Basix
18 to 35s
One Week In Costa Rica
8 days • 4.9
5
Excellent
34 reviews
8 days
Start
San Jose, Costa Rica
Finish
San Jose, Costa Rica
Trip Code
QBYC
Min Age
18
Trip Size
1 - 16
Physical Rating
Meals
1 dinner
Transport
Shared Vehicle, Private Vehicle, Public Bus, Boat, Taxi
Accommodation
Hotel (7 nights)
From £530(8 days)
Trip Informations
Why you’ll love this trip
Explore Cahuita National Park on a hike through the lush vegetation and coastal beaches (where you can take a dip) and look out for the abundant wildlife on the land and in the sky.
Take part in a Caribbean cooking class in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca and sit down for lunch with the locals – a blend of African, Indigenous and Spanish flavours mixed with coconut milk, spices, fruits, curry and seafood.
Enjoy plenty of free time to choose your own adventure – maybe hike through the lush forest of La Fortuna, go wildlife spotting near Arenal Volcano or explore Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve looking out for sloths.
Kick back on the Caribbean coast in Puerto Viejo, surrounded by vibrant coral reefs – the perfect spot for some swimming, snorkelling or relaxing under the shade of palm trees.
Start and end your trip in San Jose, the urban centre of Costa Rica, to balance out the outdoor adventure with some nightlife, bar hopping, markets and museums.
Is this trip right for you?
This trip is for travellers who appreciate a bit of independence. You'll get plenty of free time in each location to make your own choices, do your own activities and eat where you like. Your leader is always there to give you tips and suggestions. Please budget spending money for optional activities you want to partake in.
With so much to see and do, Costa Rica can sometimes be expensive. Expect to pay more than you would in other Central American countries for a lot of things.
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.
Most of the activities (both included and optional) on this trip take place in the great outdoors. This means you'll need to be prepared to deal with insects and occasionally rustic conditions. It's all part of immersing yourself in this natural paradise.
Itinerary
A nature-focused exploration of Costa Rica’s best beaches, forests and urban hubs
Calling all nature lovers, solo travellers and young adventurers! Spend a week in Costa Rica beginning in San Jose – the thriving urban centre with colourful markets, vibrant nightlife and spontaneous art fairs. Explore Monteverde’s Cloud Forest at your own pace, keeping your eye out for sloths and the elusive quetzal bird. Head to La Fortuna, shadowed by the immense Arenal Volcano, and enjoy free time to chase waterfalls and soak away your worries in the natural thermal hot springs. Explore Cahuita National Park with a hike and a swim, then enjoy some beach time on the Caribbean coast in Puerto Viejo. If you're lucky, spot sloths, hummingbirds, iguanas, monkeys, toucans, coatimundis, quetzals and racoons, then take a cooking class to learn the local cuisine. With a local leader with insider knowledge and a likeminded group of travellers – what better way to dive into Costa Rica?
Inclusions
Meals
1 dinner
Transport
Shared Vehicle, Private Vehicle, Public Bus, Boat, Taxi
Accommodation
Hotel (7 nights)
Included activities
Cahuita National Park - Entrance
Cahuita National Park - Hike
Puerto Viejo de Talamanca - Coastal Bicycle ride
Puerto Viejo de Talamanca - Caribbean Cooking Demonstration
San Jose - Leader-led orientation walk
Optional activities
San Jose – Bites and Sights Urban Adventure - USD49
San Jose - San Jose By Night: Food and Culture - Urban Adventures - USD74
Monteverde - Butterfly Garden and Insects Farm (entrance fee) - USD22
Monteverde - Canopy Zip Lining (Entrance, Equipment & Transport) - USD101
Monteverde - Coffee & Chocolate tour - USD47
Monteverde - Suspension bridges tour - USD55
Monteverde - Cloud Forest Night Walk - USD45
Monteverde - Cloud Forest Entrance - USD26
La Fortuna - Ecotermales Hot Springs (entrance fee) - USD49
La Fortuna - La Fortuna Waterfall (Entrance only) - USD25
La Fortuna- Caño Negro boat tour - USD94
La Fortuna - Stand up paddle board - USD75
La Fortuna - Arenal 1968 Volcano View and Lava Trails (Entrance fee) - USD25
La Fortuna - Arenal hanging bridges (inc entrance fee, guide and shared transport) - USD75
La Fortuna - Arenal Volcano Base Hike - USD97
Manzanillo - Medicinal Plants Experience - USD45
Dates and availability
Starting
Ending
Remaining
Prices From
Important notes
1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
2. 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.
3. This tour includes accommodation in multi-share rooms (triple and quad). This means travelers on the same booking may be split between rooms due to single gender allocation.
Reviews (32)
5 stars
28
4 stars
4
Iness
May 10, 2025
Le séjour était très bien organisé. Une magnifique approche de ce superbe pays qui me manque déjà. Merci à Esteban et à toute l’équipe.
Sara
Apr 30, 2025
This was one of the best trips I have ever taken. The locations were stunning, the activities were extremely fun and the group was just a blast. Our tour guide, Esteban, was extremely knowledgeable and helpful. We had so many optional activities to choose from, and every meal we ate was delicious. I would highly recommend this trip for anyone interested in the outdoors, adventures or cultural tours. There definitely was something for everyone.
Vidisha
Apr 30, 2025
One of the best weeks ever! An absolutely amazing trip with a wonderful group of new friends and the best leader, Estéban! Had a wonderful time exploring this beautiful country together with lots of flexibility to do activities on our own. So grateful for this experience and for everyone who made it possible!! Pura Vida :)
Grace
Apr 27, 2025
This trip was truly amazing! Esteban was an amazing guide, making sure everything went smoothly and helping everyone get what they wanted out of the trip. This trip had a great combination of adventure and beach relaxation, and a lot of flexibility day to day.
Teal
Apr 02, 2025
This trip was a great way to experience a new country I wasn't confident in traveling alone, having the transport and activities planned out made it easier to relax and appreciate the natural beauty of CR. Our guide was super knowledgeable and enthusiastic, and the experience wouldn't have been the same without him!
Isabel
Mar 22, 2025
An incredible Trip with the best guide, Jordan!! He was unbelievable and made our experience so enjoyable! The trip is fast paced but you see so much! I would recommend to anyone who is short on time but wants to see the best sights of Costa Rica.
Ella
Mar 22, 2025
AMAZING TRIP! The locations, the guide and the people were all perfect and I truly feel like I got to experience the Pura Vida mindset!
Kirstin
Mar 22, 2025
An action packed trip offering the best sites that Costa Rica has to offer (with a relaxing end on a beautiful beach surrounded by a few sloths if you’re as lucky as we were!). The Intrepid team and our group leader made us feel safe at all times which left us free to explore all the sites freely and without worry (especially if you can’t speak Spanish!). I would highly recommend this trip if you are excited to see the rain forests, volcanoes and beaches all in just 8 days (some of the long bus journeys serve as welcomed rest time to catch up on some sleep). Although action packed, the trip is also very flexible and no one is obligated to do anything and can happily wander off on their own if they want to miss a certain activity making this trip suitable to everyone’s desires.
Jessica
Mar 22, 2025
Sydney
Mar 22, 2025
What an amazing experience. Thank you Jordan for everything. These memories will live with me forever. Pura Vida!
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