Welcome to Costa Rica, and its capital! A modern city, the youngest capital in Latin America and the country’s commerce centre, San José still boasts some colonial heart, particularly in the historic Barrio Amon district. It’s also the gateway to the amazing national parks you’re about to explore.

Discover the city on a sightseeing tour this morning, visiting museums and monuments including the National Museum, the National Theatre and the National Library, as well as the Gold Museum.

Take the afternoon to explore San José at your leisure, before a typical degustation dinner at a local restaurant.

Today you’ll head deep into the Costa Rican wilds to Tortuguero National Park (only accessible by plane or boat) tucked along Costa Rica's northeastern Caribbean coast.

After breakfast at a local restaurant in Guapiles, you will continue to La Pavona where you’ll board a boat to take you into the flooded forest and to your lodge. Eleven different habitats coexist within the Tortuguero National Park, which consequently, has a huge range of biological diversity. It is home to many species of bird, four species of sea turtle and three species of monkey, along with manatees, crocodiles, jaguars, sloths, frogs and lizards, including the famous Jesus Christ lizard that runs on water!

Enjoy this afternoon at leisure, why not explore Tortuguero Village, with a visit to the museum and beach, with its pristine water and alluring sand.

Head out on morning and afternoon expeditions today, to spot some of the area’s huge variety of wildlife. Your day will include a visit to Mawamba Park, a private facility in the Lodge's gardens. Walking the trails surrounding the lodge you’ll explore butterfly farms, a frog garden and the river turtles’ area. You will also learn about the park’s bio-digester used to convert waste into natural methane that provides 30 percent of the fuel used in the Lodge’s stove heaters.

Further exploration includes a two-hour wildlife cruise of the Tortuguero canals. You’ll discover the park’s canals, estuaries and lagoons in search of crocodile and caiman. The park is also home to hundreds of different fish species. In the rainforest, keep an eye out for mantled howlers, white-faced capuchins and spider monkeys, two and three-toed sloths, vibrant frog species, toucans and green macaws, amongst the 400 different tree species.

This morning you will transfer back to Guapiles for lunch, before a scenic drive to the famous Arenal Volcano Area this afternoon. The Arenal Lake plays a significant role in Costa Rica’s power production – supplying 12% of the country’s hydroelectric energy at the volcano’s base. Thanks to Arenal’s geothermal activity there are a number of natural hot springs in the area - some right in our resort! Along the way you will glimpse some of the Arenal Volcano National Park, which you will see in more depth tomorrow.

Explore the volcano and surrounding area in the national park, on a hike this morning. You’ll follow a lava trail through the secondary rainforest and former lava fields to a mirador (lookout). Whilst the volcano is the main attraction, the national park is also home to a great variety of wildlife and around 400 bird species. After this, you will also stop past a local house to learn how to make authentic tortillas and enjoy a shared lunch.

In the afternoon you will return to the hotel, where the rest of the day is at leisure for you to relax and enjoy the hot springs.

This morning you’ll depart for Monteverde, travelling up through this mountainous area by road, then by boat, then road again. This is a bit of fun and an efficient shortcut. You will stop in the town of El Dos de Tilaran for a typical farmer’s lunch.

After lunch you will continue up through the highlands to Monteverde in the cloud forest.

The morning’s adventure takes us high into the Selvatura cloud forest and the incredible suspension bridges. From here you’ll literally have a bird’s-eye view, and 90 percent of all organisms in the rainforest are found in the canopy. There are eight bridges in total to explore, the longest of which spans 170 metres.

The afternoon is at leisure for you to enjoy at your own pace. Why not visit the nearby butterfly park, participate in a night walk, or even zip-line through the treetops if you’re feeling adventurous?

Your journey today takes you to Manuel Antonio on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast. On the way you’ll stop at the Guacalillo Estuary and the Tárcoles River – home to one of the largest American crocodile colonies in the world. You will visit Tárcoles Bridge, a famous crocodile viewing point, and from here take a boat tour through the mangrove forest.

After lunch you’ll continue to Manuel Antonio National Park. Despite being the smallest of Costa Rica’s National Parks, Manuel Antonio is regarded as one of its best and is home to many of the country’s endangered species, along with some breathtaking beaches.

Your destination today is Manuel Antonio National Park. The park is made up of numerous trails that run through the rainforest to some pristine beaches that can only be accessed through the park, and you’ll get to explore them on a three-hour hike. Your guide will point out tropical butterflies, birds, monkeys, snakes, iguanas and sloths, and show you a variety of native flora, including beautiful Costa Rican orchids. You will also have the opportunity to cool off in some of the park’s crystal-clear water. A truly unforgettable morning for nature lovers!

In the afternoon you’ll return to the resort where the rest of the day is at leisure or choose to spend the afternoon relaxing on the beaches in the national park.

Enjoy the morning at leisure to continue exploring this magnificent National Park. In the afternoon you will make your way back to San José to enjoy a dinner at a local restaurant, to farewell your time in Costa Rica.

Today marks the end of your Costa Rican adventure. We hope you leave with fantastic memories!