NEW! Costa Rican Treasures: Coast to Coast (2012)

San Jose • Tortuguero National Park • La Fortuna • Guanacaste
  • 13 days
  • from only:
  • $1445
  • $112 per day
    Land Tour Only
  • 13 days
  • from only:
  • $1845
  • $142 per dayIncludes international airfare and government taxes
IN THIS SECTION:
Detailed Itinerary
Video: Travelers' experiences of Costa Rican Treasures: Coast to Coast
What Makes This Trip Unique
It's Included
Featured Accommodations
Pre- & Post-Trip Extensions
Guatemala: Antigua & Lake Atitlán
Manuel Antonio National Park
Optional Tours
Grand Circle Foundation
Know Before You Go
Your Travel Handbook
Air information
LearnMore
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Customize your trip

Learn how to customize your vacation, or view standard air routing and travel times. The choice is yours with our True Choice program.

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Customize your trip

With our True Choice Program, you can choose to stay longer before or after your trip on your own, or combine two vacations to maximize your value. Here are more ways to create the Grand Circle vacation that’s right for you:

  • Choose our standard air routing, or work with us to select the airline and routing you prefer
  • Make your own international flight arrangements directly with the airline, applying frequent flyer miles if available
  • Stay overnight in a connecting city before or after your trip
  • Request to arrive a few days early to get a fresh start on your vacation
  • Choose to “break away” before or after your trip, spending additional days or weeks on your own
  • Extend your vacation with our optional pre- and post-trip extensions
  • Combine your choice of Grand Circle vacations to maximize your value
  • Upgrade to business or premium economy class

The air options listed above will involve an additional fee of $100 per person for confirmed requests (as well as incremental airfare costs based on your specific choice). This service fee will be waived for Inner Circle/Sir Edmund Hillary Club members.

Or, when you make your reservation, you can choose our standard air routing, for which approximate travel times are shown below.

GATEWAY

TRAVEL TIME*

Atlanta

6hrs

Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles

8hrs

Denver, New York (JFK), San Francisco

9hrs

Detroit, Philadelphia, Washington, DC (Dulles)

7hrs

Miami

3hrs

Minneapolis

11hrs

Portland, OR

17hrs

Phoenix, San Diego

14hrs

Seattle

12hrs

* Estimated total time, including connection and layover. Actual travel time may vary.

The information above reflects approximate flight times from the gateway cities listed to San Jose, Costa Rica. Routing is based on availability and subject to change. You will receive your final air itinerary approximately 14 days prior to departure.

REFER and EARN

Earn increasing rewards as a Vacation Ambassador

REFER and EARN as a Vacation Ambassador with
the BEST referral program in the industry

Inspiring new travelers to join the Grand Circle family is a rewarding experience—both for you and your new travelers.

Share your love of travel with others and, for each referral who embarks on a Grand Circle trip, you will earn $100 in CASH or credit. With your 4th referral departing on a 2012 departure, your reward increases to $200 in CASH or credit per person. And once you refer 8 travelers departing in either 2012 or 2013, you'll earn a FREE trip valued up to $4,500 per household—which will bring the total value of your earned rewards up to $5,600.

And you are also passing along savings to your new traveler: We'll instantly deduct $100 off the cost of their reservation when they mention your name and Customer Number while reserving.

To learn more about the benefits of our Vacation Ambassador Referral Program, please call us toll-free at 1-800-221-2610
or click here.

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Post-Trip: Manuel Antonio National Park

4 nights from only $495

One of the smallest and most popular national parks in Costa Rica, Manuel Antonio sparkles like a jewel set against the crystal-clear waters of the lush Pacific Coast. With four gorgeous beaches, island bird sanctuaries, coral reefs, and luxuriant rain forests, this park is a miniature marvel. You’ll discover its many facets during this extension, as you explore on foot, by boat, and on horseback.

Single Supplement: FREE

Please note: This extension may not be available on all departures. Ask your Travel Counselor for details.

It's Included

  • Accommodations for 3 nights in Manuel Antonio at the La Foresta Nature Resort or similar and 1 night in San Jose at the Aurola Holiday Inn or similar
  • 7 meals: 4 breakfasts, 2 lunches, and 1 dinner
  • 3 included tours: Manuel Antonio National Park nature walk, Isla Damas cruise, Tocori Beach Horseback Ride
  • Exclusive services of a resident Grand Circle Program Director
  • All transfers
Day 1
San Jose/Manuel Antonio
Accommodations: Villas Lirio Hotel

Travel overland from San Jose this morning, heading south to the lush environs of Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast, home to the renowned Manuel Antonio National Park. En route, you'll stop at Rio Tarcoles Bridge, which borders Carara Biological Reserve.

In the language of the native Huetar people, carara means “river of crocodiles.” And this spot is a prime location for viewing these ancient reptiles. Your Program Director will not only point out the crocs to you, but also explain why they congregate in this particular location.

From there, you’ll drive southeast along the coast and arrive in the town of Jaco in time for lunch on your own. Then head to your hotel just outside Manuel Antonio National Park. After an orientation walk, you’ll have time to settle into your room or explore the grounds before setting out with your fellow travelers for a local restaurant, where you’ll enjoy excellent sunset views during your included dinner.
Day 2
Manuel Antonio/Nature walk
Accommodations: Villas Lirio Hotel

After breakfast, you’ll depart the hotel for a morning at Manuel Antonio National Park, a critical habitat for migrating birds from the U.S. and Canada. While comparatively small (at 1,700 acres), this lush park is home to several distinct ecosystems, each teeming with wildlife. And perhaps because of its small size, a morning full of wildlife sightings—including Howler and Capuchin monkeys, sloths, coatis, and countless birds—isn’t at all unusual. In particular, keep an eye out for the endangered Squirrel Monkey during your nature walk through the rain forest and along the beach, as Manuel Antonio is one of only two of its habitats in the country.

You’ll have lunch with your fellow travelers at a local restaurant, then return to the hotel to enjoy to enjoy a little leisure time, perhaps taking the opportunity to soak up the sun and relax by our hotel’s swimming pools before dinner on your own.

Please note: On select departures, you’ll enjoy today’s scheduled visit to Manuel Antonio National Park on Day 3.
Day 3
Manuel Antonio/Isla Damas cruise/Tocori Beach Horseback Ride
Accommodations: Villas Lirio Hotel

You’ll depart the hotel after breakfast for a morning of active discoveries in the rain forests around Manuel Antonio, starting witha cruise throughthe mangrove islands of the Damas estuary. A small covered motorboat will carry you through the 14,000 acres of mangrove forest, where—with the help of your Program Director—you’ll have the chance to spot some of the region’s colorful (and playful!) wildlife, including White-faced Capuchin Monkeys.

Then, travel to the nearby private ecological reserve at Tocori where you’ll enjoy an included horseback ride in a beautiful forest with tropical trees swaying in the ocean breezes and the crystal-clear waters of the Pacific stretching out to the horizon.

Afterwards, you’ll visit the neighboring town of Quepos. Named for the native Quepoa people whom the Spanish conquered in the late 16th century, the town has seen prosperity as a banana- and African palm oil-exporting center, but is now a mecca for sport fishing. You’ll have to opportunity to enjoy a taste of the ocean’s bounty as you select a restaurant for lunch on your own. Then, you’ll return to the hotel where you can spend the afternoon as you wish and enjoy dinner on your own.
Day 4
Manuel Antonio/San Jose
Accommodations: Occidental Torremolinos Hotel

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast today, and spend the morning as you wish. You’ll begin your journey back to San Jose a little before noon, stopping en route for an included lunch at a local restaurant. Arriving at your hotel mid-afternoon, you'll have the balance of the day at leisure. Dinner is on your own tonight.
Day 5
San Jose/Return to U.S.

After breakfast, you’ll transfer to the airport for your flight home.