9-day Costa Rica Tour Itinerary for Nature Lovers

Author: Priyanka Saxena on Feb 13,2019

Costa Rica is a country of beaches, islands, and mountains. If you are a nature lover at heart but wondering which place to choose to quench your thirst of spotting the best views in Latin America, plan a trip to Costa Rica today. Let this Costa Rica Tour itinerary guide you with the most scenic places in the country where you can soak your eyes with spectacular views couples with exhilarating hiking experience.

Trip At A Glance

Day 1-2: San Jose

Day 3: Monteverde Cloud Reserve Forest

Day 4: Pacuare River

Day 5: Montezuma

Day 6-8: Arenal Volcano and Celeste River

Day 9: Departure

Trip Highlights

  • Welcome to the Country’s capital - San Jose. Spend the first day visiting the art galleries, museum galleries, historical buildings, and breathtaking scenic views that San Jose is fully packed with

  • Get close encounters with an array of stunning flora and fauna at Monteverde Cloud Reserve Forest

  • Camp, explore, or simply admire the natural beauty of Pacuare River

  • Enjoy living in a nature reserve surrounded by stunning beaches in Montezuma

  • Experience the adventure of hiking and trekking in Arenal Volcano and Celeste River

Tour Price

Our private tours typically range from $500 - $1000 per person/per night depending on chosen hotels and room categories, vehicles used, types of tours, flight cost, time of year and other factors. Make an inquiry for a customized trip quote.

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Detailed Itinerary

Day 1-2: San Jose

Being the capital city of Costa Rica, it’s quite obvious that the place holds some of the best attractions under its canvass. This bustling, colorful, and full of energy city of San Jose has a lot to showcase and that’s why it ranks at the top among the top attractions of Costa Rica Tour destinations. There are art galleries, museum galleries, historical buildings, and breathtaking scenic views to soak your eyes with.

In order to explore the city at the fullest, you will have to give it at least two days. The first day you can spend visiting the Jade Museum, Museo Nacional de Costa Rica and Coronado. However, the second day of the Costa Rica Tour can be utilized in shopping the best stuff available in the famous Avenida Central shopping area, and then to the Los Quetzales National Park and La Sabana Metropolitan Park.

The places are capable of keeping you engaged for a long time. With the scenic views of the city by your side and the spirit of traveling to the best places at your heart, you will enjoy the initial two days of your trip in the capital city of Costa Rica quite well.

Day 3: Monteverde Cloud Reserve Forest

The Monteverde Cloud Reserve Forest is at a distance of 3-hours drive from San Jose. Being so close to the capital city of Costa Rica, the forest can be shifted to the first two days of this itinerary but we have kept it aside for the third day for a reason. The forest is one of the best places that outline in the map of Costa Rica. This is a scenic mountainous region of the country where you will get to have close encounters with an array of stunning flora and fauna. The landscape of the region is also incredible. If you are a nature lover, this place is totally for you. You can plan a day or two stays in one of the lodges located in the forest area. This way, you will get to wake up in the lap of mother nature and sleep under the stars. Reserve the mornings and afternoons for exploring the park and keep the evening reserved for star gazing and chilling around the camp.

Day 4: Pacuare River

If day 3 was for the nature lovers, the day four would be for the water persons. All the adventure lover water persons who are traveling to Costa Rice to taste the excitement of waters, here’s the spot for you. We bet, you will extremely enjoy taming the rapids of the Pacuare River. Talking about the water activities, the river offers some of the best water activities in the world which include whitewater river rafting, boating, and many more. There are in total of three rapid grade sections and they are called Upper Upper, Upper, and Lower. Trying out these levels and grades as per own’s skills is quite exhilarating.

However, water activities are not the only thing you will get to enjoy in this region of the country. The natural beauty of the river and its surrounding area is enough to soak your eyes with tones of stunning views. You can camp, explore, or simply admire the natural beauty of this place and enter into solitude. Do not forget to pay a visit to the powerful waterfalls and tranquil pools that make swimming a wonderful thing to get enrolled in.

Day 5: Montezuma

When in Costa Rica, you can not miss visiting Montezuma which is said to be a slice of heaven fallen on earth. To taste this slice, you will have to head towards the Nicoya Peninsula. Montezuma is a place where you enjoy living in a nature reserve surrounded by stunning beaches and located on an island which you can explore on foot. If living on an island seems a fantastic thing to you, visiting Montezuma would be the best experience you will get on this Costa Rica tour.

Day 6-8: Arenal Volcano and Celeste River

If you are an adventurer at heart, the coming days of your trip are going to be the best days. Starting with the imperious Arenal Volcano, this is among the best places to visit in Costa Rica. A magnificent mountain with a beautiful symmetry would trigger the adventure inside you and you might think of hiking it to the top. But, hold on!! Hiking the Volcano is not a child’s play and you will soon realize it. When you do so, do not get disheartened as your next destination would not disappoint you.

After tasing the slice of adventure in the Arenal Volcano, head towards the stunningly beautiful Celeste River. This is the only place in the entire Costa Rica where you will find natural beauty at its best. The stunning waterfall falling into the crystal clear turquoise water, and the refreshing beauty of the river will surely take your breath away. However, reaching the river is not that easy. In order to jump to the main spot of attraction, one should be in a good physical condition - a condition that allows you to hike and trek on the landscape. You can spend nights star gazing and morning listening to the melodious sounds of the birds. This is the place where mother nature appears to be in its best form. Do carry extra batteries for your cameras so you do not run out of battery while capturing the scenic views of the islands.

Day 9: Departure

Your 9 days tour in Costa Rica is finally completing and today you will be saying Cheerios to the scenic beauty of this place. With lots of special memories in your heart, you will transfer to the airport for a happy return. Do not miss to enjoy your farewell breakfast in the hotel before the exit formalities. You will love the sweet gesture shown by the hotel staff.

 

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