Costa Rica Travel: Sample Plan
7 Days in Costa Rica's Last Hidden Paradise and the Elusive Quetzal
7 days
$1,864〜 /per person (based on double occupancy)
Price
What's Included- Accommodation as stated in the itinerary
- Meals as stated in the itinerary
- Tours and activities as per itinerary
- Domestic flight ticket & taxes (San José → Drake)
- Admission fees for national parks and conservation centers
- Private vehicles, boats, and other transportation
Price
What's not included- International flight tickets and taxes
- Other personal expenses such as travel insurance and souvenirs
Recommended travel points
Experience the awe-inspiring wilderness and encounters with wildlife in Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica’s last hidden paradise.
Once described by National Geographic as "one of the most biodiverse places on Earth," Corcovado National Park is home to mammals such as Baird’s tapirs, anteaters, agoutis, peccaries, and coatis, as well as four species of monkeys: capuchins, squirrel monkeys, howler monkeys, and spider monkeys.
If you look closely, you might spot colorful frogs, shimmering hummingbirds, and scarlet macaws—vivid creatures that seem to have leapt straight out of a storybook.
On the boat ride from Drake Bay along the Pacific coast into the national park, you may be lucky enough to encounter marine wildlife such as dolphins and whales.
For bird enthusiasts, San Gerardo de Dota offers encounters you won’t want to miss.
Emerging from between the jungle trees is the legendary Resplendent Quetzal, a mystical bird featured in Central American mythology.
With its emerald-green feathers and long, beautiful tail, the Resplendent Quetzal has been revered as a "sacred bird" since the days of the Maya and Aztec civilizations.
The excitement of spotting one is sure to be a highlight of your journey.
Immersing yourself in Costa Rica’s magnificent nature and quietly observing animals living freely will remind you of the joy and importance of being in harmony with the natural world.
On this special journey, experience the wonders of nature that you can’t encounter in everyday life.
Itinerary details
Day 1
San Jose
Arrive at Juan Santamaría International Airport in San José, the capital.
A Japanese-speaking staff member will greet you and escort you to your hotel.
Breakfast: × Lunch: × Dinner: ×
Accommodation: Radisson San Jose or a hotel of similar classDay 2
San Jose → Drake
Breakfast at the hotel.
Transfer to Drake by domestic flight and check in to your hotel
Please relax and enjoy your time.
*Optional night tours can be arranged.
Enter the nighttime forest with a guide to search for nocturnal creatures.
Breakfast: Included Lunch: Not included Dinner: Not included
Accommodation: Rancho Corcovado or a hotel of similar classDay 3
Corcovado National Park
Breakfast at the hotel.
Transfer to Corcovado National Park by boat.
Upon arrival, explore the area with a guide and search for wildlife.
After lunch, return to Drake by boat.
Along the way, you may be able to observe whales and dolphins.
Breakfast: Yes Lunch: Yes Dinner: No
Accommodation: Rancho Corcovado or a hotel of similar classDay 4
Corcovado National Park
Breakfast at the hotel.
As on Day 3, enjoy wildlife observation in Corcovado National Park.
Breakfast: Yes Lunch: Yes Dinner: No
Accommodation: Rancho Corcovado or a hotel of similar classDay 5
Drake → Sierpe → San Gerardo de Dota
Breakfast at the hotel.
Take a shared boat to Sierpe.
Upon arrival, transfer to San Gerardo de Dota by private vehicle.
Check in at the hotel.
Breakfast: Included Lunch: Not included Dinner: Not included
Accommodation: Hotel De Montaña Suria or a hotel of similar classDay 6
San Gerardo de Dota → San José
Meet your guide early in the morning for a tour in search of the legendary Resplendent Quetzal.
After the tour, have breakfast at the hotel.
Transfer to San José, where you will have free time upon arrival.
*Optional coffee plantation tours near San José are available.
Breakfast: Included Lunch: Not included Dinner: Not included
Accommodation: Radisson San Jose or a hotel of similar classDay 7
San Jose
Breakfast at the hotel.
We will take you to the airport according to your flight schedule.
thank you for your hard work!
Breakfast: Included Lunch: Not included Dinner: Not included
Accommodation: ×
Costa Rica travel chat representative
Yuuta Yamazoe
Travel agency license Confirmed Service area Costa Rica, Panama, Nicaragua, Mexico, Colombia, Brazil place of residence Costa Rica Languages Spoken Japanese, English, Spanish, Portuguese I've loved nature and wildlife since I was a child, and that passion eventually led me to work in the tourism industry in Costa Rica, Central America. My specialty is nature and animals, but I also have a deep appreciation for the culture and history of Latin America, and I hope to share those aspects with you as well. Since information about Latin America can be hard to come by and planning a trip can be challenging, I strive to provide as much detailed information as possible to help you create a journey that will become a lifelong memory. During the tours, even in the sometimes inconvenient environments of Latin America, I will do my utmost to assist you so that you can enjoy a safe, secure, and comfortable trip.
Kase Castle
Travel agency license Confirmed Service area Costa Rica, Panama, Nicaragua, Mexico, Colombia, Bolivia, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru place of residence Japan Languages Spoken Japanese, Spanish, English I first visited Costa Rica in 1995 and have been operating a travel business primarily in the Latin American region since 2003. I have visited over 60 countries, mainly in Central and South America, through tourism for Japanese people and overseas photography coordination. Although I relocated my base to Japan in March 2020, I continue to guide Japanese customers to places not typically visited on regular tours, such as the Caribbean, Africa, and Asia, primarily for wildlife observation and remote tours.
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