Tailormade Tours – Costa Rica: Jungle & Beach

A fully customisable tour of Limon Province & Caribbean Coast.

• 2 nights in iconic San José hotel, including a tour of San José and traditional community nearby
• 3 nights in the unique Pacuare Jungle Lodge, including river rafting
• 4 nights in a boutique beach hotel in Puerto Viejo, with mangrove kayaking, nature walk (including bird watching), and the options of yoga, massage, snorkelling, surfing & ziplining

The standard itinerary is 10 days (9 nights); additional nights can be added at each of the stops.

Day 1

San José Arrival (TA) – Transfer to Hotel (approx. 30 minutes)

Welcome to Costa Rica! Your itinerary starting point is San José International Airport. Our representative will escort you through the airport and introduce you to your private driver. If you have a car rental, hotel shuttle, have booked transportation on your own, or a reservation for a local flight, our airport concierge will guide you to the relevant location.

Our Meet & Greet Service also includes in-country customer service (call us in-country at 506-4002-3661). This service is available to assist you in booking tours, answering concerns, or just for advice during your trip.

Private Transfer

We’ll be waiting for you outside the airport for your private transfer to your hotel in San José. Your driver will assist with your luggage and ensure you’re comfortable for the short trip. On the way, take in the local scenery while your driver shares insights and answers any questions you may have.

• Your transfer includes: Airport-to-door private transportation for up to 8 people, personal driver, bottled water.
• Duration: Direct drive time is approximately 30 minutes without breaks.

Hotel Grano de Oro

Hotel Grano de Oro is a boutique property in central San José, housed in a converted Victorian mansion. The 32-room hotel features tropical Victorian design with wrought iron details, hardwoods, and rich fabrics throughout. Each room includes air conditioning, flat-screen TV, minibar with complimentary snacks, and safe.

The property’s award-winning restaurant serves Costa Rican fusion cuisine with European influences, offering indoor and outdoor dining, full bar, and extensive wine cellar. Additional amenities include a rooftop garden terrace with two jacuzzis, massage services by appointment, and complimentary WiFi. The hotel’s central location provides easy access to museums and the National Theater.

Check In: 2:00 PM / Check Out: 12:00 PM

Day 2

San José – Cultural Food and Wine Tour

Discover the sights of downtown San José and the mountain communities of Escazu in this ‘Tale of Two Towns’ cultural experience. We’ll pick you up in the morning from your hotel to get you to the National Theater in the center of San José by 9:00 AM (if you’re staying in a downtown hotel, it’s a short and easy walk).

From there, our enthusiastic bilingual guides will walk you from the Plaza de la Cultura down Avenida Central to the Central Market to have a look around and sample some traditional stew in one of the eating spots you’ll find there.

Afterwards, it’s onto our transfer van to take you the short distance (15-20 minutes, depending on traffic) to Escazu, a traditional community to the west of the city with many adobe homes. You’ll explore the church and the pretty Central Park before relaxing in a local cafeteria for coffee.

Rested and relaxed, you’ll get back on the bus to head uphill, up the mountain to San Antonio de Escazu, a smaller village with amazing city views from up high. Here, we’ll visit the family home of a traditional mask maker (mascararo), who will explain the cultural importance of masks in Costa Rican feast days and celebrations over a glass of traditional chicha. And then it’s over to a local restaurant in San Antonio to try some traditional lunchtime snacks with a complimentary glass of wine, beer, or juice.

After enjoying the magnificent city views from the terrace of the restaurant, we’ll take you back down the mountain to the city and drop you at your hotel.

This is a three-hour tour, from meeting at the National Theater to leaving San Antonio. It’s suitable for anyone over the age of 6 as long as they have reasonable enough fitness for gentle walking around the streets of San José.

• Minimum: 2 people per tour
• Minimum Age: 6 years old
• Your tour includes: Transportation; bilingual tour guide; lunch; drinks; snacks
• What to bring: Sunscreen, sunglasses, water, camera, hat
• Duration: Tour Time (3 hours) + Transportation time (40 minutes) (approximately 4 hours in total)

Day 3

San José – Pacuare Jungle Lodge

Perched along the Pacuare River, the Pacuare Jungle Lodge is a unique & adventurous property in the secluded jungle. For families with teens, couples & adventurous groups who love rafting, this is the place to be! Guests arrive and depart by whitewater rafting. The property has 19 bungalows set along the river.

Guest rooms offer privacy with elegant decorations to blend with the natural surroundings. Guest Rooms have electricity and WiFi. In the evenings, bungalows are illuminated by candlelight. Rooms are equipped with a safe & a telephone to communicate with the lobby.

Guests enjoy a full meal plan (all included) at the on-site Nairi Awari Restaurant. Each meal is made using fresh local ingredients. Alcohol is available for an extra cost. Private meals can also be arranged.

Please note: We suggest taking hand luggage with you, as checked luggage goes out by road. The road access is only possible because of a cradle and rope system across the river. Children under 7 are NOT ALLOWED.

Please note: Reservations for 4+ rooms are considered group reservations. Special payment and cancellation terms apply. Please see your Travel Consultant for details if you are booking four or more rooms.

Your stay includes:

• Ground transportation (including whitewater rafting) from/to San José with bilingual guide
• 3 daily meals & afternoon snacks
• Up to 2 tours a day (including canopy, hiking & birdwatching)

Day 4 & 5

Leisure days for activities at Pacuare Lodge

Canopy tours, rafting, hiking, birdwatching and more.

Day 6

Transfer Bodegas Siquirres – Puerto Viejo

After checking out of Pacuare Lodge and rafting back down the river, you’ll be transferred from Bodegas Siquirres to Puerto Viejo.

Hotel Aguas Claras

Aguas Claras is a boutique hotel steps from the Caribbean Sea in Puerto Viejo, featuring 12 uniquely designed rooms inspired by Victorian Caribbean architecture. The 1.5-acre property offers lush gardens, with accommodations featuring air conditioning, ceiling fans, en-suite bathrooms with toiletries, minibar, safe, and WiFi.

The Papaya Room restaurant serves fusion cuisine combining local ingredients with international flavours, including options for special dietary needs. A complimentary a la carte breakfast is included. Amenities include a swimming pool, wellness centre offering yoga and massage, complimentary beach cruisers, and snorkelling equipment. The property provides access to Da Lime Beach Club at Playa Chiquita.

• Please note: Children under 3 are not permitted at the property.
• Check In: 2:00 PM / Check Out: 12:00 PM
• Nearby: Beach, Puerto Viejo town, restaurants, national parks, rescue centres, surfing, kayaking

Day 7

Puerto Viejo – Manzanillo Tour

This hike is set in the Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre just a short 20 minutes from local hotels. The trek is 3km of hiking trails with gorgeous views and a special visit to the cave. During the hike you can see different types of vegetation while you enjoy a tropical snack before returning back to your hotel.

Anyone 6 years of age or older is welcome (maximum age of 70 years old) and it’s considered a medium intensity activity as you will be required to climb. This hike is best suited for those looking for an educational, exciting and leisurely experience.

• Your tour includes: Transportation, bilingual guides, equipment, entrance fees, drinks and snacks.
• What to bring: Hiking boots, change of clothes (optional), sunblock, bug spray, passport (optional), long pants (optional), water shoes, bathing suit (optional), camera, hat, sunglasses and binoculars.
• Duration: Tour Time (4 hours) from 7:45am -12:30pm, including transportation time.

Day 8

Puerto Viejo – Mangrove Kayaking Tour

We’ll pick you up from your hotel for a nature adventure in Punta Uva. Your experience begins with an optional banana bike ride to the kayaking location – let us know if you want to cycle there and back, or prefer to drive. The tour features a kayaking excursion through mangrove waterways, followed by a nature walk with your bilingual naturalist guide.

You’ll have opportunities to spot various mammals, amphibians, endemic and migratory birds, and local flora. Afterwards, we’ll take you back to your hotel – either cycling or driving, depending on your original choice.

• Minimum: 2 people per tour
• Minimum age: 6 years old
• Your tour includes: Transportation (cycling or driving), bilingual guides, equipment, entrance fees, drinks, snacks
• What to bring: Water shoes, bathing suit, towel, sunscreen, bug spray, camera
• Duration: 2.5 hours

Day 9

Puerto Viejo – Snorkelling Cahuita

The Cahuita Snorkel and Hike tour starts in Cahuita National Park just a 20 minute drive from local hotels. There is an hour and half of hiking trails to explore and 2 hours of snorkeling where you might see different types of mammals, endemic and migratory birds as well as coral reefs, colored fish, nurse sharks and lionfish, among others.

You will be given a tropical snack and water before being returned to your hotel.

Great for those 6 years and older (with a maximum age of 70 years old), this low intensity relaxing, exciting and educational tour is perfect for a leisurely day for everyone.

• Your tour includes: Transportation, bilingual guides, equipment, entrance fees, drinks and snacks.
• What to bring: Hiking boots (optional), sandals (optional), change of clothes (optional), towel, sunblock, bug spray, passport (optional), long pants (optional), water shoes, bathing suit, camera, hat (optional), sunglasses (optional), and binoculars (optional).
• Duration: Tour Time (5 hours) – Transportation at 8am with tour beginning at 9am. Round trip from hotel to tour times are 8am to 1pm.

Day 10

Puerto Viejo – Limon Airport: Ground Transfer

Enjoy your private ground transfer as you explore the scenery of Costa Rica in a private air conditioned microbus with your English speaking driver. Driving time is approximately 1 hour.

Limon – SJO Airport: Sansa Airlines

Take a short flight to your destination, flying over Costa Rica’s most beautiful scenery. There is a 30lb checked luggage + 10 lb carry-on weight allowance per passenger, taxes and gas fees included. Excess baggage charge is $1.5 per lb over. All flights operate with Cessna Grand Caravan 208B Aircraft – Approved by the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Please note that all passengers must be at the airstrip 45 minutes prior to the flight departure time.