From San Jose to Panama City, travel to the beautiful Pacific Coast of Costa Rica and the idyllic Caribbean Coast of Panama, through cloud forests, pristine national parks and tranquil islands. Experience rumbling volcanoes and bubbling hot springs, beautiful beaches, colourful markets, abundant wildlife and adventure galore!
Trip Highlights
Included
Not Included
Itinerary
San Jose
Welcome to San Jose or Chepe as it’s called by Ticos! Upon arrival at San Jose Airport you'll be met by a representative and transferred to our hotel. Spend the remains of the at leisure in Costa Rica's capital city, which is nestled in a fertile valley among coffee and sugar-cane farms.
Overnight: San Jose
Manuel Antonio Village
San Jose - Manuel Antonio. We travel from the Central Valley to the Pacific coast, through very lush green countryside to Manuel Antonio, where we will visit the Manuel Antonio National Park, one of the most popular parks in the country. This celebrated park is blessed with beautiful lagoons, palm fringed beaches, a vast array of animals and lush green forests. Some of the many creatures that call Manuel Antonio home include sloths, pelicans, white-faced monkeys, anteaters and huge iguanas. It is also famous for its beaches - although almost deserted on weekdays, keep a sharp eye on your belongings, as the monkeys and raccoons are seasoned thieves!
Overnight: Manuel Antonio Village | Breakfast x 1
Monteverde
Manuel Antonio - Santa Elena. We travel via the old town of Quepos to Santa Elena, a small town established by American Quakers in the 1950's. From here we visit Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve in search of the mysterious endangered Quetzal, a very rare and timid bird with incredibly beautiful and unique plumage. There are several paths to explore in this privately owned reserve, one of which takes you to the continental divide. On a clear day both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans can be seen! We'll also stop at the Hummingbird Gallery where these energetic birds buzz around sipping on nectar. Santa Elena is famous for its ziplines, where you'll have the option to go flying over the cloud forest on a series of cables strung out between the giant trees.
Overnight: Santa Elena | Breakfast x 2, Lunch x 1
La Fortuna
San Jose - La Fortuna. Our next journey takes us through the mountains of the cloud forest to Lake Arenal where we take a boat en route to La Fortuna. The main attraction in La Fortuna is the nearby Arenal Volcano, which was constantly erupting between 1968 and 2010. Although not erupting anymore, the occasional puff of steam can be seen. After settling into our hotel you'll have time for a leisurely lunch and to explore the town. You can visit the luxuriant local hot springs for a relaxing dip.
There is also plenty of free time to partake in a variety of spectacular and exhilarating optional excursions while in La Fortuna; a visit to the some local waterfalls, caving, rappelling, white water rafting, canoeing, kayaking, horse-riding, trekking, biking, and wild-life spotting.
Overnight: La Fortuna | Breakfast x 2
San Jose
L a Fortuna - San Jose. Today we travel back to San Jose and enjoy some free time in the capital. San Jose has a wealth of world class restaurants and a lively nightlife to keep us entertained!
Overnight: San Jose | Breakfast
Bocas del Toro
San Jose - Bocas del Toro. We bid farewell to Costa Rica on day 9 and travel across the border into Panama. Here we board a public boat to Bocas del Toro - a beautiful archipelago which consists of six densely forested islands, with pristine beaches and spectacular coral reefs which can compete with the Caribbeans finest islands and has a wonderful laid back vibe! Enjoy two blissful days at leisure enjoying the delights of the island. There are options for diving, snorkelling and kayaking expeditions, as well as bike rentals and boat trips to the nearby Mangrove Forest.
Overnight: Bocas del Toro | Breakfast x 2
Boquete
Bocas del Toro - Boquete. Leaving island life behind we return to the mainland and travel up into the highlands to the charming mountain village of Boquete, nestled on the eastern slopes of the Baru Volcano. Boquete is renowned for its cool climate and beautiful scenery. There are plenty of optional excursions on offer; in fact Boquete is already building up quite a reputation as an 'adrenalin town' with world class rafting facilities, mountain biking, rock climbing and rappelling at nearby Los Ladrillos in Bajo Mono.
Overnight: Boquete | Breakfast x 2
Panama City
Boquete - Panama City. Today we take a short bus drive to David for our flight to Panama City. Panama City is the crossing point to South America and home to the infamous Panama Canal which is definitely worth a visit, you could even hop on board one of the regular canal transits.
Overnight: Panama City | Breakfast
Panama City
Our tour comes to an end today after hotel check out. Vibrant Panama City is undoubtedly the most cosmopolitan capital in Central America and if you wish to see the sights, including the infamous Panama Canal and the archaeological site of Panama La Vieja, consider extending your stay.
Breakfast
At a Glance
Guide couldn’t have been better. Tour well organised and gave opportunities to experience as much as possible within a limited time.”