Tour overview

This 15-day holiday explores Costa Rica's rainforests and cloud forests with an expert leader. A tour leader guides the group, which numbers between four and sixteen. You stay fourteen nights in hotels and nature lodges, many with pools, with breakfast daily and many lunches and dinners.

You start with two nights in Tortuguero, with a boat trip through its canals, then hike across lava fields beneath Arenal Volcano and walk to the La Fortuna waterfall.

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A guided hike takes you through the Santa Elena cloud forest, then you visit Manuel Antonio and spend two nights at the Esquinas rainforest lodge. In the Savegre Valley you search for the shy resplendent quetzal, and you finish with lunch with a farming family in the Copey valley.

The physical rating is medium. This holiday suits wildlife lovers who want to go beyond the usual trail.

Trip highlights

  • A Tortuguero boat trip (Day 3)
  • Arenal lava fields (Day 5)
  • Santa Elena cloud forest (Day 7)
  • Manuel Antonio (Day 9)
  • Esquinas rainforest (Day 11)
  • Quetzals in the Savegre Valley (Day 12)

Your route

7 stops from San José to Savegre Valley

15-day route: San José – Tortuguero – La Fortuna – Monteverde – Manuel Antonio – Piedras Blancas – Savegre – San José
  1. San José Days 1 & 14–15
  2. Tortuguero Days 2–3
  3. La Fortuna Days 4–5
  4. Monteverde Days 6–7
  5. Manuel Antonio Days 8–9
  6. Esquinas Rainforest Lodge Days 10–11
  7. Savegre Valley Days 12–13

Why choose this tour

Beyond the classic route, to Esquinas and Savegre. Nature lodges and many meals included.

Best suited to

  • Wildlife and bird lovers
  • Walkers
  • Nature photographers
  • Solo travellers
Arenal Volcano rising above the forest, Costa Rica

Day-by-day itinerary

15 days from San José, Costa Rica to San José, Costa Rica

  1. Day 1 · San José San José

    A welcome dinner.

    Hotel
    Presidente Hotel
    Meals
    Dinner
  2. Day 2 · Tortuguero National Park Tortuguero

    To the canals.

    Hotel
    Laguna Lodge
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  3. Day 3 · Tortuguero Tortuguero

    A boat trip.

    Hotel
    Laguna Lodge
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  4. Day 4 · La Fortuna La Fortuna

    Arenal Volcano.

    Hotel
    Eco Arenal
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  5. Day 5 · Arenal lava fields, La Fortuna Waterfall Arenal

    A volcano hike.

    Hotel
    Eco Arenal
    Meals
    Breakfast
  6. Day 6 · Monteverde Monteverde

    Into the mountains.

    Hotel
    Montaña Monteverde
    Meals
    Breakfast
  7. Day 7 · Santa Elena Cloud Forest Santa Elena

    The cloud forest.

    Hotel
    Montaña Monteverde
    Meals
    Breakfast
  8. Day 8 · Manuel Antonio Manuel Antonio

    To the Pacific.

    Hotel
    Villabosque Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  9. Day 9 · Manuel Antonio National Park Manuel Antonio

    Monkeys and beaches.

    Hotel
    Villabosque Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  10. Day 10 · Piedras Blancas Esquinas

    Rainforest lodge.

    Hotel
    Esquinas Rainforest Lodge
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  11. Day 11 · Esquinas Rainforest Esquinas

    Rainforest trails.

    Hotel
    Esquinas Rainforest Lodge
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  12. Day 12 · Savegre Valley Savegre

    Quetzals.

    Hotel
    Savegre Hotel & Spa
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  13. Day 13 · Savegre Valley Savegre

    A free day.

    Hotel
    Savegre Hotel & Spa
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  14. Day 14 · Copey Valley, San José San José

    A farm lunch.

    Hotel
    Presidente Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  15. Day 15 · San José San José

    The holiday ends.

    Meals
    Breakfast
A hummingbird in flight

Where you stay

  • San José (1 night) Presidente Hotel
  • Tortuguero (2 nights) Laguna Lodge
  • La Fortuna (2 nights) Eco Arenal
  • Monteverde (2 nights) Montaña Monteverde
  • Manuel Antonio (2 nights) Villabosque Hotel
  • Piedras Blancas (2 nights) Esquinas Rainforest Lodge
  • Savegre Valley (2 nights) Savegre Hotel & Spa
  • San José (1 night) Presidente Hotel

Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.

What's included

Included

  • Accommodation 14 nights in hotels and nature lodges
  • Meals 14 breakfasts, 8 lunches and 7 dinners
  • All transport, boat transfers and airport transfers
  • Tortuguero boat trip and Arenal hike
  • Santa Elena and Esquinas guided hikes
  • Lunch with a farming family
  • Tour leader throughout

Not included

  • Flights
  • Meals not included 5 lunches and 7 dinners
  • Optional activities
  • Travel insurance and personal spending
A capuchin monkey in Monteverde, Costa Rica

This trip might not be for you if…

Honest disclaimer — please read

  • You want a beach holiday
  • You want luxury hotels
  • You dislike early starts
  • You want flights included — they are not

Good to know

Meals by day Breakfast: Days 2–15 · Lunch: Days 2–4 and 10–14 · Dinner: Days 1–3 and 10–13
Manuel Antonio beach and forest from above

In pictures

Departures & prices

From £2,940 per person, twin share, tour only. 152 upcoming departures. Single travellers from £3,703 (single supplement from £728).

Offer Reduced prices on selected dates, shown with the regular price crossed out. Book by 16 Oct.

Frequently asked questions

How do I book this tour?

Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.

What financial protection do I get?

Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.

Do I need a visa for Costa Rica?

No, UK citizens can visit Costa Rica visa-free for up to 90 days.

Will I see a quetzal?

The Savegre Valley is one of the best places to see them, though sightings cannot be guaranteed.

How hard are the hikes?

Moderate rainforest and cloud-forest walks of a few hours.

Which meals are included?

Breakfast daily and many lunches and dinners at the lodges.

Can I have my own room?

A single supplement may be available; otherwise solo travellers share with someone of the same gender.

How many people travel together?

Between four and sixteen travellers, with a tour leader.

Can you tailor the trip?

Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.

What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?

If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.

ATOL protected 100% financially protected in a Trust bank account PTS 6035 4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option

Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.

If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.

Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary
From £2,940
See dates & prices