Transfer San José to La Pavona Port + Boat to Tortuguero

Good morning! After breakfast, at 9:00 pm, your adventure begins with an early morning 2.5-hour ground transfer from San José to La Pavona, the gateway to Tortuguero’s wild and remote beauty. Enjoy a scenic drive through lush valleys, rolling hills, and banana plantations as you head toward the Caribbean lowlands.

Upon arrival at La Pavona Dock, you’ll board a shared boat for a captivating river journey through the winding canals of Tortuguero National Park. This boat ride is more than a transfer—it’s your first glimpse into the region’s incredible biodiversity. As you glide through calm waters surrounded by dense jungle, keep your eyes open for wildlife such as crocodiles, monkeys, herons, and turtles.

By the time you arrive in Tortuguero village, you’ll already feel immersed in one of Costa Rica’s most unique and ecologically rich destinations.

Kayak along the Canals + Tortuguero Trails Tour

Start your day immersed in nature with an early morning kayak tour through the peaceful canals of Tortuguero National Park. As the jungle awakens, paddle quietly through narrow waterways flanked by towering trees and thick vegetation. This intimate experience allows for close-up encounters with wildlife, including sloths, monkeys, toucans, caimans, river turtles, and countless tropical birds. The stillness of the morning makes it one of the best times to witness the vibrant life of the rainforest. After this tour, breakfast will be at the hotel around 10:00 am.

After a relaxing midday break, you’ll reconnect with nature during a guided afternoon walk through Tortuguero’s lush jungle trails. Accompanied by an expert naturalist, discover the intricate web of life hidden beneath the rainforest canopy. Learn about the medicinal plants, insects, amphibians, and reptiles that thrive in this incredibly biodiverse region.

Boat to La Pavona Port – Transfer to La Fortuna

This morning, say goodbye to the serene canals of Tortuguero as you board a scenic 2-hour boat ride back to La Pavona Port. Glide once more through the tranquil waterways, taking in your final glimpses of the wildlife and lush vegetation that define this remote region.

Upon arrival at La Pavona, your journey continues with a comfortable ground transfer for 3 more hours to La Fortuna, a vibrant town nestled at the base of the iconic Arenal Volcano. As you travel inland, the scenery shifts from flat wetlands to rolling hills and green countryside, offering a picturesque view of Costa Rica’s rich and varied landscapes.

By the time you arrive in La Fortuna, you’ll be surrounded by hot springs, rainforest, and the impressive silhouette of Arenal Volcano—setting the stage for exciting eco-adventures in the days to come.

Sloth Tour + Chocolate Tour

After breakfast, at 9:00 am, get ready for a delightful day filled with wildlife encounters and delicious flavors in the lush surroundings of La Fortuna.

Start your day with a guided Sloth Tour, a slow-paced walk through a quiet nature trail where your expert guide helps you spot two- and three-toed sloths in their natural habitat. Along the way, you may also encounter colorful frogs, toucans, iguanas, and other rainforest residents. With a bit of patience and a trained eye, you’ll enjoy the thrill of seeing these gentle creatures relaxing in the treetops—an unforgettable Costa Rican experience.

In the afternoon, awaken your senses during a Chocolate & Coffee Tour, where you’ll discover the history, culture, and production of two of Costa Rica’s most beloved exports. Walk through plantations, learn about traditional processing techniques, and enjoy hands-on tasting experiences. You’ll grind cocoa beans, sip fresh-brewed coffee, and sample rich, artisanal chocolate as you learn how these crops shape the country’s identity.

Transfer to Monteverde

Today, at 9:00 am after breakfast, journey from the volcanic landscapes of La Fortuna to the mystical cloud forests of Monteverde, one of Costa Rica’s most iconic eco-destinations. This scenic transfer typically includes a combination of ground and boat travel across Lake Arenal, offering breathtaking views of the volcano and surrounding mountains.

As you cross the lake by boat, enjoy a peaceful ride with stunning photo opportunities of Arsenal’s towering peak and the lush greenery that lines the shore. Once you reach the opposite side, continue the journey by land, ascending into the highlands where cool breezes and misty forests await.

Arriving in Monteverde, you’ll be welcomed by a fresh mountain climate and a dramatic change in scenery—ideal for the days ahead filled with canopy adventures, wildlife watching, and cloud forest exploration.

Monteverde, Day on your own:

Day at your own in Monteverde for you to relax on your hotel, explore the town or launch in some optional tours with us such as: 

El Tigre WaterFalls

Zipline

Hanging Bridges

Monteverde Cloud Forest

Embark on a captivating journey through one of Costa Rica’s most renowned ecological treasures—the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. Spanning over 10,500 hectares, this lush reserve is a sanctuary for a rich tapestry of biodiversity, including more than 2,500 plant species, 400 bird species, and a myriad of mammals, amphibians, and insects.

Accompanied by a certified naturalist guide, traverse well-maintained trails that meander through misty forests, offering opportunities to spot elusive wildlife such as the Resplendent Quetzal, howler monkeys, and vibrant hummingbirds.

The afternoon will be on your own for you to do what you want.

Transfer to Bijaguas 

After breakfast, we will leave for Bijagua de Upala, a cool area full of flora and fauna, colorful waterfalls and rivers, natural air and grenness etc. Upon arrival, you will check in at your hotel and after that, the day is on your own.

Rio Celeste Waterfall + Tubing

If getting up close and personal with nature is your thing, you’ve definitely arrived at the right hands! Golden Tours Costa Rica will take you to explore this country’s natural surroundings in a way that is both informative and meaningful. 

This tour leaves at 7:00 am, we are going to drive 2 hours to Tenorio Volcano National Park. Inside the volcano, we will explore one of Costa Rica’s most stunning natural wonders, the Rio Celeste Waterfall. This tour will take you for 2 hours on a breathtaking hike through lush tropical rainforests, here, you’ll witness the river’s magical turquoise color, a result of a natural chemical reaction. The vibrant blue waters of Rio Celeste create a striking contrast with the surrounding green foliage, making it a photographer’s dream. On this tour, in addition to seeing the exuberant waterfall, we will have the opportunity to see some snakes, frogs, toads, birds and with good luck, we might see tapirs.

After our hike, we will make a necessary stop at a local Costa Rican food restaurant and enjoy a succulent lunch consisting of rice, beans, tortilla or plantains, chicken or beef or pork or fish. After this, we will continue with our day of adventure. 

Tubing: After the hike we will have lunch, and once we have lunch, we will do an amazing tubing tour on the river connected to the waterfall we saw in the morning. This tour will be over an hour on the river with tubes. This adventure is really amazing, you will love it!

San José + Poás Volcano

We will leave Bijaguas after breakfast today. This 200-kilometer ride will take us around 4 hours. Once we get to San José, the afternoon is free for you.

Departure

Time to say goodbye to “Pura Vida “Costa Rica. Depending on your departure time, our drivers will pick you up at your hotel and take you to the airport.