Tour Day 1: Your Costa Rica tour starts with a scenic drive with your driver/guide to Arenal Volcano.You will enjoy a scenic drive through the mountains with a stopover in Sarchi to see the colorful artisan crafts for which the community is famous. Following Sarchi you will continue on to the farming village of Zarcero for a stop to see the whimsical topiary garden in the center of the community.

En route you will have lunch serving typical Costa Rican fare, after lunch continue to Arenal and overnight at the Arenal Observatory Lodge or similar. From the Arenal Observatory Lodge, which is situated only 1.6 miles south of the volcano, visitors have an impressive view of this “giant which rumbles” and erupts with spectacular displays of vapor and lava.

The Arenal Observatory Lodge is the only lodge situated within the Arenal Volcano National Park, which encompasses thousands of acres of pristine rainforest and teems with tropical birds and wildlife. (L)

Tour Day 2: This morning you will hike with your guide further exploring the area near Arenal Volcano on a trail where you will have the opportunity to see a variety of wildlife. While viewing the volcano from a safe vantage point, your guide will reveal this volcano’s fascinating history and explain the various types of the volcano’s current activity

In the afternoon visit the Arenal Hanging Bridges a complex of 6 hanging suspension bridges rising above the jungle canopy, and almost 2 miles of brick & concrete trails through the lush Rain Forest. The bridges provide an excellent vantage point to observe the flora and fauna from the ground level to the top of the trees. The chain link fence on either side of each bridge is about 50” high, so there is little chance of anyone slipping through.

Walk the trails where you will see many varieties of heliconias, flowering ginger, hear howler monkeys, and see many varieties of butterflies, as you learn about the complexity and beauty of the Rain Forest. Overnight at Arenal Observatory Lodge. (B)

Tour Day 3: Free morning to explore the grounds of the Lodge or do an optional activity before being picked up and transferred to Arenal Lake for a 30 minute scenic boat transfer across a section of the lake. On the other side of the lake you will be met for an approximate 2 hour transfer to Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, one of the most diverse and richest tropical cloud forests in the New World. It is best known as home to the Resplendent Quetzal but has hundreds of other birds, mammals and plant species. Overnight in Monteverde at Hotel Fonda Vela or similar. (B)

Tour Day 4:  In the morning visit Selvatura's Canopy zip line tour. Considered one of the longest of its kind it is located inside the actual virgin cloud forest of Monteverde.
The tour starts with a safety talk by the guides and getting fitted with the appropriate equipment, then the adventure begins through each of the 15 cables and 18 platforms, at the end you may choose to take the optional Tarzan Swing. Tour usually takes between 2.5 and 3 hours.

In the afternoon, hike through the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve viewing the misty forest with its dense vegetation and majestic trees. Overnight Monteverde at Hotel Fonda Vela or similar. (B)

Tour Day 5: Depart for San Jose, late afternoon arrival back in San Jose. If your planning permits you can continue to the Beach without having to go back to San Jose. (B) Selvatura Canopy Walkways are available for those who do not want to do the Canopy zip line tour. Selvatura's Treetop Walkways, a 1.9 mile (approximately 3 kilometer) trail that crosses through the cloud forest, visitors walk through eight bridges of various lengths ranging from 150 feet (50 meters) up to 510 feet (170 meters) and altitudes ranging between 36 feet (12 meters) up to 180 feet (60 meters). Each of the bridges features a five foot width and capacity of up to 80 people per bridge. The treetop walkways are suitable for people of all ages and physical condition the duration of the tour is usually between 1.5 and 2 hours.

Note: If your planning permits you can continue to the beach without having to go back to San Jose.