9-Day Best of Northwest Costa Rica from San Jose: Arenal Volcano National Park, Monteverde Cloud Forest and Guanacaste
Traveler rating
4.4/5
Based on 11 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is 9-Day Best of Northwest Costa Rica from San Jose: Arenal Volcano National Park, Monteverde Cloud Forest and Guanacaste worth booking?
9-Day Best of Northwest Costa Rica from San Jose: Arenal Volcano National Park, Monteverde Cloud Forest and Guanacaste is a 216-hour experience in Alajuela, Costa Rica, from $2,109 per person. It scores 53 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”, based on a 4.4/5 rating across 11 reviews. This booking is non-refundable, so pick your date carefully. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 53 / 100
- Rating
- 4.4/5 (11)
- Duration
- 216 hours
- From
- $2,109 per person
Experience Costa Rica's northwestern highlights on this 9-day tour, including Arenal Volcano National Park, Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge, Monteverde Cloud Forest and Super Combo in Guanacaste. Explore the natural wonders of land and water, where approximately six percent of the world’s most bio-diverse species reside. Relax in a thermal hot spring. Explore the forest on a Sky Walk and ride on horseback along mountain trails – with an extra day to relax at your leisure or continue your adventure with multiple options.
What you get
About this experience
Experience Costa Rica's northwestern highlights on this 9-day tour, including Arenal Volcano National Park, Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge, Monteverde Cloud Forest and Super Combo in Guanacaste. Explore the natural wonders of land and water, where approximately six percent of the world’s most bio-diverse species reside. Relax in a thermal hot spring. Explore the forest on a Sky Walk and ride on horseback along mountain trails – with an extra day to relax at your leisure or continue your adventure with multiple options.
What's included
Included
- Arenal Volcano Hot Springs at Baldi
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Meals as per itinerary (B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner)
- Breakfast
- 3 nights accommodation in Guanacaste
- 2 nights accommodation in Arenal
- 1 nights accommodation in San Jose
- 2 nights accommodation in Monteverde
- Sky Walk Tour
- Transfers between San Jose, Arenal, Monteverde and Guanacaste
Not included
- Food and drinks, unless specified
- Gratuities
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Alajuela
Hotel pickup
Pickup is available for selected locations.
Ends at
Returns to the starting point
Options you can book
4-Star Option: Double
Accommodation in a double room in the following hotels or similar: : Presidente Hotel in San Jose; Arenal Kioro Hotel in Arenal;El Establo in Monteverde; Cala Luna Hotel in Guanacaste
3.5-Star Option: Triple
Accommodation in a triple room in the following hotels or similar:Country Inn & Suites in San Jose; Arenal Paraiso in Arenal; Cloud Forest Lodge in Monteverde; Tamarindo Diria in Guanacaste
3.5-Star Option: Single
Accommodation in a single room in the following hotels or similar:Country Inn & Suites in San Jose; Arenal Paraiso in Arenal; Cloud Forest Lodge in Monteverde; Tamarindo Diria in Guanacaste
3.5-Star Option: Double
Accommodation in a double room in the following hotels or similar:Country Inn & Suites in San Jose; Arenal Paraiso in Arenal; Cloud Forest Lodge in Monteverde; Tamarindo Diria in Guanacaste
4-Star Option: Triple
Accommodation in a triple room in the following hotels or similar: : Presidente Hotel in San Jose; Arenal Kioro Hotel in Arenal; El Establo in Monteverde; Cala Luna Hotel in Guanacaste
4-Star Option: Single
Accommodation in a single room in the following hotels or similar: : Presidente Hotel in San Jose; Arenal Kioro Hotel in Arenal; El Establo in Monteverde; Cala Luna Hotel in Guanacaste
Before you book
- Cancellation
- All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
- Languages
- en, es
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 10 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Central American Tours
Know before you go
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Please note: you can book optional tours while in destination for this multi-day trip
- Note: single rooms are only available for 1 person, double rooms for 2 and triple rooms for 3. If you book additional passengers in the rooms, your booking will be rejected and a full refund will be processed
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 11 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
7 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Knowledge and storytelling
5 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Organization
3 mentionsPickup, timing, and logistics are described as running smoothly.
Physical effort
2 mentionsExpect real walking or climbing: reviewers mention the effort involved.
Pace and timing
2 mentionsSeveral reviewers found the schedule tight or the day long.
Traveler reviews
11 verified traveler reviews for 9-Day Best of Northwest Costa Rica from San Jose: Arenal Volcano National Park, Monteverde Cloud Forest and Guanacaste. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Love CAT
The combination of Juan as our guide and Jorge as driving was amazing. Juan was extremely knowledgeable and answered all of our questions. His experience and enthusiasm were incredible. We gained much appreciation for the biodiversity of this wonderful country. Jorge was a great driver with knowledge of the back roads and short cuts around traffic. Both were always on time and in most cases early for our pickups. Zianny was extremely helpful in coordination of departure times and always answered my questions. She was great at responding to my emails. Alex and Maria were waiting for us at the San Jose airport to transfer us to our first hotel for a few hours since we arrived in country after midnight. We were happy to see them. Gravin was waiting for us at a pickup point in Liberia to transfer us to our Guanacaste hotel. We appreciated that Gravin arrived early at our hotel to transfer us to the Liberia airport for a return flight home.
via Tripadvisor
An Exhausting Trip With Magnificent Highlights
Although there were breath taking experiences on this trip I would not recommend it for several reasons. According to our incredible tour guide Fico we were fortunate to see so many monkeys. We saw Howlers, Capuchins and Spider monkeys close up in the wild. We also saw an incredible number of bird species. I would have liked to know in advance how experienced you need to be with binoculars. We made a friend on the trip who is an experienced birder and wildlife photographer who shared his photos. Other wise we would not have managed to see them and capture photos. My main complaint would be the number of people on this bus trip. In order to process and move 27 people everyday we were up every morning between 5:00-5:30 and on the bus at 6:30. We spent so many hours on that bus with very little activity. Mostly people were between 60-75 years old but we had two young couples. Everyone complained about the lack of activity. Any scheduled down time or more lengthy hiking options vanished in the process of moving so many people with frequent but necessary bathroom stops. By the end I was so sleep deprived it was hard to appreciate much. In the itinerary they mention a turtle rescue research experience. In fact these turtles are almost extinct and definitely not available for viewing. Instead the morning was spent picking up plastic from the beach and sorting to increase awareness of how plastic are being incorporated into our marine life. People were very disappointed. This should have been a trip for maybe 15 people. I will always be grateful to our guide Fico and some of the experts we met along the way for sharing their vast knowledge but this trip was not worth so much money.
Response from the operator: You have the wrong company. Please remove this review from our page. Nothing that you describe is from this tour. We do not a tour guide named fico We do not do groups with so many passengers We do not visit a place to see turtles Please remove your comment from our page. Thank you
via Tripadvisor
Amazing Trip - You won't regret using CA Tours!
Just returned from a 9 day trip arranged by CATours and it was an amazing time. We had private transport from SJO airport to our hotel in San Jose. Next was two days in La Fortuna, where we did the Mistico Park Hanging Bridges Tour. Next was the Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge where we saw many different birds, iguanas, cayman, bats (sleeping - it was daytime!) and just had a great relaxing time on the river cruise. Then we transferred via boat across Lake Arenal to a bus that took us to our next stop, Monteverde which I think was my favorite region. The cool nights were beautiful. Our final location was Manuel Antonio (Guanacaste). The sunset catamaran tour was one of the highlights of our trip. Not one of the giant party boats, but a much more relaxing one. Finally, private transport back to one last night in San Jose, and private transport to the airport next morning. Great staff. CATours responded very quickly to a few of my mid-trip requests to change things, and their drivers were excellent. They arranged a few wonderful suprises for us as this was an anniversary trip. Can't say enough about the entire experience!
Response from the operator: Thank you so much for your review! Wonderful words from your part. I will share them with our team. Thank you for choosing Costa Rica for your trip!! We love to share our country with everyone! Hope you come back! Happy holidays!
via Tripadvisor
Quero Regresar!
Sight seeing is gorgeous and perfectly scheduled throughout the trip! Nature Lovers must experience!! You start with tropical forest, then cloud forest and end with a nice couple days of relaxing in an all inclusive dry forest resort in Guanacaste. This is the best way to get to see many significant and beautiful parts of Costa Rica! The hotels that are offered in the package are also top-class, Kioro in Arenal, El Establo in Monteverde, and my family stayed at Riu Palace while in Guanacaste. Jorge was an amazing tour guide, he is very knowledgeable, helped improve my Spanish speaking skills and overall a pleasant man.
Response from the operator: Thank you very much for our review! Yes, Guided Vacations (Marvels of Costa Rica, 9 days 8 nights) is the best way to experience the best of Costa Rica. I am so glad you enjoyed your vacations. Puedes regresar cuando quieras!!!! Jorge Taylor President / Owner
via Tripadvisor
Amazing first time to Costa Rica
We had the best time in Costa Rica. We found our tour guide, Leidi Vargas, at the airport as she was holding a sign with our name on it. She picked us up at the airport and was available at our hotel and via text and email as we traveled around the country. She was very patient with us and explained everything we needed to know. Leidi arranged a trip to a national park, snorkeling, and transportation around Costa Rica. We always felt safe with all the drivers and guides. We had the best time and saw all kinds of animals. The hotels were amazing and the people were the best. Everyone was so friendly and welcoming to us. Once we parted ways and went to our second hotel she kept in touch with us via text to make sure we were enjoying ourselves and getting the resources we needed. Everything went according to plan, every driver and tour arrived on time and as expected. Can't wait to come back again!
Response from the operator: Thank you very much for your review! I am glad you enjoyed our 9 Day tour of Costa Rica. It was our pleasure to serve you and hope to have the opportunity to have you back in a not to distant future. Jorge Taylor President / Owner
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 216 hours
- Free cancellation
- Non-refundable
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $2,109 to $5,518
- Hotel pickup
- Available for selected locations
- Booked in 30 days
- 4
- Verdict
- Worth a Look
Who runs this experience
Operated by Central American Tours, who run 9 experiences we rank across 4 cities, with an average Outty Ranking of 64.8.
See everything Central American Tours runsWhy this scores 53
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
9-Day Best of Northwest Costa Rica from San Jose: Arenal Volcano National Park, Monteverde Cloud Forest and Guanacaste: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Alajuela.
How much does 9-Day Best of Northwest Costa Rica from San Jose: Arenal Volcano National Park, Monteverde Cloud Forest and Guanacaste cost?
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Prices start at $2,109 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Alajuela usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does 9-Day Best of Northwest Costa Rica from San Jose: Arenal Volcano National Park, Monteverde Cloud Forest and Guanacaste take?
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Plan for about 216 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Alajuela is not rushed.
Is 9-Day Best of Northwest Costa Rica from San Jose: Arenal Volcano National Park, Monteverde Cloud Forest and Guanacaste worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 53 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.4/5 across 11 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable outdoors in Alajuela, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule 9-Day Best of Northwest Costa Rica from San Jose: Arenal Volcano National Park, Monteverde Cloud Forest and Guanacaste?
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No. This experience is sold on a non-refundable basis, so only book a date you are confident about. Similar experiences in the city do offer free cancellation if flexibility matters more than price.
Is 9-Day Best of Northwest Costa Rica from San Jose: Arenal Volcano National Park, Monteverde Cloud Forest and Guanacaste suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 216-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book 9-Day Best of Northwest Costa Rica from San Jose: Arenal Volcano National Park, Monteverde Cloud Forest and Guanacaste?
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Around 4 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Alajuela can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Alajuela and add a light layer if any part of the 216-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does 9-Day Best of Northwest Costa Rica from San Jose: Arenal Volcano National Park, Monteverde Cloud Forest and Guanacaste start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Alajuela within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Alajuela?
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On Outty we rank every Alajuela experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Arenal Volcano Full-Day Combo Tour with Lunch and Dinner, Arenal Volcano Experience Full-Day Tour from San Jose, Manuel Antonio National Park Sightseeing and Wildlife Day Tour from San Jose. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Alajuela?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Alajuela?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
What is included in 9-Day Best of Northwest Costa Rica from San Jose: Arenal Volcano National Park, Monteverde Cloud Forest and Guanacaste?
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Included: Arenal Volcano Hot Springs at Baldi; Lunch; Dinner; Meals as per itinerary (B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner); and Breakfast. Not included: Food and drinks, unless specified; and Gratuities. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.
Does 9-Day Best of Northwest Costa Rica from San Jose: Arenal Volcano National Park, Monteverde Cloud Forest and Guanacaste include hotel pickup?
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Yes, pickup is offered, or you can meet at the start point instead from 2 listed pickup locations in and around Alajuela.
What languages is 9-Day Best of Northwest Costa Rica from San Jose: Arenal Volcano National Park, Monteverde Cloud Forest and Guanacaste offered in?
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It is offered in English and Spanish. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.
Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for 9-Day Best of Northwest Costa Rica from San Jose: Arenal Volcano National Park, Monteverde Cloud Forest and Guanacaste?
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Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.
Is 9-Day Best of Northwest Costa Rica from San Jose: Arenal Volcano National Park, Monteverde Cloud Forest and Guanacaste wheelchair or stroller accessible?
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The operator notes: Specialized infant seats are available. If accessibility is critical, contact the operator after booking to confirm arrangements for your date.
What happens to 9-Day Best of Northwest Costa Rica from San Jose: Arenal Volcano National Park, Monteverde Cloud Forest and Guanacaste if the weather is bad?
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It generally runs rain or shine, so dress for the forecast in Alajuela. Standard cancellation terms apply.
What do travelers say about 9-Day Best of Northwest Costa Rica from San Jose: Arenal Volcano National Park, Monteverde Cloud Forest and Guanacaste?
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Across 11 reviews averaging 4.4 out of 5, recurring themes include the guide, knowledge and storytelling, organization. Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works. One thing to know: Expect real walking or climbing: reviewers mention the effort involved.
What booking options are available for 9-Day Best of Northwest Costa Rica from San Jose: Arenal Volcano National Park, Monteverde Cloud Forest and Guanacaste?
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There are 6 options to choose from, including 4-Star Option: Double, 3.5-Star Option: Triple, 3.5-Star Option: Single, 3.5-Star Option: Double. Prices and start times differ by option, so compare them on the booking screen.
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