Costa Rica Wildlife Experience

B - Breakfast | L - Lunch | D - Dinner

Day 1 San José

Arrive at any time and transfer to hotel. There will be a welcome meeting to meet our Tour Guide and fellow travelers in the evening.

Day 2 La Fortuna (B,D)

Today we will depart for La Fortuna, situated at the foot of the active Arenal Volcano. After a full day of exploring, we will enjoy a local dinner and take a relaxing soak in the lush, cascading hot spring waters of a local resort. We will soak under the shade of the surrounding canopy in one of the natural thermal baths, fed by rivers of volcanically-heated water running down from the volcano.

Day 3 La Fortuna (B,L)

Today we will experience an authentic cultural exchange with a local family at Dona Mara's home. We will help with lunch and learn the art of tortilla making out of fresh ground corn masa. After lunch, we will take an unforgettable guided hike around the base of the volcano; if we are lucky we may see the top glowing an eerie red, wile set to a soundtrack of screeching monkeys and the rumblings of the volcano in the distance.

Day 4 La Fortuna (B)

Today we will enjoy a free day to explore La Fortuna, a hotspot for adventure travel in Costa Rica. Here we can river raft, mountain bike, horseback ride or take a walk through the lava fields.

Day 5 Monteverde (B)

After arriving in Monteverde this afternoon, we will have some free time to relax at the hotel pool or take in some optional activities such as; Selvatura Park butterfly, reptile and Amphibian Exhibition or the tree-top Sky tram. We will also have the option to take a walk around this quaint town and visit the local shops and cafes.

Day 6 Monteverde (B)

Today we will visit the Santa Elena Forest Reserve, located high on the Caribbean slopes of the Cordillera de Tilarán, the Continental Divide of Costa Rica. In the evening we will enjoy a guided night walk to observe wonders hidden in the forest after dark. The guide will explain many of the unique features of the forest and creatures that inhabit it while navigating the trails. The forest comes alive at night and we will have a chance to see many nocturnal creatures such as frogs and insects.

Day 7 Monteverde (B)

Today we will take a free day for optional activities which are abundant in the area. We can view the forest canopy from above on the hanging bridges, sky tram or try the adrenaline pumping canopy zipline, an activity made famous in Monteverde.

Day 8 Carara (B,L)

From Monteverde we will travel to the beautiful Carara National Park and enjoy lunch and a short walking tour. The park contains dense primary forest, making it a bird-watcher's dream. Scarlet Macaws, parakeets, hummingbirds, several species of water birds and many others call this park home. Several reptiles and amphibians also are present, including crocodiles, lizards and poison arrow frogs.

Day 9 Dominical (B)

Today we will depart for the laid-back and isolated paradise of Dominical beach, on Costa Rica’s south Pacific coast. South of Manuel Antonio and before the Osa Peninsula, Dominical is just far enough out of the way that many visitors stop before they get this far. In the late afternoon we can relax at the pool or take an optional kayak trip through the mangroves and search for sea life that populate this pristine natural area.

Day 10 - 11 Dominical 2(B,2L)

Over the next 2 days, we will travel to the small beach town of Playa Matapalo to work alongside local and international volunteers as they help protect endangered sea turtles. Volunteer activities can include beach patrols to protect the nests, data collection, area clean-ups, general cleaning and maintenance, the construction of breeding grounds, as well as the possibility of monitoring the baby turtle hatchery.

Day 12 Santa Gerrardo de Dota (B,L,D)

Today we will depart for San Gerardo de Dota, one of the many small towns named after a Catholic saint in the famous coffee-growing Dota region of the lush Savegre Valley. We will arrive early afternoon for lunch and a bio-coffee tour where we will learn about the coffee growing and production process.

Day 13 San Jose (B)

After breakfast we will make our way back to Costa Rica's capital to enjoy some free time for some last minute souvenir shopping and one last night out on the town.

Day 14 San Jose (B)

Depart at any time.

After choosing your desired tour, you will need to select a departure date that works for you. You can view all of our dates and prices on any tour page. You may also want to consider the need for a private room during the tour. Please remember to ask for an air quote. It is important however that you do not purchase tickets that carry cancellations penalties until your trip is guaranteed to run.

Availability Options

• Available – Trips marked as available means there are at least 4 spots left on your tour.
• On Request– Less than 4 spaces are left, or we need to contact a local supplier, especially in the case of independent tours.
• Waitlist – There is currently no space available, but you can ask to be contacted if anything opens up.

Guaranteed - We guarantee our tours 60 days before departure. Some popular tours are guaranteed before this date. If your tour indicates it is guaranteed, you can proceed to book your international airfare once you receive your booking confirmation.

Inca Trail Status - For Peru trips that involve hiking the Inca Trail permits often sell out many months in advance. Permits can either be available, on request or sold out. If sold out, then you can either take a different hiking route to Machu Picchu or extend your stay in Cuzco and visit Machu Picchu by train. We recommend the sooner you book your trip the better.

Book your Tour Online

When you decide to “book now” you will proceed to our secure, online booking pages that are encrypted for online purchases. The processing steps are explained below. Essential information comes first. Let us know who you are and whom you are traveling with.

• Add your personal information for our “passenger” section, such as name (as it appears on your passport), email, date of birth and save that information.
• Please advise us of any medical or meal requirements at this time.
• If you are travelling with anyone else, enter their personal information next, and continue doing this for any passengers you are booking and paying for.
• Review our insurance section so that you’re aware of our requirements.

Note: Discovery Adventures can book your insurance for you.

Proceed to the checkout...

• Please refer to your invoice for a recap of the total cost of services and tours you have requested. Once you have confirmed that your booking details are correct, it is time to book.
• “Hold an option,” means you will have 48 hours to decide, without being charged on your credit card. If you do not confirm, we will release your space for someone else.
• On most tours you can “hold an option” with a credit card or “confirm a booking”.
• Confirming a booking means your credit card will be charged the deposit amount of your tour. The following are the amounts: CAD 250, AUD 250, NZD 250, USD 250, GBP 100, EUR 250.
• Note that you will be charged the full tour amount if your booking request is within 60 days of departure.
• Enter your credit card information as requested and submit the booking to complete your transaction!
• It is a good idea to record your Booking Number and ID for future reference.

We'll be in touch!

Upon receipt of your request, our reservations team will prepare your invoices and documents, and review any special requirements for the tour(s) and services you have requested. You will hear from us within 24 hours of your request by email.

• Please note, even if your online booking went through and you’ve received your booking number, a quality control check is required for all bookings before we can advise to book airfare or extra services.
• We will answer any questions you may have, and provide competitive quotes on both insurance and airfare over the phone.

Any other questions you may have before then can probably be answered by visiting our FAQs and links to our Terms and Conditions.

Good things to know before you go on your Discovery Adventures trip.

Our Discovery Adventures Specialists will take care of all the details of your trip, however some travelers enjoy doing a little research on their own to be ahead of the game. Here are some tips and links to get you started.

• Passport: Make sure your passport is valid up to 6 months from your return date.
• Travel Visas - Requirements change frequently and are dependent upon your nationality and your destination. You are responsible for obtaining your own Visas. Check the Plan Your Trip page to determine if a Visa is required for your specific trip.
• Travel Reports: Most governments have websites dedicated to providing the most up-to-date travel information including recent news and background information on every country. Please visit the US State site for information about your destination and international travel
• Arrival and Departure taxes/fees: Check your tour confirmation documents and speak with a Discovery Adventure Specialist if you have any questions.
• Immunizations and travel health issues: Be sure to get the most accurate and up-to-date health information for the region you will be visiting. Check with your general physician or a specialist from your local travel health clinic.
• Good Health Practices: Adjusting to new climates and cultural conditions can cause some minor complications. This guide will help you stay healthy while you travel.
• Travel Insurance: Be sure to acquire the necessary travel insurance before your trip. You will not be allowed to participate without showing proof of adequate coverage.
• Packing Tips: Create your own packing list based on your destination, accommodations, weather and tour activities. Leave jewelery at home and keep makeup to a minimum. Travel size toiletries stored in a waterproof kit are recommended. Pack once…divide it in half and pack again. (Please verify weight and carry on restrictions with your airline carrier.)