9-Day Costa Rica Away From It All
For families and couples seeking a fun Costa Rica trip that offers "something different," this trip make a fantastic choice. Sampling the famed biodiversity of Costa Rica is built right into the trip!
Skipping many of the more touristy spots like Manuel Antonio, Tamarindo, or La Fortuna, this Nature-focused tour uniquely visits a marvelous self-sustaining Eco Lodge - one that is well off the beaten path - and a classic laid-back "hippie" beach town plus time in the misty cloud forest mixed in the middle.
Featuring farm to table dining, a sustainable farm tour, nature hikes, and beach time, it provides intrepid travelers a more comprehensive, deeper look into this wonderful country than the "usual" kind of tour. You will experience three unique ecosystems along the way: the mid-Atlantic rainforest, the cloud forest, and dry tropical forest.
These departures are private and can be set up to start any day of the year, availability permitting. Special child rates (usualy for kids 10 and younger) may be possible - let us know if you would like a custom quote. Contact us for more information and we can help get you started.
Full Itinerary
DETAILED ITINERARY >>
ITINERARY IN BRIEF >>
Day 1: Arrive San Jose, Costa Rica
Welcome to Costa Rica! Arrive at the San Jose International Airport anytime today. Meet & greet at the airport and private transfer to your central San Jose hotel. Overnight at the mid-range, modern, and comfortable Park Inn Hotel. For travelers arriving in the early afternoon, take some time to wander the nearby vibrant pedestrian mall and take a refreshing swim on the third floor's pool and open-air lounge. Overnight in San Jose.
Meals included: n/a
Mid-Range Accommodations: Park Inn
Day 2: Transfer to Rancho Margot Eco Lodge
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel. Afterwards, check out and meet your driver in the lobby, and together head to Rancho Margot Eco Lodge, a farm-to-table slice of heaven with its own private organic farm and forest reserve, tucked away in a remote corner of Arenal Lake. This private transfer is about a 4-hour scenic drive. Stop en-route to stretch your legs and have lunch (on own). Once at the lodge, enjoy an orientation of the property from the manager and settle into your modest bungalow. Here, relax, and enjoy the resident hummingbirds and other birds from your deck's hammock. For those with more energy, head out for a self-guided 1-hour private reserve hike in the surrounding forest. Enjoy dinner tonight at the lodge. All meals are included here. The majority of the food served here comes straight from the lodge's own farm and ranch. You cannot get any fresher than that! Overnight at Rancho Margot.
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
Mid-Range Accommodations: Rancho Margot Eco Lodge
Day 3: Explore Rancho Margot Eco Lodge
This morning, you'll have an option to enjoy a yoga class (included) at the riverfront yoga platform. Following breakfast, head out with the lodge guide to discover the fascinating inner workings of this novel farm and ranch. You'll stop along the way to learn more about the lodge's history, native plant conservation efforts, humane animal treatment practices, the organic farm, and meet some of many volunteers and workers that lovingly care for this vast, ambitious property.
Enjoy lunch and perhaps some leisure time by the natural pool. Then be sure to do the self-guided 1-hour steep hike to the mirador, with sweeping views of the surrounding jungle-forest hills, Arenal lake and Arenal Volcano on clear days. Following dinner - optional - embark on a 2-hour guided night walk with the lodge guide in search of the nocturnal wildlife found around the property. Recommended. Please discuss this option with the lodge manager when you check in on Day 2 so you can get it scheduled.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Mid-Range Accommodations: Rancho Margot Eco Lodge
Day 4: Rancho Margot to the Cloud Forest
Breakfast at the hotel. Free morning to relax, do a yoga class, and enjoy more of the property with lunch included. This afternoon transfer to the cloud forest zone of verdant Monteverde (via the scenic Arenal Lake crossing). Check in and overnight Monteverde.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Mid-Range Accommodations: Monteverde Country Lodge
Day 5: Cloud Forest Nature Hike at Selvatura Hanging Bridges
After breakfast at the hotel, this morning enjoy a guided natural history group hike within the cloud forest canopy via the fantastic Selvatura Hanging Bridges trail and cable bridge complex. Discover and learn more about this fascinating higher altitude rainforest ecosystem - the magical plants, insects, and birds that work together to sustain this remarkable forest type. This is an easy-moderate hike with a guide. For more adventurous travelers, we can - optional, at slightly extra cost - switch this hike to include the awesome zipline found here. Following the hike, spend some time at the marvelous, colorful hummingbird feeding gallery on site (ticket included). After returning to your hotel to refresh, be sure to make a stroll of the lovely Monteverde town, which is full of fascinating plant and wildlife exhibits, and famous for its fantastic cheeses and ice cream. Overnight Monteverde.
Meals included: Breakfast
Mid-Range Accommodations: Monteverde Country Lodge
Day 6: Cloud Forest to the Beach
Breakfast at the hotel. Today you have the option of a free morning at Monteverde to enjoy more of the area, and private transfer later, or alternatively you could travel sooner, this morning, to laid-back Playa Samara, among the most chill and scenic beach areas on Costa Rica's beautiful Pacific coast. Check in at the hotel, and enjoy the balance of the day free to wander Samara town and it's beach. Playa Samara is home to a great swimming beach and several surfing schools that can be excellent for beginners.
Meals included: Breakfast
Mid-Range Accommodations: Sol Samara Hotel
Day 7: Dry Tropical Forest Hike / Playa Samara
Early this morning, discover the fascinating dry tropical forest ecosystem at the nearby Werner Sauter Biological Reserve via a guided naturalist hike. Unique and colorful birds and butterflies, specially adapted flora, and a variety of animals like howler monkeys and coatimundi make this reserve their home. Return to hotel for a chance to relax, with this afternoon a prime opportunity to enjoy Playa Samara's sea and the beach.
Meals included: Breakfast
Mid-Range Accommodations: Sol Samara Hotel
Day 8: Free day on the Beach
Breakfast at the hotel. Today is at leisure to enjoy the beach on your own, take a long beach stroll to Palaya Carillo, or book an optional tour or two. Your options include:
- Sunset Getaway (sunset boat trip, snorkeling and drinks)
- Sea Quest snorkel tour (by boat)
- Sea turtle nesting night tour (seasonal: September and October best; December - June can be okay)
- Island stand up paddle and snorkeling
- Bay to bay stand up paddle (Carillo Beach)
- Sea kayak to Isla Chora & snorkeling
- Wildlife & mangrove kayak tour
- Lapa Roja macaw breeding center and refuge
- Samara mountain bike tour
- Horseback riding
After your day out and about, enjoy your final night in Costa Rica; overnight Playa Samara.
Meals included: Breakfast
Mid-Range Accommodations: Sol Samara Hotel
Day 9: Depart via Liberia International Airport
Breakfast at your hotel. Private transfer to the Liberia International Airport, about a 2-hour drive away. Be sure to allow about 3 hours from arrival at the airport to your departure time, so a noon or later international departure is best.
Meals included: Breakfast
Pricing
9-Day Costa Rica Away From It All
from $1295 USD
*** Contact Us for other itinerary and lodging options! ***
NOTE: Prices are per person in U.S. dollars based on double/triple occupancy. All quotations are based on the current rates of park fees, VAT, other government taxes, and current exchange rates. Should any of these be increased or a new tax introduced, these increases will be added on even if your trip has already been paid for.
INCLUDES:
- All accommodations per itinerary
- All meals per itinerary (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)
- All tours and entrance fees per itinerary (unless listed as excluded)
- All transportation and transfers per itinerary
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EXCLUDES:
- International and domestic flights
- Meals not listed
- Beverages and alcohol
- Tips for guides, drivers, hotel staff
- Optional tours
- Single room supplement
- Personal expenses (visas, airport taxes, Internet, etc.)
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