For years you’ve probably heard friends rave about Costa Rica: its natural beauty, wildlife, friendly people, the political stability of the area, reasonable prices, erupting volcanoes, beautiful beaches, and the mysterious rainforests. You know what? It’s all true! It’s hard to imagine that there can be such diversity in landforms and wildlife in such a small country, but you’ll soon be back telling your friends about your amazing Costa Rica walking tour.

Part of the reason Costa Rica is so popular with visitors is its commitment to preserving the nation’s natural areas and wildlife. In fact, proportionately, Costa Rica protects more of its land in parks and reserves than any other country in the world.

Until recently, Costa Rica could boast of protecting 11.4 percent of their national territory in their parks system. A new initiative will extend this total to nearly 19 percent of Costa Rica’s mountains, volcanoes, forests, and beaches.

When you join us in Costa Rica, you’ll be traveling to one of the most diverse areas in the world. Costa Rica’s parks shelter some of the planet’s most important examples of biol ogical diversity including 5 percent of all plant and animal species on Earth. Costa Rica’s National Biodiversity Institute has identified an absolutely amazing number of both plant and animal species.

Those species presently known include 209 mammals; 850 birds; 220 reptiles; 163 amphibians; 130 freshwater fish; 350,000 insects, spiders and crabs; 13,021 plants; 1,500 trees; and over 1,400 types of orchids. All in all, Costa Rica offers one of the most attractive and hospitable destinations in the world. So, brush up on your Spanish, load your camera, open your senses, and join us in magical Costa Rica!

This itinerary may be changed at the discretion of the trip leader. (B = Breakfast included,    L = Lunch included, D = Dinner included)

Day 1 (D) – Arrive San Jose, Costa Rica.  Our driver and guide will wait for you outside the terminal to take you to your hotel.  Overnight at Hotel Presidente – standard rooms.  NOTE: estimated driving time is 30 minutes

Day 2 (B, L, D) – San Jose – National Theatre – Central Market – Poas Volcano Hike – La Paz Waterfall. After breakfast, we’ll visit the Central Market in San Jose.  Then we’re off to Poás Volcano, with its impressive main crater and sulfur furmaroles, to learn about the different ecosystems in this beautiful national park. Then it’s off to La Paz waterfall gardens, a spectacular series of waterfalls in the middle of the rainforest.  Our visit takes us through the hummingbird gallery, the serpentarium, the bird house, the butterfly garden, and the frog exhibit.

Day 3 (B, L, D) San Jose – Lands in Love – Cloud Forest Tour -Rafting – Night Tour. Our adventure begins early as we head to our “Lands in Love,” resort/adventure center right in the center of a cloud forest. After checking in and marveling at the great diversity of local wildlife and rich vegetation, we’re off for a rafting trip on the Rio La Balsa. We’ll travel through time in this unexplored world of tropical wilderness in a deep canyon with waterfalls, exotic animals, tropical birds and plenty of whitewater. This unique river trip is the best way to combine adventure and nature. End the day with an early evening walk through the cloud forest trails surrounded by thick jungle.

Day 4 (B, L, D) – Lands in Love – Combo Canopy – Canyoning – Arenal and Fortuna – Paradise Hot Springs. We begin our day with a combo canopy tour to view the surrounding rainforest from the top of the trees, a unique experience. Then it’s off to the zip line for an amazing and exhilarating journey before arriving at a striking waterfall. Our adventure includes 8 cables, 12 platforms, 3 trails, 1 hanging bridge and 1 Tarzan swing. After lunch, we’ll journey to the Arenal region, close to the Nicaraguan border, to enjoy gushing rivers, hot springs, lagoons, and plentiful wildlife.  At the end of the day, and a perfect way to relax our well-used muscles, we’ll enjoy time at Paradise hot springs in Fortuna. Note: estimated driving time 1 hour.

Day 5 (B, L, D) – Arenal – Rio Celeste – Volunteer – Maleku. After breakfast, discover one of Costa Rica’s best kept secrets on a hike through the Tenorio Volcano National Park.  The dense rain forest, breathtaking colors of the Celeste River, and views of the towering volcano ensure that this hike will open your eyes to some of Costa Rica’s rich treasure of biodiversity.  Afterwards, we’ll visit the Maleku, an indigenous people of Costa Rica located in the Guatuso Indigenous Reserve near the town of Guatuso (San Rafael de Guatuso).  Around 600 Aboriginal people live on the reserve.  Before the Spanish colonization, their territory extended as far west as Rincon de la Vieja, and included the volcano Arenal to the south and the Rio Celeste as sacred sites.  Today their reserve is concentrated south of San Rafael de Guatuso, an hour north of La Fortuna.  The reserve consists of 3 “palenquest” or villages, Palenque Sol, Palenque Tonjibe, and Palenque Margarita.  Their economy primarily relies on indigenous art: carvings, paintings, and musical instruments being the most popular items.  Most members in the village (including children) make some type of art or help out by cutting and preparing the necessary balsa wood trees or fruit needed for the projects.  In the reserve, they still have a leader, Alfredo de Jesus. We’ll learn about their lives and traditions through their dance and music in a village built in the most authentic tradition in front of the sacred fire mountain, Arenal Volcano.  Take your time asking questions and sharing your own stories with members of this ancestral tribe.

Day 6 (B, L, D) – Arenal – Arenal Volcano Hike – Monteverde – Trapiche. Tour. Our day begins with a hiking tour at the base of Volcan Arenal.  We’ll learn about the volcano’s active history and walk over the most recent lava flows, enjoying fabulous views of Lake Arenal.   Then we’re off towards Santa Elena and the Monteverde area.  We’ll have breathtaking views of the Gulf of Nicoya on our drive.  The Monteverde Reserve was founded in 1951 by a group of North American Quakers who live in a secluded area on a 1400-meter-high plateau.  Although some of the original virgin forest was cleared for dairy and coffee farming, the founders’ environmental consciousness, together with help from private organizations, founded a biological reserve that hosts one of the richest ecological systems in the country.  We finish our day with a visit to a coffee farm where you’ll have the opportunity to pick some coffee beans and take them to the grinding machine. Finally, we’ll visit a local sugar cane mill and be shown the process of making brown sugar and other products derived from sugarcane.  At the end of the tour, you’ll be able to sample “picadillo de arracache”, a traditional vegetable dish and a cup of fresh roasted coffee.

Day 7 (B, L, D) – Monteverde – Cloud Forest – Sky Walk, Tram & Trek. Our walk today provides an opportunity to learn about the Monteverde Rain Forest’s magnificent ecosystem, including a lush green garden of mosses, ferns, unique and stunningly colorful flowers, and epiphytes growing thickly on every variety of tropical tree.  As we walk we’ll see clouds drift in and settle among the surrounding slopes, giving the continuous moisture required for such exuberant plant growth.  Dangling roots and vines sweep across the trails.  The air is rich with the sounds of birds and the occasional scurrying of small mammals on the forest floor and, from time-to-time, the raucous roars of howler monkeys.  Then it’s off to walk the hanging bridges of Monteverde, with five bridges in total, the longest around 984 feet. We’ll board the Sky Tram for a bird’s eye perspective on the cloud forest, Arenal Volcano, and Arenal Lake, and 360-degree views of the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.  Then we’re off to real adventure, taking flight on  1.7 miles of cables slung between towering trees, zip lining through ten zip line cables ranging in height from 40 meters to 100 meters and in length from 100 meters to 750 meters.  Overnight at Hotel El Establo or similar – deluxe rooms.

Day 8 (B, L, D) – Monteverde – Playa Carrillo Beach. Today we leave Monteverde and head to Playa Carrilo, located on the north Pacific Coast.  Playa Carillo is lined with palm trees and chalk-colored sand. The shore is typically not crowded, making it the perfect place to relax for a few days. While relaxing, we’ll enjoy amazing views of the lush mountain ranges in the distance, a unique backdrop for sure. Overnight at Hotel Nammbu – deluxe rooms.  Note: Estimated driving time 4 hours.

Day 9 (B, L, D) – Playa Carrillo – River Kayaking. Today we’re off to spend part of the day enjoying some river kayaking. Whether you’re an expert or novice, it will only take a few meters of paddling down the river to learn how to use the paddle and play with the current as you enjoy this journey down the Ora River. Rest of the day open for your pure enjoyment of this beautiful beach paradise, all influenced by the tropical magic that is Costa Rica!  Overnight at hotel Nammbu – deluxe room.

Day 10 (B, D).  Carillo Beach.  According to your international flight, depart to Liberia International Airport.  NOTE:  please notice that check in for international flights recommended to be done two hours prior to departure.  Estimated driving time to Liberia is 3.5 hours.

THE DETAILS