Comfort
Explorer
Best of Costa Rica
10 days • 4.5
4.5
Excellent
29 reviews
10 days
Start
San Jose, Costa Rica
Finish
San Jose, Costa Rica
Trip Code
QBKR
Min Age
15
Trip Size
1 - 12
Physical Rating
Meals
9 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners
Transport
Private vehicle, Boat
Accommodation
Hotel (7 nights), Lodge (2 nights)
From £2,415(10 days)
Trip Informations
Why you’ll love this trip
Visit a local indigenous community and meet the Terraba people – a matriarchal community who have lived along the Terraba River for the last 500 years – and learn how to make a traditional wooden mask.
Hike through the scenic landscapes of Manuel Antonio National Park with a local naturalist guide and learn all the hidden secrets of the rainforest, looking out for local wildlife like sloths and iguanas.
Tuck into a super fresh garden-to-table lunch of Costa Rican favourites, including fresh tortillas that you’ll learn how to make from a skilled local woman, with ingredients from her orchard.
Meet the family who run the Tierra Amiga organic coffee farm, and learn the whole process of the coffee bean, from planting to harvesting to tasting. Enjoy a cup fresh from the grinders and tuck into a locally made lunch.
Wander through the incredible Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, home to more than 100 species of mammals and over 400 species of birds. Learn about the biodiversity of the region and look out for quetzal birds and howler monkeys.
Is this trip right for you?
Costa Rica can be an expensive destination in many ways, with so many fun optional activities to choose from and meals costing more than in other Central American countries. Your leader will be able to advise on how to have the best value holiday in Costa Rica.
Costa Rica is generally hot and humid year-round, and from May to October can be wet too. At nighttime and in locations at higher elevations it can get chilly. Protect yourself from the sun, bring light clothing you can layer and a waterproof jacket, and stay hydrated. Please carefully consider which time of the year you'll feel most comfortable travelling.
Itinerary
Wander the rainforests, beaches and coffee farms of Costa Rica
Discover the country that encapsulates ‘pura vida’ (the simple life), on this 10-day exploration of Costa Rica. This laidback paradise, where even the sloths are taking things slow, offers so much to see and do and is perfect for all nature lovers. After soaking up the culture in San Jose, you’ll hit the national parks of Arenal Volcano and Manuel Antonio in search of unspoilt rainforests, waterfalls, scenic views and chill beaches. Search for unique wildlife and soak up loads of free time to choose your own adventure, whether that’s hiking volcanos, soaking in hot springs or searching for local wildlife like howler monkeys, butterflies and caimans. See the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, visit an organic family-owned farm producing some of the best coffee in the world and learn from a local naturalist guide on a hike through lush landscapes.
Inclusions
Meals
9 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners
Transport
Private vehicle, Boat
Accommodation
Hotel (7 nights), Lodge (2 nights)
Included activities
Complimentary Arrival Transfer
La Fortuna - Tortilla making
Monteverde - Cloud Forest Reserve Hike
Manuel Antonio National Park - Tour with a Naturalist Guide (entrance fee, guide and transport)
Térraba River - Mask Painting Lesson
Térraba River - Indigenous Community Visit & Lunch
Los Santos - Tierra Amiga Coffee Experience including lunch
San Jose - Leader-led orientation walk
Optional activities
La Fortuna - Ecotermales Hot Springs (entrance fee) - USD49
La Fortuna - Arenal Volcano Base Hike - USD97
La Fortuna- Caño Negro boat tour - USD94
Monteverde - Cloud Forest Night Walk - USD45
Monteverde - Butterfly Garden and Insects Farm (entrance fee) - USD22
Monteverde - Suspension bridges tour - USD55
Manuel Antonio - Boogie board rental - USD69
Manuel Antonio - Mangrove Kayak Activity (with lunch) - USD75
Manuel Antonio – Cruise (Inc transport, guide, lunch and drinks onboard) - USD95
San Jose - Jade Archaeological Museum (Entrance fee) - USD16
San Jose - Pre-Colombian Gold Museum (Entrance fee) - USD17
San Jose - San Jose By Night: Food and Culture - Urban Adventures - USD74
San Jose - National Museum (entrance fee) (Closed Sunday & Monday) - USD11
Dates and availability
Starting
Ending
Remaining
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Important notes
1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights on your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
2. A complimentary airport arrival transfer is included; valid if you are arriving on Day 1 or if you have booked pre-tour accommodation through us. You must provide your flight details to your booking agent at least 14 days prior to travel.
3. Full passport details (including any middle names listed on your passport) are required at the time of booking for entrance tickets to Manuel Antonio National Park and for booking the flights included on this trip. Delays in providing this information may result in changes to your itinerary, and we will not be able to guarantee entry to the park. Flights wise, fees may apply for amendments to details within 45 days of departure, and in some cases you will be required to cover the cost of issuing new tickets.
4. Please be careful when booking flights to/from San Jose; make sure you fly into/out of Juan Santamaria International Airport [SJO]. Please do not book flights to/from Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport [SJC] as this is located in California, United States.
Reviews (31)
5 stars
23
4 stars
5
2 stars
1
1 star
2
Joanna
May 30, 2025
Best of Costa Rica was fantastic! Volcanoes, waterfalls, hot springs, rainforest, mountains, beaches and so much amazing wildlife! So lucky to have been travelling with such a lovely group of people and so thankful to have had Emil as our fantastic tour leader. His knowledge was excellent and his enthusiasm was infectious! A trip that I will remember forever - pura vida!
Mark
May 26, 2025
The trip around Costa Rica was excellent, full of animals, great accommodation, amazing food and lots of things to do, with downtime too. Our tour leader Emil was brilliant.
DOUG
Apr 02, 2025
Best of Costa Rica (comfort) was truly a fantastic tour. Our tour leader Marvin was the best, knowledgeable in all things Costa Rica and the surrounding areas. We had a great group who bonded and made the experience one to remember. Great way to experience Costa Rica and all it has to offer.
Elizabeth
Apr 01, 2025
This was an amazing trip with the right level of locations of different experiences. I highly recommend. Costa Rica is a beautiful country and this trip visits contrasting locations. There was a good balance of nature and authentic experiences. The whole trip was enhanced by our wonder guide Marvin who shared his knowledge with passion. I met some amazing people on the trip and we shared some amazing experiences. I highly recommend this trip.
Sharla
Jan 17, 2025
This was our third Intrepid trip and our guide, Marvin was the best yet. His English was quite good as was his knowledge of all aspects of Costa Rican history, culture, native plants and wildlife. He kept us informed of each day's agenda and provided lots of personal insight. He welcomed our questions and made us feel quite comfortable for the entire trip.
Figen
Jan 17, 2025
Costa Rica is a small country bursting with natural beauty and wildlife. With Intrepid’s knowledgeable guides, exploring is easy and enriching. Highlights included connecting with indigenous communities, visiting a coffee plantation, and uncovering hidden gems. Comfortable accommodations and diverse experiences make Costa Rica a must-visit for nature and culture enthusiasts.
Abigail
Dec 16, 2024
Trip of a lifetime. Monkeys (4 species), tarantulas, frogs, sloths, iguanas, creatures you have seen in the zoo but never even heard of, etc.! This was a fantastic way to travel in a developing country and feel completely safe. Great accommodations and superior drivers. Went in early December. Some rain, but it in no way spoiled the fun. Very few mosquitoes. The hot springs were to die for. Saw many monkeys in Manuel Antonio. Gorgeous beaches there too. All over Costa Rica, the street dogs were pleasant and well-treated by the locals. They seemed healthy overall. The food was great. Tons of seafood! Not sure why folks warned me about a lack of salt in the food. It was fantastic food. Met very nice coffee farmers and indigenous tribe. Best vacation of my life.
Carol
Dec 02, 2024
First experience taking Intrepid tour. We had a good group and tour leader. I would recommend Intrepid as a great way to see a country with a smaller tour group.
Ana
Nov 17, 2024
Made the Best of Costa Rica trip in October and it was excellent. A well-balanced trip with great activities (hot springs, zip line, night walk), blending adventure and culture and plenty of choices. I discovered a country and simultaneously won 8 new friends. Our guide Kenneth's enthusiasm made also the trip a success. Highly recommended.
Timothy
Jul 30, 2024
The Best of Costa Rica tour was a life changing experience. A true lesson in being present. Esteban was an incredible guide, which made the Costa Rica experience that much better. Pura Vida!
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