9 days · Costa Rica
Costa Rica Escape
From AED 9,115per person, twin share
Nine days of sun, sand and scenery in Costa Rica, from San José to Arenal Volcano, the Monteverde Cloud Forest and Quepos.
- Duration
- 9 Days / 8 Nights
- Route
- Starts and ends in San José
- Country
- Costa Rica
- Activity level
- Light (2 of 5)
- Short orientation walks and a morning in Manuel Antonio National Park; the volcano hike and hanging bridges are optional extras, not included
- Accommodation
- 3- and 4-star hotels in San José, La Fortuna, Monteverde and Quepos, 8 nights in total
- Meals
- 8 breakfasts and 3 dinners
- Group
- Group tour, up to 41
- Guide
- Tour leader throughout
- Transport
- Air-conditioned coach
- Best time to go
- Runs across the year: December to April is Costa Rica’s dry season, May to November brings more rain, especially in the afternoons
Tour overview
Nine days by coach in Costa Rica reach the active Arenal Volcano and the misty Monteverde Cloud Forest. There is time to swim in the tropical waters of Quepos and take in the beauty of Manuel Antonio National Park, before a look at San José, the capital of Costa Rica.
Highlights
- Welcome dinner in San José
- La Fortuna, close to Arenal Volcano National Park
- A scenic drive in the Monteverde Cloud Forest
- Sun, sand and scenery in Quepos
- Manuel Antonio National Park
- A driving tour of San José, the capital of Costa Rica
- A farewell group dinner in San José
See the journey come to life
Route and hotels
Where the tour goes and where you sleep, night by night.
San José
1 night · Day 1
Hotel Balmoral
La Fortuna
2 nights · Days 2–3
Hotel Magic Mountain
Monteverde
2 nights · Days 4–5
Hotel Cipreses
Quepos
2 nights · Days 6–7
Hotel Mono Azul
San José
1 night · Day 8
Hotel Balmoral
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1
Start of tour in San José
Dinner included
Your Costa Rica Escape starts here. You arrive in San José, the capital, and meet your tour leader and the rest of the group at the hotel this evening. After a look ahead at the exciting itinerary to come, everyone heads to a local restaurant for a welcome dinner, getting to know one another over a meal that is authentically Costa Rican.
Included
- Welcome dinner of patacones and your choice of main course
- Overnight
- San José
- Hotel
- Hotel Balmoral
Day 2
San José – La Fortuna
Breakfast included
After breakfast, you head to La Fortuna, a small town that serves as the gateway to Arenal Volcano National Park. On arrival, you set off on an orientation walk. The evening is free, and you can join the optional Hot Springs excursion, taking in crystalline waterfalls and a soak in the hot spring waters, before an included buffet dinner.
Included
- Orientation walk in La Fortuna, gateway to Arenal Volcano National Park
Optional extras
- Arenal Hot Springs & Dinner Experience · AED 370 per person
- Travel
- San José → La Fortuna by coach
- Overnight
- La Fortuna
- Hotel
- Hotel Magic Mountain
Day 3
La Fortuna: Free Day
Breakfast included
There is plenty to fill this free day in La Fortuna: volcano scenery, dense rainforest and plenty of hiking trails. A closer look at the Arenal Volcano is available on an optional hike, led by an expert guide, through the volcano’s surrounding national park. This evening, you can join an optional interactive cooking class to learn about, and taste, Costa Rican cuisine.
Included
- Free day in La Fortuna to explore at your own pace
Optional extras
- Arenal Half-day Volcano Hike · AED 370 per person
- Costa Rican Cooking Class · AED 335 per person
- Overnight
- La Fortuna
- Hotel
- Hotel Magic Mountain
Day 4
La Fortuna – Monteverde
Breakfast and dinner included
This morning, the journey to Monteverde continues through the impressive Cloud Forest. On arrival, there is an orientation walk around town, and beyond that, time of your own to explore, or you can join the optional Coffee Farm Tour, learning how coffee, chocolate and sugar cane, all distinctly Costa Rican, are made. Later, dinner awaits at a lively restaurant set among lush greenery.
Included
- Orientation walk through Monteverde town
Optional extras
- Coffee Farm Tour · AED 240 per person
- Travel
- La Fortuna → Monteverde by coach, through the Cloud Forest
- Overnight
- Monteverde
- Hotel
- Hotel Cipreses
Day 5
Monteverde: Free Day
Breakfast includedMake the most of this free day in such a beautiful part of Costa Rica. You can explore Monteverde’s famous cloud forest, or reach new heights on the optional Hanging Bridges & Sloth Sanctuary excursion, an adrenaline-filled experience with striking views and then a visit to the sloths. Otherwise, the area is yours to explore at your own pace.
Included
- Free day in Monteverde to explore the cloud forest independently
Optional extras
- Hanging Bridges & Sloth Sanctuary · AED 535 per person
- Overnight
- Monteverde
- Hotel
- Hotel Cipreses
Day 6
Monteverde – Quepos
Breakfast includedThe journey continues from Monteverde to coastal Quepos, a spot both beach lovers and wildlife enthusiasts tend to love, thanks to clear waters and a wealth of biodiversity. Once you have checked into the hotel, there is free time, or you can join the optional sunset catamaran cruise, which offers marine wildlife viewing, snorkelling and views over Manuel Antonio National Park. Depending on the season, you might even spot whales, dolphins or stingrays.
Included
- Free time on arrival in Quepos, on the Pacific coast
Optional extras
- Quepos Sunset Catamaran · AED 445 per person
- Travel
- Monteverde → Quepos by coach
- Overnight
- Quepos
- Hotel
- Hotel Mono Azul
Day 7
Quepos
Breakfast included
This morning, the adventure heads into the impressive Manuel Antonio National Park. Landscapes vary widely here, taking in white sand beaches, forests and mountains alike. Inside the park live roughly 184 bird species and 109 species of mammal, among them sloths, monkeys and toucans. There is also time to swim in the beaches’ crystal clear waters.
Included
- Morning in Manuel Antonio National Park: beaches, forest trails and wildlife including sloths and monkeys
- Swim at one of the park’s beaches
- Overnight
- Quepos
- Hotel
- Hotel Mono Azul
Day 8
Quepos – San José
Breakfast and dinner included
Leaving Quepos this morning, the tour heads back to San José. In the afternoon, a driving tour introduces you to Costa Rica’s lively capital. You take in San José’s distinctive Spanish colonial architecture, with top sights along the way including Casa Amarillo, the National Theatre and the town’s central square. This evening, the group sits down together for one last farewell dinner.
Included
- Driving tour of San José: colonial architecture, Casa Amarillo, the National Theatre and the main square
- Farewell dinner with the group
- Travel
- Quepos → San José by coach
- Overnight
- San José
- Hotel
- Hotel Balmoral
Day 9
End of tour in San José
Breakfast includedA final breakfast together with the group starts this morning, after which this busy tour of Costa Rica reaches its finish line. Remember to exchange contact details with the travel friends you have made, before heading onwards to your next destination.
Dates & prices
Prices per person, sharing a double or twin room. A single room costs the supplement shown.
Fri 29 Jan – Sat 6 Feb 2027
Available
AED 9,115
Single room +AED 5,765
Thu 7 Oct – Fri 15 Oct 2027
Available
AED 9,115
Single room +AED 5,765
What’s included
Included
- 8 nights in mostly 3-star and 4-star hotels, in twin rooms with a private bathroom
- A room to yourself for a single supplement, subject to availability
- 8 breakfasts and 3 dinners
- An air-conditioned vehicle
- Guided from start to finish
Not included
- Flights to the start of the tour and home from the end: we can book them from Dubai
- Travel insurance: take out a policy that suits your trip
Optional extras
Excursions and upgrades you can add to the tour. Prices are per person.
Arenal Hot Springs & Dinner Experience
Day 2AED 370per personSoak in the Baldi hot springs, heated naturally by the Arenal Volcano, then sit down to a buffet dinner with the volcano in view. Treatments such as massages are available at an extra cost. US$100, booked with your tour leader on the day.
See day 2 in the itineraryArenal Half-day Volcano Hike
Day 3AED 370per personJoin a guided half-day hike along Arenal’s old lava flows and volcano skirts, taking in the national park’s birdlife and plants and the volcano’s history. US$100, booked with your tour leader on the day.
See day 3 in the itineraryCosta Rican Cooking Class
Day 3AED 335per personLearn to cook Costa Rican dishes in a hands-on class, then sit down to a cocktail and the meal you have made. US$90, booked with your tour leader on the day.
See day 3 in the itineraryCoffee Farm Tour
Day 4AED 240per personTour one of the Cloud Forest’s coffee farms and learn how Costa Rican coffee goes from seed to cup, finishing with a freshly brewed cup. US$65, booked with your tour leader on the day.
See day 4 in the itineraryHanging Bridges & Sloth Sanctuary
Day 5AED 535per personCross Monteverde’s rainforest canopy on hanging bridges up to 100 metres high, then visit a sloth sanctuary, with an expert guide on hand throughout. US$145, booked with your tour leader on the day.
See day 5 in the itineraryQuepos Sunset Catamaran
Day 6AED 445per personCruise the coast near Manuel Antonio National Park on a catamaran, with a stop at Playa Biesanz for snorkelling and a swim. Look out for whales in season, plus dolphins and stingrays. US$120, booked with your tour leader on the day.
See day 6 in the itinerary
To add an extra, mention it in your booking notes, and we confirm it with your seats before you pay. Some are booked with your tour leader on the day instead: their description says so.
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Good to know
Practical details to read before you travel.
Passport & visas
Entry rules for Costa Rica depend on the passport you travel on. Our visa team checks your passport against Costa Rica’s requirements and handles the application for you if one is needed, so there is nothing for you to work out yourself.
Tell us your nationality when you book so we can confirm what, if anything, you need to arrange.
Flights and timings
Flights to and from San José aren’t included.
Your tour starts at 6pm on day 1 at the hotel in San José, where you meet your tour leader before the welcome dinner. The tour ends after breakfast at the hotel in San José on day 9.
Our team can book your flights from Dubai to match.
Meals and dietary needs
8 breakfasts and 3 dinners are included, with dinners on days 1, 4 and 8. The rest of your meals, including most lunches, are on you, leaving room to try local sodas and restaurants.
Tell us about any dietary needs, halal included, when you book, and we pass them on before the tour.
Money
Costa Rica’s currency is the colón, though US dollars are widely accepted. Cards work in most hotels and larger restaurants; carry some cash for small towns, markets and tips.
Optional extras booked on tour are paid to your tour leader in cash or by card, in the currency shown.
Weather and packing
December to April is the dry season, with warm, mostly sunny days; May to November is greener but wetter, usually with short afternoon downpours rather than all-day rain.
Pack light, breathable clothing, swimwear, comfortable walking shoes for park trails and orientation walks, and a light rain jacket, especially outside the dry season.
Plan your trip
Our Dubai team arranges what goes around the tour, so it is booked in one place.
Visas
Our visa team in Dubai applies for UAE residents once the tour is booked. For Costa Rica, ask them what your passport needs.
Flights
Flights are not included. We can book them with the tour: Dubai to San José and back. Tick “Flights” when you book and we quote them with your confirmation.
Pay in instalments
Split the cost with Tabby or Tamara, or over 3 to 12 months on a UAE bank credit card for bookings from AED 1,000.
Book this tour
Book in a minute. Your seats are held as soon as you book; you name the other travellers and pay once we have confirmed them.
Questions before you book? Our support team is on WhatsApp +971 4 589 0001.
Questions about this tour
What will my days look like?
Days are full. Most start with breakfast, then the main sights with a local guide or your tour leader. Afternoons often leave free time to wander, stop for a coffee or join an optional extra. Expect a fair amount of walking: some days mean two or three hours on your feet, so bring comfortable shoes.
Who will I be travelling with?
Travellers from all over the world, of different ages and backgrounds, who share a wish to see more. Up to 41 people share this tour, and most know each other’s names within a few days.
What are the hotels like?
Mostly 3 and 4 star, all clean, comfortable and well located, with private en-suite bathrooms. They are chosen so you sleep well and are ready for the next day. The destinations come first, but the hotels are never an afterthought.
How active is this tour?
You carry your own luggage, sometimes up hotel stairs. Some walking tours run for up to three hours, and a few sites have plenty of steps. The itinerary and the activity level at the top of this page show whether the pace suits you.
How do optional extras work?
Optional extras run in the tour’s free time, and your tour leader tells you what is on offer as the tour goes. The ones on this tour are booked with your tour leader on the day, and the Optional extras section shows each one with its price.
Will I have time to explore on my own?
Yes. The itinerary builds in free time to wander at your own pace, and your tour leader can point you to the places that suit you, so you are never left to work it all out alone.
What support do I have while I’m on tour?
Your tour leader travels with you from start to finish. They know the places most visitors miss, can suggest a restaurant before you ask, and deal with whatever crops up on the way. Transport and hotels are all arranged for you.
There is also an emergency number staffed 24 hours a day, and our team in Dubai is there to help.
How do I book Costa Rica Escape?
Press Book now, choose a date, your travellers and rooms, and give your name, email and mobile. We hold your seats and email your booking reference straight away; you then add each traveller as their passport shows on your booking page. Our Dubai team confirms the seats with the tour operator, then emails you a secure payment link. Nothing is charged when you book.
When do I pay?
Once the tour operator confirms your seats. We email you a secure payment link for the total in AED, and your booking is complete when it is paid. To pay in instalments, say so in your booking notes.
Is the price per person?
Yes. Prices are per person sharing a double or twin room. Travelling alone? A single room costs the supplement shown next to each date.
Are flights included?
Only when the tour lists them under what is included. We can book flights from the UAE to the start city and home from the end city with your tour.
Do I need a visa?
That depends on your passport and the countries on the route. Our visa team arranges Schengen and other visas for UAE residents, and can apply for yours once the tour is booked.
Payment plans
Take the trip now. Pay for it in pieces.
Every booking qualifies, from holidays and tours to visas. Spread it over 3 to 12 months at 0% on a credit card plan, or with Tabby or Tamara; some banks add a one-time processing fee.
- Credit card plans from AED 1,000
- Tabby and Tamara, no minimum
- Terms from 3 to 12 months
Find your bank’s plan
Credit cards, from AED 1,000
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