Itinerary Summary

Day	Place	Highlights	Hotel Options
1 - 2	San José and Central Valley	Spanish Colonial History, Museums and Contemporary Art, Saturday Markets, Vibrant Nightlife	Xandari Resort & Spa, Finca Rosa Blanca
2 - 5	Arenal	Arenal Volcano National Park, Volcanic Peaks, Caves and Hot Springs, Hiking, Sky Trekking, Canopy Walks and Kayaking	Arenal Kioro, Tabacon Grand Spa Thermal Resort
5 - 8	Manuel Antonio	Manuel Antonio National Park, White Sandy Beaches, Wildlife	Plaza Yara, Parador Resort & Spa
8 - 11	Antigua	Colonial Heritage and Ancient Ruins, Volcanoes and Coffee Plantations, Mayan Communities	Pensativo House Hotel, Palacio de Doña Leonor
11 - 14	Flores	Ancient Mayan History, Lake Peten Itza, Colonial Heritage	Isla de Flores, Villa Maya
14 - 14	Guatemala City	Spanish Colonial Architecture, Buzzing Creative Scene, Shopping and Nightlife

Itinerary Details

Day 1 - 2

International Arrival

Transfer to your Hotel

San José and Central Valley

1 Night

Cushioned in the valley between the Central American mountain ranges and volcanic peaks, the Costa Rican capital is surrounded by lush green landscapes.

Destination San José and Central Valley in Costa Rica

Hotel Options

Xandari Resort & Spa – Opt 1

Room	Prima Villa
Meals	Breakfast
Style	Resort

Finca Rosa Blanca – Opt 2

Room	Junior Suite
Meals	Breakfast
Style	Boutique

Day 2 - 5

Drive from San José to Arenal (130 km, 3 hrs)

The beautiful region of Arenal serves as the perfect base for exploring Costa Rica’s highland country of volcanic peaks, ancient caves, hot water springs and national parks. The drive up towards the Arenal Volcano National Park is spectacular.

Included Activities

Rainforest Canopy Hike At Arenal
Experience a fascinating tour of the rainforest with a walk over the treetops along Arenal’s famed hanging bridges. After an early breakfast in your hotel, take a comfortable half hour ride to the hanging bridges in the company of your local guide. Enjoy a leisurely hike along the two mile-long trail of bridges that crisscross the dense forests spread out below. If you’re lucky, you could spot howler monkeys, spider monkeys, capuchin monkeys, flocks of colorful birds, butterflies, armadillos, and a host of other wildlife on your jungle canopy walk! (Half Day Trip; Time of Day: Morning; Duration: 2 hrs; Private Activity & Transfer; Fitness Level: Easy; Please bring comfortable boots, insect repellent and sunscreen; Note: A bilingual guide will accompany you).

Volcano Hike At Arenal
Ever been fascinated by the sight of molten lava forming its way out of the earth’s bubbling core? This may be an opportunity of a lifetime to watch an active volcano from a perfectly safe vantage point. After breakfast at your hotel, drive over to the north-western end of the Arenal volcano, which is less than a half hour drive away. Get off ahead of the Las Coladas Trail and enjoy a leisurely hike through tropical rainforests and an old lava flow formed nearly three decades ago. Note the interesting lava formations along this easy trail. Watch out for the region’s local plant and wildlife too. If you’re lucky, you may come across a variety of primates, sloth bears, and birds, including toucans and hawks on your hike. The walking trail ends at an observation area that offers spectacular views of the volcano. Weather permitting, one can spot the fiery lava trickling along the mountain side! (Half Day; Time of Day: Morning; Duration: 3 hrs; Private Activity & Transfer; Fitness Level: Easy; Please bring comfortable boots, insect repellent and sunscreen; Note: A bilingual guide will accompany you).

Hotel Options

Arenal Kioro – Opt 1

Room	Suite
Meals	Breakfast
Style	Resort

Tabacon Grand Spa Thermal Resort – Opt 2

Room	Orchid Room
Meals	Breakfast
Style	Resort

Day 5 - 8

Drive from Arenal to Manuel Antonio with a Guide (230 km, 5.5 hrs)

Manuel Antonio

3 Nights

The little seaside village of Manuel Antonio serves as the entry to the lush tropical rainforests of the Manuel Antonio National Park.

Destination Manuel Antonio in Costa Rica

Included Activities

Walking Safari At The Manuel Antonio National Park
Discover the natural history of the lush rainforests at the Manuel Antonio National Park on this trip. After breakfast at your hotel, take a half hour drive to the national park with your local guide. Take a leisurely hike through one of the most popular walking trails at the park. Absorb interesting information about the rainforest that your guide shares as you walk along. Take in your gorgeous surroundings, stopping to take advantage of numerous photo ops along the way. Watch out for the various tropical primates endemic to the park. About halfway into your trip, take a half hour break by the Third Beach. Refresh yourself with snacks by the seaside, take a dip in the sea, or just admire the seascape before getting back to the trail. Look out for exotic birds and butterflies, various orchids and tropical plants, as well as sloth bears. At the end of your walking safari, stop by a local restaurant for a delicious Costa Rican meal. Drive back to your hotel after lunch. (Half Day; Time of Day: Morning; Duration: 3.5 hrs; Private Activity & Transfer; Meals included: Snacks & Lunch; Fitness Level: Moderate; Please bring comfortable hiking shoes, sunscreen & sunglasses; don’t forget your camera; Note: Park closed on Mondays; Telescopes, water & a bilingual guide are available for you).

Kayaking And Snorkeling By Biesanz Bay
Enjoy a snorkeling and kayaking trip along the beautiful coastline of Biesanz Bay. Take a half hour drive down to Quepos pier with your local guide. Set off in your kayaks for the lovely inlet of Biesanz Bay, drifting past tiny islands and flocks of water birds roosting by the waterside. Make a half hour pit stop at Biesanz Bay, stretching your legs and catching refreshments. Go snorkeling and explore the rich marine life by the bay. If you’re lucky, you’ll spot parrotfish, starfish, angelfish, and even elusive sea turtles! Paddle back to Quepos pier, watching out for flocks of pelicans, flying fish, and other exotic sea creatures on your way. Leaving your kayak behind, relish a delicious homemade lunch over conversations with your local hosts. (Half Day; Time of Day: Afternoon; Duration: 4 hrs; Private Activity & Transfer; Meals included: Beverages & Lunch or Dinner; Fitness Level: Hard; Please bring sunscreen, sunglasses, sun hat & beach towel; don’t forget your camera; Note: a bilingual guide will be provided for you).

Hotel Options

Plaza Yara – Opt 1

Room	Suite
Meals	Breakfast
Style	Boutique

Parador Resort & Spa – Opt 2

Room	Premium Room
Meals	Breakfast
Style	Resort

Day 8 - 11

Transfer to the Airport

Flight from San José to Guatemala City

Drive from Guatemala City to Antigua with a Guide (48 km, 1 - 1.5 hrs)

Antigua

3 Nights

Antigua is the perfect city to travel back in time while staying grounded in the present! Sounds contradictory? That’s Antigua for you!

Included Activities

La Azotea Coffee Farm And Antigua City Tour
Enjoy a day at a local coffee plantation, followed by a tour of the city of Antigua replete with rich cultural heritage. Right after an early breakfast at your hotel, set off for the La Azotea Coffee Farm on the city’s outskirts. A guided tour of the plantation will put you up to speed with the journey of your favorite steaming beverage from the humble bean to a fragrant cup. Don’t pass up on the chance to browse through the plantation’s coffee museum, as well as the fascinating museum of Mayan music. Walk through the halls displaying that great civilization’s cultural and artistic tenets with its pan flutes, costumes, naïf paintings and various ancient as well as living artefacts. In case you’re enamored of Mayan culture, there’s also a textiles and customs museum at the estate. To get to know the local living culture better, you could take a tour of the villages around Antigua Guatemala, exploring the ruins, admiring the spectacular landscape, and interacting with the villagers. Now for a short tour of Guatemala’s colonial history, visit San Juan El Obispo, which was founded by the first Archbishop of Guatemala, followed by San Pedro Las Huertas. Stop by Guatemala’s former second capital, Ciudad Vieja, which was buried by a mudslide in the 16th century. Come back to the present, with a visit to an experimental Organic Macadamia Farm and the women’s cooperative, Santiago Zamora. The trip to Santiago Zamora comes with various activities and demonstrations of the organisation’s work, such as textile weaving, coffee brewing and dancing to the local music. End your day with a scrumptious local luncheon spread prepared lovingly by the women of Santiago Zamora. (Full Day; Time of Day: Morning; Duration: 6.5 hrs, 0830-1500 hrs; Private Activity & Transfer; Meals included: Lunch; Fitness Level: Easy).

Birding At Cloud Forests Near Antigua
Enjoy a perfect day among the spectacular forested landscapes near Antigua, in the company of rainbow-hued birds and butterflies. Leave your hotel early in the morning for a less than half hour ride to San Cristóbal el Alto. Discover panoramic views of Antigua and its surrounding countryside from your vantage point, perfect for taking photographs. Relish a hearty breakfast at a local restaurant, overlooking the volcanic hills beyond, before heading off to Finca El Pilar. Barely ten minutes away from Antigua’s city center, this beautiful forested location is perfect for spotting butterflies and birds. Follow the bird watching trails on this day trip, among a myriad others that head off to other mountain forests, cloud forests, and coffee plantations. Hike through the coffee, pine and oak trees to reach the hummingbird feeder zone, where you get to spot a variety of these beautiful species as they come to feed. (Half Day Trip; Time of Day: Morning; Duration: 5 hrs, 0700-1200 hrs; Private Activity & Transfer; Meals included: Breakfast; Fitness Level: Moderate; Please bring comfortable hiking shoes and don’t forget your camera).

Hotel Options

Pensativo House Hotel – Opt 1

Room	Suite
Meals	Breakfast
Style	Boutique

Palacio de Doña Leonor – Opt 2

Room	Standard Room
Meals	Breakfast
Style	Boutique

Day 11 - 14

Drive from Antigua to Guatemala City (48 km, 1 - 1.5 hrs)

Flight from Guatemala to Flores

Transfer to your Hotel with a Guide

Flores

3 Nights

Flores is one of the oldest inhabited towns in the Americas. The original island town of Nojpetén was built in the 13th century by the Mayan Itza on Lake Peten Itza (or Lago de Petén Itzá).

Included Activities

Exploring Mayan Mysteries At Tikal
Explore the UNESCO World Heritage site of Tikal on this day trip to the national park. After an early breakfast in your hotel, drive off to the fascinating Tikal National Park. Take in your fantastic surroundings of tropical rainforests dense with wildlife and exotic birds, broken by the towering pinnacles of Mayan temples, pyramids and ancient ruins! Enjoy a private guided tour of this spectacular heritage and be prepared to spot a variety of primates and rainbow colored birds. After a long day of sightseeing, relish a delicious lunch at the local eatery, Restaurante El Mesón. Head back to your hotel after lunch. (Full Day; Time of Day: Morning; Duration: 7 hrs, 07:00-14:00; Private Activity & Transfer; Meals included: Lunch without drinks; Fitness Level: Moderate; Please bring comfortable walking shoes and don’t forget your camera or binoculars; trip may start from 05.30 hrs).

Boat Trip To Topoxte And Picnic Lunch At Yaxha
Head out early from Flores for Yaxha National Park with your guide. Take a private boat ride to the small island of Topoxte which is thought to be the last habitation of the Mayan civilization in the country. Return to Yaxha and explore this important archaeological site that was once a bustling city. You’ll also have the opportunity to see colorful tropical birds, native spider species, and howler monkeys at this site, which is situated in an ecologically sensitive area. Savor your lunch box in a quiet spot and later, return to your hotel. (Full Day; Time of Day: Morning; Duration: 8 hrs; Private Activity & Transfers; Lunch box included; Fitness Level: Easy).

Hotel Options

Isla de Flores – Opt 1

Room	Premium Room
Meals	Breakfast
Style	Guest house

Villa Maya – Opt 2

Room	Standard Room
Meals	Breakfast
Style	Lodge

Day 14 - 14

Transfer to the Airport

Flight from Flores to Guatemala City

Guatemala City

0 Nights

Lose yourself in the effervescent buzz of Guatemala City, or Guate as the locals call it. This Central American capital city is split into multiple zones that are so different from each other that they may as well be separate towns!

International Departure

Price & Inclusions

Option 1 From $ 5,590 /person
Option 2 From $ 6,090 /person

Prices are in USD and exclude international flights. This trip price is based on low season rates for accommodation and other applicable services, and may change depending on availability, currency fluctuations and number of people traveling together. For high season prices, please contact us with your exact travel dates and preferences.

Price Includes

Accommodation in one double room for 14 days / 13 nights.
Meals as indicated
Economy flights for all sectors :
- San José – Guatemala
- Flight from Guatemala to Flores
- Flight from Flores to Guatemala
All activities as listed :
- Classic Costa Rica & Guatemala: Rainforest Canopy hike at Arenal
- Classic Costa Rica & Guatemala: Volcano Hike at Arenal
- Classic Costa Rica & Guatemala: Walking Safari at the Manuel Antonio National Park
- Classic Costa Rica & Guatemala: Kayaking and Snorkeling by Biesanz Bay
- Classic Costa Rica & Guatemala: La Azotea Coffee Farm and Antigua City Tour
- Classic Costa Rica & Guatemala: Birding at Cloud Forests Near Antigua
- Classic Costa Rica & Guatemala: Exploring Mayan Mysteries at Tikal
- Classic Costa Rica & Guatemala: Boat Trip to Topoxte and Picnic Lunch at Yaxha

All airport and hotel transfers
All activities specified in the itinerary, including entrance fees, accompanied by our tour guide
If your itinerary includes self-drive travel then all such travel comes with CDW insurance for an unlimited number of kilometers. For further details about the type of car please speak to your Travel Consultant.
Your Trip Coordinator: a 24/7 point of contact, supporting you during your trip
Insolvency insurance
Fees and taxes

Classic Costa Rica and Guatemala

Itinerary Summary

Ideal For

Itinerary Details

San José and Central Valley

Arenal

Manuel Antonio

Antigua

Flores

Guatemala City

Price & Inclusions

Price Includes