About this trip
Twelve days across Costa Rica's volcanoes, cloud forest and coastline, starting and finishing in Escazú near San José. It moves from Sarapiquí's wildlife-rich lowlands up to Monteverde's cool cloud forest, then down to the beaches of Santa Teresa and Manuel Antonio.
The pace mixes structured days — visiting a sloth sanctuary, walking Poás Volcano, exploring Monteverde's reserve — with free days built in for hiking, ziplining or simply lying on the sand.
This is a small group trip, fully guided throughout, with shared rooms and moderate activity levels. Good fit if you want a proper spread of Costa Rica's landscapes without organising the logistics yourself.
What you'll do
- Visit Poás Volcano's crater and surrounding highlands
- Spot sloths and other wildlife on a sanctuary tour in Sarapiquí
- Walk the trails of Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve
- Free days on the beaches of Santa Teresa and Manuel Antonio
- Option to zipline through the forest canopy
- Moderate activity level with some hiking and adventure activities built in
- Shared rooms throughout
- Several free days where you choose your own activities — hiking, beach time or ziplining
Worth it if you value wildlife, diverse landscapes, and a standout guide. Think twice if you need comfort or a slower pace.
- Guides Josue and Valery were genuinely knowledgeable, passionate, and made the trip memorable through their engagement.
- Cooking class with a local family and coffee/cacao farm visits delivered authentic cultural experiences beyond standard tourism.
- 12 days felt rushed for the amount of ground covered; several reviewers wished for a slower, less packed itinerary.
- Hostel accommodation standards were noticeably basic and disappointed at least one traveller, though guide quality compensated.
Distilled from real traveller reviews on TourRadar — we don't edit out the bad bits.
The same-vibe trips, side by side — price, value per day, and how each is moving. Only we can lay two operators' trips out honestly.
Sorted by fit — never by who paid. Price moves and fill fill in from our own tracking as it builds.
Departing in Sep is cheapest — from £1,570, about 18% below the priciest month (Jan).
Getting there
Opens Trip.com, pre-filled — one-way so you can book your return whenever. Prices & booking shown there.
Where to stay
A night before your tour in San Jose · 27 Sept – 28 Sept
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