Top Central Valley How to Get Around - page 6

Get the inside scoop on a pair of Costa Rica's most famous exports on a combo tour of the Doka Estate coffee plantation. Learn how coffee beans are grown, harvested, and roasted to perfection, and then follow the sticky-sweet journey of sugar cane at a working sugar mill. Finish the flavorful visit with a tour of the estate’s inedible natural treasures, including hundreds of miniature bonsai trees, colorful orchids, and butterflies.

Experience the rainforest at night without the risk of getting lost in the dark. Meet your guide at the entrance of the Ecocentro Danaus reserve and follow trails through secondary forest. Your naturalist guide will tell you about the reserve’s biodiversity and point out animals you may miss otherwise. Learn to recognize the sounds of animals before you see them.

On the top of the volcano you can observe the main craters and on a clear day Pacific Oceans and Caribbean Sea. As we descend to the city of Cartago we will stop at the Virgin of the Angels Basilica that according to religious custom is a peregrination site for many believers. Surrounded by rainforest and lush vegetation, La Hacienda Orosi has been blessed by mother earth with nascent thermal mineral water. These rich springs of mineralthermal “telluric” waters (non-magmatic or volcanic ), are filtered between the layers of the earth and spring in the middle of the rainforest at more than 65 degrees Celsius.

Leave the hustle and bustle of the city behind and spend the day exploring Manuel Antonio National Park on a group tour. Walk jungle trails, observe wildlife like macaws and crocodiles, and relax on the beach. This guided tour helps you avoid crowded areas and includes hotel pickup and drop-off for convenience.

Explore Arenal’s famous hanging bridges on a 4-hour tour from La Fortuna, and get panoramic views of the dramatic Arenal volcano. Follow your guide along an easy, 1.9-mile (3.1-km) trail through a lushly forested reserve, and cross a series of six suspension bridges and nine fixed bridges for a bird’s-eye perspective of the forest floor. Watch for bright feathers and monkey tails as you walk through the jungle, and take in the sights and sounds of Costa Rica’s thriving wilderness.

Spend a half day touring the Arenal Volcano with a guide, learning the history of the volcano from its first eruption in 1968. You’ll have a moderate walk of about 1.5k to the viewpoint, where you’ll have views of the Green Lagoon and Lake Arenal. Along the way you’ll see the wildlife of the rainforest, including turkeys, toucans, monkeys, orioles, and snakes!

Bijagua is a unique town in a privileged location. We have access for this tour limited to a certain number of people per day so as not to affect the natural habitat of the animals. The tour is personalized to each group depending on the time you have. Each guide on this tour is trained to offer you the most accurate information about the biodiversity of Spring Paradise Bijagua. You decide what time to leave: 8:00 am, 10:00 am, 12:30 pm or 2:00 pm

Observe sloths in their natural habitat on this guided tour in La Fortuna. Naturalist guides will help you identify spots where sloths hang out and will provide scope equipment to help you take up-close photos. You’ll also get the chance to see different species of birds, snakes, spiders, and frogs such as the red-eyed tree frog and the blue-jeans frog, which looks like it’s wearing a pair of pants.

Wildlife enthusiasts love this tour of Arenal’s only frog sanctuary. Tour the wildlife sanctuary at night for chances to see rare and colorful tropical frogs in their natural habitat; a guide leads the way and helps you spot frogs and other creatures that only come out at night. Tours even include pickup and drop-off from La Fortuna so you don’t have to worry about driving at night.

Adventure-seeking travelers will love the opportunity to hike and zipline through the Costa Rican rainforest. After a safety training you’ll hike through the forest to an area with seven ziplines strung between the treetops. Enjoy zooming along these, looking out for wildlife on the way. Some of the ziplines go right past some beautiful waterfalls, for the best views.

The ultimate river trip and truly one of a kind in its nature is the Twilight Safari Deluxe. You will ride your raft at dusk, as the sun is just starting to fall and enjoy the mystical way the light disappears from the sky, leaving you in the peaceful darkness, Our bilingual and certificated river guides, trained as naturalists will do the rowing while you relax and enjoy the abundant nocturnal wildlife of the Peñas Blancas River.

If you’ve come to Costa Rica for its incredible volcanoes and biodiversity, this day trip delivers. You’ll be taken to one of the best viewpoints overlooking Volcan Arenal. Whatever the weather you can appreciate its symmetrical beauty. Next, visit the La Fortuna Waterfall, where you can cool off in the sparkling plunge pool. Lunch with local coffee is included. Hotel pickup from Fortuna town area is included.

Poás hides wonderful traditions and stunning landscapes that captivate every visitor. Start your tour with a cup of freshly brewed coffee on an authentic local estate, where you can enjoy panoramic mountain views and experience the warmth of Costa Rican hospitality. A few minutes away, discover the majestic La Paz Fall, a 35-meter waterfall that rushes through a green-covered canyon, in the middle of a cloud forest full of wildlife. Then head to the imposing Poás Volcano. Its huge crater, one of the largest in the world, reveals a turquoise acid lagoon surrounded by steam and volcanic formations. The views are surreal and the atmosphere transmits the living force of nature. Whether you love nature, culture or are looking for a peaceful getaway, Poás offers the perfect combination of adventure and serenity. Come and explore a place where tradition meets natural wonder.

Enjoy an unforgettable experience that combines nature, culture and one of the best coffees in the world. This half-day tour is ideal for time-poor travelers or those on a same-day flight, as we offer free transfer to Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) at the end of the tour. Start the morning with a delicious breakfast at the historic Hacienda Doka, a traditional coffee farm where you will know the entire coffee-making process, from plant to cup. In addition, you can taste freshly prepared coffee, coffee chocolates, coffee liquor and other house specialties. Then we will continue to Poás Volcano National Park, home to one of the largest active craters in the world. Enjoy breathtaking views of the Central Valley and discover one of Costa Rica’s most iconic volcanoes in a comfortable, complete and perfect experience to make the most of half a day’s travel.

Escape from busy San Jose for an action-packed full-day tour in the Jaco Beach region. Stop at the beach, then continue with a zipline tour and ATV tour in the rain forest nearby. You’ll also see crocodiles at the Tarcoles River, and get great views of the Pacific Ocean from the ATV and zipline course. Includes lunch, and all necessary equipment and instruction.

Ideal for travelers searching for outdoor adventures, this zipline experience includes access to hot springs and swimming pools. Your guide picks you up from your Fortuna area hotel, takes you to the Los Cañones Canopy adventure park, and helps holster you up to zipline through the jungle canopy. After soaking in hot springs, choose to visit a butterfly and amphibian conservatory or crocodile farm—perfect for families with children.

Arenal is an active volcano whose glowing red heart is best viewed from a safe distance. Perfectly positioned is Mistico Park, a series of 15 suspension bridges offering just such a view of the pyramid-shaped peak as well as the opportunity to experience the rainforest from up in the canopy. Enjoy learning all about the area's rich biodiversity during this half-day tour from a professional naturalist guide leading the way.

Experience Costa Rica’s famous rainforest during the magic hour of twilight on this sunset hanging bridges walk near Arenal Volcano. See the changing colors of the sky wash across the volcanic landscape, and then get a new perspective on the Mystic Reserve while crossing six suspended walkways. A nature guide helps spot wildlife that can be tricky to see on your own, including many species that only emerge at dusk.

If you’re wanting to see some of Costa Rica’s most beautiful sights, but trying to avoid major crowds, this Lake Arenal Sunset Cruise is a great choice. You’ll cruise out on Lake Arenal with views of the Arenal Volcano and local flora, fauna, and wildlife. Plus, you can relax as you ride while sipping on Costa Rican moonshine and sampling tasty snacks, with convenient hotel pickup included.

Turn exploring San Jose into an ultra-rich cultural experience with this guided “bites and sights” tour. You’ll start at the city’s best markets—Central and Borbon markets—tasting empanadas, fresh fruits, coffees, and more, plus learning all about local goods and handicrafts. You’ll also get a guided exploration of the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum, diving even deeper into the city’s gilded history.

You don’t need to venture deep into the rain forest to see Costa Rica’s spectacular wildlife on this guided nature walk in a La Fortuna nature center. On this tour, a guide accompanies you on an easy, kid-friendly walk through the forest, pointing out wildlife like sloths, birds, and tree frogs along the way.

See one of the natural treasures of Alajuela Province with a visit to La Fortuna Waterfall. Travel by car from your La Fortuna hotel to the spectacular cascade, where you can observe from a viewpoint or hike down a trail for a closer look and swim in the river. A guide accompanies you to point out surrounding highlights and ensure a seamless experience.

Costa Rica is famous for its coffee, natural wonders, and diverse wildlife, and this full-day tour from San Jose combines all three. Learn how Costa Rican coffee is made on a guided tour of the Doka Coffee Plantation, enjoy magnificent views of the Poas Volcano crater on a scenic walk, and spot wildlife around the La Paz Waterfall, including a visit to the country’s largest butterfly observatory.

Enjoy a 1.5 hour tour through Arenal Volcano National Park, La Fortuna de San Carlos, and learn all about sloths. These little animals are threatened and may soon be extinct, due to destruction of their habitats. Your guides are passionate about the sloths and eager to teach you all about why they should be protected.