Costa Rica Short Break: La Fortuna
Trip Code: QBKI
Why we love it
Discover the national symbol of Costa Rica on a sloth tour. See the slow-moving animal in their natural habitat, spot dart frogs and toucans and learn about the region’s distinct wildlife from a local naturalist., Walk along the hanging bridges on a daytrip to Mistico Park and take in the panoramic views from the tree tops along the way., Soak in the region’s natural hot springs, wander through the La Fortuna Town Centre and visit the La Fortuna Waterfall in your free time., Indulge in the region’s local cuisine. Try your hand at making tortillas over a fogon (wooden stove) and taste prensadas (tortilla with cheese) and ripe plantain with cheese during a tasty traditional lunch., Learn about the region’s landscape and nocturnal wildlife on a guided jungle walk in La Fortuna. See the tropical rainforest in the dark and look for local animals like frogs and insects.
Is this trip right for me?
This trip starts with a short meeting time in San Jose, then you’ll immediately travel to La Fortuna, which could be challenging for those arriving late or needing flexibility., There is limited downtime, so if you’re looking for a more relaxed holiday, this adventure might feel a bit too active. The itinerary is packed with nature-based activities like jungle walks, wildlife spotting, and hanging bridge hikes, which may not appeal to those who prefer cultural sightseeing, are afraid of heights or night walking in the jungle.
Important information
1. In case you require arrival transfer it can be offered at an additional cost. You must provide your flight details to your booking agent at least 14 days prior to travel.
2. A single supplement is available if you'd prefer not to share a room on this trip. [The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip and is subject to availability.] Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
What to bring/pack
Most travellers prefer to take a small to medium wheeled suitcase, which is a great size for the packing capacity in our private vehicles. Whatever you take, be mindful that you will need to be able to carry your own luggage, handle it at airports, take it in/out of accommodation and perhaps even walk short distances. We recommend you pack as lightly as possible.
If your trip includes travelling on overnight trains or primarily using public transport, the smaller your luggage, the easier it will be to store under or above bunks. Large suitcases may not be able to be taken on board. A lockable bag or small padlock for your bag will be useful, especially when travelling on public transportation as well.
When you're exploring during the day, you'll also need a day pack/bag to carry water, a camera, a jacket and activity-specific items like a swimsuit, a waterproof pouch/bag for your phone, or hiking shoes.
Below we have listed the essentials for this trip:, https://www.intrepidtravel.com/packing-list, WATER BOTTLE
Please bring your own water bottle to refill. Although it can be difficult to avoid bottled water when travelling, please use the water dispensers which are provided on some of our vehicles and at some of our accommodation. When unable to avoid bottled water, it is better to buy the largest available and distribute it into your smaller bottle for the day. Some travellers like to bring a bottle with its own filtration system or water purification tablets. If you are walking or trekking as part of your trip, you will need to carry at least 2 litres of water with you.
Physical rating
None of the activities featured in this trip require special training or skills, just a reasonable level of fitness and a willingness to participate. Cobblestones and uneven roads are common and you may be required to walk in hot and humid conditions. If you are in any doubt, please share these concerns or issues with your sales consultant so that your leader is aware prior and can pre-empt your needs.
Joining your group
Hotel Presidente, Avenida Central, Calle 7, San Jose, 11801, COSTA RICA, Phone: +506 20100000
at the entrace of Hotel President. https://www.hotel-presidente.com/en/
Address: Av. Central, San José, Catedral, 11801
Alternate Joining Point
Joining instructions
Intrepid offers a pre-arranged arrival transfer service from Juan Santamaría International Airport [SJO] at an additional fee. If you have pre-booked this service, please ensure you provide your flight details to your booking agent at least 14 days prior to travel so the transfer can be organised.
If you have pre-booked this service; you will be met after exiting the terminal building to the outside near Malinche Restaurant. Please look for the Intrepid sign with your name on it.
If you have any problems and cannot locate your driver on arrival, please call our Intrepid Emergency number listed under the ‘Problems and emergency contact information’ section of your Essential Trip Information document. If you don’t have a device or mobile coverage, San Jose Airport has a free Wi-Fi connection so you can call that same number via an online application such as Skype. There are also several information desks and tourist information desks around if you require further assistance.
Otherwise, you can travel from the San Jose Airport to the hotel by taxi. We recommend you use either the authorized taxi services organized from inside the terminal, or the authorized orange taxis outside the terminal building. They will charge you approximately USD$30 for a trip to downtown. The drive to where the hotel is located is approximately 35-45 minutes depending on traffic.
Finishing your trip
Hotel Presidente, Avenida Central, Calle 7, San Jose, 11801, COSTA RICA, Phone: +506 20100000
at the entrace of Hotel President. https://www.hotel-presidente.com/en/
Address: Av. Central, San José, Catedral, 11801
Alternate Finish Point
Meals & dietary information
Breakfasts included: 3
Lunches included: 1
Dinners included: 2
While travelling with us you'll experience the vast array of wonderful food available in the world. Your group leader or local representative will be able to suggest restaurants to try during your trip. To give you the maximum flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat, generally not all meals are included in the trip price. This also gives you more budgeting flexibility. As a rule, our groups tend to eat together to enable you to taste a larger variety of dishes and enjoy each other's company. If you have dietary requirements and/or food allergies, please let your booking agent know prior to departure.
Climate & seasonal information
Costa Rica does not have a "hurricane season," as hurricanes are very unlikely to make direct landfall due to its equatorial location. However, the country experiences its rainy season, also known as the "Green Season," from May to November, when brief, intense afternoon rains and flooding can occur, and high winds and heavy rainfall can be felt from nearby tropical storms. We monitor these situations as they arise and amend itineraries or activities as necessary.
In case of emergency
While we always endeavour to provide the best possible holiday experience, due to the nature of travel and the areas we visit sometimes things can and do go wrong. Should any issue occur while you are on your trip, it is imperative that you discuss this with your group leader or local representative straight away so that they can do their best to rectify the problem and save any potential negative impact on the rest of your trip.
We recognise that there may be times when your group leader or local representative may not be able to resolve a situation to your satisfaction - if this is the case, please ask the group leader or local representative to speak to their direct manager.
You may also choose to provide details in your online feedback, which we ask you to complete within 30 days of the end of your trip. Please do be aware that it is very difficult for us to provide any practical help after the trip is completed, so informing us while still travelling will give us the opportunity to resolve the issue in real-time., For general contact details please use the following page: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/contact-us, In case of a genuine crisis or emergency, you can reach our local office on the numbers below:
, Intrepid local operator: Available for phone call on +506 4600 6000
Accommodations
The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation.
Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available.