Itinerary
- Day 1
San Jose
You'll land in San Jose and have time to settle in before a 6 pm welcome meeting where you'll connect with your group leader and other travelers. If your flight gets in early, the city has several museums and cultural spots worth checking out on your own to get a feel for the capital.
Optional Activities
- Visit the National Museum (canary-yellow building with pre-Colombian history exhibits and butterfly garden)
- Visit the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum
- Visit the Jade Museum
Landmarks National Museum Pre-Columbian Gold Museum Jade Museum - Day 2
San Jose to Tortuguero National Park
Leave San Jose by private transport headed toward the Caribbean lowlands, then board a small boat at La Pavona port into Tortuguero National Park. The lodge sits surrounded by freshwater lagoons and rainforest, with jaguars and sea turtles living throughout the area.
Included Activities
- Boat ride to Tortuguero
- Tortuguero National Park entrance
Landmarks Tortuguero National Park La Pavona - Day 3
Tortuguero National Park
This is your day to move at your own pace in Tortuguero. Start early with a sunrise canoe trip through the lagoon canals to spot otters and manatees, or walk park trails and hang out at the lodge. The park has over 300 bird species, ocelots, jaguars, and nesting sea turtles. You can also join an evening turtle watching tour if interested.
Optional Activities
- Sunrise canoe trip around canals - USD45
- Turtle Watching Night Tour - USD45
Landmarks Tortuguero National Park - Day 4
Tortuguero to Santa Rosa de Pocosol
Head out from Tortuguero toward Santa Rosa de Pocosol for a homestay experience. During the drive, your group leader runs a casual Spanish lesson to get you ready for your host family. Once there, choose between a soap-making workshop or a waterfall hike, then return for an evening cooking lesson where you'll help make dinner.
- Meals
- Dinner (Home-cooked dinner prepared during evening cooking lesson)
Included Activities
- Homestay experience
- Leader-led Informal Spanish Lesson
- Home-cooked Meal
Optional Activities
- Soap-making workshop (cash only, requires minimum 3 travellers) - USD20
- Waterfall hike (Cash Only) - USD10
Landmarks Santa Rosa de Pocosol - Day 5
Santa Rosa de Pocosol to Rio Celeste Area
After breakfast with your host family, travel to Rio Celeste in the Guatuso area. Visit the Maleku Indigenous community (only 650 people remain in Costa Rica) where locals share their traditional meal, history, and conservation work with you.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast with host family), Lunch (Traditional Maleku meal)
Included Activities
- Maleku Community Experience
Landmarks Rio Celeste Maleku Indigenous Community Tenorio Volcano National Park 
- Day 6
Rio Celeste
You have a full free day in the Rio Celeste area. Float down the light-blue Rio Celeste in a tube, or take a 3-hour safari cruise on Rio Tenorio where howler monkeys, crocodiles, river otters, and tropical birds show up regularly.
Optional Activities
- River Tubing Adventure on Rio Celeste (cash only) - USD55
- National Park Guided Trail Walk on Rio Tenorio (3-hour safari cruise) (cash only) - USD70
Landmarks Rio Celeste Rio Tenorio - Day 7
Rio Celeste to La Fortuna
Travel to La Fortuna, a relaxed town beneath Arenal Volcano. Pick your own activities when you get there, like grabbing fresh fruit in town, swimming at La Fortuna waterfall, or just walking around. Later, enjoy a local dinner with your group, maybe trying chifrijo.
Optional Activities
- Arenal 1968 Volcano View and Lava Trails (Entrance fee) - USD25
- La Fortuna Waterfall (Entrance only) - USD25
- Paradise Hot Springs (entrance fee) - USD47
Landmarks Arenal Volcano La Fortuna Waterfall - Day 8
La Fortuna
Take a free day to explore La Fortuna however you like. Try stand-up paddleboarding on Lake Arenal with the volcano in view, soak in thermal hot springs heated by the volcano, take a boat through Cano Negro Reserve for wildlife, or simply relax in the forest.
Landmarks Lake Arenal Cano Negro Reserve Arenal Volcano - Day 9
La Fortuna to Monteverde
Bus and boat bring you to Monteverde, a cloud forest settled by North American Quakers back in 1951 and now a biological preserve. Spend the afternoon on a leader-led nature walk looking for hummingbirds, quetzals, and sloths. You might return after dark to spot nocturnal animals.
Included Activities
- Cloud Forest entrance
Landmarks Monteverde Cloud Forest - Day 10
Monteverde
Make the most of Monteverde by walking with a local guide. Explore communities running cooperatives, cross suspension bridges through the canopy, or visit the Butterfly Garden. The area has over 2000 plant species, 320 bird species, and 100 types of mammals.
Optional Activities
- Butterfly Garden and Insects Farm (entrance fee) - USD22
- Coffee & Chocolate tour - USD47
- Suspension bridges tour - USD55
- Canopy Zip Lining (Entrance, Equipment & Transport) - USD101
Landmarks Monteverde Cloud Forest Butterfly Garden - Day 11
Monteverde to Manuel Antonio
Travel to Manuel Antonio, a laid-back town between the Pacific and the national park. Stop in Quepos to check out its nightlife and relaxed vibe, then visit a local family's home for a traditional lunch with three generations of Costa Ricans and help with cooking. Later, settle in and watch the sunset from Espadilla Beach.
- Meals
- Lunch (Traditional homecooked lunch with a local family, including learning preparation techniques)
Included Activities
- Manuel Antonio homecooked lunch
Landmarks Manuel Antonio National Park Quepos Espadilla Beach - Day 12
Manuel Antonio
Hike through Manuel Antonio National Park on a leader-led walk watching for monkeys, armadillos, sloths, and hundreds of birds. Spend time on park beaches and consider surfing at Playa El Ray. Alternatively, paddle through mangrove forests by kayak where monkeys might climb aboard. Finish with an optional sunset sail.
Included Activities
- Manuel Antonio National Park tour with naturalist guide
Optional Activities
- Cruise (includes transport, guide, lunch and drinks onboard) - USD95
- Mangrove Kayak Activity (with lunch) - USD75
- Manuel Antonio National Park entrance fee - USD18
Landmarks Manuel Antonio National Park Playa El Rey - Day 13
Manuel Antonio
You've got a free day to do what appeals to you most. Head back to Manuel Antonio National Park to search for capuchin monkeys, relax on the beach with a book, or simply soak in the coastal scenery under the shade of the trees.
Landmarks Manuel Antonio National Park Manuel Antonio Beach - Day 14
Manuel Antonio to San Jose
Return to San Jose by public bus. Once there, you're free to relax or walk around the city at your own pace. In the evening, you can join the group and your leader for a farewell dinner to wrap up the trip.
- Day 15
San Jose
Your trip ends today. Check out anytime and head out whenever you're ready. If you want to stay longer, let your booking agent know before the trip starts.
