Compare Costa Rica Experience by Intrepid Travel vs Conserving Costa Rica by Hands Up Holidays

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Trip	Costa Rica Experience by Intrepid Travel 4.5 \| Great 4313 Reviews Trip Details Save Trip Reserve	Conserving Costa Rica by Hands Up Holidays 5 \| Excellent 30 Reviews Trip Details Save Trip See Offer

Duration	9 days	14 days
Price From	$ 1,436	$ 6,990
Price Per Day	$ 160	$ 499
Highlights	Try to spot the elusive resplendent quetzal when you’re exploring Monteverde’s steamy cloud forests. Better yet, why not consider a jungle zip-line to get high in the sky for the best views? Spend time wandering through the Mercado Municipal de Artesanias artisan stalls in San Jose – Costa Rica’s cultural heart. With plenty of time to stop for a refresco (smoothie), this is a good opportunity to people-watch. Lend a hand at a farmstay outside of Santa Rosa de Pocosol and learn some home-cooked recipes and techniques from the locals on a visit to the Juanilama agricultural community. Marvel at the size and stature of the Arenal Volcano on the horizon, maybe taking a soak and relaxing in La Fortuna’s lava-heated thermal springs. With plenty of time to chill out at your own pace, Quepos’ surf vibe is ideal for catching some waves, lazing on the white-sand beaches or hiking the lush trails of Manuel Antonio with your travel pals.	Arenal is one of the 10 most active volcanoes in the world Playas de Nosara, Nicoya Peninsula "Its pristine beaches are responsible for the introduction of an array of new activities for families with children Monteverde and the Reserva Biológica Bosque Nuboso Monteverde are an important part of Costa Rica’s biodiversity. Tortuguero (Land of Turtles) is a small village that can only be reached by water or plane. Manuel Antonio National Park with pristine white sandy beaches, small islands and lush forests backing onto the water’s edge make this a picture perfect location. The Savegre River has carved out a deep lush green valley near its source. Corcovado National Park is one of the last significant stretches of low land rain forest and was named "the most biologically intense place on Earth" by National Geographic.
Trip Style	Small group tour	Group tour
Lodging Level	Standard	Luxury
Physical Level	2- Easy	2- Easy
Travel Themes	Cultural Nature & Wildlife Local Immersion & Homestays National Parks High Adventure	Nature & Wildlife National Parks High Adventure Volunteering & Community Service Rafting, Kayaking, Canoeing Transformative
Countries Visited	Costa Rica	Costa Rica
Cities and Attractions	La Fortuna Manuel Antonio National Park Monteverde	Arenal Hot Springs Arenal Volcano Corcovado National Park Montenegro Tortuguero National Park
Flights & Transport	Ground transport included	Ground transport included
Activities	Culture Historic sightseeing Wildlife viewing	Adventure & Adrenaline Canoeing Hiking Horseback riding & Equestrian Nature Rafting Safari Wildlife viewing
Meals Included	N/A	13 Breakfast, 11 Lunches and 13 Dinner
Description	Discover a region of natural diversity, cultural riches and laidback vibes on a nine-day jungle jaunt through Costa Rica. Thanks to a longstanding tradition of preserving its natural assets, much of the country’s primary rainforest still stands. Opportunities for nature-based activities are endless here and the beaches on both coasts are well worth your free time. Kick back in the rustic beach town of Quepos, explore the steamy cloud forests of Monteverde and get to know the locals by lending a hand on a rural farmstay near Santa Rosa de Pocosol. Explore the depths of this colourful and vibrant country with plenty of time to make this trip your own.	This trip has been discontinued. Click to see a suggested itinerary for Costa- Rica and customize it to suit your specific requirements. Costa Ricans enjoy the highest life satisfaction of any nation on earth (according to a “Happiness Index” ranking 143 countries). Their frequent smiles and easy laughter can be quite contagious and you will relish your time volunteering alongside them. This may be reflected in the most common words you'll hear in Costa Rica; “Pura Vida” (literally pure life), it is used for all manner of situations including; as a greeting, as a good bye, to express satisfaction, to politely express indifference or even as a response to thanks.

Itinerary: Costa Rica Experience

Day 1 San Jose

Hola! Welcome to Costa Rica. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm today in San Jose. With over half the country's population living within its parameters, San Jose is a dynamic atmosphere. If you arrive early, why not wander around at your own pace – a good place to start exploring is the main plaza, perfect for some people watching. Tonight, maybe head out to get to know your group with an optional welcome dinner.

Day 2 Santa Rosa de Pocosol

Travel by private vehicle to Santa Rosa de Pocosol today, where you’ll spend the night in a homestay. Just down the road is the Juanilama agricultural community, where you can get to know the locals, help with farm chores, and take an informal cooking lesson. Several villagers have built comfortable rooms for guests next to their homes, and you’ll stay in one of them this evening. Please note that these rooms use shared facilities. In order to make the most of this homestay experience, it may take a bit of effort from your side to break the ice first. Learn as many Spanish words as you can before you arrive!

Day 3 La Fortuna

Today, continue to La Fortuna – a small town situated just a few minutes away from Costa Rica's famous Arenal Volcano. Besides its panoramic views, the town offers a range of other activities such as the 70-m-high La Fortuna waterfall, stunning lush forest, rare plants, animal watching and water-based activities on the lake. The volcano’s inner workings also mean that the area has a number of thermal springs where lava-heated water gushes to the surface. These springs have been sculpted into several pools and waterfalls, making them the ideal place to relax. Spend the rest of the day as you please in this exciting town, maybe even testing your balance on a stand-up paddleboard.

Day 4 Monteverde

Today, you’ll take the scenic route to Monteverde. Monteverde was founded as an agricultural community in 1951 by a group of North American Quakers – they cleared virgin forests to create verdant pastures ideal for dairy farming. These environmentally aware settlers were conscious of the danger that unrestricted settling and farming could cause to this precious habitat, so they established a small, privately owned wildlife sanctuary, which has grown to become the internationally renowned Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Preserve. More than 2000 species of plants, 320 bird species and 100 different types of mammals call Montverde home. When you arrive, you can choose from a range of outdoor activities to wildlife spot, hike or cruise on the waters.

Day 5 Monteverde

Today is free for you to choose how you'd like to spend your time in this beautiful area. Maybe start your exploration with a tour of the suspension bridges that hang in the trees, or head to the Serpentarium to see some crawly critters. Watch butterflies at play in the specially created garden, hire a local guide to show you around the area, visit a community cooperative or zip-line through the lush canopy. Whatever you do, be sure to keep an eye out for the resplendent quetzal – one of the most elusive birds in the world.

Day 6 Quepos

Travel through the mountains to Quepos by private minibus. Located close to the beautiful Pacific beaches and exotic wildlife of Manuel Antonio National Park, Quepos is a laidback town with a vibrant nightlife. This afternoon, you'll get the chance to meet three generations of Costa Ricans and tuck into a traditional cooking class for lunch with them in their home. Prior to the pandemic, the family ran one of the most popular restaurants in Quepos for almost 20 years. Now, you're lucky to learn the secret flavours and spices of their traditional dishes and get to know the whole family. Once the sun goes down, why not grab a spot at a waterfront restaurant and sink your teeth into some fresh seafood with your travel crew – this is the life.

Day 7 Quepos - Manuel Antonio NP

Spend your time enjoying all that Manuel Antonio National Park has to offer with a free day today. Perhaps head out for a hike along one of the many trails, keeping one eye on the great views and the other looking for the abundant wildlife. Monkeys, armadillos, sloths and hundreds of birds are among the species you can spot here. The park also boasts turquoise seas and white-sand beaches – perfect for swimming, kayaking, sailing and fishing. It would be easy to spend your whole time here in, or by, the water.

Day 8 San Jose

Take a public bus back to San Jose today, arriving back in time for you to pick up some last-minute souvenirs at the city's colourful and vibrant markets. Then, head out for an optional dinner and a night on the town, getting a taste of the huge variety of nightlife on offer here.

Day 9 San Jose

With no further activities planned, your trip comes to an end after breakfast today. If you’d like to extend your stay, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.

Itinerary: Conserving Costa Rica

Day 1

Meals: Dinner

Arrive San Jose,

Transfer to a luxurious coffee plantation lodge in the hills

Day 2

Transfer to your luxury accommodation in Tortuguero (seasonal turtle hatching night trip) (B,D)

Day 3: Boat safari