Highlights
- See Costa Rica's cutest creatures, sloths, on a hike through the jungle
- Boat or kayak down the Río Frio, spotting wildlife along the way
- Walk along one of Costa Rica's most stunning attractions, the Río Celeste
- Snorkel with tropical fish off the coast of the Catalina Islands
- Enjoy sunset views over the water during a catamaran cruise
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Explore the Rainforest After Dark | La Fortuna |
| Day 2 | Go on a Sloth and Bird Hike & Dip in Hot Springs | La Fortuna |
| Day 3 | Discover the Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge | La Fortuna |
| Day 4 | Hike Along the Río Celeste | Tamarindo |
| Day 5 | Kayak Around Tamarindo Mangrove & Estuary | Tamarindo |
| Day 6 | Snorkel Around the Catalina Islands | Tamarindo |
| Day 7 | Enjoy a Catamaran Sailing Tour at Sunset | Tamarindo |
| Day 8 | Depart Cost Rica |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Explore the Rainforest After Dark
Day 2: Go on a Sloth and Bird Hike & Dip in Hot Springs
Go on a hiking excursion today along the so-called "Sloth Trail." This nature trail cuts through a habitat for sloths (both two-toed and three-toed) who like to hang on the branches of the trees and feed on bright green leaves. On this two-hour guided hike, you'll see a few of these slow-moving animals and perhaps even spy a mother sloth and its baby. During the walk, your bilingual guide will also point out other animals common to this area, like the famous red-eyed tree frog.
In the afternoon, discover the La Fortuna area with a hike around Arenal Volcano and other nearby nature reserves. The trails in the area are generally not strenuous—perfect for a leisurely and informative hike with a naturalist guide. Start at the entrance of the 1968 Trail, where you'll hit the well-maintained trails that skirt the base of the Arenal Volcano and Lake Arenal. This 1.5-hour route offers some of the best wildlife viewing opportunities in the park, and your naturalist guide will keep a well-trained eye out for exotic birds, monkeys, and other animals along the way.
In addition to the forested parts where you can spot wildlife, you'll also walk through sections of the park devastated by the lava flow of 1968, resulting in little to no vegetation in its surroundings. Your guide will explain the history of the area, both pre-and post-1968 eruption, while also pointing out the unique flora and fauna you will encounter. Of course, the trail also provides magnificent views of the massive Arenal Volcano, the pristine Lake Arenal, and the extinct volcano Cerro Chato.
After hiking the trails, your guide will drop you off at Tabacon Hot Springs so you can soothe your muscles with a dip in mineral-rich waters. These springs have been used as therapeutic baths for centuries. End the day with a nice dinner at the resort's restaurant, which serves Costa Rican dishes as well as international fare, before being picked up and transported back to your accommodations.
If you're interested in staying in a hotel with access to hot springs, read over this list of top picks.
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 3: Discover the Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge
Take a day trip to the Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge (a two-hour drive each way). Located in the far north of the country, near the border with Nicaragua, it's well worth the travel time. This ecologically diverse refuge is home to an abundance of wildlife.
You'll have the choice of touring the area by boat or kayak. Making your way down the Río Frio, you'll spot dozens of the more than 200 species of exotic birds that live here. You can expect to see some avian varieties, including spoonbills, jabiru storks, ibises, northern jacanas, ducks, and egrets. You'll see other wildlife, such as caimans, three different species of monkeys, and turtles. Keep an eye out for sloths hanging from the treetops during your stop for lunch along the river.
Day 4: Hike Along the Río Celeste
Today you will transfer to the surf town of Tamarindo, stopping to visit a majestic natural attraction. Río Celeste National Park is a scenic 1.5-hour drive along rustic back roads. You'll take off on a moderate three-hour hike along the Río Celeste river when you arrive. Local legend says that after God painted the sky, he washed his brushes in this river, which resulted in its famous electric-blue waters.
The hike leads you four miles (7 km) along the river through a rainforest ecosystem home to exotic animals like monkeys, sloths, peccaries, and anteaters. You'll pass by the specific point where two streams merge and produce the reaction in the minerals that give the Celeste its exotic color. The hike culminates with a descent of 253 steps to reach the Catarata Río Celeste, a waterfall of such profound beauty you'll think you've found your own private paradise.
You'll visit a magnificent waterfall, hot water springs (swimming is not allowed due to the park's rules), fumaroles of volcanic gases, and the Borbollones, where exhaust gases at the base of the river give the appearance of boiling water. Read more here about the best things to do in the Tamarindo area.
Day 5: Kayak Around Tamarindo Mangrove & Estuary
Costa Rica is one of the most biodiverse nations on the planet, and there are few better places to experience its abundant wildlife than the Tamarindo Estuary. Located adjacent to the town, between the beaches of Playa Tamarindo and Playa Grande, this is where the Tamarindo River meets the Pacific at an estuary teeming with wildlife and knotted by mangroves.
Touring these mangroves and wetlands by kayak, you are likely to spot many animals, especially as you are traveling quietly, rather than with a boat's engine noise. The fauna here includes flying fish, iguanas, crocodiles, sharks, monkeys, and many fascinating bird species like egrets and motmots.
Day 6: Snorkel Around the Catalina Islands
The rocky islands may not look like much at first, but below the surface of the indigo waters, you'll find an underwater menagerie of exotic wildlife. You'll see quickly why the Catalina Islands are a world-famous diving location attracting divers of all experience levels. Animals you'll spot include giant manta and devil rays, sea turtles, parrotfish, moray eels, and much more. In the right season, you can even hear humpback whales singing! Find out more about the experience here.
Day 7: Enjoy a Catamaran Sailing Tour at Sunset
Soak up the bright afternoon sun until it transitions into soft pinks and oranges later in the afternoon. You'll be picked up at your hotel and transferred to the landing dock in Playas del Coco. You'll board a catamaran and begin silently gliding along the Gold Coast past picturesque bays, white sand beaches, and tropical jungles. You're likely to spot animals, from dolphins to sea turtles, flying fish, and the occasional breaching whale.
The crew will be serving up plenty of delicious tropical drinks as you make your way to a tranquil bay where you can swim in the crystal-clear waters of the Pacific. Snorkel in the bay or enjoy a stroll down the deserted white sand beach. Have dinner on the boat, then sit back and listen to the waves lapping at the sides of the catamaran as you make your way back to shore, taking in gorgeous sunset views along the way.
Day 8: Depart Cost Rica
More Great 8-Day Costa Rica Itineraries
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