East to West Costa Rica Vacation of Romance & Luxury: Caribbean Sea to Pacific Coast

Witness the characteristic boil of the active Poas volcano, Costa Rica

What to expect on this itinerary

Blend romance and luxury, exploration and relaxation on your 9-day custom-tailored Costa Rica vacation. Relax near the opulent waters of the Pacific Ocean and drift through the secluded canals at Tortuguero. Witness the distinctive simmer of an active volcano and traverse the unique canopy around the Cloud Forest Reserve. From coral reefs to turtles’ nests, jaguars to scarlet macaws, indulge in the rich natural life of Costa Rica.

Countries Visited

Costa Rica

Places Visited

Tortuguero, Tamarindo, Monteverde Cloud Forest, Palo Verde National Park

Suggested Duration

9 Days

Customizable Itinerary

Expand All
Day 1

San Jose – Between East and West

Welcome to San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica. The city resides in the Central Valley and contains the country’s heart and soul. The culture from around Costa Rica has settled in San Jose, creating a bustling melting pot of cuisine, atmosphere, and history. Colonial mansions line the streets of Barrio Aranjuez. Elegant hand-carved woodwork adorns the facades and porches wrap around the raised entryways. Your private transfer meets you at the airport and escorts you to a fabulous hotel that balances a central location with elegant seclusion.

The central market is an entire city block and houses over 200 shops, stalls, and restaurants. Narrow lanes divide the vendors by goods, from wood carvings to produce. Bananas hang down in decadent bunches. Large watermelons tempt you from their display. The sweet and citrusy aromas of star fruit linger in the air. In the evening, share a romantic meal over candlelight at a local restaurant where after the first crunchy and juicy bite, you can find indulgence and perfection in Costa Rica’s Central Valley.

What's Included:

Transfer
Accommodation
Day 2

Tortuguero – Finding the East

Day 3

Tortuguero – Tortuguero Canals and Pacuare Biological Reserve

Day 4

Monteverde Cloud Forest – Top of the Western Ridge

Day 5

Monteverde Cloud Forest – Watching the Clouds from Above

Day 6

Tamarindo – Cloud Forest Turns to Beachfront Paradise

Day 7

Tamarindo – The Beauty of the Beach

Day 8

Tamarindo – The Calling Caves

Day 9

Liberia – East to West to Home

Trip Highlights

  • Relax in the splendor and seclusion when staying in featured Zicasso properties
  • Enjoy luxurious accommodation set in pristine and opulent landscapes, from rainforest to beachside
  • Explore the canals of Tortuguero National Park on a private guided tour of the wilderness
  • Visit turtle nesting grounds on the Caribbean shores to find signs of resurgence for endangered turtles
  • Witness the steaming waters of a crater lake inside an active volcano accentuated by the surrounding panorama
  • Embrace the treeline, wild sounds, and overall ambiance of the celebrated Cloud Forest Reserve as you search for birds and wildlife
  • Indulge on the white sands around the Pacific Coast town of Tamarindo to the comforts of a beach paradise

Detailed Description

The wonders of Costa Rica touch both the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans. The mountains turn to prairies and the rainforest lines the beaches. The beauty of the countryside is filled with as much natural splendor as luxurious accommodation. Listen to the morning bird calls from your private deck and watch the waves lap at the opulent shores. Walk along the treetops overlooking a forest of clouds and enjoy the secluded charm of nourishing hotels. From warm, powdery sand to vibrant birds and their soothing songs, savor the moments that take you from East to West, and along the captivating landscape of the countryside.

Your journey of luxury and romance begins in San Jose, the capital city of Costa Rica. The streets are lively and energetic, filled with an underlying charm that quickly washes over you. Travel through the lush rainforest of Braulio Carrillo National Park en route to the secluded waters of Tortuguero, a region only reachable by air or river canals. Visit Tortuguero Village or wander along the Caribbean beach-side to see traditional dugout canoes. Venture along the meandering natural channels of Tortuguero National Park to witness the exceptional lowland tropical rainforest and its distinctive beauty.

Return to San Jose and visit the Poas Volcano National Park. The towering craters create a diverse ecosystem that houses both active and extinct craters. In Monteverde you will visit a charming local and historical dairy farm before settling into a lavish and comfortable hotel that borders the Cloud Forest Reserve. Traverse the trails and canopy walkways that take you through and over the marvelously varied ecosystem of the Cloud Forest, filled with ferns, orchids, and bromeliads. Your private transfer escorts you through Guanacaste Province to the celebrated shores of Tamarindo.

The beach-side community offers lavish private accommodations on the fringe of a cosmopolitan town. From November to March leather-back turtles nest on the shores of Playa Grande. Experience Tamarindo at your whim and pleasure, from enjoying an exuberant catamaran tour around the Pacific to visiting the tremendous Barra Honda caves. Luxuriate on the hot sand or traverse the trails around the local countryside. On your final day your private transfer will accompany you to Liberia where you will board your flight home.

Starting Price

$2,700 per person (excluding international flights)

Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.

What's Included

  • Accommodations
  • In-country transportation
  • Some or all activities and tours
  • Expert trip planning
  • 24x7 support during your trip

Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.

4.9

Verified Traveler Reviews

Based on 886 reviews

Allison A.
Costa Rica Trip Review: 8 Nights

We used a Zicasso travel expert to plan our trip. The trip was absolutely fabulous and the service was very easy to use. We would definitely use them again.

See more

Tara I.
Costa Rica Trip Review: Isla Chiquita, 1 Week

Zicasso's travel company was very attentive and followed up with us throughout the trip to make sure we were doing well. We had an awesome time and would recommend them to anyone planning a trip to Costa Rica

See more

Lolli H.
Costa Rica Travel Review: Catamaran Trip, Ziplining, National Park, 8 Nights

Everything was arranged thoughtfully, with time for "adventures" and downtime at terrific resorts to relax. All pick-ups, travel by limo, and drop-offs went as arranged. The drivers, guides, and hotel staff were all very pleasant and kind. Zicasso's tour operator did a great job planning our eight-day, family-of-10 trip to Costa Rica! We appreciated that most tours, hikes, and ocean experiences were small groups of just our group of 10. This made it a personal and annoyance-free experience all around. Thanks!

See more

David M.
Costa Rica Vacation Review: Family Time, 8 Nights

The Zicasso tour company was very accommodating. They put together a great itinerary and when we wanted to add something, it was no problem.

See more

JESSICA V.
Costa Rica Trip Review: Private Driver, Culture, 9 Nights

We had an unbelievably great trip! Everything went smoothly, was already lined up by Zicasso's tour company, and communication was excellent. The private drivers between locations were excellent and very informative. We could not have asked for a better experience!

See more

Tim K.
Costa Rica Tour Review: Ziplining, Wildlife, 1 Week

We loved our trip. Zicasso's travel specialist did an awesome job of listening to what we wanted ahead of time and tailoring the itinerary to that.

We had one very minor issue where a tour was running late to pick us up and we were able to get in touch with him easily to make sure we were still on track, which he confirmed as they arrived. We'll reach out to them for sure when it's time to go back.

See more

Customizable Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist.

28,000+ Verified Traveler Reviews
Zicasso in the News