Destinations · Costa Rica

Costa Rica

8 Nights · An Arenal volcano and the Pacific, two worlds in one journey.

Volcano & Pacific

Arenal & Guanacaste

Two Costa Ricas in one journey. You arrive into San José, then rise into Arenal, where a volcano stands over the rainforest and hot springs steam under the trees. From there to the Guanacaste coast, where the Pacific turns gold at sunset. Eight nights, every transfer handled, the domestic flight between them arranged. Gay-owned, and welcoming to all.

The Costa Rica Marriott Hacienda Belén near San José
Gateway · 1 night

San José

Your arrival night at the Costa Rica Marriott Hacienda Belén, a colonial coffee-hacienda fifteen minutes from the airport, before you rise into Arenal.

The Arenal volcano rising over the rainforest
Volcano · 3 nights

Arenal

The volcano, the rainforest, and natural hot springs you can soak in under the canopy. Three nights at The Springs, with a wildlife sanctuary on the grounds and the cone in full view.

A secluded Pacific beach on the Guanacaste coast
Pacific · 4 nights

Guanacaste

Down to the Gulf of Papagayo, where the coast bends into quiet coves and the sun drops straight into the ocean. Four nights on the Pacific, with catamarans, beaches, and nothing on the schedule you don't put there.

Where You Stay

The Classic Journey

Two of Costa Rica's finest, in their volcano- and bay-view rooms, stitched together with private transfers and the domestic flight between Arenal and the coast. Or step up to the Flagship, just below, where the Pacific stay becomes the Waldorf Astoria.

Mountain-view king room at the Costa Rica Marriott Hacienda Belén, San José Mountain and valley view from the Costa Rica Marriott Hacienda Belén, San José Gardens and pool at the Costa Rica Marriott Hacienda Belén, San José
1/3
San José · Arrival night

Costa Rica Marriott Hacienda Belén

Your arrival night, at a colonial coffee-hacienda fifteen minutes from the airport, before you rise into Arenal. Gardens, pools, a spa, and a mountain-view room to land rested.

  • Mountain View King room
  • Coffee-plantation grounds, pools & spa
  • Fifteen minutes from SJO airport
Guest room at The Springs Resort & Spa, Arenal Hot-spring pools at The Springs, Arenal Volcano and rainforest view from The Springs The Springs Resort & Spa at night
1/4
Arenal · 3 nights

The Springs Resort & Spa

The marquee address at Arenal: tiered natural hot-spring pools, the volcano in full view, and a wildlife sanctuary on the grounds.

  • Vista Guest Room, volcano-facing
  • Natural hot-spring pools on-site
  • Wildlife sanctuary & rainforest
Bay-view king room at Andaz Peninsula Papagayo Pool at Andaz Peninsula Papagayo The beach and coastline at Andaz Peninsula Papagayo Oceanfront dining at Andaz Peninsula Papagayo
1/4
Guanacaste · 4 nights

Andaz Peninsula Papagayo

A design-forward Hyatt resort set into the Papagayo Peninsula, with two beaches, hillside pools, and the Gulf at its feet.

  • Partial Bay-View King
  • Two beaches & hillside pools
  • On the Papagayo Peninsula

The Classic Journey · 8 Nights

San JoséArenalGuanacaste
  • Eight nights: San José, Arenal & Guanacaste
  • Daily breakfast at both resorts
  • Domestic flight, Arenal to the coast
  • All private transfers throughout
  • Elevida amenities & resort credits
  • Elevida planning & concierge
From $5,600 per person
double occupancy · international airfare can be arranged but is not included
Book This Journey Now

Or, the same journey at its finest on the Pacific

✦ Ultimate Experience

The Flagship Journey

The same Arenal, in a secluded Palm Bungalow with its own outdoor whirlpool, then the Pacific raised to the Waldorf Astoria on the Punta Cacique headland, with an ocean-view room and your own private plunge pool. The same eight nights, everything elevated.

Mountain-view king room at the Costa Rica Marriott Hacienda Belén, San José Mountain and valley view from the Costa Rica Marriott Hacienda Belén, San José Gardens and pool at the Costa Rica Marriott Hacienda Belén, San José
1/3
San José · Arrival night

Costa Rica Marriott Hacienda Belén

Your arrival night, at a colonial coffee-hacienda fifteen minutes from the airport, before you rise into Arenal. Gardens, pools, a spa, and a mountain-view room to land rested.

  • Mountain View King room
  • Coffee-plantation grounds, pools & spa
  • Fifteen minutes from SJO airport
Volcano and rainforest view from The Springs, Arenal Hot-spring pools at The Springs, Arenal Dining at The Springs Resort & Spa, Arenal The Springs Resort & Spa at night
1/4
Arenal · 3 nights

The Springs Resort & Spa

Step up to a secluded Palm Bungalow with its own private outdoor whirlpool, tucked into the rainforest with the volcano beyond.

  • Palm Bungalow, private outdoor whirlpool
  • Natural hot-spring pools on-site
  • Volcano & rainforest views
Ocean-view room at the Waldorf Astoria, Punta Cacique Room with private plunge pool, Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica Clifftop pool over the Pacific, Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica The secluded beach at the Waldorf Astoria, Punta Cacique The Waldorf Astoria on the Punta Cacique headland
1/5
Guanacaste · 4 nights

Waldorf Astoria, Punta Cacique

The Pacific's newest grande dame, on its own headland: an ocean-view room with a private plunge pool and clifftop pools above the sea.

  • Ocean-View King with private plunge pool
  • Clifftop pools over the Pacific
  • A secluded beach & headland setting

The Flagship Journey · 8 Nights

San JoséArenalGuanacaste
  • Eight nights, a Palm Bungalow & an ocean-view plunge room
  • Daily breakfast at both resorts
  • Domestic flight, Arenal to the coast
  • All private transfers throughout
  • Elevida amenities & resort credits
  • Elevida planning & concierge
From $10,250 per person
double occupancy · international airfare can be arranged but is not included
Book This Journey Now

Add as You Like

Experiences

Arenal & the Rainforest

Costa Rican coffee and cacao tasting
Coffee & chocolate tasting
Estate coffee & cacao, farm to cup
$90from
Hanging bridges through the Arenal rainforest canopy
Arenal hanging bridges
An easy canopy walk through the rainforest
$100from
A gentle wildlife safari float on a rainforest river
Wildlife safari float
A gentle river drift, sloths & toucans
$130from
La Fortuna Waterfall in the Costa Rican rainforest
La Fortuna Waterfall & farm lunch
The falls into a turquoise pool, then a farm-to-table lunch
$110from

Guanacaste & the Pacific

A private sunset sail off the Guanacaste coast
Private sunset cruise
A private sail as the Pacific turns gold
$190from
A catamaran in a turquoise cove off Playas del Coco
Catamaran day sail & snorkel
Turquoise coves off the Papagayo coast
$130from
A Guanacaste boat tour with rum and local tasting
Guanacaste boat, rum & tasting
An estuary cruise with rum & local flavors
$190from
A private luxury catamaran charter at sunset off Costa Rica
Private catamaran sunset charter
The whole boat, drinks aboard, sunset over the Pacific
$2,570from
A private charter aircraft over the Costa Rica coast
✦ À la carte · Private upgrade
Private charter, Arenal to the coast
Skip the scheduled flight and airstrip waits — your own aircraft, on your schedule, minutes from the Pacific.
$4,400from · per couple

Good to Know

Before you go

When to go

December to April

The dry season is Costa Rica at its best: sun over the Pacific, clear views of Arenal, and warm, settled afternoons. The classic escape from a northern winter, and the busiest stretch for good reason.

The green season, May, June and November, runs quieter and lower in price, the country at its lushest, with a warm shower most afternoons.

Getting there

A few hours from the US

Nonstop flights from many US hubs reach San José or Liberia in just a few hours. You will need a valid passport, but no visa. The flights and every transfer on the ground, we handle.

The Elevida difference

More at every hotel

Because we book each property on its Signature rate, you arrive to daily breakfast, resort credits, and room upgrades when available, perks worth having, layered on a trip we plan end to end.

A couple toasting champagne at a Costa Rica oceanfront resort at golden sunset

Gay-owned · Welcoming to all

Planned by people who travel like you

Elevida is gay-owned. We build the trip we would want for ourselves: the right hotels, the right rooms, every transfer handled, and the kind of details you only know to ask for once you have been. Tell us your dates and we will shape Costa Rica around you.

From prices are per person, double occupancy, based on an eight-night December-to-April journey in entry room categories. The Classic uses a Vista Guest Room at The Springs, Arenal and a Partial Bay-View King at Andaz Peninsula Papagayo; the Flagship uses a Palm Bungalow at The Springs and an Ocean-View King with private plunge pool at the Waldorf Astoria, Punta Cacique. Both include one arrival night at the Costa Rica Marriott Hacienda Belén in San José, the two resort stays with daily breakfast and Signature amenities, the scheduled domestic flight between Arenal and the coast, and all private transfers and Elevida planning. International airfare and optional experiences are arranged separately. Pricing varies by travel date, room category and availability.
Elevida Luxury Journeys · An LGBTQ+-owned luxury travel advisory · Welcoming to all