Costa-Nica Highlights

11 days, 10 nights. (Guided or self-drive)

Costa Rica: San José; Tortuguero and its channels; Arenal active volcano; Monteverde and its cloud forest; Tamarindo, jewel of the Pacific beaches; Peñas Blancas;

Nicaragua: Granada, jewel of the colonial cities; Lake Nicaragua and the islands, Masaya, with its active volcano and its folklore…

Category: relaxing

DAY 1. Airport-San José (Costa Rica)

Meet and greet at the airport. Transfer to your hotel in San Jose.

DAY 2: San José - Tortuguero

Pick up early in the morning (in group), transfer to Tortuguero National Park, breakfast. All-inclusive package. Going to Puerto Limón, we visit a banana plantation. At Siquirres, we take the road to the Caribbean Sea. At Cabo Blanco, begin to float down river into park’s smaller winding canals for a lifetime experience. To enjoy the incredible variety of wildlife: caimans, river turtles, Jesus Christ lizards, iguanas, troops of monkeys, exotic tropical birds.
Lunch. In the afternoon, city tour Tortuguero, and the little turtles Museum (us $ 1) Ticket in National Park (usd 7). Dinner and night in your lodge.

DAY 3: Tortuguero- Siquirres -Arenal

Early in the morning, tour along the secondary channels of Tortuguero with local guide to enjoy the nature.
Breakfast at lodge, return to Cabo Blanco and transfer to Siquirres (restaurant Caribbean Dishes 12:00 H). Pick up the car to continue the tour to Arenal area. Take the route from Siquirres to Puerto Viejo; actually on the North West you find Ciudad Quesada, also known as San Carlos, follow the San Carlos Valley where the majestic body of the Arenal Volcano is located (1600 m). This is one of the most active volcanoes in the world. After its first explosion in 1968, the Arenal Volcano usually surprises everybody with small eruptions and red lava flaming, huge ash columns.
Night at your hotel.

DAY 4: Arenal- Monteverde

Breakfast. Take the road boarding Arenal Lake and its beautiful surroundings, after Tilarán you arrive in Cañas. We recommend the Rincón Corobici Restaurant to have lunch and a little visit to Los Pumas: it’s a refuge of wild animals like pumas, jaguars, monkeys, ocelots, etc.
Take the Inter American Highway South and turn left at Lagarto. Last 35 km to Santa Elena are steep, scenic and unpaved. Monteverde is a cool verdant spot, where the Quaker families settled in 1951 to farm and live in harmony with the Costa Rican Families of the nearby village of Santa Elena. Both communities, dedicated to protecting the forest and rural lifestyle, enjoy multicultural populations.
Free evening and night at your hotel.

DAY 5: Monteverde

Monteverde reserve is so-called a cloud forest rather than a rain forest because of its altitude: the clouds go through the forest.
The canopy is extremely rich with birds, butterfly, and thousands of plants. Great bird watching, Resplendent Quetzal is usually seen in the March-April nesting season. Bring a warm jacket, raingear, and footwear for trail use.
Optional visit: the skywalk and canopy walkways are the best way to enjoy peacefully and safely the virgin cloud forest. Through the bridge system and over 1.6 miles of easy walking trails you can enjoy the marvels of the cloud forest and get the chance to see some of the world’s most amazing and beautiful flora and fauna.
Free evening, night in Monteverde.

DAY 6: Monteverde- Tamarindo

After breakfast, continue to Guanacaste Province until Playa Tamarindo, located on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica.
Accommodation in your hotel, free day to enjoy the beach.

DAY 7: Tamarindo

Tamarindo has much to offer besides its crystal waters, exquisite nature and stunning sunsets. Go surfing, fishing, visit a spa, enjoy the pool of your hotel, the options are endless.

DAY 8: Tamarindo- Peñas Blancas

After breakfast, continue to Liberia and then take the Pan-American road to Peñas Blancas.
Get your passport stamped at the border (Costa Rican side). In the Nica side, a representative of Nicaragua Adventure will meet you and help you get your formalities done.

Note: you also can fly from Liberia to Granada… it makes it way easier!

Transfer your hotel in Granada. Free afternoon, overnight in your hotel.

Built by the Spanish conquistadors in 1524, Granada is the best place for tourism because of its beauty and colonial architecture, charming hotels and activities to enjoy nearby: Lake Nicaragua and the islands, Mombacho volcano with its natural reserve, Masaya, with its active volcano and its folklore, the Apoyo Lagoon and its pure waters... Located only 1 hour away from the capital Managua and 90 minutes from the border with Costa Rica, Granada is also the perfect place for a combined trip with the 2 countries!

Colonial hotel in Granada

DAY 9: Granada -Masaya area-Granada

After breakfast, we will start the tour in the city of Masaya. You will discover the First National Park created in Nicaragua in 1979, that of the still active Masaya Volcano. Then we will visit the finest Handicraft Market where you can enjoy the creativity and variety of Nicaraguan art at bargain prices.
Later, enjoy a delicious lunch in Catarina with a magnificent view on the Apoyo lagoon, Mombacho volcano, Granada and Lake Nicaragua.
In the afternoon, we will go to San Juan de Oriente, famous for its ceramic arts.
Back in Granada, around 6.00. Pm. Enjoy this lively and very safe city, and a delicious dinner (fresh fish from Lake Nicaragua, other meals available too). Night in your hotel.

DAY 10: Granada -Lake Nicaragua & the islands-Granada

After breakfast, we will start a tour in the city of Granada: churches, colonial buildings, old monuments; museum, small cigar factory, places, Parque Central… Lunch included in town. After lunch, you will go for a Boat Ride and discover Lake Nicaragua and some of its 356 islands. Dinner included in an old colonial house. Free night in your hotel in Granada.

Masaya National Park and active volcano

DAY 11: Granada-Managua

Breakfast in the hotel and transfer to Managua int’l airport. Extensions are possible for activities like beach and ecological tours on Ometepe Island or other places in Nicaragua.