Costa Rica · Private & tailor-made
Costa Rica — Pacific & Guanacaste
Volcano and cloud forest, the waterfalls and hot springs of Rincón de la Vieja, and a Pacific beach finish in Guanacaste.
Private & tailor-made — price on enquiry, shaped around your group and dates. Land only, excludes flights.
The journey
The same easy Costa Rican mix — volcano, cloud forest and wildlife — but finishing on the warm, reliable beaches of the Pacific northwest rather than the Caribbean.
You begin at Arenal, with its volcano, hanging bridges and hot springs, then cross Lake Arenal to the cloud forest of Monteverde and its canopy of ziplines and birdlife.
From the highlands you drop to Guanacaste, the dry northwest, for the volcano and waterfalls of Rincón de la Vieja National Park, before a few days on the Pacific at Tamarindo — a broad, swimmable beach with easy surf and reliable sun. Private and flexible throughout.
Where you'll go
Trip highlights
What stays with you
The Arenal volcano, its hanging bridges and a horseback ride.
The Monteverde cloud forest by Sky Tram and Sky Trek.
The waterfalls, mud pots and hot springs of Rincón de la Vieja.
A Pacific beach finish at Tamarindo in Guanacaste.
Day by day
Your itinerary
Arrive in Costa Rica
You're met at San José airport and transferred to your hotel for the night, with time to settle in before the journey begins.
To the Arenal volcano
A drive north to Arenal, where a near-perfect volcano cone rises over rainforest, waterfalls and thermal springs — one of the country's signature landscapes.
Bridges, horses and hot springs
A morning at the hanging bridges, walking the forest at canopy level, and a horseback ride beneath the volcano, with time to soak in the hot springs afterwards.
Across the lake to the cloud forest
A jeep-boat-jeep crossing of Lake Arenal, then up into the cloud forest of Monteverde — cool, misty and alive with birds.
Into the canopy
A morning on the Sky Tram gondola and the Sky Trek ziplines, with hanging bridges and guided trails through the canopy.
Down to Guanacaste
A drive northwest to the drier province of Guanacaste and the country around Rincón de la Vieja, staying at a working hacienda at the foot of the volcano.
Rincón de la Vieja National Park
A day in the national park on the flanks of an active volcano: forest trails to waterfalls and swimming holes, bubbling mud pots and steaming vents, and natural hot springs. The hacienda can also arrange tubing, riding and canyoning for those who want more.
To the Pacific coast
A transfer to Tamarindo on the Pacific, a long, easy beach in Guanacaste with warm water, gentle surf and reliable sun.
Beach time
A free day on the coast — swimming, a surf lesson, a boat trip, or simply the beach. The surf here is forgiving, which makes it a good place for a first lesson.
Beach time
Another day at your own pace: more beach, a catamaran sail, or a trip to the nesting beaches nearby where marine turtles come ashore in season.
Back to San José
A drive back to San José for the final night, ready for onward flights the next morning.
Homeward
After breakfast, a transfer to the airport for your flight home. We can easily extend the trip — more beach, or a Caribbean and Tortuguero leg — just ask.
Where you'll stay
Your hotels
Comfortable hotels and a working hacienda throughout; the source lists each as one option "or similar", and we'll confirm the exact properties when we tailor the trip. We can step the whole route up to a higher standard on request.
What's included
- All accommodation as listed (11 nights)
- Private transfers and transport, including the Lake Arenal crossing
- The Arenal hanging bridges and horseback ride, and the Sky Tram and Sky Trek at Monteverde
- Entrance and guiding at Rincón de la Vieja National Park
- Breakfast daily
- 24-hour in-country support and ATOL financial protection
Not included
- International flights to and from Costa Rica
- Travel insurance (required — with medical and repatriation cover)
- Meals and drinks not shown (most lunches and dinners are free to choose locally)
- Optional activities — surf lessons, tubing, canyoning, boat trips — taken locally
- Tips, and anything of a personal nature
Good to know
Before you go
When to travel
December to April is the dry season and reliably sunny on the Pacific side and in Guanacaste; the green season either side is quieter and lush. We'll advise for your dates.
Who it suits
An easy, varied trip for families of any age — short legs, wildlife, a volcano and a proper beach finish.
Pace and fitness
Gentle overall, with optional active add-ons at Arenal and Rincón de la Vieja. Nothing is strenuous unless you want it to be.
Wildlife
Monkeys, sloths, coatis and a wealth of birds throughout. On the Guanacaste beaches, marine turtles nest seasonally — we'll tell you honestly what's likely when you travel.
Money
The currency is the Costa Rican colón, though US dollars are widely accepted. Cards work in most places; carry some cash for smaller spots.
Making it yours
Private and flexible — we can swap in a Caribbean and Tortuguero leg, add more beach, or reach the deeper rainforest of the Osa Peninsula. Just ask.
Make it yours
Ready to start planning?
This is a starting point, not a fixed package. Tell us who's travelling, your dates and roughly what you have in mind, and we'll tailor it — the pace, the comfort level and any extensions — and send you a detailed quote.
Travelling well
The STC way
We work with trusted local partners in Costa Rica, and it shows in the detail: naturalist guides who know where the wildlife is, family-run lodges and haciendas, and the ethos of low-impact travel the country is known for. It's the same groundwork behind our sister company, STC Expeditions.
Prefer the Caribbean and Tortuguero? See our Costa Rica — Caribbean & Rainforest →