Itinerary
- Day 1
San José
You'll arrive in San José and get settled into your hotel with a complimentary airport transfer included. Spend the afternoon relaxing and getting oriented. Around 7:30pm, meet your tour leader and group for a welcome dinner. The main briefing gets scheduled for tomorrow morning, so you'll have time to rest after traveling.
- Meals
- Dinner (Group dinner with tour leader and fellow travellers)
Optional Activities
- Explore San José further (pre-tour hotel nights available through sales representative)
- Day 2
San José to Arenal
After the welcome briefing wraps up, you'll head to the Arenal area to see La Fortuna Waterfall, a 215-foot drop into an emerald pool. The rainforest trail takes about 20-30 minutes to walk, then you'll descend steep steps to reach the base and go for a swim. Watch for toucans and other forest wildlife as you walk through the jungle.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hotel buffet breakfast)
Included Activities
- Main welcome briefing and group meeting
- Travel to Arenal volcano area
- La Fortuna Waterfall visit and rainforest trail walk
- Swim in the emerald pool at La Fortuna Waterfall
- Wildlife spotting (colourful toucans and forest animals)
Optional Activities
- Visit the lookout point at La Fortuna Waterfall if preferring not to descend
Landmarks Arenal Volcano La Fortuna Waterfall Lake Arenal 
- Day 3
Arenal
You're doing white-water rafting on the Balsa River with Grade II and III rapids. No prior experience is needed since instructors provide a full safety briefing and teaching before you start. They'll stop partway through for drinks and tropical fruits. After the rafting finishes, head back to La Fortuna for lunch at Vida Campesina, a traditional country estate where they cook authentic Costa Rican food over a wood stove.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hotel buffet breakfast), Lunch (Traditional Costa Rican lunch at Vida Campesina estate prepared with ingredients harvested on the property and cooked on a wood stove)
Included Activities
- White-water rafting on the Balsa River (Grade II and III rapids)
- Safety briefing and rafting instruction
- Stop for drinks and tropical fruits during rafting
- Wildlife spotting during rafting (monkeys, toucans, forest animals)
- Lunch at Vida Campesina traditional country estate
- Experience typical Costa Rican country life
Landmarks Balsa River - Day 4
Arenal to Monteverde
Travel to Monteverde in the Tilaran Mountains by taking a scenic boat crossing across Lake Arenal (about 30 minutes), then a shared land transfer climbs you into the hills. The whole journey takes roughly 3 hours 30 minutes. Around 6pm that evening, you'll go on a guided night walk through the cloud forest looking for nocturnal wildlife like sloths, armadillos, and porcupines while listening to insects and amphibians.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hotel buffet breakfast)
Included Activities
- Boat crossing across Lake Arenal
- Shared land transfer to Monteverde
- Night walk through the cloud forest
- Nocturnal wildlife spotting (sloths, armadillos, porcupines, possums, coatis)
Landmarks Lake Arenal Tilarán Mountains Monteverde Cloud Forest 
- Day 5
Monteverde
Selvatura Park covers 850 acres of protected nature where you'll start with hanging bridges, a treetop walkway system that gives views of the cloud forest and wildlife observation spots. Then explore the butterfly garden, one of the largest butterfly exhibitions around, plus the hummingbird garden with over 14 hummingbird species. In the afternoon, there's an optional zip line adventure through the trees available with professional instruction on technique.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hotel buffet breakfast)
Included Activities
- Hanging bridges excursion at Selvatura Park
- Butterfly garden visit (one of the world's largest butterfly exhibitions)
- Hummingbird garden visit (14+ hummingbird species)
Optional Activities
- Zip line adventure through the tree tops at Selvatura Park (adrenaline-pumping aerial experience with guide instruction on proper technique)
Landmarks Selvatura Park - Day 6
Monteverde to Samara
You'll travel to the Samara region on the Pacific Coast. The area is known for its beauty and calm waters because a protective coral reef sits offshore. The broad, shady bay has coconut palms backing it and offers safe swimming conditions. The afternoon is free, so you can explore the area and use the beach facilities. There's a relaxed, local feel here since no large resort hotels dominate the landscape.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hotel buffet breakfast)
Included Activities
- Travel to Samara region on the Pacific Coast
- Access to Carrillo Beach and bay area
Optional Activities
- Explore Samara facilities and local area
- Swimming at Carrillo Beach
- Beach activities and discovery
Landmarks Carrillo Beach Samara Bay 
- Day 7
Samara
A boat excursion departs from Carrillo Beach to search for dolphins. Spotted dolphins, Central American spinners, or common bottlenoses live in the area year-round and often swim in the boat's bow wave. You'll feel the ocean breeze and see coastal scenery throughout. On the way back, you'll anchor near Isla Chora, a white-sand beach with hermit crabs and iguanas, for a swim and snorkeling to check out the marine life. The whole excursion takes about four hours, leaving the rest of the day free.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hotel buffet breakfast)
Included Activities
- Boat trip to see dolphins offshore from Carrillo Beach
- Dolphin spotting (spotted dolphins, Central American spinners, common bottlenoses)
- Coastal scenery observation
- Snorkeling at Isla Chora white-sand beach
- Observation of hermit crabs and iguanas at Isla Chora
- Swim at Isla Chora
Landmarks Carrillo Beach Isla Chora - Day 8
Samara to Liberia
Have your final breakfast at the hotel and say goodbye to the group. If you're not ready to leave, extensions can be arranged through your sales representative. You could relax on the beach, try spa time, or explore more nature. Post-tour hotel stays for multiple nights and airport transfers in either direction are available if you want to stay longer.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Final hotel breakfast)
Optional Activities
- Extend your stay for additional nights (arrangements through sales representative)
- Relax on the beach
- Spa treatments
- Additional nature exploration
