A Week in Costa Rica: San José, Arenal & Guanacaste
8 days | 10 days with Guanacaste Coast extension
Walk through lush rainforests, hike past immense volcanoes, and get to the core of la pura vida.
You could spend an entire tour focused on Costa Rica’s impeccable greenery—protected land makes up more than a quarter of the country, after all—but to really understand the Tico way, you shouldn’t lose the forest for the trees. From the colonial confines of Cartago and the modern sprawl of San Jose on the main tour, to the colorful traditions of Santa Cruz and the humble craftsmanship of Guaitil on the extension, you’ll see (and meet) vivid examples of the nation’s laid-back lifestyle.
Your tour package includes
- 7 nights in handpicked hotels
- 7 breakfasts
- 2 lunches
- 3 dinners with beer or wine
- 1 tasting
- 4 sightseeing tours
- Expert Tour Director & local guides
- Private deluxe motor coach
Included highlights
- Irazú Volcano National Park
- Plaza de la Cultura
- Coffee farm & tasting
- La Paz Waterfall
- Arenal Volcano National Park hike
- Palo Verde National Park wildlife cruise
- Guanacaste beaches
Itinerary
San José
Day 1: Arrival in San José
Welcome to Costa Rica! Touch down in San Jose and transfer to your hotel. Settle in, then meet some of your groupmates in the evening over a light dinner.
Please note: If you arrive after 9 p.m., dinner will be served in your hotel room.
Day 2: Cartago & Irazú Volcano National Park
Included meals: Breakfast, Welcome dinner
Today, journey to the 16th-century city of Cartago—the first colonial settlement established on Costa Rican soil. Upon arrival, join your Tour Director for some guided sightseeing.
- Visit the Basilica de Nuestra Señora de los Angeles, a uniquely designed Roman Catholic cathedral that combines both colonial and Byzantine elements. Built in 1639, it predates the founding of Costa Rica by almost 200 years.
- Explore the Santiago Apostol Parish Ruins—a half-completed, 150-year-old church that now anchors a public park—and end with a walk through the bustling Central Market.
- Make your way through the Central Valley, Costa Rica’s stunning heartland, to Irazu Volcano National Park. Then, set off for a leisurely trail walk around its namesake attraction. Called “El Coloso,” or “The Colossus,” by locals, Irazu towers over 11,000 feet above sea level, making it the tallest active volcano in the country.
- Stop at viewing platforms to soak in the beauty of the volcano’s massive main crater and the brilliant green lagoon at its center.
Make the drive back to San Jose and freshen up. Tonight, you’ll keep getting to know your group at a welcome dinner—a folklore-themed outing filled with traditional music, regional dance, and sweeping views of the Costa Rican capital. During the meal, enjoy your choice of beer or rum punch.
Reviews
Overall rating based on 91 traveler reviews
Showing 1-6 of 91 traveler reviews
This is my first tour outside the United States. Guillermo set the bar high for my next tour! His attention to details, people and places is excellent. His method for delivering history, natural facts and just fun facts make for a memorable time. I learned alot and did not...
I had read and heard good reviews about the EF Tours before leaving and wasn’t disappointed. Very nice accommodations. Our tour director, Guillermo was very personable and enormously knowledgeable. He was great at spotting different things in nature. He lined up his own scope to...
EF Go Ahead Tours
Thank you for traveling with us and for sharing your experience! We are so pleased that Guillermo’s knowledge and enthusiasm made your trip...
I had a wonderful time and met some great people! The tour guide, Porfirio was fantastic and so knowledgeable. The country is so beautiful and the people were so welcoming. I loved the hotel El Lugar, it was beautiful and I’m so glad we got to stay there.
The tour director Porfi was excellent, You could tell He loved His job & His country Costa Rica, 🇨🇷 very informative with his reviews of The Tour, I’m glad We got experience Costa Rica, what a beautiful Country, Our Coach Driver Christian was made for this tour, He too was...
EF Go Ahead Tours
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience! We are so happy to hear that your Costa Rica tour was such a memorable adventure....
Had a great time met a lot of new friends. I look forward to the next trip. I really enjoyed my tour director and bus driver and hope to see them again on my next trip.
Showing 1-6 of 91 traveler reviews
Hotels
We handpick every hotel to strike the balance of comfort, location, and local charm. Specific accommodations will vary based on your departure date, but these are frequently used hotels for this tour and we're confident you'll be satisfied.
Flights
Round-trip flights are one more thing we handle to make your journey as smooth as possible. Our team of travel experts will find the best flight itinerary for you at a competitive rate, thanks to our partnerships with top airlines.
FAQ
Select tour date
| Date | Extension | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | ||
Call to book | $3,729 CAD | |
Call to book | Available | $3,729 CAD |
$3,529 CAD, $200 CAD off $3,729 CAD | ||
| Available | $3,729 CAD | |
| Available | $3,549 CAD, $200 CAD off $3,749 CAD | |
Almost full | Available | $3,549 CAD, $200 CAD off $3,749 CAD |
| Available | $3,519 CAD, $200 CAD off $3,719 CAD | |
| Available | $3,209 CAD, $200 CAD off $3,409 CAD | |
| Available | $3,389 CAD | |
| Available | $3,189 CAD, $200 CAD off $3,389 CAD | |
| Available | $3,519 CAD | |
| Available | $3,519 CAD | |
| Available | $3,519 CAD, $200 CAD off $3,719 CAD | |
| 2026 | ||
| Available | $3,649 CAD, $150 CAD off $3,799 CAD | |
| Available | $3,799 CAD | |
| Available | $3,799 CAD | |
| Available | $3,649 CAD, $150 CAD off $3,799 CAD | |
| Available | $3,799 CAD | |
| Available | $3,779 CAD | |
| Available | $3,579 CAD, $200 CAD off $3,779 CAD | |
| Available | $3,779 CAD | |
| Available | $3,579 CAD, $200 CAD off $3,779 CAD | |
$3,779 CAD | ||
| Available | $3,779 CAD | |
| Available | $3,779 CAD | |
$3,629 CAD, $150 CAD off $3,779 CAD | ||
Almost full | Available | $3,629 CAD, $150 CAD off $3,779 CAD |
| Available | $3,799 CAD | |
| Available | $3,649 CAD, $150 CAD off $3,799 CAD | |
| Available | $3,759 CAD | |
| Available | $3,459 CAD | |
| Available | $3,289 CAD, $150 CAD off $3,439 CAD | |
| Available | $3,439 CAD | |
| Available | $3,569 CAD | |
| Available | $3,569 CAD | |
| Available | $3,419 CAD, $150 CAD off $3,569 CAD | |
| Available | $3,569 CAD | |
| 2027 | ||
| Available | $3,819 CAD | |
| Available | $3,819 CAD | |
| Available | $3,819 CAD | |
| Available | $3,799 CAD | |
| Available | $3,939 CAD | |
| Available | $3,799 CAD | |
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| Available | $3,799 CAD | |
| Available | $3,799 CAD | |
| Available | $3,799 CAD | |
| Available | $3,819 CAD | |
| Available | $3,779 CAD | |
| Available | $3,479 CAD | |
| Available | $3,479 CAD | |
| Available | $3,459 CAD | |
| Available | $3,459 CAD | |
| Available | $3,589 CAD | |
| Available | $3,589 CAD | |
| Available | $3,589 CAD | |