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A beachside terrace with chairs beneath palms at dusk
La FortunaBijaguaMalpais-Santa Teresa

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.

10 days / 9 nights3 destinationsPrivate planning

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 mine
Plan with Pacific Trade WindsYour Costa Rica vacation specialist will shape the details of the trip with you.

The 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.

La Fortuna and Arenal Volcano
Days 1–3 · 3 nights

La Fortuna

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.

Your selected stayArenal: Amor Arenal Hotel
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Bijagua
Days 4–5 · 2 nights

Bijagua

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.

Your selected stayUpala: Origins Lodge
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Malpais-Santa Teresa
Days 6–9 · 4 nights

Malpais-Santa Teresa

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.

Your selected staySanta Teresa: Hotel Nantipa
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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.

Amor Arenal HotelArenal

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.

Origins LodgeUpala

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.

Hotel NantipaSanta Teresa

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.

Pura Vida Cooking Classes for Traditional Costa Rican MealsAvailable from La Fortuna

Day 2: Pura Vida Cooking Classes for Traditional Costa Rican Meals

Starting experience

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 the requirements and timing.

Sky Tram, Ziplining Trek, and Hanging Bridges Walk with Sky Adventures ArenalAvailable from La Fortuna

Day 3: Sky Tram, Ziplining Trek, and Hanging Bridges Walk with Sky Adventures Arenal

Starting experience

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 the requirements and timing.

Rio Celeste Rainforest Hike to the Magical Blue WaterfallAvailable from Bijagua

Day 5: Rio Celeste Blue Waterfall & Tenorio National Park Rainforest Hike

Starting experience

Rio 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.

Curu Reserve HikeAvailable from Malpais-Santa Teresa

Day 7: Curu Reserve Hike

Starting experience

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 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.

Interactive route map loading…

Editable trip sequence

Arrival and departure stay in place while you explore a different order for the destination stops.

  1. 1LIR Airport arrival
  2. 2ArenalDays 1–3
  3. 3UpalaDays 4–5
  4. 4Santa TeresaDays 6–9
  5. 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

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

La Fortuna

Compare these stays and choose the one that feels best for your trip.

Amor Arenal Hotel
Arenal Manoa Hotel and Spa
Arenal Kioro
Explore all La Fortuna hotels (opens in a new tab)
Malpais-Santa Teresa

Compare these stays and choose the one that feels best for your trip.

Hotel Nantipa
Esencia Hotel and Villas
Hotel Santa Teresa by the Beach
Explore all Malpais-Santa Teresa hotels (opens in a new tab)

A luxury journey whose experiences connect the landscape

Arenal: food culture and treetop exploration

Bijagua: a purposeful blue-waterfall chapter

Santa Teresa: four nights for an outing and coastal time

What are the highlights of Ultimate Costa Rica Elegance?

Explore more Costa Rica luxury vacation packages (opens in a new tab)

Tripadvisor Hall of Fame

Pacific Trade Winds earned Tripadvisor Hall of Fame recognition through five consecutive Travelers' Choice awards and has now received the award for 17 consecutive years and counting.

Pacific Trade Winds expertise

A vacation specialist reviews the requested route, stays, activities, and transportation.

A real planning handoff

Your request goes to a real vacation specialist who can shape the right trip with you.

Ultimate Costa Rica Elegancefrom $3,679 pp*
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Ultimate Costa Rica Elegance: A Journey to Remember