8-Nights Signature: Costa Rica's Monteverde, Arenal & Guanacaste - National Geographic Signature

San Jose (C.R.)

The sophisticated capital of Costa Rica, San Jose, has been endowed with a vibrant street life as well as a refined cultural life. You'll see contemporary structures of glass and steel, as well as colonial, Victorian, and classical architecture, exotic birds, giant butterflies, and picturesque scenery. Costa Rica offers some of the world's most thrilling sights to those who seek a new adventure.

Bajos del Toro

Bajos del Toro sits in Costa Rica, is situated next to the Poas Volcano National Park, Juan Castro Blanco National Park, and the Bosque de Paz Rain/Cloud Forest Biological Reserve. Outdoor activities are plentiful with rugged trail systems to explore the forest's flora and fauna. Visitors can hike to the back of Poas Volcano, go horseback riding, river rafting, mountain biking, or take a zipline tour through the canopy. For the really adventurous, there is a waterfall repel next to Catarata del Toro that drops 300-feet into an extinct volcanic crater.
 

Liberia (C.R.)

Liberia is a rapidly becoming popular with travelers. It's a charming college town lined with magnolia's and mango  trees. Liberia has something for all travelers form its historic architecture to it's accommodations, fantastic services and a great location for exploring the rest of Coast Rica. 

Guanacaste

Here you can drive to the very edge of a volcanic crater, hike through the heart of a mountain jungle and explore a cherished rainforest in the same day. The Guanacaste region is a beach lover's paradise with its unforgettable white sand beaches and remarkable salt and pepper shores. Costa Rica has become a mecca for travelers seeking to immerse themselves in the beauty and peacefulness of nature. With more of its land protected in natural parks, biological preserves and wildlife sanctuaries than any other nation on earth, excursions are a must.

Monteverde

The Monteverde rainforest area, which comprises ten towns with 8,000 people, is situated on the Continental Divide at an elevation of 5,600 feet. A walk through a Costa Rica Monteverde cloud forest reveals a lush green garden of mosses, ferns, flowers and epiphytes growing thickly on every tree. Clouds drift in and settle among the slopes, giving the continuous moisture required for such exuberant plant growth. Dangling roots and vines sweep across the trails. The air is rich with the sounds of birds and the occasional scurrying of small mammals on the forest floor. In the distance a howler monkey roars.

La Fortuna

La Fortuna is near Costa Rica's active volcano, Volcan Arenal. Driving into the park, plumes of smoke belching out of the volcano become ominiously closer. Arenal has been nearly contastantly active and attracts visitors from around the world. Experiencing first hand nature's awesome power is a humbling sight. Take a night trip to the volcano and see bright red lava spew forth. Tabacon Resort Hot Springs, located in Arenal, featuring stunning views of Arenal Volcano and offering the pleasurable experience of bathing in the volcano's byproduct - hot springs. Constant energy of Arenal volcano, warmth of flowing thermo mineral rivers and surrounding tropical rain forest provide a supreme experience. Let the hot water of a spectacular waterfall massage your neck and shoulders. Enjoy a large main pool with a swim-up bar, or other smaller pools hidden in the gardens with built-in lounges, little waterfalls, and cozy tubs. Spend a steamy afternoon here, or head to Iskandria Spa for a volcanic body wrap, using a mixture of ash as a skin mask.