Vacances au Costa Rica

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Local travel agency · Since 2014

Costa Rica 9 Day Tour: From Río Celeste to the Caribbean with a Private Driver-Guide

Turquoise water, a smoking giant, quiet rivers and a Caribbean shoreline, all reached at an easy pace with a driver-guide who knows the road.

Aracari Toucan Tour, Costa Rica

Prices per person

4 travelers

  • Quadruple room USD 2,277

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4 travelers

  • Double room USD 2,433

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3 travelers

  • Triple room USD 2,546

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2 travelers

  • Double room USD 3,533

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Prices per person, in US dollars, including accommodation, breakfasts and the services listed in the program. The package details are listed below.

This Costa Rica 9 day tour follows a line across the country, from the dry plains of Guanacaste to the humid forests of the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. Along the way, you hike to the turquoise waterfall of Río Celeste, walk over old lava flows below Arenal Volcano, float down jungle rivers and spend three nights near Cahuita, where the rainforest runs right down to the sand.

Throughout this private driver-guide tour in Costa Rica, the same person welcomes you at the airport and stays at the wheel each day. You never have to think about directions, parking or tolls; you simply watch the landscapes change, from pastures and volcanoes to pineapple fields and palm-lined beaches.

Wildlife is the thread that ties these 9 days in Costa Rica together. You visit two rescue centers and a conservation project, go looking for frogs and insects on two night walks, and keep an eye out for crocodiles, sloths, monkeys and coatis. Family farms add a human side to the journey, with hearts of palm to taste and a young pineapple to plant with your own hands.

Your itinerary

Day-by-day itinerary

Day 1

Arrival in San José: welcome to Costa Rica

When you land at Juan Santamaría International Airport, in the province of Alajuela, your private driver-guide is waiting in the arrivals hall, holding a sign with your name. A welcome note from Vincent, who founded the agency and has called Costa Rica home for more than 40 years, sets the tone: leave your watch, your phone and everyday stress behind, because the team takes care of the details. Then comes a quiet private transfer to your hotel in San José, a first drive to settle into the warm tropical air at your own pace. Yes, your vacation has begun.

Modern white hotel building in San José with a green living wall, curved entrance canopy and a red cow sculpture on the lawn
Arrival night in San José, the first stop of this Costa Rica 9 day tour after landing at SJO airport.
Day 2

Cañas and the Río Corobicí: the wildlife of Guanacaste

After breakfast, you leave around 7:30 a.m. for Cañas, crossing the green plains and open pastures of northwestern Costa Rica. Near this small Guanacaste town, you visit a wildlife rescue center originally created by Lilly and Werner Hagnauer, home to animals that can no longer return to the wild: pumas, jaguars, ocelots, monkeys and more. At 11:30 a.m., a gentle float of about 90 minutes on the Río Corobicí reveals the dry tropical forest, American crocodiles and birds along the banks; lunch is included. You then drive on toward Volcán Tenorio, where a guided night walk by flashlight goes looking for frogs, insects, reptiles and spiders.

Close-up of a puma with amber eyes and an open mouth against a green forest background in Costa Rica
A puma looks out with amber eyes, a wildlife encounter possible on day 2 of this Costa Rica 9 day tour near Cañas.
Day 3

Río Celeste hike and an evening in Arenal's hot springs

Leaving around 7:30 a.m., you reach Tenorio Volcano National Park between 10:00 and 10:30 for a hike of about three hours through dense rainforest of ferns, vines and tall trees, where birds and amphibians may appear along the trail. The sound of water leads you to the Río Celeste waterfall: 253 steps down, and back up, bring you to its turquoise pool. The color comes from mineral particles that change the way light scatters, a phenomenon most striking at El Teñidero. In the afternoon, you continue to Arenal and relax in thermal pools warmed by the volcano's geothermal activity, followed by an included buffet dinner at 7 p.m.

Río Celeste waterfall pouring into a turquoise pool surrounded by rainforest, with wooden stairs leading down
The Río Celeste waterfall drops into its turquoise pool, reached by a wooden staircase through the rainforest.
Day 4

Arenal Volcano National Park and the Arenal hanging bridges

At 8:30 a.m., you set out on a 1.5- to 2-hour walk in Arenal Volcano National Park. The trail is mostly flat and easy, apart from a 200- to 300-meter stretch over uneven lava rock that leads to a view of the volcano and its lava fields, weather permitting. You see the 1992 lava flows and a ceiba tree more than 400 years old, and you notice how the forest has reclaimed the volcanic ground. In the afternoon, you walk about 3 kilometers of trails for roughly two hours, crossing 8 fixed bridges and 6 hanging bridges, some 48 to 98 meters long, to watch the canopy from above.

Arenal Volcano rising behind the Parque Nacional Volcán Arenal entrance sign under a blue sky with clouds
The cone of Arenal Volcano towers over the national park entrance sign on day 4 of this Costa Rica 9 day tour.
Day 5

Sarapiquí: river rafting and red-eyed tree frogs

After breakfast, you head to an adventure center, arriving by 9:15 a.m. at the latest, for a half-day rafting trip on the Río Sarapiquí. Class II and III rapids alternate with calm stretches, and a professional guide briefs you on safety before you set off. If you prefer a gentler morning, you can swap rafting for a float of about two and a half hours in a non-motorized raft or a motorboat, a good way to look for birds, monkeys and reptiles. A typical Costa Rican lunch follows, then a look at the busy world of leaf-cutter ants. After settling in at your lodging, you go out at 6 p.m. in search of the red-eyed tree frog.

Group in yellow helmets and red life jackets paddling a blue raft through white water rapids in Sarapiquí, Costa Rica
A group paddles a blue raft through the rapids of Sarapiquí, a day 5 activity on this Costa Rica 9 day tour.
Day 6

Horquetas de Sarapiquí: hearts of palm, pineapple and the road to Cahuita

Around 8:30 a.m., you drive to Horquetas de Sarapiquí, a green rural area known for family farming. Around 11:30 a.m., the owner of a small family farm welcomes you and explains how palms are grown for palmito, the heart of palm, while mature trees give pejibaye fruit. After tasting it fresh, you sit down for lunch at the family soda to try local preparations, depending on the day: palmito ceviche, lasagna, bread, chorreada or picadillo. Your discovery continues on an organic pineapple and sugarcane farm, where you follow the crop from planting to harvest and plant a young pineapple yourself. You then continue to Cahuita, on the Caribbean coast.

Farmer holding a fresh pineapple in a pineapple field with a farm building behind, Sarapiquí, Costa Rica
A local farmer shows a freshly picked pineapple in his field during a farm visit in the Sarapiquí region.
Day 7

Southern Caribbean: a rescue center and a conservation project

At 8:45 a.m., you leave for a private rescue center about 20 kilometers from Cahuita, toward Punta Cocles and Manzanillo, for a 9:30 a.m. visit. Set in the rainforest, it cares for injured, sick or orphaned animals and prepares them, whenever possible, to return to the wild. Depending on the day, you may see sloths, frogs, birds, butterflies, reptiles and other mammals. In the afternoon, a second visit introduces a project devoted to wildlife conservation, from breeding and reintroduction to habitat protection. A presentation is followed by a guided walk in the surrounding forest, where monkeys, sloths, birds and frogs may show themselves.

Guide speaking to three visitors beside a mesh wildlife enclosure surrounded by tropical forest on the Caribbean coast
A guide shares information with visitors next to a wildlife enclosure during day 7 of a Costa Rica 9 day tour.
Day 8

Cahuita National Park: rainforest trails and Playa Blanca

Today is devoted to Cahuita National Park, protected for both its rainforest and its coral reefs, and open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The full trail between the Puerto Vargas and Cahuita entrances covers about 11 kilometers; you can walk all of it, or enter at Cahuita and turn back whenever you like. The path winds through palms and vines, often just a few meters from the shore, with glimpses of the Caribbean Sea. Watch for monkeys, iguanas, raccoons, coatis, sloths, basilisks and tropical birds. At Playa Blanca, take time to swim, rest in the shade of the trees or bring a picnic and listen to the waves.

Curved sandy beach lined with tropical forest and gentle waves under a clear blue sky at Cahuita National Park, Costa Rica
A sandy beach framed by tropical vegetation at Cahuita National Park, a stop on day 8 of this Costa Rica 9 day tour.
Day 9

Farewell, Costa Rica: transfer to the airport

After breakfast, your private driver picks you up at your hotel's reception. Depending on your return flight, you head to Juan Santamaría International Airport in San José, about four and a half hours away, or to Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport in Liberia. Departure is timed so you reach the airport at least three hours before takeoff. If your flight schedule allows, a short visit of San José or Liberia may be possible: a museum, a park, or simply a stroll through the streets; any entrance fees are not included. Time to head home with your mind full of forests, rivers and beaches. ¡Pura vida!

Where you will stay

San José · 1 night

A city hotel in San José with a room offering two beds, a convenient place to rest after your flight before heading north the next morning.

Volcán Tenorio and Río Celeste · 1 night

Bungalows in the Volcán Tenorio area, surrounded by forest, where your night walk takes place and from where you set out early for the Río Celeste hike.

Volcán Arenal · 2 nights

Junior suites near Arenal Volcano for two nights, a comfortable base for the national park, the hanging bridges and a relaxed evening after the hot springs.

Sarapiquí · 1 night

Family-style cabins in the rural Sarapiquí region, among the tropical lowland greenery where you go looking for red-eyed tree frogs at nightfall.

Cahuita · 3 nights

Superior rooms in the Cahuita area for three nights on the Caribbean coast, an easy base for the national park, the rescue center and the southern shoreline.

What the package includes

Included

  • Private transfer from the airport to your hotel
  • Nights in the hotels listed, or similar if unavailable before final booking
  • Breakfast every day of the tour
  • Lunches mentioned in the program *
  • Dinners mentioned in the program *
  • The tour with a private driver-guide **
  • The vehicle with all relevant insurance
  • National park entrance fees listed as included in the program
  • Activities and visits listed as included in the program
  • Private transfer to the airport on departure day
  • The 13% hotel tax
  • The 13% tax on tourist activities
  • Our assistance in English throughout your stay

* Meals include a main course and one non-alcoholic drink

** Included: road costs (the driver’s meals and lodging), the guide’s entrance fees to national parks and to all activities booked in advance (with some exceptions such as horseback rides, boat trips, flights and rafting, depending on the operator), insurance, fuel, parking, ferry (vehicle fee) and tolls

Not included

  • International flights to Costa Rica
  • Drinks outside meals and alcoholic drinks
  • National park entrance fees listed as optional in the program
  • Activities and visits listed as optional in the program
  • Extensions, variations and suggestions
  • Personal expenses and tips
  • Travel or repatriation insurance
  • Any other service

Who this trip is for

This journey suits travelers who want to see a great deal of Costa Rica's nature without having to drive or plan each leg themselves. It is well suited to couples, friends and families of up to four, with room options ranging from one double to a quadruple room or two doubles. Wildlife lovers will appreciate the rescue centers, night walks and river floats, while the farm visits offer a closer look at rural life. A reasonable level of fitness is helpful: the Río Celeste hike lasts about three hours and includes 253 steps down and back up, and the Arenal walk has a short stretch over uneven lava rock. Rafting is classed II and III, but a calmer river float can replace it if you prefer.

Frequently asked questions

Who accompanies me during this Costa Rica 9 day tour?

A private driver-guide welcomes you in the arrivals hall at Juan Santamaría International Airport and drives you throughout the circuit. Vincent, the agency's founder, does not travel with you, but the agency team remains available during your stay and answers your questions in English.

How demanding is the Río Celeste hike?

The hike in Tenorio Volcano National Park takes about three hours through rainforest. To reach the waterfall viewpoint, you walk down and then back up 253 steps, so moderate fitness and good walking shoes are recommended.

What if I do not want to go rafting in Sarapiquí?

The rafting trip on the Río Sarapiquí is class II and III. If you prefer a quieter experience, it can be replaced by a float of about two and a half hours in a non-motorized raft or a motorboat, well suited to wildlife watching.

Which meals are included?

Breakfast is included every day. Lunch is included on day 2 by the Río Corobicí, on day 5 at the adventure center and on day 6 at the family heart-of-palm farm, and a buffet dinner is included at the hot springs on day 3. Included meals cover a main course and one non-alcoholic drink.

Which airport do I fly home from?

You can fly home from Juan Santamaría International Airport in San José, about four and a half hours by road from Cahuita, or from Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport in Liberia. Your private transfer is timed so you arrive at least three hours before takeoff.

From the blue pools of Río Celeste to the white sand of Playa Blanca, this Costa Rica 9 day tour lets you discover volcanoes, rivers, farms and wildlife at a steady, unhurried pace, with a driver-guide by your side and a local team behind every detail. If this route speaks to you, feel free to ask us for a quote: we will gladly adjust dates and rooms to your group and help you prepare your 9-day Costa Rica itinerary.

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