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Independent Costa Rica Wonders with Tortuguero & Guanacaste 2025
11 Day Package from San José to Guanacaste
Tour Description:
Livin’ la Pura Vida! This philosophy of the pure life in Costa Rica is also a common greeting you’ll hear on your Globus Independent tour. From the mind-blowing lava trails and soul-soothing thermal springs of the Arenal Volcano region to the lush tropical forests in the clouds of Monteverde, you’ll encounter pure nature of Costa Rica’s rich and resplendent flora and fauna found nowhere else on earth. Explore Tortuguero National Park to navigate the pristine waterways where turtles nest amid nature at its best. Put your head in the clouds in the Monteverde Cloud Forest, home to over 3,000 plant species, some 120 mammal species, 400 bird species, and 1,200 species of amphibians and reptiles. Land in Guanacaste to laze and gaze upon the beautiful beaches of the North Pacific. Add a dose of I-time to immerse yourself in Costa Rican culture and cuisine in San José, and you’re living your best life, indeed!
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Dates & Pricing
Start Dates Listed Below are US departure dates, please verify specific dates with your Pavlus Travel Planner
| Friday 03 Oct 25 — Tuesday 14 Oct 25 | Starting at $2,429 | Get a Quote | |
| Saturday 04 Oct 25 — Wednesday 15 Oct 25 | Starting at $2,429 | Get a Quote | |
| Sunday 05 Oct 25 — Thursday 16 Oct 25 | Starting at $2,429 | Get a Quote | |
| Monday 06 Oct 25 — Friday 17 Oct 25 | Starting at $2,429 | Get a Quote | |
| Tuesday 07 Oct 25 — Saturday 18 Oct 25 | Starting at $2,429 | Get a Quote | |
| Wednesday 08 Oct 25 — Sunday 19 Oct 25 | Starting at $2,429 | Get a Quote | |
| Thursday 09 Oct 25 — Monday 20 Oct 25 | Starting at $2,429 | Get a Quote | |
| Friday 10 Oct 25 — Tuesday 21 Oct 25 | Starting at $2,429 | Get a Quote | |
| Saturday 11 Oct 25 — Wednesday 22 Oct 25 | Starting at $2,429 | Get a Quote | |
| Sunday 12 Oct 25 — Thursday 23 Oct 25 | Starting at $2,429 | Get a Quote | |
| Monday 13 Oct 25 — Friday 24 Oct 25 | Starting at $2,429 | Get a Quote | |
| Monday 20 Oct 25 — Friday 31 Oct 25 | Starting at $2,429 | Get a Quote | |
| Tuesday 21 Oct 25 — Saturday 01 Nov 25 | Starting at $2,429 | Get a Quote | |
| Wednesday 22 Oct 25 — Sunday 02 Nov 25 | Starting at $2,429 | Get a Quote | |
| Thursday 23 Oct 25 — Monday 03 Nov 25 | Starting at $2,429 | Get a Quote | |
| Friday 24 Oct 25 — Tuesday 04 Nov 25 | Starting at $2,429 | Get a Quote | |
| Saturday 25 Oct 25 — Wednesday 05 Nov 25 | Starting at $2,429 | Get a Quote | |
| Sunday 26 Oct 25 — Thursday 06 Nov 25 | Starting at $2,429 | Get a Quote | |
| Monday 27 Oct 25 — Friday 07 Nov 25 | Starting at $2,429 | Get a Quote | |
| Thursday 06 Nov 25 — Monday 17 Nov 25 | Starting at $2,429 | Get a Quote | |
| Thursday 11 Dec 25 — Monday 22 Dec 25 | Starting at $2,689 | Get a Quote | |
| Friday 12 Dec 25 — Tuesday 23 Dec 25 | Starting at $2,689 | Get a Quote | |
| Saturday 13 Dec 25 — Wednesday 24 Dec 25 | Starting at $2,689 | Get a Quote |
Destination & Sightseeing
Destination & SightseeingYour Globus Independent tour gives you the freedom to explore with the I-time you crave–with all the perks you'd expect from Globus. We take care of the details with included accommodations, daily breakfasts, select guided sightseeing, transportation and transfers between each city on your tour, and a Local Host in San José to assist you when needed. We’ll also handle flight arrangements and airport transfers at the beginning and end of your tour, if you wish.
Notes:
Transportation is as outlined in the day-by-day itinerary to include, transfers by land and boat to Tortuguero on day 2, transport by car and boat from Tortuguero to Guapiles and then continue on to Arenal on day 4, and transfer by land to Guanacaste for the next three nights on day 8. Local Guide service is provided in San José and a Naturalist in Tortuguero. Though this is an Independent tour, some transportation segments will be shared with other travelers.
Transportation is as outlined in the day-by-day itinerary to include, transfers by land and boat to Tortuguero on day 2, transport by car and boat from Tortuguero to Guapiles and then continue on to Arenal on day 4, and transfer by land to Guanacaste for the next three nights on day 8. Local Guide service is provided in San José and a Naturalist in Tortuguero. Though this is an Independent tour, some transportation segments will be shared with other travelers.
MEALS
MEALS ITINERARY
ITINERARYDay 1 ARRIVE IN SAN JOSÉ, COSTA RICA
Welcome to Costa Rica! Hotel rooms are available for mid-afternoon check-in
Day 2 SAN JOSÉ–TORTUGUERO NATIONAL PARK
• Early this morning, travel east to the northern Caribbean’s lowlands. In the first part of the trip, admire beautiful evergreen mountains and beautiful landscapes of Braulio Carrillo National Park. Once on the Caribbean side, continue to the Caño Blanco Dock, where you will board a boat to take you to Tortuguero National Park.
• Take a boat ride through the canals sheltered in the jungle of the rainforest. From the boat you will be able to admire the unique flora and fauna of this area.
• Upon arrival at your hotel there will be a short briefing followed by lunch. In the afternoon, visit the village of Tortuguero, where you learn the lifestyle of local residents and the significant conservation efforts developed to protect the sea turtles that come to spawn each year along the 22 miles of nearby protected coastline.
(B,L,D)
BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch
DinnerDay 3 TORTUGUERO NATIONAL PARK
• This morning, your guide accompanies you on a leisurely boat ride along remote, unspoiled sections of the park’s waterways, explaining the bountiful flora and fauna. The trained eyes of your guide and boatman help you spot freshwater turtles, caimans, herons, toucans, egrets, and monkeys.
• Later, enjoy a fascinating stroll through an accessible portion of the nearby rainforest. During the peak nesting season (mid-July to mid-October), you may be lucky enough to observe an endangered green turtle laying her eggs under the starlight.
• Later this afternoon, meet a local Naturalist for an informative presentation on the ecology of the area.
(B,L,D)
Today’s I-Time Tips
Between guided excursions, relax by the pool or take a siesta!
BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 4 TORTUGUERO NATIONAL PARK–ARENAL
• Today, transfer by boat and car to the lush town of Arenal, located in the shadow of Arenal Volcano. Settle in and experience the magic of your resort.
• This afternoon, visit the famous hot springs the area is known for and take a dip in the natural springs and pools of mineral waters surrounded by lush, tropical forest. Enjoy dinner at the hot springs.
(B,D)
Breakfast Dinner
Breakfast DinnerDay 5 ARENAL
• Today is at your leisure to explore on your own or perhaps take an optional excursion.
(B)
Today’s I-Time Tips
Perhaps visit the Arenal Hanging Bridges, a network of suspension bridges, platforms, and trails built in the cloud forest. From here, explore the forest canopy with a bird’s-eye view, giving you a different perspective of the forest’s wildlife. Alternatively, you may choose a rafting or horseback riding adventure
Breakfast
BreakfastDay 6 ARENAL–MONTEVERDE
• This morning, your transfer begins with a short boat ride across Arenal Lake to admire different species of birds that visit and call the area home. Continue through incredible mountain scenery and the Monteverde Cloud Forest, home to over 3,000 plant species, approximately 120 mammal species, 400 bird species, and 1,200 species of amphibians and reptiles.
• This evening, venture into Monteverde’s Cloud Forest just before nightfall with an expert Naturalist for a guided nature walk to search for the jungle’s nocturnal creatures, like sloths, foxes, agoutis, frogs, and many more!
(B)
Breakfast
BreakfastDay 7 MONTEVERDE
• Enjoy a day to do as you please today with options to choose from if you like.
(B)
Today’s I-Time Tips
Maybe wake up early and visit Santa Elena Cloud Forest to best experience the animals in their natural forest habitats. Discover this misty and surreal wildlife sanctuary full of mosses, ferns, flowers, and other indigenous plant life. Also, notice how the combination of climatic and geographic factors creates temperature and humidity gradients, changing dramatically over just a short distance, or you could visit a local family’s farm to learn about sugar cane, coffee, and tilapia farming
Breakfast
BreakfastDay 8 MONTEVERDE–GUANACASTE
• Journey to the Guanacaste region of Costa Rica. This part of the North Pacific region of Coast Rica offers hundreds of unspoiled beaches lining the shores, but Guanacaste is surprisingly far from being a traditional beach destination.
(B)
Today’s I-Time Tips
During your time here, you may choose a rainforest canopy tour, river rafting or a float trip down the Corobici River. Consider horseback riding or fishing, or relax on the beach and snorkel in the Pacific Ocean
Breakfast
BreakfastDay 9 GUANACASTE
• Enjoy a free day.
(B)
Today’s I-Time Tips
Perhaps opt for a guided visit to Rincon de la Vieja National Park, known as Costa Rica’s Yellowstone, to explore the steamy sulfur water ponds and pungent fumaroles that punctuate this jungle, home to toucans, monkeys, and many other animals. Or, take a leisurely boat cruise through Palo Verde National Park, composed of tropical dry forest and mangroves, and admire scores of birds, caimans, and iguanas along the way
Breakfast
BreakfastDay 10 GUANACASTE
• Enjoy a free day.
(B)
Today’s I-Time Tips
Why not choose a total adrenaline rush for today’s adventure on a zip line tour?! The zip line system consists of a network of suspended cables up in the treetop canopy that go from one platform to another and that will let you zip from tree to tree
Breakfast
BreakfastDay 11 GUANACASTE
• Your vacation ends after breakfast this morning.
(B)
Accommodations
Accommodations| San Jose | Tortuguero | Arenal | Monteverde | Guanacaste |
Doubletree Cariari
Superior First-Class
San Antonio de Belen San Jose Costa Rica
This sustainable Costa Rica hotel is typical of San Jose colonial hacienda architecture and offers spacious, comfortable guestrooms and suites with the latest amenities. Enjoy total convenience in its location, personalized services, delicious cuisine, and facilities like the pool and fitness center. Let the friendly staff help you relax while catering to your needs and helping you see all that Costa Rica has to offer.
Superior First-Class
San Antonio de Belen San Jose Costa Rica
This sustainable Costa Rica hotel is typical of San Jose colonial hacienda architecture and offers spacious, comfortable guestrooms and suites with the latest amenities. Enjoy total convenience in its location, personalized services, delicious cuisine, and facilities like the pool and fitness center. Let the friendly staff help you relax while catering to your needs and helping you see all that Costa Rica has to offer.
