Arrive at San Jose; Costa Rica’s Juan Santamaria International Airport. After passing through Immigration, After passing through Immigration, one of our representatives will greet you at the airport. Look for a sign that has your unique identifier along with your name. After you submit your booking request you will receive a full itinerary along with in-country descriptions, including all airport and hotel transfer instructions included in your proposal. Arrive and check in at The Lost Iguana Hotel and enjoy your room’s view of the Arenal Volcano and surrounding rainforest. The rest of the day is free to explore the hotel surroundings. Overnight at The Lost Iguana Hotel.

Morning pickup by a local guide for a tour of the Arenal Hanging Bridges Project, with eight fixed bridges from 8 to 22 meters long, and six hanging bridges, built with the latest techniques and designed with an eye for both beauty and safety. The hanging bridges are between 48 and 98 meters long. All the bridges are made of galvanized steel and high-strength aluminium. The entire project was designed to blend with the natural environment, leaving the forest virtually intact. The trails, covering a distance of about 3.1 kms, are right inside the forest. As you walk, you can appreciate a great diversity of flowers and wildlife that are typical of the rainforest as well as some imposing views of the Volcano (weather permitting). Midday return to the hotel.

Late afternoon transfer to the Hidalgo Family Hot Springs. We first met the Hidalgo Family in 2000 when we were looking for an alternative to the mass tourism overcrowded hot springs in the Arenal Area. At that time they were reluctant to open up their family farm to visitors. Finally they agreed to try it by appointment only on a trial basis. They found, perhaps to their surprise, that they enjoyed having foreign guests on this basis and have now put in changing rooms and a restaurant. Over the years the hot springs have grown in hospitality and the Hidalgos have increased the number of reservations they accept. Now, although they do not provide the private experience that they did at the beginning, the Hidalgo Family Hot springs is still not nearly as crowded as the others in the Arenal Area. The springs consist of five free-flowing pools set in a natural river gorge. Water temperature ranges from 100F (38C) to 109F (43C) depending on the pool. A Costa Rican home-style meal in the restaurant, modeled after the first house that Don Manuel and Dona Hortesmida Hidalgo built when they settled on the farm in 1940, is a highlight of the visit. Overnight at The Lost Iguana.

Early morning pick up by a service guide and drive to Cao Blanco near the Atlantic coast. Midday board a boat with a local guide and depart for the 2- to 3-hour trip to Tortuguero. Arrive and check in at Tortuga Lodge. Remainder of the day is free to explore the Lodge’s gardens or swim in the award-winning pool before dinner. Overnight at Tortuga Lodge & Gardens.

After breakfast explore the creeks of Tortuguero National Park by motorboat with a local guide to observe wildlife and flora. Originally intended to protect a major nesting beach of the Atlantic Green Sea Turtle, Tortuguero National Park now protects 51,870 acres, one of the last large areas of tropical rainforest in Central America. Three species of monkeys (Spider, Howler and White-faced), Three-toed Sloths, and River Otters are frequently seen along the natural inland waterways and canals. Caiman, iguanas, river turtles, basilisk lizards, and poison-dart (Dendrobates) frogs inhabit the area along with more than 320 species of birds including all six species of kingfishers found in the new world, three species of toucans, eight species of parrots, and other neotropical species such as the Slaty-tailed Trogon, White-collared Manakin, Purple-throated Fruitcrow, and White-fronted Nunbird. Return for lunch at the Lodge. Afternoon free for optional activities (at additional cost). Overnight at Tortuga Lodge & Gardens.

In the morning cross the river to the Tortuguero Airstrip for a Costa Rica Adventure Vacation chartered flight** to San Jose. Upon arrival a Costa Rica Ad van and venture Vacation Spanish-speaking driver will meet you for the trip to Cerro de la Muerte (peak of death), located at 3,353 meters (11,000 feet) above sea level - the highest point on the Pan-American Highway. Afternoon free to explore the hotel’s surroundings and cloud forest on your own. Overnight at Savegre Lodge.

With a local guide set out to observe birds in the bio-rich environment that makes this region a paradise, and where more than 170 species of birds peacefully coexist with man. Various migratory species arrive throughout the different seasons of the year, joining the native species to add still more colorful views. Among the visitors are the Orioles, Warblers, Tennessees and Raptors - while their native hosts include Long-tailed Silky-Flycatcher, Yellow-winged Vireo, the Flame-throated Warbler, Black-cheeked Warbler, Yellowish Flycatcher, Barred Becard, Tufted Flycatcher, Silvery-fronted Tapaculo, Zeledonia, Torrent Tyrannulet, Collared Trogon, Scintillant Hummingbird, Volcano Hummingbird, Fiery-throated Hummingbird, Spotted Wood-Quail, and the rare and beautiful Resplendent Quetzal. Return for lunch at the hotel. Afternoon free. Overnight at Savegre Lodge.

Morning transfer to Palmar Sur airstrip (about 2 hours from Savegre). Arrive on time for your Costa Rica Adventure Vacation chartered flight to Puerto Jimenez. Upon arrival, a Lapa Rios representative will drive you on an unpaved road to the hotel (1 hour). Rest of the day is free. Overnight at Lapa Rios Ecoresort.

For most of our guests, the main attraction at Lapa Rios is the rainforest and wildlife. You will have two full days to relax or participate in optional activities (at additional cost), including: the Rainforest Waterfall Hike, horseback riding and the Osa Trail Jungle Walk. Overnight at Lapa Rios.

Lapa Rios Beach: The bungalows are about 300 feet above the ocean and it is about a 7-min. walk down to the beach. The return is uphill and steep and takes about 15 min. The beach is normally deserted and offers good walking and exploring. There are no rip tides or undercurrents so swimming is safe, although waters are not as clear as the Caribbean. You will probably encounter more hermit crabs crawling on the beach than you have ever seen in any one place before and occasionally there are sand fleas and "no-see-ems.” Mosquitos are rare, however, both at the Lodge and along the beach.

Mid morning transfer back to Puerto Jimennez Airstrip for the Costa Rica Adventure Vacation chartered flight back to San Jose. Upon arrival a Costa Rica Adventure Vacation van and driver will meet you and take you to your hotel. Remainder of the day free to explore the city. Overnight at Hotel Grano de Oro.

Today a Costa Rica Adventure Vacation van will pick you up at your hotel for the transfer to the International Airport, arriving at least two hours before your international flight’s scheduled departure.