Trip Report — 10-Day Costa Rica — July 17-26, 2025
ITINERARY SUMMARY
- Crocodile Safari
- Hotel: Presidente Hotel
- Village Tour
- Night Turtle Tour
- Canals Boat Tour
- Hotel: Laguna Lodge
- Night Hike
- Birdwatching Hike
- Hotel: Tirimbina Lodge
- Arenal Volcano Hike
- Wildlife Safari Float
- Hotel: Magic Mountain Lodge
- Chocolate, Coffee, & Sugarcane Tour
- Selvanatura Park (Hanging Bridges + Sloth + Butterfly + Reptile)
- Hike at Monteverde National Park
- Hotel: Monteverde Country Lodge
See Also:
- 9-Day Tortuguero, Arenal, and Monteverde
- Planning Your Trip to Costa Rica
- Costa Rica: Arenal and Monteverde Activities
DETAILS AND PHOTOS
DAY 1: Arrive San Jose
Crocodile Safari:
- Lovely boat ride through the rainforest
- One crocodile is 18-feet long
- Great bird watching!
Presidente Hotel:
- Hotel Presidente is about a 30 minute drive from airport. It is very nice and centrally located.
DAY 2-4: Tortuguero
Tortuguero is one of Costa Rica’s most immersive wildlife destinations, where lush rainforest, winding canals, and Caribbean coastline create a setting that feels worlds away from everyday life. Often called the “Amazon of Costa Rica,” this remote region is best explored by boat, offering exceptional opportunities to spot monkeys, sloths, caimans, tropical birds, and, in season, nesting sea turtles.
Tortuguero:
- 6am pick up but may stop at other hotels
- Drive is on a tour bus with a group
- Breakfast buffet on the way
- 4-hour drive including breakfast
- 1 hour boat on canals to lodge
- Lunch at lodge
- Sign up for activities and times – Most people do the Village Tour, Night Turtle Tour, and the Canals Boat ride.
- All activities are guided by the lodge
- Activities depend on weather
Village Tour:
- Boat ride to town, shopping, visit school, interpretive signs about the national park
Night Turtle Tour:
- Night turtle tour June-Sept, 10-person groups, no flashlights, rough terrain
- See turtles laying eggs up close, then cover them up, and go back into the ocean
- 6-8km walking one-way, boat back
- In Oct-Nov, visitors go back to the beach and watch babies go into the ocean
Canals Boat Tour:
- See iguanas, crocodiles, birds, monkeys
- 20-25 people per boat
Laguna Lodge
- Rooms are cabins
- All meals are buffet
- Beautiful pool
Laguna Lodge delivers the quintessential Tortuguero experience, surrounded by jungle waterways and accessible only by boat, which immediately creates a sense of adventure and remoteness. The lodge’s open-air design, tropical setting, and direct connection to the canals make wildlife encounters feel like a natural extension of your stay.
DAY 4: Sarapiqui
Sarapiqui offers a quieter, more authentic side of Costa Rica, where fertile lowlands, rainforest reserves, and rushing rivers create a paradise for nature lovers. This region is especially rewarding for birdwatchers and adventure travelers, with opportunities for wildlife encounters, river experiences, and immersive stays surrounded by the sounds of the jungle.
Night Hike:
- See frogs, insects, and tropical plants in a 1.5 hour easy walk
Bird Watching Hike:
- About 2 hours, Lots of tropical birds!
Tirimbina Lodge:
Tirimbina Lodge offers an immersive rainforest stay where nature is the main attraction, set within a private biological reserve rich with wildlife and tropical vegetation. Suspended bridges, forest trails, and exceptional birdwatching create an experience that feels deeply connected to Costa Rica’s wild side while still providing comfortable accommodations.
- Hanging bridges to get to the lodge
DAY 5-6: Arenal
Arenal is one of Costa Rica’s most iconic destinations, anchored by the dramatic silhouette of Arenal Volcano and surrounded by rainforest, waterfalls, hot springs, and adventure activities. It is the ideal blend of adrenaline and comfort, whether you are ziplining through the canopy, hiking lava trails, or soaking in thermal pools after a day outdoors.
Arenal Volcano Hike
- 10-15 people in a group
- Very knowledgeable guide!
Magic Mountain Lodge:
Magic Mountain Hotel offers front-row views of the iconic Arenal Volcano, creating a dramatic backdrop for your stay in one of Costa Rica’s most adventure-rich regions. With comfortable accommodations, a relaxed atmosphere, and easy access to hiking, hot springs, and outdoor excursions, it serves as an excellent base for exploring the area.
- Great food!
DAY 7-9: Monteverde
Perched high in the mountains, Monteverde offers a cooler, misty escape into Costa Rica’s famous cloud forest ecosystem. This region is known for extraordinary biodiversity, hanging bridges, canopy adventures, and the chance to spot elusive wildlife including the resplendent quetzal.
Boat across lake
- Drive to the dock, boat across, then drive to the hotel.
Chocolate, Coffee, & Sugarcane Tour
- Hands-on and great guide!
Selvanatura Park:
- Hanging Bridges + Sloth + Butterfly + Reptile
- All enclosures with same guide
- Lunch is available at the restaurant between activities.
Hike at Monteverde National Park:
- Hiking trails with spider monkeys, humming birds, and orchids
Monteverde Country Lodge
Monteverde Country Lodge offers a warm, welcoming mountain retreat that reflects the charm of Costa Rica’s cloud forest region. Its cozy atmosphere and convenient location make it an ideal base for exploring hanging bridges, nature reserves, and the remarkable biodiversity that makes Monteverde so special.
DAY 8: Depart San Jose