Panama City & Costa Rica with beach holiday in Manuel Antonio

Today, you’ll depart from your selected airport and fly to Panama. Upon arrival in the capital, Panama City, you’ll be met by your driver and guide, who will take you to your hotel.

The rest of the day is free for you to relax after your journey or begin exploring the city at your own pace.

Panama City offers a fascinating mix of modern skyscrapers, historic districts, and a tropical coastal atmosphere. You could, for example, enjoy a leisurely stroll along the Cinta Costera promenade or find a cosy restaurant to savour some of the local specialities.

After breakfast, you’ll set off on an exciting city tour where you’ll discover Panama City’s fascinating history, vibrant culture, and, of course, the country’s most famous attraction – the Panama Canal. You’ll be picked up from your hotel and driven to the Miraflores Locks, where you can get close to the enormous cargo ships passing through the canal. Here, you’ll watch the ships’ slow, steady passage through the locks while learning the captivating story behind the construction of the Panama Canal and its immense importance to global trade.

The tour will then continue to the charming historic district of Casco Viejo, where cobbled streets, colourful colonial buildings, and cosy plazas create the atmosphere of the old town. Along the way, you’ll visit San José Church, renowned for its beautiful golden altar, and stop by the lively craft market, where local artisans sell handmade crafts and souvenirs. During the tour, you’ll also have the chance to stop for lunch (at your own expense) at one of the area’s cafés or restaurants.

The tour will end at Plaza de Francia, where you can enjoy a spectacular panoramic view of Panama City’s modern skyline and watch the ships lined up in the bay as they wait to enter the canal. Afterwards, you’ll be driven back to your hotel and will have the rest of the day free to spend at your leisure.

Enjoy a full day at your own pace exploring Panama City.

You might like to start with a walk along the Amador Causeway, a narrow causeway linking the mainland to several small islands in the bay. You can hop in a taxi to the furthest island, Isla Flamenco, and begin your walk back towards the city from there. Along the way, take in views of the Pacific Ocean – on one side, you’ll see Panama City’s modern skyline, and on the other, you can watch ships making their way towards the Panama Canal, all while soaking up the relaxed vibe along the promenade. You’ll find plenty of cafés and restaurants here too, perfect for stopping to enjoy the sea view. If you fancy a refreshing treat during your stroll, try a “raspao” – a favourite local snack made of finely shaved ice topped with colourful syrup and condensed milk. 

Finish your walk with a visit to the striking and colourful Biomuseo, which through fascinating exhibitions tells the story of the isthmus that millions of years ago connected North and South America, transforming the world’s animal and plant life.

If you fancy escaping the city for a bit, we recommend a boat trip on Gatún Lake, where you can experience Panama’s untouched nature and wildlife up close, or a day trip to Taboga Island to unwind on the beach and soak up the laid-back island atmosphere.

If your visit to Panama City falls over a weekend, you can also experience more of the Panama Canal by joining a partial transit tour through part of the canal.

It’s time to say farewell to Panama City as your journey continues to San José in Costa Rica. You’ll be picked up from your hotel and driven to Panama City airport.

Upon arrival in the Costa Rican capital, San José, a driver will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel – a journey of around 45 minutes.

San José sits 1,172 metres above sea level in the country’s central region, boasting a delightful spring-like climate all year round. Established in the early 18th century, the city began to thrive around 50 years later with the founding of a tobacco factory and improvements to the water supply, which boosted both its population and economy. In the early 19th century, San José became the capital of Costa Rica and today, it’s a modern city with a lively commercial scene and a rich artistic and architectural heritage.

After breakfast, you’ll be collected from your hotel and taken to our local partner’s office, where you’ll go through the itinerary and any practical details of your tour together.

The rest of the day is yours to spend as you wish – perhaps exploring the capital on your own or joining one of the optional excursions.

You might, for instance, wander through San José’s historic Barrio Amón district, where colonial mansions have been transformed into modern art galleries, or visit the city’s gastronomic hub, Barrio Escalante. Alternatively, you can enjoy the green spaces of Parque Metropolitano La Sabana, Costa Rica’s largest urban park, or visit the lively Mercado Central to shop for souvenirs and sample the national dish, “casado”, a hearty plate of rice, beans, and meat.

Early this morning, you’ll set off for Tortuguero National Park on Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast. Along the way, you’ll pass countless banana plantations, which play a key role in the country’s economy – Costa Rica being one of the world’s largest exporters of bananas.

En route, there’ll be a short stop in Guápiles, where you’ll enjoy breakfast surrounded by lush greenery and peaceful surroundings. If time permits, take a short walk down the path through the dense vegetation to the bubbling stream that flows nearby before continuing your journey.

It’s not possible to drive all the way to your lodge, so once the road ends, the bus is swapped for a boat. You’ll then continue along the narrow canals to the lodge, set right in the heart of Tortuguero’s verdant wetlands. Depending on the weather, remember to bring a rain poncho and sensible footwear, as the boat has only a roof cover and open sides.

Upon arrival, a delicious lunch awaits you in the lodge’s restaurant. In the afternoon, you’ll visit the small village of Tortuguero accompanied by a local guide.

As you sail towards the village, your guide will tell you about what life is like in such a remote community. Tortuguero can only be reached by boat or small aircraft. Once there, you’ll have some time to explore the main street at your own pace, where cosy cafés and little souvenir shops sit side by side.

After dinner, as night falls, many of the park’s creatures and insects awaken. It’s a truly enchanting experience to sit on your veranda and listen to the sounds of the jungle coming to life.

During your stay in Tortuguero, you’ll enjoy an exciting boat trip along the national park’s winding canals. Accompanied by a skilled guide, you’ll have the chance to spot the park’s fascinating wildlife, including sloths, tapirs, caimans, iguanas, macaws, toucans, and three captivating monkey species: spider monkeys, howler monkeys, and capuchin monkeys. You’ll also gain a glimpse into the park’s exotic plant life.

In the afternoon, you’ll have time at your own leisure – perhaps venture out on one of the small forest trails, unwind by the lodge’s pool, or take a peaceful walk along the beach. You can also purchase additional excursions at the lodge if you wish.

The park takes its name from the Spanish word “tortuga”, meaning “turtle”, and as the name suggests, Tortuguero is renowned for its many turtles. Depending on your luck and the time of year you visit, you may witness sea turtles coming ashore to lay their eggs in the sand. Between February and July, there’s the best chance of seeing leatherback turtles, hawksbill turtles, loggerhead turtles, and green sea turtles.
The turtles usually nest after sunset, and from 6 p.m. onwards, visitors are only permitted on the beach when accompanied by a guide. It’s important not to disturb or frighten the turtles as they come ashore to lay their eggs. Please keep noise to a minimum and avoid using flash photography or torches.

It’s time to leave Tortuguero National Park. You’ll travel west by boat and then by bus to the small town of La Fortuna. Along the way, a stop will be made at a restaurant, where your included lunch will be served.

La Fortuna sits at the foot of Costa Rica’s most famous volcano, Arenal, which rises 1,670 metres above sea level. The Arenal Volcano was dormant for more than 400 years until a powerful eruption in 1968 caused severe devastation and buried several small villages. It is considered one of Costa Rica’s most active volcanoes, although it has been dormant since 2010.

You’ll arrive in La Fortuna in the afternoon, with the rest of the day free to spend as you wish.

The morning is at your leisure. You can relax at your hotel or set out to explore the area at your own pace before an afternoon excursion.

In the afternoon, you’ll be picked up from your hotel and driven to a private reserve close to the Arenal Volcano. A short trail of about one kilometre takes you up to a viewpoint, offering magnificent views of the volcano, Laguna Verde, and Lake Arenal. Your guide will share fascinating insights into the history of the volcano. Remember to wear sturdy walking shoes, as the terrain can be a little uneven in places.

Afterwards, you will enjoy a walk through the forested area at the foot of the volcano. Your guide will tell you about the flora and fauna, and you may be lucky enough to spot animals such as toucans, peacocks, snakes, and monkeys during this short hike.

Later in the afternoon, you’ll return to your hotel after an exciting and adventure-filled day. You can also choose to extend your outing with a delightful wellness experience at the famous hot springs that La Fortuna is so well known for. See more below.

Please note: The minimum age to join the hike at Arenal Volcano is 8 years old. If you’re travelling with children under 8, you’ll instead take a boat trip on Lake Arenal, where a guide will tell you about the volcano’s history. A small supplementary charge applies for this tour.

As parts of the hiking terrain can be challenging, we also recommend the boat trip for those with limited mobility.

Today is free for you to spend as you wish.

The area around Arenal is a hotspot for activities such as horse riding, rafting, ziplining, ATV tours, mountain biking, kayaking, and many more adventures.

Close to Arenal lies the famous La Fortuna Waterfall, located at the foot of the Chato Volcano. The waterfall originates from the Tenorio River, which flows through the Arenal mountain range and rainforest before plunging 70 metres into a lagoon.

You can take a taxi to the impressive waterfall and enjoy a swim in the lagoon beneath it. The taxi will drop you off at the car park, from where it’s about a 20-minute walk down to the falls via a bridge and a walk through the lush rainforest – a lovely opportunity to spot toucans, monkeys, and other tropical wildlife along the way. You can also visit one of the nearby hot springs you didn’t try yesterday, or opt to purchase an additional excursion.

After breakfast, you’ll be picked up from your hotel and driven to Lake Arenal. Upon arrival, a boat will be waiting to take you and your luggage across to the other side of the lake, where you’ll be met and driven south to the town of Monteverde – a journey of around 4 hours. Monteverde is best known for its magical cloud forest of the same name, which you can look forward to exploring tomorrow.

Today, your tour will continue to the Monteverde cloud forest, a truly unique natural area located 1,440 metres above sea level. The forest is often referred to as the “forest in the clouds” because of its high altitude and humidity, which “captures” the moisture and gives the forest its signature misty appearance.

Get ready for an exciting 2.5-kilometre walk through the treetops! As you cross hanging bridges suspended between the trees, you’ll sense the mysterious atmosphere created by the mist that envelops this enchanting landscape. You’ll be surrounded by orchids, ferns, mosses, giant trees, and countless plant species growing along the trunks. Along the way, you may encounter some of the area’s many bird species – if you’re lucky, you might even spot hummingbirds or toucans – while the sounds of the forest and the lush nature make your visit to the cloud forest truly special.

After a couple of hours, you’ll be driven back to your hotel, and the rest of the day is yours to enjoy at your leisure.

You can choose to join one of our optional excursions or explore the area independently. Perhaps take a stroll to the main square in Santa Elena’s centre or visit the nearby orchid garden or butterfly house.

You’ll be picked up from your lodge and driven to Manuel Antonio, where you’ll be spending the next three nights. The journey to Manuel Antonio takes around five hours.

Manuel Antonio is located on Costa Rica’s western coast, facing the Pacific Ocean. It’s best known for its celebrated national park of the same name, which, despite being one of the smallest of Costa Rica’s 27 national parks, is also one of the most popular and renowned. This magnificent park is often ranked among the most beautiful in the world, boasting lush, green rainforest that stretches all the way down to pristine white-sand beaches and turquoise seas – a truly picture-perfect scene. Manuel Antonio National Park is also home to an incredible variety of wildlife and is among the most biodiverse national parks on Earth. Here, you might spot howler monkeys, white-faced capuchins, spider monkeys, squirrel monkeys, sloths, white-nosed coatis, iguanas, red-eyed tree frogs, toucans, hummingbirds, and brightly coloured butterflies.

After arriving at your hotel, the rest of the day is yours to enjoy at your leisure.

The next few days are yours to spend as you wish.

We naturally recommend that you set aside one of the days to visit the national park and experience its stunning flora and fauna. Head out early in the morning when there are fewer visitors and the best chance to spot the wildlife. The park has clearly marked trails, making it easy to explore on your own. You can also choose to join a guided tour if you’d like to learn more about the nature around you.
Don’t forget to bring your swimwear – the beaches inside the park are spectacular. Playa Manuel Antonio has even been named one of the best beaches in the world.
Please note that the national park is closed one day a week, usually on a Monday or Tuesday.

Just outside the national park lies another beautiful beach, Playa Espadilla, where you can sunbathe beneath the shade of lush trees and take in the stunning views of the Pacific Ocean – or enjoy a refreshing dip in the sea. You can also add on an extra excursion if you wish.

The town of Manuel Antonio itself is small but charming, with a good selection of shops and delightful restaurants serving everything from gourmet cuisine to local Costa Rican dishes to suit all budgets.

It’s time to say farewell to Costa Rica. You’ll be collected from your hotel and driven to the airport in San José, where you’ll board your flight back home with connecting flight(s) along the way.

You’ll return home after an unforgettable tour filled with wonderful experiences.