Around La Fortuna, rainforest, volcano views and the area's many guided activities make Arenal an active inland base. Hanging bridges offer a different perspective from a ground-level trail, while waterfall and volcano-area hikes add variety for travelers who enjoy walking.

10-day Costa Rica vacation
Ultimate Costa Rica Elegance
Combine Arenal's rainforest adventures, the Rio Celeste region and Santa Teresa's Pacific coast. This ten-day vacation pairs distinctive boutique stays with cooking, canopy exploration, a waterfall hike and wildlife discovery.
Plan Ultimate Costa Rica Elegance around your dates and interests.
Explore the starting route, stays, and experiences, then share the ideas that fit your vacation with a Pacific Trade Winds specialist.
- Price
- from $3,679 pp*
- Route
- Arenal → Upala → Santa Teresa
- Duration
- 10 days / 9 nights
- Planning
- Customizable sample itinerary
*Starting price varies with travel dates, party size, availability, and the choices you make.
Make this trip mineThe sample route
Why La Fortuna, Bijagua, and Malpais-Santa Teresa work together
Combine Arenal's rainforest adventures, the Rio Celeste region and Santa Teresa's Pacific coast. This ten-day vacation pairs distinctive boutique stays with cooking, canopy exploration, a waterfall hike and wildlife discovery.
Bijagua sits in green northern countryside near Tenorio, with a quieter rural atmosphere and rainforest-focused outings. Rio Celeste is the area's best-known natural attraction: its blue river and waterfall give a guided hike a distinctive purpose, while the trails and steps require appropriate footwear and mobility.
Santa Teresa and the neighboring Mal Pais coast draw travelers for long Pacific beaches, surfing and an informal village atmosphere. Time here need not be packed: repeated beach visits, meals in the area and a few well-chosen activities can fill a stay naturally.
Stays along the route
Starting stays for Ultimate Costa Rica Elegance
Keep the starting stays or compare the available alternatives. Your planner will confirm the final room basis, availability, inclusions, and price.
Included
Amor Arenal Hotel
Amor Arenal Hotel in La Fortuna, Costa Rica, is a luxurious boutique hotel nestled in the lush rainforest with breathtaking views of the iconic Arenal Volcano. Your planner confirms the room and meal plan.
Included
Origins Lodge
Origins Lodge is an enchanting eco-lodge located near Bijagua de Upala in Costa Rica, nestled in the lush rainforests of the Talamanca Mountains. Your planner confirms the room and meal plan.
Included
Hotel Nantipa
Hotel Nantipa in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica, is a hidden gem that offers a blend of luxury and tranquility in a stunning beachfront setting. Your planner confirms the room and meal plan.
Experiences along the way
Included tours in the Ultimate Costa Rica Elegance itinerary
These are the starting experiences included in the sample itinerary. Compare available ideas for each tour in Customize.
Day 2: Pura Vida Cooking Classes for Traditional Costa Rican Meals
Starting experiencePura Vida Cooking Classes for Traditional Costa Rican Meals
Transform from a mere tourist into a true culinary insider with the Pura Vida Cooking Class, an immersive farm-to-table journey held at the enchanting "La Finquita" sustainable farm! Your planner confirms the requirements and timing.
Day 3: Sky Tram, Ziplining Trek, and Hanging Bridges Walk with Sky Adventures Arenal
Starting experienceSky Tram, Ziplining Trek, and Hanging Bridges Walk with Sky Adventures Arenal
Immerse yourself in the ultimate rainforest trilogy with the Sky Tram, Trek, and Walk adventure, a comprehensive journey that explores the jungle from the forest floor to the highest clouds! Your planner confirms the requirements and timing.
Day 5: Rio Celeste Blue Waterfall & Tenorio National Park Rainforest Hike
Starting experienceRio Celeste Rainforest Hike to the Magical Blue Waterfall
Witness one of Costa Rica's most breathtaking natural wonders on this guided hike to the Rio Celeste, where two mineral-rich rivers merge to create a stunning, celestial blue waterfall hidden deep within the lush rainforest. Your planner confirms the requirements and timing.
Day 7: Curu Reserve Hike
Starting experienceCuru Reserve Hike
Today you will be picked up from your hotel and taken to the Curu National Wildlife Refuge for a guided hike. Your planner confirms the requirements and timing.
Starting package
What is included in this itinerary?
These are the stays, experiences and transportation included in the starting package.
- Travel assistance while in Costa Rica
- VIP Airport Greeting
- All Domestic Transportation as described
- 3 nights at Amor Arenal Hotel
- Pura Vida Cooking Classes
- Sky Tram, Trek, and Walk - Sky Adventures Arenal
- 2 nights at Origins Lodge
- Rio Celeste Waterfall & Tenorio National Park Hike
- 4 nights at Hotel Nantipa
- Curu Reserve Hike
- Inquire for details about Included Meals/Drinks
- Current sales and turismo taxes
- Optimized logistics and detailed itinerary planned with you by an expert Costa Rica Travel Planner
- Professional support before, during, and after your trip
- 24/7 Travel assistance while in Costa Rica (forget your passport or favorite shirt at a hotel? flight plan change? lose a contact lens while swimming? – WE’RE LOCATED IN COSTA RICA AND ARE HERE FOR YOU!)
- The best guides for day tours and professional drivers on transfers
- Easy booking with only a $100 deposit and flexible payment plans
Route at a glance
How Ultimate Costa Rica Elegance moves through Costa Rica
See how the sample route connects each destination. Reorder the destination stops to explore another sequence; your planner will confirm the transportation and timing it requires.
Editable trip sequence
Arrival and departure stay in place while you explore a different order for the destination stops.
- 1LIR Airport arrival
- 2ArenalDays 1–3
- 3UpalaDays 4–5
- 4Santa TeresaDays 6–9
- 5LIR Airport departure
10-day Costa Rica itinerary
What happens each day on Ultimate Costa Rica Elegance?
Follow the starting itinerary day by day, then use Customize to explore stays, experiences, transportation, and pace.
Current route: Arenal → Upala → Santa Teresa
Day 1: Arrival and La Fortuna and Arenal Volcano
Arrive at Liberia International Airport and continue to La Fortuna and Arenal Volcano for your first stay at Amor Arenal Hotel. Settle in and enjoy the setting after your journey.
Day 2: Pura Vida Cooking Classes for Traditional Costa Rican Meals
Today includes Pura Vida Cooking Classes for Traditional Costa Rican Meals. Transform from a mere tourist into a true culinary insider with the Pura Vida Cooking Class, an immersive farm-to-table journey held at the enchanting "La Finquita" sustainable farm! Your planner confirms pickup, timing and the activity requirements.
Day 3: Sky Tram, Ziplining Trek, and Hanging Bridges Walk with Sky Adventures Arenal
Today includes Sky Tram, Ziplining Trek, and Hanging Bridges Walk with Sky Adventures Arenal. Immerse yourself in the ultimate rainforest trilogy with the Sky Tram, Trek, and Walk adventure, a comprehensive journey that explores the jungle from the forest floor to the highest clouds! Your planner confirms pickup, timing and the activity requirements.
Day 4: Continue to Bijagua
Travel from La Fortuna and Arenal Volcano to Bijagua and settle into Origins Lodge. The rest of the day is open to enjoy your new surroundings.
Day 5: Rio Celeste Blue Waterfall & Tenorio National Park Rainforest Hike
Today includes Rio Celeste Blue Waterfall & Tenorio National Park Rainforest Hike. Witness one of Costa Rica's most breathtaking natural wonders on this guided hike to the Rio Celeste, where two mineral-rich rivers merge to create a stunning, celestial blue waterfall hidden deep within the lush rainforest. Your planner confirms pickup, timing and the activity requirements.
Day 6: Continue to Malpais-Santa Teresa
Travel from Bijagua to Malpais-Santa Teresa and settle into Hotel Nantipa. The rest of the day is open to enjoy your new surroundings.
Day 7: Curu Reserve Hike
Today includes Curu Reserve Hike. Today you will be picked up from your hotel and taken to the Curu National Wildlife Refuge for a guided hike. Your planner confirms pickup, timing and the activity requirements.
Day 8: Open day in Malpais-Santa Teresa
Enjoy an open day in Malpais-Santa Teresa. Enjoy the Pacific beaches, or request surf instruction or a guided activity suited to your interests. No guided activity is included on this open day; optional services are arranged and priced separately.
Day 9: Open day in Malpais-Santa Teresa
Enjoy an open day in Malpais-Santa Teresa. Enjoy the Pacific beaches, or request surf instruction or a guided activity suited to your interests. No guided activity is included on this open day; optional services are arranged and priced separately.
Day 10: Departure from Costa Rica
Return from Malpais-Santa Teresa to Liberia International Airport, arriving three hours before your flight. Your planner confirms the departure arrangements for your selected transportation.
MAKE THIS COSTA RICA VACATION YOURS
Plan your Ultimate Costa Rica Elegance vacation
Share your dates and the changes you would like with a Pacific Trade Winds specialist.
Optional trip explorer
Make this vacation yours
Explore suitable stays, optional alternatives for included tours, and the complete transportation plan. Your planner confirms suitability, availability, logistics and the revised quote. Your choices are sent as planning requests before booking.
Explore 1 of 3
Compare hotel ideas
A luxury journey whose experiences connect the landscape
Ultimate Costa Rica Elegance opens with three nights at Amor Arenal, where volcano views and forest set the scene for a Pura Vida Cooking Class on day 2 and the Sky Tram, Trek and Walk combination on day 3. The cooking experience brings local flavor into a vacation that also reaches into the rainforest canopy, so the first stop provides more than scenery alone.
Two nights at Origins Lodge near Bijagua de Upala shift the focus toward greener northern countryside and day 5's Rio Celeste and Tenorio National Park hike. Four nights at Nantipa then create a Pacific finish in Santa Teresa, with the Curu Reserve Hike on day 7 followed by two open coastal days. These are separate, complementary stages of one vacation: inland exploration, a distinctive river landscape and time to settle beside the ocean. Your planner can discuss different stays and alternatives while keeping that balance.
Arenal: food culture and treetop exploration
Three Amor Arenal nights begin in the warm rainforest around La Fortuna. The Pura Vida Cooking Class on day 2 brings Costa Rican food into the vacation before day 3's Sky Tram, Trek and Walk combination explores the canopy. Match the active elements and walking to the group, then enjoy time at the selected stay instead of assuming another guided outing is needed every afternoon.
Bijagua: a purposeful blue-waterfall chapter
Two Origins Lodge nights near Bijagua de Upala create a quieter countryside chapter after Arenal. Day 5's Rio Celeste and Tenorio hike gives the blue-waterfall landscape its place in the route. Rain can affect the color and walking conditions, and the steps need appropriate footwear and mobility. The included hike follows its listed product; other nearby forest experiences are separate additions.
Santa Teresa: four nights for an outing and coastal time
Four Nantipa nights let the Pacific finish last longer than either inland stop. The Curu Reserve Hike on day 7 is a separate wildlife outing requiring its planned transport, not an attraction immediately outside the hotel. Two open coastal days follow, allowing beach time, rest or separately arranged activities. Discuss extra nights and alternatives without losing this balance between exploration and settling in.
What are the highlights of Ultimate Costa Rica Elegance?
These highlights describe the starting vacation; your planner can tailor the final route, stays and experiences.
- Three Arenal nights include a Pura Vida Cooking Class on day 2 and Sky Tram, Trek and Walk on day 3.
- Two nights at Origins near Bijagua de Upala introduce the Rio Celeste and Tenorio National Park hike on day 5.
- Four nights at Nantipa create a spacious Santa Teresa finish, with the included Curu Reserve Hike on day 7.
- Two open coastal days balance the active inland start, making this ten-day trip suitable for travelers who enjoy discovery and time to settle in.
- Discuss hotel and tour alternatives, walking intensity and transportation while preserving the progression from rainforest to blue-river country to the Pacific.
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