Costa Rica

Costa Rica is one of the most beautiful and naturally-diverse countries in Central America. From lush tropical rainforests filled with rich biodiversity to picturesque white-sand beaches with great surfing and diving, Costa Rica is a natural paradise. On this tour, we’ll do a bit of everything, from hiking in the wilderness to going wildlife spotting to sitting on the beach to visiting waterfalls and staying with local families.

The diverse ecosystems of Costa Rica have led the country to become a beloved ecotourism destination, with never-ending adventure activities, gorgeous beaches, abundant wildlife, delicious food, and friendly people. Combine all of that with the relaxed, “pura vida” pace of life, it’s no wonder Costa Rica is always high up on people’s lists of favorite countries.

Using our local connections and deep experience here, we’re going to showcase not only the natural beauty of the country but also the people. You’ll meet locals who will explain what it’s like to live in the region, gain insights into the food and culture of the country, see tons of wildlife, do lots of hiking, and enjoy some time on the country’s famous beaches. We’re going to show you what makes this country so special!

This tour is for people looking to see more than just the famous sites— it’s for travelers who want to understand the region’s culture, history, and food more deeply.

If you’re the kind of person who wants a more authentic and nuanced experience, this tour is for you.

Tour Itinerary

You can arrive any time today. Our guide will be around to welcome you and answer any questions that you have. We’ll meet for an orientation meeting in the early evening before taking you to one of our favorite spots in San Jose for a welcome dinner.

This morning, we’ll leave the hotel and head to the Caribbean lowlands on a 4-hour scenic (and a bit bumpy) drive to Tortuguero National Park. We’ll board a small boat and journey for 1.5 hours into the depths of the Costa Rican wilderness. This biodiverse area is full of freshwater lagoons and rainforest many animals call home, including jaguars and turtles. In the evening, we’ll enjoy an informal Spanish lesson and relax with the sounds of nature at the jungle lodge.

Today, you’re free to explore the park at your own pace. You can do a sunrise canoe trip, walking tour, or just relax around the lodge. There’s a lot here and we’ll be sure to guide you to an activity that suits your desires.

Today, we’ll leave the rainforest and head on a 3-hour journey to Santa Rosa de Pocosol for a memorable homestay experience. On arrival, you will be led around the farm to see all the local and organic produce grown here. Pick some of the fresh food that is grown, and head back to your homestay for a small cooking lesson. Alternatively in the afternoon, you can take a soap-making workshop or a guided hike to a nearby waterfall. In the evening, we’ll enjoy a home cooked meal together.

After breakfast, we’ll drive for 2 hours to Tenorio Volcano National Park, where you’ll visit the Rio Celeste. On the way, stop off to visit an indigenous Maleku community, where you’ll meet the locals and share a traditional Maleku meal with them. With only 650 people left, the Maleku Indian tribe is the smallest in Costa Rica. On arrival at the Tenorio Volcano National Park, take a leader-led hike around Rio Celeste, and spend the afternoon exploring the sky-blue falls and streams. To end the day, we’ll continue with a 2-hour drive to get to La Fortuna.

Enjoy a free day to explore La Fortuna as you wish. Go caving, visit the La Fortuna waterfall, Lake Arenal, the Cano Negro Reserve, or a the nearby hot springs. Do one or many! We’ll be there to get you signed up. After the end of the day, we’ll meet again for dinner.

A morning of travel by bus and boat leads to incredible Monteverde. Settled by North American Quakers in 1951, the area was initially used as an environmentally conscious agricultural community and is now a biological preserve. We’ll spend the afternoon doing a tour of the cloud forest, looking out for hummingbirds, quetzals and sloths. In the evening, you can take an optional night walk through the forest (it’s fun) or join us for an optional group dinner.

Today is a free day to explore the jungle. There are also several local communities that operate cooperatives worth visiting, as well as zip lining, coffee plantations, and suspension bridges through the canopy. In the evening, we’ll meet again for a group dinner.

After a 4-hour drive, we’ll get to Manuel Antonio, one of the most beautiful parks in the country, where we’ll have a guided tour and look for monkeys and other wildlife. We’ll wander the park and have some time for the beach. In the evening, we’ll have a seafood dinner together.

Today is free for you to do as you please. Enjoy the beach, head around the park, rent a kayak, go on a boat tour. There’s a lot to do and our guide will help you arrange any activities. In the evening, you can join the group again for an optional group dinner.

Today, we bid farewell to the coast and return to San Jose via public bus. You’ll have the afternoon to yourself to do any final sightseeing and, in the evening, we’ll have for farewell dinner together as a group.

Today, our tour ends. Our guides will be around to help anyone getting to the airport or that has questions about staying longer.

Book A Tour

Costa Rica

October 28

–

November 8, 2023

from

$2295
Book now

Tour Essentials

Accommodation

Accommodation is 2 star hotels. If you book a shared room and are traveling solo, you’ll be paired with someone of the same gender.

Transport

During the trip, we’ll travel via a private van and public bus throughout the country.

Meals

Daily breakfast, three lunches, and four dinners are included. All dietary restrictions can be accommodated with prior notice. Alcohol is not included.

Sustainability

We aim to offer as sustainable an experience as we can. The tap water is safe to drink so we encourage you to bring a water bottle. Trash is recycled whenever possible and we avoid mass tourism activities that cause harm to the environment and/or do not benefit local communities.

Small Groups

This tour requires a minimum of 10 participants and has a maximum of 15 participants in order to ensure the best small group tour experience. With such a small group, you’ll be able to enjoy unique, rewarding activities that would not be accessible with more people.

Expert guides

Your tour will be led by a licensed and local expert guide. Our guides are always on hand, every day of the trip, to provide additional information, create spontaneous activities, join the group for non-included activities and meals, and to ensure that the trip is as memorable, fun, and informative as possible.

What’s Included

What’s Included

  • Accommodation
  • Transportation, including driver
  • All activities and entrance fees mentioned above
  • All included meals listed above
  • Local guides during activities
  • Expert Tour Leader throughout the trip

What’s Not Included

  • Flights to/from Costa Rica
  • Passport/visa fees
  • Airport taxes
  • Meals and activities not mentioned
  • Travel insurance (which is required)
  • Optional activities not listed

Reviews

Dave

“Love The Nomadic Network tours because they are off the beaten path, tend to attract all ages of free spirited, fun, and adventurous people. Met a lot of solo travelers which was inspiring.”

Dave

“Love The Nomadic Network tours because they are off the beaten path, tend to attract all ages of free spirited, fun, and adventurous people. Met a lot of solo travelers which was inspiring.”

Dave

“Love The Nomadic Network tours because they are off the beaten path, tend to attract all ages of free spirited, fun, and adventurous people. Met a lot of solo travelers which was inspiring.”

Dave

“Love The Nomadic Network tours because they are off the beaten path, tend to attract all ages of free spirited, fun, and adventurous people. Met a lot of solo travelers which was inspiring.”

Dave

“Love The Nomadic Network tours because they are off the beaten path, tend to attract all ages of free spirited, fun, and adventurous people. Met a lot of solo travelers which was inspiring.”

Dave

“Love The Nomadic Network tours because they are off the beaten path, tend to attract all ages of free spirited, fun, and adventurous people. Met a lot of solo travelers which was inspiring.”

FAQ

You should fly into and out of San José at Juan Santamaria Airport (SJO).

Our orientation meeting generally takes place in the early evening, around 5:30pm. It’s best to arrive by the afternoon so you have enough time to get settled in before we meet up. You can depart at any time on the last day.

Taxis are the best way to get to the hotel. If you’d like an airport transfer, we can book them for you for an extra fee.

There are no strict expectations for dress code in Costa Rica, however, dressing relatively modestly will help you avoid unwanted attention. We recommend dressing comfortably. If visiting any religious sites, dressing a bit more modestly would be respectful.

Women should take all the precautions they typically make when traveling.

Spring and fall are between the dry and rainy season in Costa Rica. In the spring, you can expect dry and sunny weather with temperatures from the mid-80s to low 90s Fahrenheit (around 29-33 Celsius) on the Pacific Coast, and slightly cooler on the Caribbean side. In the fall, you can expect a transitional period between the dry and rainy season, with occasional rain showers and temperatures ranging from the mid-70s to low 80s Fahrenheit (around 24-28 Celsius) on the Pacific coast, and slightly warmer on the Caribbean coast.

Although “two-stars” can mean a lot of things, we go upper end on all our tours. Comfy beds, clean rooms, courtyards, restaurants for on-site breakfast, piping hot water, and air conditioning. We don’t rough it on our tours, especially as our clients are way beyond the “cheap backpacker hostel” crowd and all value a good sleep.

By booking a spot on our tour you’re booking a shared room.

  • If you are traveling solo, you’ll be paired with someone of the same gender.
  • If you would like to be placed with a friend, we can assign you to the same room – just email us prior!

If you’d like to get your own private room, you can do so as well. They run on a first come, first served basis. At checkout you’ll have the option to add that on for a fee.

All of our tours have lots of walking tours involved that last between 2-3 hours each. While there is no strenuous hiking involved on this tour, you should be prepared to be on your feet a lot.

Generally, tap water is safe to drink in Costa Rica. However, we recommend bottled water whenever possible. Bottled water is available at all small stores for around $1 USD per bottle.

Daily breakfast, three lunches, and four dinners are included. All dietary restrictions can be accommodated with prior notice. Alcohol is not included.

You should budget an average of $30-35 USD per day for all your extra needs. This would include meals that are not included in the tour, basic purchases (laundry service, bottled water, etc.) as well as activities you do on your own.

Tips are not included in our tour costs. You may feel inspired to tip the people who are working hard to make your trip enjoyable and memorable. How much you tip depends greatly on how much you want to tip. Generally, $10-15 per day is considered a good tip for guides.

Costa Rica uses standard North American plug outlets (Plug Types “A” and “B”), so if you’re coming from the US or Canada, you won’t need an adapter.

As for electricity, most mobile phones, laptops, and other devices can handle all types of voltage when charging. The standard voltage in Costa Rica is 120v/60Hz. Check your chargers to see if they say 110 – 220V. If that range is listed on the charger, you will not have any problems charging your device while on the tour. You won’t need a converter, only the plug adapter (if you’re joining from a country other than the US or Canada).

Unfortunately,

You sure can! First, look on this General FAQ page to see if it’s already been answered. If not, feel free to email us at info@thenomadicnetwork.com.

Book A Tour

Book with confidence. Your deposit is 100% refundable for 30 days after your booking is made, as long as it’s 60 days prior to departure, so you don’t lose out in case your plans change.

Costa Rica

October 28

–

November 8, 2023

from

$2295
Book now

Sign up to be notified when a new tour is scheduled to this destination here.