave the misty mountains and cloud forests of Monteverde behind and continue your journey to La Fortuna and the Arenal Volcano region, one of Costa Rica’s most spectacular destinations.

Rather than traveling the entire distance by road around Lake Arenal, we have arranged the popular shared vehicle–boat–vehicle transfer, which is both a convenient and scenic way to travel between Monteverde and La Fortuna.

Your journey begins with a ground transfer from your hotel in Monteverde through the mountainous countryside toward the shores of Lake Arenal. From there, you will board a taxi boat for the crossing of Lake Arenal. Weather permitting, the boat ride offers beautiful views across the lake and toward the impressive Arenal Volcano, which rises dramatically above the surrounding rainforest.

Upon reaching the opposite shore, another vehicle will be waiting to continue the final portion of your journey to your hotel in the La Fortuna area.

La Fortuna is renowned for its combination of rainforest, wildlife, waterfalls, volcanic landscapes, adventure activities, and naturally heated thermal springs. The area offers everything from hiking and wildlife observation to rafting, canyoning, hanging bridges, and relaxing hot-spring experiences.

You will be staying at Arenal Paraíso Resort Spa & Thermal Mineral Hot Springs ( https://arenalparaisoresort.com/ ), a property surrounded by tropical vegetation with impressive views of Arenal Volcano. One of the resort's highlights is its natural thermal mineral hot springs, offering a wonderful opportunity to relax after your journey from Monteverde.

The remainder of the day is yours to settle in, enjoy the resort, and experience the thermal pools and beautiful surroundings.

Activity: Van-boat-van Travel to Arenal

Overnight: Arenal Paraíso Resort Spa & Thermal Mineral Hot Springs – Standard Room
Meals included: Breakfast

Today, you will visit Místico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park accompanied by an experienced naturalist guide for an immersive exploration of the tropical rainforest surrounding Arenal Volcano.

Your naturalist guide will lead you along the reserve’s network of well-maintained trails and impressive suspension bridges, which take you from the forest floor into the rainforest canopy. Along the way, your guide will help you spot wildlife that can easily go unnoticed while sharing fascinating information about the plants, animals, and ecology of the Arenal rainforest.

The forest is home to an extraordinary variety of wildlife, and you may have opportunities to observe monkeys, sloths, toucans, hummingbirds, frogs, reptiles, and other tropical species. Your guide will carry specialized knowledge—and often spotting equipment—to make the most of the wildlife-viewing experience.

Weather permitting, several areas along the trail also offer spectacular views of Arenal Volcano, creating a wonderful combination of rainforest, wildlife, hanging bridges, and volcanic scenery.

The tour will be conducted at a comfortable pace, with plenty of opportunities to stop for wildlife observation, photography, and interpretation by your naturalist guide.

After the tour, you will return to Arenal Paraíso Resort Spa & Thermal Mineral Hot Springs, where the remainder of the day is at leisure. You may relax and enjoy the resort’s natural thermal mineral pools and tropical surroundings.

Activity: Visit to Místico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park

Overnight: Arenal Paraíso Resort Spa & Thermal Mineral Hot Springs – Standard Room
Meals included: Breakfast

Today is yours to enjoy at your own pace in the beautiful Arenal region. You may choose to spend a relaxing day at the hotel, taking advantage of its facilities, strolling through the tropical grounds, enjoying the swimming pools and hot springs, or simply unwinding while taking in views of the surrounding rainforest and Arenal Volcano.

For those who would like to explore further, the Arenal area offers an excellent variety of optional activities. Nature and wildlife enthusiasts may consider a full-day excursion to Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge, one of northern Costa Rica’s most important wetland ecosystems and an excellent destination for observing monkeys, caimans, iguanas, and numerous species of tropical birds.

Another wonderful option is a visit to Río Celeste and Tenorio Volcano National Park, where a rainforest hike leads to the spectacular Río Celeste waterfall, famous for the striking turquoise-blue color of its water.

More adventurous travelers can explore the fascinating underground world of the Venado Caves, enjoy a canopy and zip-line tour through the forest, or experience safari float along the Peñas Blancas River, visiting La Fortuna Waterfall, horseback riding through the countryside, or taking a guided nature walk around the base of Arenal Volcano.

Whether you prefer an active day of exploration or simply a quiet day enjoying your hotel and the tropical surroundings, today is completely yours.

Activity: None included on this day

Overnight: Arenal Paraíso Resort Spa & Thermal Mineral Hot Springs – Standard Room
Meals included: Breakfast

Today, we have arranged for your shared transfer from Arenal Paraíso Resort Spa & Thermal Mineral Hot Springs in La Fortuna back to the Country Inn & Suites in San José.

After breakfast, you will be picked up at your hotel and begin the scenic journey from the Arenal Volcano region toward Costa Rica’s Central Valley. Along the way, the route takes you through the beautiful mountainous countryside of northern Costa Rica, passing small rural communities, agricultural areas, tropical vegetation, and picturesque mountain landscapes.

As you leave La Fortuna and the impressive Arenal Volcano behind, you will gradually make your way into the higher elevations before descending toward the Central Valley and the greater San José area. The drive provides another opportunity to appreciate how dramatically Costa Rica’s scenery changes over relatively short distances—from the lush tropical forests surrounding Arenal to the cooler mountain regions and eventually the more developed Central Valley.

The transfer is provided on a shared basis, so there may be additional stops along the way to pick up or drop off other travelers.

Upon arrival in San José, you will be dropped off directly at the Country Inn & Suites, where you can settle in and enjoy the remainder of the day at your leisure.

Activity: Travel to San José

Overnight: Country Inn & Suites, San José – Standard Room
Meals included: Breakfast

All great adventures must eventually come to an end.

Over the two weeks, you have experienced some of the very best that Costa Rica has to offer—from beautiful landscapes and incredible wildlife to memorable adventures and moments of relaxation along the way. You now leave with plenty of stories to tell, wonderful memories to take home, and hopefully a big smile on your face.😊

On this final day, we have arranged your transportation to Juan Santamaría International Airport in time for your international departure.

We hope Costa Rica has given you an unforgettable experience and that this is not goodbye, but simply ¡hasta la próxima!

Breakfast is included on this day.