Exclusive · Costa Rica on Foot, 13–27 June 2027 →
Off the Gridexperiences
Plan a private journey
Departures · set dates, small groups

Three Costa Ricas

Eight days from the wild Caribbean to the volcano to the cloud forest — three different countries in one, shared with a handful of travellers.

Next departure: 20–27 February 2027

Enquire

8 days · airport to airport · 7 nights · Small group · max 6 travellers · Tortuguero · Arenal · Monteverde · via San José

A small boat on a jungle canal in Tortuguero01 / 25

Tortuguero

Dates

Key facts

  • 7 nights
  • 3 regions
  • boats through the Tortuguero canals
  • 6 guided outings
  • max 6 travellers

The journey

Costa Rica isn't one place. The Caribbean coast feels like a different nation; the volcano country runs on adventure and hot water; the cloud forest lives in the mist above both. This journey gives you all three in a week, every boat and road transfer handled, with never more than six travellers.

The route

Every leg, handled.

  1. 01Tortuguero
  2. 02Arenal
  3. 03Monteverde

Solid lines are road transfers, dashed lines boats and dotted lines flights.

Three Costa Ricas — route mapSAN JOSÉTORTUGUEROLA FORTUNAMONTEVERDE
N 9°–11° · W 83°–85°roadboat

Day by day

8 days, airport to airport.

  1. Day 01

    Arrival — San José

    Transfer from the airport to your lodging, a few minutes away. Rest after the flight.

    Meals
    none (arrival day)
  2. Day 02

    Into the wild Caribbean

    An early start east, through the cloud forest of Braulio Carrillo and down into the Caribbean lowlands, then a boat through the canals into Tortuguero, a village with no roads in or out. Settle into your lodge as the jungle gets loud.

    Meals
    breakfast, lunch, dinner
  3. Day 03

    The canals

    A morning by boat through Tortuguero's waterways with a naturalist reading the banks: perhaps caimans, monkeys, herons, the flash of a kingfisher. On the July and September departures, a guided night walk on the nesting beach in green-turtle season.

    Meals
    breakfast, lunch, dinner
  4. Day 04

    Across to the volcano

    Boat out, then west across the northern lowlands to Arenal, the landscape shifting from jungle flats to volcano country. You reach La Fortuna by late afternoon, the cone catching the last light.

    Meals
    breakfast, lunch
  5. Day 05

    Arenal, off the grid

    First light with the birds, then our Hidden Falls & Wildlife day: waterfalls with no map, a guide reading the forest the whole way, and natural hot springs by the falls. After dark, back into the trees as the forest wakes.

    The Patient Hour Hidden Falls & Wildlife After Dark
    Meals
    breakfast
  6. Day 06

    Up to the cloud forest

    A slow Arenal morning, then the drive around the lake and up into Monteverde, the air cooling as you climb. By afternoon you're in the cloud.

    Meals
    breakfast
  7. Day 07

    Monteverde, the quiet way

    The cloud forest most people miss: the calmer reserve rather than the crowded one, with a guide who finds what you'd walk straight past, and a night walk when the forest wakes. Mist, moss and, with luck, a quetzal.

    Meals
    breakfast
  8. Day 08

    Down and home

    A last cloud-forest morning, then the drive down to San José airport, in time for flights after 3 pm.

    Meals
    breakfast

How the guiding works

Naturalist guides at every stop: Tortuguero's canal guides, our own guides in Arenal, and a cloud-forest specialist in Monteverde. Never more than six travellers in our group.

Where you stay

Seven nights: one in San José, two in Tortuguero, two in Arenal and two in Monteverde. In Tortuguero, every lodge is reached by boat.

  • Tier 1Relaxed & characterfulSimple, comfortable places chosen for their natural setting.
  • Tier 2More comfortLodges with more services and more space.
  • Tier 3Most exclusiveThe most exclusive addresses in each area.

Each traveller chooses their own tier when requesting a place, and travellers on the same departure can choose different ones: you sleep where you chose and share every guided day with the group. Whichever you choose, a private room whenever possible.

Getting around

Road transfers in licensed tourist transport, the boats in and out of Tortuguero, and every transfer between — never public buses.

What’s included

  • Airport transfers both ways
  • 7 nights in the tier you choose, a private room whenever possible
  • Daily breakfast; all meals in Tortuguero; lunch on the way to Arenal
  • The Tortuguero canal tour with a naturalist, plus the turtle night walk on the July and September departures
  • The Patient Hour, Hidden Falls & Wildlife (with natural hot springs) and After Dark in Arenal
  • A guided walk and a night walk in Monteverde
  • All boats and road transfers
  • Park and reserve fees in the programme
  • Binoculars and a headlamp for the whole trip
  • Support throughout your trip

Not included

  • International flights
  • Lunches and dinners not listed
  • Travel insurance (recommended)
  • Tips
  • Personal expenses

The essentials

Airport to airport

We collect you at the airport and take you back at the end.

Small group

Max 6 travellers.

Where you stay

In the tier you choose.

Pricing

Priced on enquiry, depending on the tier you choose.

Dates

20–27 February 2027 · 17–24 July 2027 · 4–11 September 2027

Enquiry only · no online payment

How booking works

  1. 01

    Request a place

    Choose your date and your lodging tier, and tell us who's travelling. No payment and no commitment.

  2. 02

    Your proposal

    We send the full programme, the price for your tier and the booking contract.

  3. 03

    Confirm

    A 50% deposit by bank transfer confirms your place and your acceptance of the contract. The balance is due 90 days before the start. You cover any bank fees on your transfers.

  4. 04

    Changed your mind?

    Within 8 business days of accepting, you can withdraw with a full refund.

Questions

The things people ask us first.

Will we see turtles?
Green turtles nest in Tortuguero from July to October, so the July and September departures include a guided night walk on the nesting beach, with certified guides under national park rules. Sightings can't be guaranteed.
Why a night in San José first?
Tortuguero only works with an early start, so everyone arrives the day before, and no one misses the boat because of a late flight.
When is it best?
February and September are among the driest months on the Caribbean side; July and September bring the turtles.
How active is it?
Easy to moderate: boat mornings, forest walks of 2–5 hours, and one long day in Arenal.
Can I do it privately?
Yes, on your dates. Three Costa Ricas, privately
Can I choose where I stay?
Yes. Every departure runs in all three lodging tiers, and each traveller chooses their own when requesting a place. The price depends on the tier.
What if a park or trail closes?
The programme runs rain or shine and is subject to change for reasons beyond our control, such as weather, rough seas or an official closure. If something can't go ahead, we replace it with an equivalent alternative.
What if I need to cancel?
Within 8 business days of accepting, you can withdraw with a full refund. After that: 91 days or more before the start, we keep 20% of the deposit and you choose between a refund of the rest and credit for a future trip; 90 to 61 days before, we keep 25% of the trip price, the rest of the deposit stays as credit and we refund any balance you've paid; 60 to 31 days before, we keep 50% of the trip price and refund any balance you've paid; 30 days or less, there's no refund, except anything our suppliers refund to us. Credit is valid for a trip starting within 12 months and can be passed to someone else. Refunds are made within 30 days. Your booking contract has the full terms.
Can I change my dates?
Up to 91 days before the start, once and free of charge; from 90 to 61 days before, once, with a change fee; within 60 days, the dates can't change and the cancellation terms apply. New dates depend on availability.
Do I need travel insurance?
It isn't required, but we strongly recommend it, with cover for cancellation and medical care.

Next departure · 20–27 February 2027

Six places. Three Costa Ricas. One week.

Request a placeOr run it privately

Other departures