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10 Day Costa Rica & Panama Adventure
Highlights: Arenal, Monteverde, Manuel Antonio, Panama City
Trip start: San José
Trip end: Panama City
Price Range from $1,920 to $2,230 *
* USD per person based on 2-4 people, double occupancy. Custom designed personal tour. Prices subject to change.

National Geographic Adventure Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth '98.33 Client Satisfaction Rating'

Winner National Geographic 'Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth'
2008 & 2009

Trip Summary
Map of Itinerary
Expand [+]

Visit Costa Rica's most active volcano (Arenal) and bathe in the soothing hot springs at Baldi. Travel to the Cloudforest in Monteverde by car and boat and fly through the jungle on suspended cables during your Zip Canopy adventure. Spend two nights along the Pacific Coast in Manuel Antonio. Visit a tropical spice plantation and learn about cacao, cinnamon and vanilla harvesting in Costa Rica. Fly to Panama City (not included) and visit the world famous Panama Canal with your own private guide. Enjoy some free time in Panama City for shopping before departing for home.

Day Activities Hotel
Day 1
Arenal
  • Meet and Greet
  • Transfer - Private - San Jose - Arenal [3 hrs] - Vehicle/Driver
  • Kensington Cares - 2
  • Dinner (not included)
Arenal Springs Resort
(Alt: Volcano Inn) (B)
Day 2
Arenal
  • Breakfast (included)
  • At Leisure
  • Lunch (not included)
  • Arenal: Private - Volcano Hike & Thermal Pools at the Springs Resort & Spa (with Dinner) (6 hrs) - Vehicle/Guide/Driver
Arenal Springs Resort
(Alt: Volcano Inn) (B)
Day 3
Monteverde
  • Breakfast (included)
  • Transfer - Private - Arenal - Monteverde [4 hrs] - Vehicle/Boat/Guide
  • Lunch (not included)
  • Monteverde: Shared - 1/2 d Zip Canopy & Skytram - Vehicle/Guide/Driver
  • Dinner (not included)
Fonda Vela (B)
Day 4
Monteverde
  • Breakfast (included)
  • Private - 1/2 d Monteverde Cloudforest Reserve Tour - Vehicle/Guide
  • Lunch (not included)
  • Dinner (not included)
Fonda Vela (B)
Day 5
Manuel Antonio
  • Breakfast (included)
  • Transfer - Private - Monteverde - Manuel Antonio [5 hrs] - Vehicle/Driver
  • Lunch (not included)
  • Dinner (not included)
Byblos Resort & Casino
(Alt: The Falls Resort) (B)
Day 6
Manuel Antonio
  • Breakfast (included)
  • At Leisure
  • Manuel Antonio: Shared - 1/2 d Rainforest Spice - Vehicle/Guide/Driver
  • Lunch (not included)
  • Dinner (not included)
Byblos Resort & Casino
(Alt: The Falls Resort) (B)
Day 7
Panama City
  • Breakfast (included)
  • Transfer - Private - Manuel Antonio - San José [3 hrs] - Vehicle/Driver
  • Panama City: Transfer - Airport - Private Vehicle/Driver
  • Lunch (not included)
  • Dinner (not included)
Radisson Decapolis
(Alt: El Panama Hotel) (B)
Day 8
Panama City
  • Breakfast (included)
  • Private - Half Day City Tour (1/2 Day) - Vehicle/Guide/Driver
  • Lunch (not included)
  • Dinner (not included)
Radisson Decapolis
(Alt: El Panama Hotel) (B)
Day 9
Panama City
  • Breakfast (included)
  • Optional activities
  • Lunch (not included)
  • Dinner (not included)
Radisson Decapolis
(Alt: El Panama Hotel) (B)
Day 10
Panama City
  • Breakfast (included)
  • Transfer - Airport - Private Vehicle/Driver
Depart (Int`l Airport) (standard) 
B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner, 1/2d = Half Day, Al = All Inclusive

Trip Options
All of our itineraries may be customized as you wish, add extra days, change a hotel, see different sights. Contact one of our expert consultants for your free, no-obligation vacation plan.

Itinerary

Day 1 Arenal

Arenal contains an active volcano, and also the only dwarf cloudforest inCosta Rica. The crater of the volcano is 1.5km (1mi.) wide and contains a hot-water lake that changes color from turquoise to green to gray. It is also a whitewater rafting center with routes on the Rio Toro and Rio Sarapiqui.

Upon arrival you will be met by our local representative who will help you locating your vehicle.

Meet your driver for a private transfer to Arenal.

Kensington Tours donates a portion of proceeds to our charitable initiative www.kensingtoncares.com which supports education-based initiatives in disadvantaged communities.

The hotel Arenal Springs offers the perfect combination between relaxation, comfort, and exuberant tropical scenery, as well as the best view of the Arenal Volcano from any vantage point in the premises. Located at only 2 and-a-half hours from San José, the hotel Arenal Springs offers the perfect combination between relaxation, comfort, and exuberant tropical scenery, as well as the best view of the Arenal Volcano from any vantage point in the premises.

Overnight at Arenal Springs Resort.


Kensington Cares
Kensington Cares
Arenal Springs Resort
Arenal Springs Resort
Day 2 Arenal

Enjoy time at leisure to explore at your own pace, or relax at your hotel.

You will be picked up from your hotel and transferred to the rainforest close to the Arenal Volcano. Enjoy a leisurely hike for 1.5 hours through the rainforest while your private guide offers the history of the Arenal Volcano. This park is located at the base of the Arenal Volcano and is filled with wildlife including monkeys, toucans, coati and a large variety of bird species. Conclude the tour at the Springs Resort - soak in the hot mineral baths and enjoy! After a soothing soak in the hot springs, enjoy a lovely dinner at The Springs Resort, prepared in a colonial style rustic kitchen. Enjoy the local cuisine - a true authentic experience. Return to your hotel in the evening after a delicious dinner (included in the tour cost).

Overnight at Arenal Springs Resort.


Hot Springs at The Springs Resort & Spa
Hot Springs at The Springs Resort & Spa
Day 3 Monteverde

Straddling the Continental Divide at 1440 meters (4662 ft), the Santa Elena and Monteverde Cloud Forest area offers one of the most interesting place to visit in Costa Rica. In the rain forest are more than 100 species of mammals including 5 species of cats, over 400 species of birds including 30 kinds of hummingbirds, tens of thousands of insect species (over 5000 species of moths) and 2,500 species of plants (420 kinds of orchids). The area is acclaimed as one of the most outstanding wildlife refuges in the New World Tropics.

Meet your driver for a private transfer to Lake Arenal. Board a motor boat and cross the lake while observing scenic views of the Arenal Volcano (45 mins). Private vehicle transfer to your hotel in Monteverde.

You will be picked up from your hotel and transferred to the tour start point to the Skytram and Zip Canopy Tour. The Sky Tram is a high technology cableway that travels above the Monteverde Cloudforest, 2000 meters above sea level. Enjoy fantastic views from the top of the rainforest canopy. Conclude the tour with a Zip Canopy Adventure! Travel through the primary Costa Rican tropical jungle on suspension cables as you move through the jungle canopy with your bilingual guides and safety spotters from platform to platform (this is a shared, group tour). Morning/Afternoon Departures; Duration 3.5 Hours (approximately)

The Hotel Fonda Vela is located in beautiful Monteverde, famous for its rare and gorgeous cloud forest and friendly community. The climate is refreshing, often referred to as "eternal spring". The views of the Gulf of Nicoya from the hotel's 1,400 meter (4,200 foot) elevation are spectacular. Monteverde is an ideal destination for relaxing and enjoying the wonders of the tropics. A visit of at least two nights or more in Monteverde is recommended. Experience Hotel Fonda Vela's natural approach to life -- with style! Surrounded by beautiful tropical gardens, the buildings are an attractive part of the lush, tropical mountainside. The rooms are cozy, yet elegant, spacious and comfortable. Each room is designed with the environment in mind. For example, large windows help to bring the outdoors inside. The Fonda Vela was built with the idea of being a nurturing experience, environmentally, culturally and spiritually. The guests play an important part in fulfilling this dream.

Overnight at Fonda Vela.


Ziplining in the cloudforest
Ziplining in the cloudforest
Hotel Fondavela, Monteverde
Hotel Fondavela, Monteverde
Day 4 Monteverde

You will be picked up from your hotel and driven to the Monteverde Cloud forest. Explore the enchanted Monteverde Cloud forest with a set of expert eyes during this privately guided walk. Explore different trails in search of birds and mammals and discuss the amazing diversity of plants. Half day excursion (4 hrs).

Overnight at Fonda Vela.


Cloudforest Reserve Tour
Cloudforest Reserve Tour
Day 5 Manuel Antonio

Well-kept and well-guarded,ManuelAntonioNational Parkfeatures 5 kinds of forest, some with characteristic rain forest vegetation. Orchids and ferns, jaguars, ocelots and the Baird tapir may be seen here. There are trails through the park and many lookouts. Horseback riding and white-water activities are also available.

Meet your driver for a private transfer to your hotel in Manuel Antonio.

A lovely boutique hotel located on the central Pacific Coast of Costa Rica in Manuel Antonio, one of the most beautiful coastal national parks in the country. Surrounded by the rain forest at the top of the hill, Byblos offers opportunities for adventure-sport travelers and relaxation seekers alike. Affordable and convenient hotel accommodations and activities are offered.

Overnight at Byblos Resort & Casino.


Byblos Resort & Casino
Byblos Resort & Casino
Day 6 Manuel Antonio

Enjoy time at leisure to explore at your own pace, or relax at your hotel.

You will be picked up from your hotel and transferred to the tour start point. Vanilla Spice Tour: Located in the small pueblo of Villanueva (about a 35-minute drive from Quepos), Villa Vanilla is a spice farm and tropical laboratory for sustainable agriculture. Vanilla, cacao, black pepper and cinnamon are cultivated on the 150 acre farm. Visitors can also stock up on organic vanilla beans, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and hot chocolate – all grown on the farm. Morning/Afternoon Departures; Duration 3 Hours (approximately)

Overnight at Byblos Resort & Casino.


Villa Vanilla
Villa Vanilla
Day 7 Panama City

Panama City is a curious blend of old Spain, modern America and the bazaar atmosphere of the East. Most of the interesting sights are In the old part of the city with its narrow, cobble-stoned streets and colonial buildings. The old historic city with the Salón Bolivar is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The Panama Canal, to the west of the city, is 80km (50 miles) long and draws many visitors. A train or bus ride alongside or a boat trip on the Canal itself is memorable - the scenery is beautiful, and the mechanics of the Canal equally fascinating. There is a new Panama Canal Museum in the Casco Viejo area.

Meet your driver for a private transfer to San José.

Airport transfer with private vehicle, and English speaking professional driver.

The Radisson Decapolis Hotel combines exclusivity and boutique grandeur in the middle of Panama City. The 240 rooms are decorated with subtle luxuries, from unique art pieces to etched glass partitions. Rooms feature either ocean views or city views, and all offer air conditioning, high-speed Internet access, and room safe. Dine at the hotel restaurants, which serve everything from fusion gourmet to traditional sushi. The Radisson Decapolis is also home to a popular martini bar, which is in demand by hotel visitors and locals alike. Other pastimes include time spent at the gymnasium, massage room, Turkish bath, and beauty salon. The hotel is situated in the business zone, which allows for easy access to all the exciting areas of town.

Overnight at Radisson Decapolis.


Panama City
Panama City
Radisson Decapolis, Panama City
Radisson Decapolis, Panama City
Day 8 Panama City

You will be picked up from your hotel and transferred to the Panama Viejo, the first city founded in the isthmus by Spanish conquerors at the beginning of colonization. The remaining ruins are the ones left by Pirate Henry Morgan, who sacked the town in 1671. We will then head to the second colonial city of Panama, Casco Viejo, built in 1673 and will walk around the French Plaza and its monuments. The architecture of this area is exquisite including French, Italian and Spanish styles.

Overnight at Radisson Decapolis.


Ruins of La Vieja
Ruins of La Vieja
Day 9 Panama City

Leisure time in Panama City. Be sure to pre-book your local excursions through Kensington Tours to ensure that you make the most of your time in Panama. Optionals include: City Tour, Panama Canal Tour, Panama Canal Cruise, Soberania National Park Tour, Shopping Tour, Rapelling at the Chagres River, Embera Indian Reserve, Train tour and more!).

Overnight at Radisson Decapolis.


Toucan at Soberania National Park
Toucan at Soberania National Park
Day 10 Panama City

Airport transfer with private vehicle, and English speaking professional driver.

Depart from International Airport. End of itinerary.

Overnight at Depart (Int`l Airport) (standard).



Trip Includes
Guaranteed departure – Accommodation, Activities, Transfers, Meals, Fees where indicated as per the itinerary - Local and international traveler assistance during your tour - Specialised and personalised services

Trip Excludes
Tips - Laundry - Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages unless explicitly noted - Optional activities/extras – Visas (unless noted) - Vacation insurance

Trip Terms & Conditions

  • Your deposit is due immediately on booking (30% of program price, minimum $250). The balance is due 90 days prior to departure. We accept payment via credit card, certified check, wire transfer or money order.
  • Tour quotes do not include airfare to/from the trip start point unless noted on the itinerary
  • Cost increases in currency exchange, government fees, taxes, surcharges or hotel/lodge tariff increases between quote date and start date are payable by the client.
  • Availability cannot be guaranteed until booked. We will exercise best efforts to book hotels per the itinerary, however, in busy seasons and with client bookings made within 90 days of tour date we may be forced to offer substitutes.
  • Cancellations of confirmed bookings 90 days or more prior to departure will receive full refund minus a $350 (per person) administrative fee and any non-refundable paid fees (e.g. non-refundable airfare, cruise or hotel deposits). 60-89 days will be subject to loss of deposit. 30-59 days will be subject to loss of 50% of program price. 29 days or less will be subject to 100% of program price.
  • Payment of the program price constitutes your acceptance of the terms and conditions set out at www.kensingtontours.com/terms-and-conditions
  • Living Standards and practices at destination may differ from those in North America with respect to provisions of utilities, services and accommodation.