Costa Rica, Cloud Forest to Coast

Arenal · Monteverde · Manuel Antonio · 9 nights

Nine nights from Arenal to Manuel Antonio, paced around the days that matter.

The Journey

Nine nights across three stops: Arenal for three nights, Monteverde for three and Manuel Antonio for three. Every transfer between them is private and timed around the day's plan.

The days are built around Volcano Trails and Hot Springs, Cloud Forest Reserve, Manuel Antonio National Park and Hanging Bridges and the Lake. Each one is set out below with what you will see, how you get there and which meals are included.

The defining moment of this route: private canopy walk with a resident biologist. Your travel specialist can add a night, swap a day or change the order before you book.

Signature Highlights

Private canopy walk with a resident biologist
Volcano Trails and Hot Springs, Arenal
Hanging Bridges and the Lake, Arenal
Cloud Forest Reserve, Monteverde
Canopy, Coffee and Night Walks, Monteverde
Manuel Antonio National Park

Day by day

Your Itinerary

10 days

01
Day 1 · Arenal
Arrival in Arenal
Arrive at San José, about three hours by road, or Liberia in a similar time and transfer privately to your base. Time today to settle in La Fortuna and hope the cloud lifts off the volcano cone.
- Private transfer via San José
- Settle in La Fortuna and hope the cloud lifts off the volcano cone
- Time to settle in before dinner
Meals:
D
02
Day 2 · Arenal
Volcano Trails and Hot Springs
Walking the 1992 lava flows in Arenal Volcano National Park with the cone above you, cloud permitting, and thermal rivers fed by the same system in the afternoon.
- Arenal Volcano National Park lava trails
- La Fortuna waterfall
- Natural hot springs
Meals:
BL
03
Day 3 · Arenal
Hanging Bridges and the Lake
The rainforest canopy bridges for birds and howler monkeys, Lake Arenal for kayaking or windsurfing, and a night walk for frogs and snakes.
- Mistico hanging bridges
- Lake Arenal kayak
- Guided rainforest night walk
Meals:
B
04
Day 4 · Monteverde
Arenal to Monteverde
Take the jeep-boat-jeep across Lake Arenal, faster than the road route. On arrival, arrive in the cloud and walk a short forest trail before dusk.
- Take the jeep-boat-jeep across Lake Arenal, faster than the road route
- Arrive in the cloud and walk a short forest trail before dusk
- Timings reconfirmed locally the day before
Meals:
B
05
Day 5 · Monteverde
Cloud Forest Reserve
The Monteverde and Santa Elena reserves, where the resplendent quetzal nests between February and July, walked early with a naturalist guide who can actually find things.
- Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve with a naturalist
- Quetzal season (February-July)
- Continental divide viewpoint
Meals:
BL
06
Day 6 · Monteverde
Canopy, Coffee and Night Walks
Zip lines and a hanging bridge circuit through the canopy, a coffee and cacao farm tour, and a guided night walk for sloths, kinkajous and tarantulas.
- Canopy zip line or sky walk
- Coffee and cacao farm tour
- Guided night walk
Meals:
B
07
Day 7 · Manuel Antonio
Monteverde to Manuel Antonio
Drive or fly down to the central Pacific coast. On arrival, walk down to the beach and watch for capuchins in the trees behind it.
- Drive or fly down to the central Pacific coast
- Walk down to the beach and watch for capuchins in the trees behind it
- Timings reconfirmed locally the day before
Meals:
B
08
Day 8 · Manuel Antonio
Manuel Antonio National Park
Costa Rica's smallest and busiest national park, and still excellent: sloths, capuchins, howlers and the rare squirrel monkey along the trails, with rainforest beaches. Entry is capped and the park closes on Tuesdays.
- Guided trail with a naturalist
- Playa Manuel Antonio
- Squirrel monkey and sloth spotting
Meals:
BL
09
Day 9 · Manuel Antonio
Mangroves, Reef and the Coast
A boat through the Damas mangroves, catamaran sailing with snorkelling, and whale watching in season, roughly July to October and December to March.
- Damas mangrove boat
- Catamaran and snorkelling
- Humpback whale watching (seasonal)
Meals:
BL
10
Day 10 · Manuel Antonio
Departure from Manuel Antonio
An early park entry before the drive or flight back. Private transfer to San José in good time for your onward flight.
- An early park entry before the drive or flight back
- Late check-out arranged where the hotel allows it
- Private departure transfer
Meals:
B

Inclusions

Handpicked luxury accommodations across the journey
Daily breakfast; select lunches and dinners as noted
Private airport transfers and inter-city ground movement
Curated experiences and reserved access as listed
24×7 on-trip concierge from our India desk

Not included

International airfare unless explicitly mentioned
Visa fees, travel insurance and personal expenses
Meals and experiences not listed in the itinerary
Gratuities for guides, drivers and hotel staff
Anything of a personal nature (spa, minibar, laundry)

Transfers

Private arrival and departure transfers with a named driver
Moves between stops by private car, rail, ferry or domestic flight, as shown day by day
Timings reconfirmed with you the evening before each transfer

Visa & Documentation

Visa guidance provided by our documentation desk
Recommended to hold passport valid for 6+ months
Digital pre-arrival forms handled on your behalf where possible

Common Questions

When is the dry season in Costa Rica?+

December to April. May to November is the green season, with afternoon showers, fewer visitors and lush forest.

Will we see sloths and monkeys?+

Very likely. Manuel Antonio is one of the best parks for both, and a naturalist guide with a spotting scope makes a big difference.

How long are the drives between parks?+

Arenal to Monteverde is about three to four hours by road, and Monteverde to Manuel Antonio about four. Roads can be rough in places.

How far in advance should we book?+

Three to four months ahead gives the widest choice of rooms and guided days, and more for school holidays, festivals and peak season. Shorter notice is often possible; ask and we will check live availability.

Can the itinerary be customised?+

Yes. Every journey is a starting point: add or remove nights, swap a day's plan, change hotels or reorder the route, and your travel specialist re-plans the whole trip around it.

What is the payment schedule?+

Your quote sets out the deposit that confirms the booking and the date the balance is due. Both depend on the hotels, airlines and guides involved, so they are agreed with you before you pay anything.