Prices per person, in US dollars, including accommodation, breakfasts and the services listed in the program. The package details are listed below.
The Red-Eyed Tree Frog tour is a Costa Rica 3 week itinerary designed for travelers who want to see the country in depth, at their own pace, behind the wheel of their own rental car. Over 22 days and 21 nights, you cross the country from the Caribbean coast to the southern Pacific, then climb into the cloud forest before heading home.
The route is built around nature and the people who protect it. You visit wildlife rescue centers and conservation projects near Cahuita and Cañas, walk through organic coffee, heart of palm and pineapple farms, and look for the small red-eyed tree frog on a guided evening walk in Sarapiquí. Along the way come rafting or a gentle float on the Río Sarapiquí, a boat trip to the Nicaraguan border, the lava flows and hanging bridges of Arenal, the turquoise water of Río Celeste and the river crocodiles of the Río Corobicí.
The second half of this three-week Costa Rica itinerary turns to the ocean: dolphins off Playa Sámara, a night kayak through bioluminescent water, a day among the islands of the Gulf of Nicoya, Manuel Antonio, then three nights in Bahía Drake to explore Corcovado National Park and Caño Island. The trip ends in San Gerardo de Dota, where a naturalist guide takes you in search of the resplendent quetzal.
Our team, based in San Francisco de Heredia since 2014, prepares every reservation, chooses each stop for its setting and remains reachable throughout your stay, in English, to answer your questions on the road.
Your itinerary
San José · 1 night
Cahuita · 4 nights
Sarapiquí · 1 night
Boca Tapada · 2 nights
Volcán Arenal · 2 nights
Volcán Tenorio and Río Celeste · 1 night
Playa Sámara · 2 nights
Paquera · 2 nights
Manuel Antonio · 2 nights
Bahía Drake · 3 nights
San Gerardo de Dota · 1 night
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1
Arrival in Costa Rica and a first drive to San José
Welcome to Costa Rica. As you step into the arrivals hall at Juan Santamaría International Airport, in the province of Alajuela, an agency representative is waiting for you with a sign bearing your name. A welcome message from Vincent, who founded the agency and has made Costa Rica his adopted home for more than 40 years, sets the tone: from now on, you can leave your watch, your phone and everyday stress behind, because the details are taken care of. A private transfer takes you to the rental agency, where you pick up your car. You then set off calmly toward San José, a short first drive to settle into the warm air and the easygoing rhythm of the country. Your vacation has begun.
First night in San José after landing at SJO, the starting point of a Costa Rica 3 week itinerary.
Day 2
Turrialba: organic coffee from cherry to cup
After breakfast, you leave around 9:00 a.m. for the green Turrialba region, watching the scenery shift between mountains, plantations and tropical valleys. Around 11:30 a.m., you reach a farm devoted to organic coffee, where production follows international standards that care for both bean quality and the environment. You visit the beneficio, the mill where freshly harvested beans are processed, and follow each step that turns a coffee cherry into beans ready for roasting. The visit ends, fittingly, with a cup of Costa Rican coffee and a chance to appreciate the aromas of a local harvest. You then continue toward the Caribbean coast and Cahuita, your base for the next four nights.
Coffee cherries spread out to dry inside a covered tunnel, a stop to include in a Costa Rica 3 week itinerary.
Day 3
Cahuita: wildlife rescue and conservation in the rainforest
After breakfast, you leave around 8:45 a.m. for a private wildlife rescue center about 20 kilometers from Cahuita, with your visit scheduled at 9:30 a.m. Deep in the rainforest, its team cares for injured, sick or orphaned wild animals and, whenever possible, prepares them for a return to the wild. You learn about their daily work and may see mammals, reptiles, butterflies and birds, including sloths and frogs. In the afternoon, you continue with a visit to a wildlife conservation project set in protected natural surroundings. After a presentation of its breeding, reintroduction and habitat programs, your guide leads you on a walk through the forest, where birds, monkeys, sloths, frogs and reptiles may appear, depending on the conditions and a little luck.
A guide shares information with visitors next to a mesh enclosure surrounded by tropical vegetation, a stop on a Costa Rica 3 week itinerary.
Day 4
Cahuita National Park: forest trails and Caribbean beaches
Today belongs to Cahuita National Park, protected for both its forest and its coral reefs. The park is open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and the full trail between the Puerto Vargas and Cahuita entrances covers about 11 kilometers. You can walk it all, or enter from Cahuita, go as far as you like and return the same way. The path winds through dense vegetation, sometimes a few steps from the shore, with glimpses of turquoise sea between palms and vines. Keep your eyes open for monkeys, iguanas, raccoons, coatis, sloths, basilisks and tropical birds. At Playa Blanca, pale sand meets clear water: time to swim, rest in the shade or enjoy a picnic. The park entrance is optional and paid on site.
Day 4 of this Costa Rica 3 week itinerary brings you to the forest-lined beach of Cahuita National Park on the Caribbean coast.
Day 5
Kayaking a Caribbean river at the pace of the forest
At 9:00 a.m., you meet your local guide for a day devoted to nature and genuine encounters. It begins at an organic farm, where you discover tropical crops and the local farming practices of people who work in step with their environment. Then you settle into your kayak for a peaceful descent of a river lined with lush green banks. The river acts as a natural corridor: howler monkeys, toucans, iguanas and many birds may show themselves, while your guide helps you spot the shyer animals and shares his knowledge of the region and its plants. Lunch is included. In the late afternoon, you return to your hotel for some free time by the pool and a quiet evening on the Caribbean coast.
A yellow kayak glides along a quiet river framed by tropical vegetation, a calm outing on a Costa Rica 3 week itinerary.
Day 6
Sarapiquí: farm flavors and the red-eyed tree frog
You leave around 8:30 a.m. for Horquetas de Sarapiquí, a rural area known for family farming. Around 11:30 a.m., the owner of a small family farm introduces you to heart of palm, or palmito, and the pejibaye fruit that mature palms produce. After tasting fresh palmito, you sit down at the family soda to sample traditional dishes such as palmito ceviche, lasagna, bread, chorreada or picadillo, depending on what is prepared that day; lunch is included. Next comes an organic pineapple and sugarcane farm, where you follow the life of the fruit and plant a young pineapple yourself. From 6:00 p.m., a guided walk takes you in search of the red-eyed tree frog, which comes alive as night falls.
A local farmer carries a bundle of freshly cut sugarcane through her garden in Sarapiquí.
Day 7
Rafting the Río Sarapiquí, then on to Boca Tapada
After breakfast, you drive to an adventure center, arriving no later than 9:15 a.m. A professional guide gives you the safety briefing before a half-day rafting trip on the Río Sarapiquí, with Class II and III rapids alternating with calm stretches where you can admire the riverbanks. If you prefer something gentler, you can replace the rafting with a safari float of about two and a half hours, in an inflatable raft or a motorboat, ideal for spotting birds, monkeys and reptiles. A typical Costa Rican lunch follows at the center. You then discover the world of leafcutter ants and their complex organization, before driving on toward Boca Tapada, a wild, remote corner of the northern lowlands.
Rafters paddle through foaming rapids on a Sarapiquí river, a lively day of a Costa Rica 3 week itinerary.
Day 8
Boca Tapada: by boat to the Río San Juan
After breakfast, you board a boat right from your hotel and follow the Río San Carlos to the point where it meets the Río San Juan, which marks the border between Costa Rica and Nicaragua. The river slips through dense rainforest in deep quiet. Herons, ibises, egrets and kingfishers line the banks, and with luck you may also see caimans, iguanas, turtles and frogs, while your guide explains how water, forest and wildlife depend on one another. Later, a local guide leads you on foot into the forest reserve, reading its layers from the floor to the canopy. Howler monkeys, spider monkeys and capuchins live here, along with birds, insects and reptiles that reveal themselves to patient eyes.
A covered blue boat waits on the riverbank, ready for a river outing near Boca Tapada.
Day 9
Arenal Volcano: a jungle waterfall and hot springs
You drive through the green countryside of San Carlos toward La Fortuna as the near-perfect cone of Arenal, about 1,600 meters high, rises on the horizon. Its sudden eruption on July 29, 1968, opened a long period of activity; today it is calm and closely monitored. On arrival, you visit a waterfall more than 70 meters high that plunges into a natural pool surrounded by forest. About 530 steps lead down, a 15 to 20 minute descent, and at the bottom you can swim when conditions allow, take photos and watch for butterflies, birds and perhaps monkeys. The afternoon is spent at hot springs fed by the volcano's geothermal heat, followed by a buffet dinner at 7:00 p.m.
Hikers head down a stone staircase through lush rainforest toward a waterfall near Arenal Volcano.
Day 10
Arenal lava flows and hanging bridges
Around 8:30 a.m., you set off on a walk of about one and a half to two hours in Arenal Volcano National Park. The trail is mostly flat and easy, apart from a rougher stretch of 200 to 300 meters over old lava rocks, which rewards you with a view of the volcano and its lava fields when the weather is clear. You see the 1992 lava flows, a ceiba tree over 400 years old and the forest slowly reclaiming the land. The park entrance is optional and paid on site. In the afternoon, a walk of about two hours covers nearly 3 kilometers of trails with 8 fixed and 6 hanging bridges, some 48 to 98 meters long, opening a rare view of the canopy.
The entrance sign of Arenal Volcano National Park, with the volcano's cone rising behind it.
Day 11
Río Celeste: the turquoise river of Tenorio
You leave around 7:30 a.m. for Tenorio Volcano National Park, in the Guanacaste volcanic range, and arrive between 10:00 and 10:30 a.m.; the entrance is included. A hike of about three hours leads through lush forest of ferns, vines and tall trees, home to many birds and amphibians. To reach the waterfall viewpoint, you walk down and back up 253 steps, and the reward is a fall pouring into a pool of startling blue. The color comes from minerals in the water that change the way light is scattered, a phenomenon you can see at El Teñidero, where the river turns turquoise. After dark, a guided night walk reveals frogs, insects, reptiles and spiders by flashlight.
Day 11 of a Costa Rica 3 week itinerary: the Río Celeste waterfall and its turquoise pool in Tenorio Volcano National Park.
Day 12
Cañas and the Río Corobicí, on the way to Playa Sámara
Around 7:30 a.m., you drive across the open plains and pastures of northwestern Costa Rica to Cañas. There you visit a rescue center first created through the work of Lilly and Werner Hagnauer, which cares for wild animals that can no longer return to the wild. You may see pumas, jaguars, ocelots and several monkey species; since 2003, a foundation has supported the center through visits, donations and sponsors. At 11:30 a.m., you board a boat for a quiet ride of about one and a half hours on the Río Corobicí, through Guanacaste's tropical dry forest, watching for American crocodiles and waterbirds. Lunch is included. You then drive on to Playa Sámara on the Pacific coast.
A puma gazes intently, a wildlife encounter near Cañas on day 12 of a Costa Rica 3 week itinerary.
Day 13
Playa Sámara: dolphins on the Pacific
Around 8:00 a.m., you are picked up at your hotel's front desk for a shared boat trip off Playa Sámara. You head out over Pacific waters in search of dolphins and, depending on the season, the weather and the animals' presence, humpback whales, with views of the Guanacaste coastline. Wildlife is approached with respect for the animals and their habitat. You return around noon, and the afternoon is yours: stroll the shore, swim or simply relax on the beach. As an option, you can join an evening outing around 6:30 p.m. to the Camaronal refuge to watch sea turtles nesting, mainly from July to January, sometimes into early February. It is booked with the same company as the boat trip.
Two dolphins break the surface of the Pacific during a boat outing from Playa Sámara.
Day 14
Paquera: kayaking through bioluminescent water
Today you reach Paquera, near the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula, where you spend two nights. As night falls, you climb into a kayak and paddle away from the lights of the shore across calm coastal water. With every stroke, the water lights up with thousands of tiny sparks, leaving delicate trails of light around your boat. This bioluminescence is produced by minute marine organisms, and it turns the surface of the sea into an upside-down starry sky. In the stillness of the night, with the sounds of the tropical shore around you and, often, a sky full of stars above, this gentle and low-impact outing shows a quieter side of Costa Rica, far from the busy routes.
Paddling a tandem kayak through glowing bioluminescent water at dusk, a highlight of day 14 on a Costa Rica 3 week itinerary.
Day 15
Isla Tortuga and the islands of the Gulf of Nicoya
A full day at sea takes you through the islands of the Gulf of Nicoya. The first stop is Isla de los Monos, where spider monkeys move through the trees. The boat then passes the rock formations of Roca Corazón and Roca Arcoíris before reaching clear water for a snorkeling session, with equipment provided and your guide alongside you. Next comes Isla Tortuga, known for its pale sand beaches fringed with tropical greenery, where you can swim, rest or simply enjoy the island atmosphere. Lunch, fresh fruit and drinks are included, making this a relaxed day of sea, wildlife and island scenery off the Nicoya Peninsula before you return to Paquera for the night.
Snorkelers explore the clear turquoise water around a rocky islet, a day-15 excursion from Paquera on a Costa Rica 3 week itinerary.
Day 16
Ferry across the Gulf of Nicoya to Manuel Antonio
You drive your car onto the ferry from Paquera to Puntarenas, on the central Pacific coast. Plan to be at the Paquera terminal at least 45 minutes before departure to secure your vehicle's place; schedules can change with operating conditions. Once aboard, you can leave the car and step out on deck for a crossing of about one hour and ten minutes. The peninsula fades behind you as islets, green coastlines and, on clear days, the Pacific mountains come into view. Seabirds are common, and with luck you may spot dolphins. The crossing also saves a long detour by road. In Puntarenas, you drive off the ferry and continue south to Manuel Antonio, where you stay for two nights.
A wood-paneled room with two beds and tropical garden views, a stop on day 16 of this Costa Rica 3 week itinerary.
Day 17
Manuel Antonio National Park at your own pace
After breakfast, you head into Manuel Antonio National Park, with the entrance included. The park is known for its wildlife, its lush forest and its beaches washed by the Pacific. You explore at your own pace along trails that wind through the rainforest, stopping wherever something moves. With patience and attentive eyes, you may see capuchin monkeys, sloths, iguanas and many tropical birds. Several trails open onto ocean viewpoints and lead down to beaches where you can swim when conditions allow. In the late afternoon, you return to your lodging to enjoy the pool and the calm surroundings, or stay a little longer on the sand, listening to the waves of the Pacific.
The entrance sign of Manuel Antonio National Park, a stop on day 17 of this Costa Rica 3 week itinerary.
Day 18
Through the Sierpe mangroves to Bahía Drake
After breakfast, you drive south along the coastal road to Sierpe, aiming to arrive by 11:00 a.m. to park and reach the dock calmly. Secured parking lots near the landing let you leave your car for your stay in Bahía Drake, for a daily fee. Around 11:30 a.m., a fast boat carries you through the vast Sierpe mangroves, where fresh and salt water meet, then out along the wild coast of the Osa Peninsula. The trip takes about one and a half hours. In Bahía Drake, the boat lands directly on the beach and you may have to step into the water, so wear shoes that are easy to remove, clothes that can get wet, and keep luggage and electronics protected.
A spacious bedroom opening onto a balcony surrounded by tropical vegetation, a restful stop on a Costa Rica 3 week itinerary.
Day 19
Corcovado National Park: into the primary forest
From Bahía Drake, a boat follows the coast of the Osa Peninsula to Corcovado National Park, one of the last large areas of primary rainforest in Costa Rica. You visit either the San Pedrillo or La Sirena sector, depending on availability and park access rules at the time. San Pedrillo, closer to Bahía Drake, offers fine walks in primary forest, while La Sirena, deeper in the park, is known for the variety of its wildlife. With a naturalist guide who speaks English or Spanish only, you walk among monkey calls, rustling leaves and the scents of the forest, looking for howler, capuchin and spider monkeys, birds and reptiles. Lunch is included before the boat ride back along the southern Pacific coast.
The wooden welcome sign of Corcovado National Park, decorated with a tapir silhouette, with the Costa Rican flag flying beside it.
Day 20
Caño Island: whales, reefs and snorkeling
At around 7:00 a.m., you set off for the Caño Island Biological Reserve with a boat crew and specialized guide, on a crossing of about one and a half hours. Depending on the season, you may see humpback whales or Bryde's whales, as well as spotted and spinner dolphins and flying fish, though sightings can never be guaranteed. At the island, an official park guide, who speaks Spanish or English only, accompanies you. Mask and snorkel are provided to explore waters where tropical fish, coral and rays live. You land on the island's only accessible beach to rest, and scarlet macaws sometimes cross the sky. Tip: stop by the dive center the day before to try on your mask and fins.
Snorkeling in clear blue water above the reef, a day 20 excursion near Drake Bay.
Day 21
From the Osa Peninsula to the cloud forest of San Gerardo de Dota
After breakfast, you leave Bahía Drake by boat at 7:15 a.m., following the wild Osa coastline before entering the Sierpe mangrove channels, a refuge for many birds and small animals. Since boarding takes place from the beach, wear light, quick-drying clothes and protect your bags and electronics. You reach Sierpe around 8:45 a.m., collect your car from the secured parking lot and drive up into the mountains to San Gerardo de Dota. There, a walk along your lodging's nature trails introduces you to the cloud forest: mosses, ferns and trees draped in epiphytes. Your guide helps you spot hummingbirds, trogons and other forest birds, perhaps even a quetzal, in cool mountain air and drifting mist.
Travelers take in the view of forested slopes from an elevated lookout platform.
Day 22
In search of the quetzal, then homeward
In the early morning, a naturalist guide who knows the cloud forest well takes you in search of the resplendent quetzal, with its bright green plumage, red breast and, for the male, long tail feathers. With patience and some luck, you may find one perched near the aguacatillo trees whose small fruits it feeds on. The pleasure lies as much in the search as in the fleeting encounter. After breakfast, you drive to the rental agency near your departure airport, San José or Liberia; once the car is returned, the agency takes you to the terminal, with departure timed so you arrive at least three hours before your flight. If time allows, you can explore the city; any entrance fees are extra. Pura vida!
A male resplendent quetzal perches on a moss-covered branch in the cloud forest of San Gerardo de Dota.
Where you will stay
San José · 1 night
A comfortable hotel room with two beds in San José, convenient for a restful first night after your arrival and the pickup of your rental car. Breakfast is included.
Cahuita · 4 nights
A superior room in a hotel with a pool on the Caribbean coast near Cahuita, an easy base for the rescue center, the national park and the river kayak day. Breakfast is included each morning.
Sarapiquí · 1 night
A family-style cabin in the green countryside of Sarapiquí, close to the farms you visit during the day and the forest where you look for the red-eyed tree frog. Breakfast is included.
Boca Tapada · 2 nights
A bungalow in a remote lodge set among rivers and rainforest in Boca Tapada, with boat excursions leaving right from the property. Breakfast is included.
Volcán Arenal · 2 nights
A junior suite in a hotel in the Arenal Volcano area, near La Fortuna, well placed for the waterfall, the hot springs, the lava flows and the hanging bridges. Breakfast is included.
Volcán Tenorio and Río Celeste · 1 night
A bungalow surrounded by forest near Tenorio Volcano National Park and the Río Celeste, where the guided night walk takes place. Breakfast is included.
Playa Sámara · 2 nights
A double bungalow near the beach in Playa Sámara, on the Pacific coast of Guanacaste, with easy access to the shore for your free afternoon. Breakfast is included.
Paquera · 2 nights
A deluxe room on the southern Nicoya Peninsula near Paquera, close to the calm waters of the Gulf of Nicoya and the ferry terminal. Breakfast is included.
Manuel Antonio · 2 nights
A spacious efficiency unit for up to four guests in the Manuel Antonio area, with a pool and a peaceful setting near the national park. Breakfast is included on your two mornings.
Bahía Drake · 3 nights
A room in a hotel in the small, isolated village of Bahía Drake, between rainforest and Pacific Ocean, the starting point for Corcovado and Caño Island. Breakfast is included.
San Gerardo de Dota · 1 night
A classic bungalow in the cloud forest of San Gerardo de Dota, with its own nature trails where you can walk among mosses, ferns and mountain birds. Breakfast is included.
What the package includes
Included
Private transfer from the airport to the rental agency
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 *
Mandatory PLI / LWD insurance
Car rental with the mandatory 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
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
Not included: road costs, fuel, parking, ferries and tolls
Any other service
Optional activities
Cahuita National Park entrance fee: USD 6, payable on site
Arenal Volcano National Park entrance fee: USD 17, payable on site
Night sea turtle watching tour: USD 45, payable on site
Who this trip is for
This three-week Costa Rica itinerary suits travelers who enjoy driving and like to set their own pace, as couples, families or small groups of three or four sharing one or two rooms. It is designed for nature lovers curious about wildlife and conservation, who are happy to rise early for a quetzal, walk in the dark for a frog and spend long hours on rivers and at sea. A moderate level of fitness is helpful: some days include stairs of several hundred steps, a three-hour hike at Río Celeste, rafting or kayaking, and beach landings in Bahía Drake. Gentler alternatives exist, such as the safari float on the Río Sarapiquí or a shorter walk in Cahuita National Park.
Frequently asked questions
How does this Costa Rica 3 week itinerary work in practice?
It is a self-drive tour. A private transfer takes you from the airport to the rental agency, where you pick up your car with its mandatory insurance. You drive between stops on your own, take the ferry from Paquera to Puntarenas with your vehicle and leave the car in secured parking in Sierpe during your three nights in Bahía Drake. On the last day, you return the car near your departure airport and the rental agency takes you to the terminal.
Which meals are included?
Breakfast is included throughout the trip. The tour also includes the lunches listed in the program (river kayak day, palmito farm, rafting day, Río Corobicí, Isla Tortuga and Corcovado) and the buffet dinner at the Arenal hot springs. Included meals consist of a main course and one non-alcoholic drink.
What is not included in the tour?
International flights, fuel, tolls, parking and ferry fees, optional collision damage waiver (strongly recommended), travel insurance, drinks outside meals, tips and personal expenses are not included. The entrances to Cahuita National Park and Arenal Volcano National Park, as well as the evening sea turtle outing at Camaronal, are optional and paid or booked separately.
Are the guided activities in English?
In Corcovado National Park and on Caño Island, guides speak English or Spanish only. For other activities, the language of the guide can vary depending on the provider. Our agency team answers your questions in English before and during your trip.
How should I prepare for the boat landings in Bahía Drake?
The boat lands directly on the beach, so depending on the sea and the tide you may need to step into shallow water. Wear shoes that are easy to remove, shorts or pants that can get wet, and keep luggage and electronics protected from splashes.
From the slow rhythm of the Caribbean to the cool mist of San Gerardo de Dota, this Costa Rica 3 week itinerary lets you see the country one landscape at a time, with room to watch, listen and drive at your own pace. Every stop, activity and transfer is arranged by our team in Costa Rica, and the program can be adjusted to your travel dates and interests. If this route speaks to you, simply send us your request and we will prepare a detailed quote for your trip.
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