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Costa Rica: Classic Tour

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The iconic cone of Arenal Volcano rises above Costa Rica's lush green landscape under a dramatic sky of clouds
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Overview
  • Duration:9 days 8 nights
  • Tour Type:Educational Tours
📍 Cities: La Guacima, San Jose, Arenal, Monteverde, Manuel Antonio

Itinerary

Fly to Costa RicaDay 1

DAY 1: HOME - COSTA RICA

Board your flight and fly to Costa Rica. Bienvenidos a Costa Rica! Meet your Prometour Tour Director upon arrival at the airport. Board your bus and transfer to your hotel. Enjoy some leisure time at the Rancho - pool, volleyball, and soccer. Dinner and overnight accommodation at El Rancho Lodge.

School Visit and San Jose City TourDay 2

DAY 2: LA GUACIMA

  • Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel with your group.
  • School Visit: Have the opportunity to enhance the life of a Costa Rican Public School with gifts of basic school supplies or spending time interacting with local students. Why not challenge your new friends to a futbol match?
  • San Jose: Follow your Tour Director on a discovery tour of San Jose - see Plaza de la Cultura, the Main Square, and Plaza de Democracia. Stop at the famous flea market to practice your Spanish bargaining with local vendors.
  • Dinner: Dinner and overnight accommodation at El Rancho Lodge.

Poas Volcano and La Paz Waterfall GardensDay 3

DAY 3: LA GUACIMA

  • Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel with your group.
  • Poas Volcano: Make your way to Poas Volcano National Park - considered the largest active crater in the world with frequent geyser-like eruptions. See Lake Botos, which fills an extinct crater and is home to many cloud forest birds including hummingbirds and the quetzal.
  • La Paz Waterfalls: Explore La Paz Waterfall and Gardens - observe many different species of local wildlife including hummingbirds, bromeliad gardens, a serpentarium, a frog pond, 3.5 kilometers of walking trails, and waterfalls.
  • Dinner: Dinner and overnight accommodation at El Rancho Lodge.

Doka Coffee Plantation and Sarchi Artisan TownDay 4

DAY 4: LA GUACIMA

  • Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel with your group.
  • Doka Coffee: Breathe in the aroma of freshly-roasted Arabica coffee beans at the Doka Coffee Plantation - learn about the coffee trees, the planting process, the water mill, processing plant, and visit the roasting room.
  • Sarchi: Board your bus and embark on a discovery tour of the artistic town of Sarchi and watch artisans create the unique and colorful Ox Carts! Then continue to Grecia to see the famous Nuestra Senora de las Mercedes Church!
  • Dinner: Dinner and overnight accommodation at El Rancho Lodge.

La Fortuna Waterfall and Tabacon Hot SpringsDay 5

DAY 5: LA GUACIMA - ARENAL

  • Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel with your group.
  • La Fortuna: Travel to La Fortuna. Hike all the way to La Fortuna Waterfall - it emerges from dense jungle greenery and plummets some 200 feet into an emerald pool below.
  • Hot Springs: Relax and enjoy your surroundings at the Tabacon Hot Springs - natural springs and geysers fed by the volcanic activity of Mount Arenal.
  • Dinner: Dinner and overnight accommodation in Arenal.

Travel to Monteverde - Cloud Forest ZipliningDay 6

DAY 6: ARENAL - MONTEVERDE

  • Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel with your group.
  • Travel: Board your bus and travel to Monteverde.
  • Ziplining: Embark on a Ziplining adventure! About 70% of all life in a tropical forest takes place at the tree canopy level. Discover the forest in an exhilarating way!
  • Dinner: Dinner and overnight accommodation in Monteverde.

Monteverde Cloud Forest and Travel to QueposDay 7

DAY 7: MONTEVERDE - QUEPOS

  • Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel with your group.
  • Cloud Forest: Monteverde Cloud Forest is a large reserve and one of the most outstanding wildlife sanctuaries in the Americas. It includes eight distinct ecological zones protecting more than 400 species of birds and over 100 species of mammals.
  • Travel: Board your bus and travel to Quepos.
  • Dinner: Dinner and overnight accommodation in Quepos.

Manuel Antonio National Park and BeachDay 8

DAY 8: QUEPOS - MANUEL ANTONIO

  • Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel with your group.
  • Manuel Antonio: Although it is Costa Rica's smallest national park, the breathtaking beauty and diversity of wildlife is unequaled in Manuel Antonio.
  • Beach: Enjoy time at the beach and relax in this natural environment.
  • Return: Board your bus and return to La Guacima.
  • Dinner: Dinner and overnight accommodation at El Rancho Lodge.

Fly Back HomeDay 9

DAY 9: LA GUACIMA - HOME

Breakfast at the hotel with your group. Transfer by bus to the airport. Say Hasta Luego to your Prometour Tour Director. Board your flight from San Jose and fly home.

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Get a Quote
Why Choose Prométour?
100% Risk Free Registration (no costs)
30+ years of Experience
Customizable Itineraries
Guaranteed travel dates
No Hidden Fees, No Surprises
24 x 7 Dedicated support
Learn More
Overview
  • Duration:9 days 8 nights
  • Tour Type:Educational Tours
📍 Cities: La Guacima, San Jose, Arenal, Monteverde, Manuel Antonio

Itinerary

Fly to Costa RicaDay 1

DAY 1: HOME - COSTA RICA

Board your flight and fly to Costa Rica. Bienvenidos a Costa Rica! Meet your Prometour Tour Director upon arrival at the airport. Board your bus and transfer to your hotel. Enjoy some leisure time at the Rancho - pool, volleyball, and soccer. Dinner and overnight accommodation at El Rancho Lodge.

School Visit and San Jose City TourDay 2

DAY 2: LA GUACIMA

  • Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel with your group.
  • School Visit: Have the opportunity to enhance the life of a Costa Rican Public School with gifts of basic school supplies or spending time interacting with local students. Why not challenge your new friends to a futbol match?
  • San Jose: Follow your Tour Director on a discovery tour of San Jose - see Plaza de la Cultura, the Main Square, and Plaza de Democracia. Stop at the famous flea market to practice your Spanish bargaining with local vendors.
  • Dinner: Dinner and overnight accommodation at El Rancho Lodge.

Poas Volcano and La Paz Waterfall GardensDay 3

DAY 3: LA GUACIMA

  • Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel with your group.
  • Poas Volcano: Make your way to Poas Volcano National Park - considered the largest active crater in the world with frequent geyser-like eruptions. See Lake Botos, which fills an extinct crater and is home to many cloud forest birds including hummingbirds and the quetzal.
  • La Paz Waterfalls: Explore La Paz Waterfall and Gardens - observe many different species of local wildlife including hummingbirds, bromeliad gardens, a serpentarium, a frog pond, 3.5 kilometers of walking trails, and waterfalls.
  • Dinner: Dinner and overnight accommodation at El Rancho Lodge.

Doka Coffee Plantation and Sarchi Artisan TownDay 4

DAY 4: LA GUACIMA

  • Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel with your group.
  • Doka Coffee: Breathe in the aroma of freshly-roasted Arabica coffee beans at the Doka Coffee Plantation - learn about the coffee trees, the planting process, the water mill, processing plant, and visit the roasting room.
  • Sarchi: Board your bus and embark on a discovery tour of the artistic town of Sarchi and watch artisans create the unique and colorful Ox Carts! Then continue to Grecia to see the famous Nuestra Senora de las Mercedes Church!
  • Dinner: Dinner and overnight accommodation at El Rancho Lodge.

La Fortuna Waterfall and Tabacon Hot SpringsDay 5

DAY 5: LA GUACIMA - ARENAL

  • Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel with your group.
  • La Fortuna: Travel to La Fortuna. Hike all the way to La Fortuna Waterfall - it emerges from dense jungle greenery and plummets some 200 feet into an emerald pool below.
  • Hot Springs: Relax and enjoy your surroundings at the Tabacon Hot Springs - natural springs and geysers fed by the volcanic activity of Mount Arenal.
  • Dinner: Dinner and overnight accommodation in Arenal.

Travel to Monteverde - Cloud Forest ZipliningDay 6

DAY 6: ARENAL - MONTEVERDE

  • Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel with your group.
  • Travel: Board your bus and travel to Monteverde.
  • Ziplining: Embark on a Ziplining adventure! About 70% of all life in a tropical forest takes place at the tree canopy level. Discover the forest in an exhilarating way!
  • Dinner: Dinner and overnight accommodation in Monteverde.

Monteverde Cloud Forest and Travel to QueposDay 7

DAY 7: MONTEVERDE - QUEPOS

  • Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel with your group.
  • Cloud Forest: Monteverde Cloud Forest is a large reserve and one of the most outstanding wildlife sanctuaries in the Americas. It includes eight distinct ecological zones protecting more than 400 species of birds and over 100 species of mammals.
  • Travel: Board your bus and travel to Quepos.
  • Dinner: Dinner and overnight accommodation in Quepos.

Manuel Antonio National Park and BeachDay 8

DAY 8: QUEPOS - MANUEL ANTONIO

  • Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel with your group.
  • Manuel Antonio: Although it is Costa Rica's smallest national park, the breathtaking beauty and diversity of wildlife is unequaled in Manuel Antonio.
  • Beach: Enjoy time at the beach and relax in this natural environment.
  • Return: Board your bus and return to La Guacima.
  • Dinner: Dinner and overnight accommodation at El Rancho Lodge.

Fly Back HomeDay 9

DAY 9: LA GUACIMA - HOME

Breakfast at the hotel with your group. Transfer by bus to the airport. Say Hasta Luego to your Prometour Tour Director. Board your flight from San Jose and fly home.

Learning Objectives

Analyze the volcanic geology of Costa Rica by visiting Poas Volcano National Park – considered the largest active crater in the world – and Arenal’s Tabacon Hot Springs fed by volcanic activity.

Investigate Costa Rica’s world-famous biodiversity through the cloud forest of Monteverde, which protects eight distinct ecological zones, over 400 species of birds, and over 100 species of mammals.

Evaluate the cultural and economic significance of coffee production in Costa Rica through an immersive tour of the Doka Coffee Plantation, tracing the journey from tree to roasted bean.

Compare the distinct ecosystems of Costa Rica’s highlands, cloud forests, and Pacific coast, examining how altitude and rainfall create dramatically different habitats within a small geographic area.

Develop community engagement values through a Costa Rican school visit – interacting with local students, donating school supplies, and participating in a friendly football match.

Tour maps

Landmark Highlights

  • San Jose: Plaza de la Cultura, Plaza de Democracia, and famous flea market.
  • Poas Volcano National Park: Largest active crater in the world with geyser-like eruptions. Lake Botos in an extinct crater with cloud forest birds.
  • La Paz Waterfall and Gardens: Hummingbirds, bromeliad gardens, serpentarium, frog pond, and 3.5km of walking trails.
  • Doka Coffee Plantation: Arabica coffee trees, water mill, processing plant, and roasting room.
  • Sarchi: Artisans creating unique and colorful Ox Carts - Costa Rica's national symbol.
  • La Fortuna Waterfall: 200-foot waterfall plunging into an emerald pool.
  • Tabacon Hot Springs: Natural springs and geysers fed by Mount Arenal's volcanic activity.
  • Monteverde Cloud Forest: Ziplining through the canopy of one of the Americas' most outstanding wildlife sanctuaries.
  • Manuel Antonio National Park: Costa Rica's smallest but most biodiverse national park with beach access.
Why Choose Prométour?
100% Risk Free Registration (no costs)
30+ years of Experience
Customizable Itineraries
Guaranteed travel dates
No Hidden Fees, No Surprises
24 x 7 Dedicated support
Learn More

Frequently asked questions

Will my group be combined with another school group?

No. Every Prométour educational tour is personalized to ensure a meaningful experience. We guarantee private tours for all groups.

Your group will have its own dedicated Tour Director and itinerary, and will not be combined with any other school or student group.

How does Prométour support teachers with planning?

We take care of everything to make trip planning easy. From organizing travel logistics and accommodations to managing registrations, payments, and documentation, our team handles all the details so you can focus on the experience.

Support starts from day one. To help launch your trip, we host a parent meeting where your dedicated Tour Consultant introduces themselves, represents Prométour, and answers any parent questions directly.

Throughout the planning process, our expert Customer Service Team is available to assist families with registration, payments, and general inquiries, ensuring a smooth and stress-free experience for everyone involved.

When will our travel dates be confirmed?

Prométour trips are fully customizable, including your travel dates. You can choose the dates that best align with your school calendar, giving your group flexibility to coordinate extracurricular activities around the trip.

How does Prométour support our group during the trip?

With our own teams in locations such as Montréal, Paris, and Málaga, you get real people who are with your students and know the destination inside and out, not a call center just reading from a script.
If any issues arise while on tour, our 24/7 Emergency Line ensures that help is always just a phone call away. Your group will have access to real-time support whenever it's needed.

What are Prométour's cancellation fees?

When you register for a Prométour trip, you can do so with confidence. If you cancel before the tour is officially confirmed, you'll receive a full refund with no questions asked.

Once the tour is confirmed, standard cancellation fees apply based on your departure date. Travelers may still be eligible for insurance coverage depending on their policy.

In some regions, and for travelers with an upgraded plan, Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) insurance may be available. We recommend contacting the insurance provider directly for full details on coverage options.
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