Itinerary
- Day 1
San Jose
You'll arrive in San Jose and head to a 6 pm welcome meeting with your group leader and fellow travelers. If you get there early, the National Museum has interesting pre-Colombian exhibits and a butterfly garden worth checking out. The Pre-Columbian Gold Museum and Jade Museum are also options if you have time before the meeting.
Optional Activities
- Visit the National Museum
- 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
Leave San Jose by private transport to La Pavona port and board a small boat for Tortuguero National Park. You'll travel through rainforest wilderness to reach your lodge near biodiverse lagoons and canals. Listen for jaguars and turtles as you settle in for the night in this remote location.
Included Activities
- Boat ride to Tortuguero
- Tortuguero National Park entrance
Landmarks Tortuguero National Park 
- Day 3
Tortuguero
Explore Tortuguero National Park at your own pace. There's an optional sunrise canoe trip through the maze-like canals to spot otters and manatees if you want to get up early. You can hike the park's trails or just relax at the lodge. In the evening, join an optional turtle watching tour to see green, hawksbill, loggerhead, and leatherback turtles nesting.
Optional Activities
- Sunrise canoe trip
- Park walking trails
- Evening turtle watching tour
Landmarks Tortuguero National Park 
- Day 4
Tortuguero to Santa Rosa de Pocosol
Leave the rainforest and travel to Santa Rosa de Pocosol for a homestay experience. Your leader will do an informal Spanish lesson during the drive to prepare you. In the afternoon, choose between a soap-making workshop or a guided waterfall hike. Later, join your host family for an evening cooking lesson and eat the dishes you prepare together.
- Meals
- Dinner (Home-cooked meal prepared with host family)
Included Activities
- Leader-led informal Spanish lesson
- Homestay experience
- Home-cooked meal
Optional Activities
- Soap-making workshop
- Guided hike to nearby waterfall
- Day 5
Santa Rosa de Pocosol to Rio Celeste
After breakfast with your host family, head north to Rio Celeste in the Guatuso area. You'll stop to visit the Maleku Indigenous community, the smallest in Costa Rica with only 650 people. Share a traditional Maleku meal and hear stories about their history, culture, and conservation efforts.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast with host family)
Included Activities
- Maleku community experience
- Traditional Maleku meal
- Day 6
Rio Celeste
You have a free day with plenty of optional activities in Rio Celeste. Float down the light-blue waters on an inflatable tubing excursion, or take a 3-hour jungle hike with a guide who can help you spot howler monkeys, crocodiles, river otters, and tropical birds.
Optional Activities
- Guided tubing excursion at Rio Celeste
- 3-hour guided hike along Rio Celeste through jungle
Landmarks Rio Celeste - Day 7
Rio Celeste to La Fortuna
Travel to La Fortuna, a town located beneath Arenal Volcano. Choose your own activities when you arrive. Grab fresh fruit in town, hike to La Fortuna waterfall for a swim, or explore at your own pace. In the evening, try Chifrijo, a classic local dish made with fried pork, salsa, beans, and tortilla chips.
Optional Activities
- Visit La Fortuna waterfall
- Explore La Fortuna town
Landmarks Arenal Volcano La Fortuna Waterfall - Day 8
La Fortuna
You have a free day to explore La Fortuna and the surrounding region with lush forests and wildlife. Try stand-up paddleboarding on Lake Arenal with volcano views, or take a boat tour of Cano Negro Reserve to spot sloths, monkeys, crocodiles, and basilisk lizards. The area also has thermal springs heated by the volcano.
Optional Activities
- Stand-up paddleboarding on Lake Arenal
- Boat tour of Cano Negro Reserve
- Visit thermal springs
Landmarks Lake Arenal Cano Negro Reserve - Day 9
La Fortuna to Monteverde
Travel by bus and boat to Monteverde, a biological preserve settled by North American Quakers in 1951. The cloud forest has near-constant cloud cover that creates a unique atmosphere. After checking in, join your leader on a nature walk through Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve to see hummingbirds, quetzals, monkeys, and sloths.
Included Activities
- Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve entrance
- Leader-led nature walk through Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve
Landmarks Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve 
- Day 10
Monteverde
Make the most of your free time in Monteverde. Walk through the forest canopy on suspension bridges, visit the Butterfly Garden, and look for the elusive quetzal. In the evening, explore the Children's Eternal Rain Forest with a naturalist guide to spot nocturnal animals, frogs, insects, and night birds.
Included Activities
- Children's Eternal Rain Forest night wildlife walk
Optional Activities
- Canopy walk on suspension bridges
- Butterfly Garden visit
Landmarks Butterfly Garden Children's Eternal Rain Forest - Day 11
Monteverde to Manuel Antonio
Travel to Manuel Antonio, a laid-back coastal town between the Pacific and a national park. Stop along the way to join a local family and prepare a traditional lunch using local Costa Rican coffee and cooking techniques. After lunch, arrive at your accommodation and spend time relaxing, perhaps watching the sunset at Espadilla Beach.
- Meals
- Lunch (Traditional lunch prepared with local family)
Included Activities
- Home-cooked lunch with local family
Optional Activities
- Visit Espadilla Beach at sunset
Landmarks Espadilla Beach 
- Day 12
Manuel Antonio
Join a leader-led nature hike through Manuel Antonio National Park trails to watch for monkeys, armadillos, sloths, and hundreds of birds. Spend time on the beaches surrounding the park. Optional activities include surfing at Playa El Ray, paddling through mangrove forests on a kayak tour, or taking a sunset sail.
Included Activities
- Manuel Antonio National Park entrance fee
- Leader-led nature hike with naturalist guide
Optional Activities
- Surfing at Playa El Ray
- Guided kayak tour through mangrove forest
- Sunset sail off the coast
Landmarks Manuel Antonio National Park Playa El Ray - Day 13
Manuel Antonio
You have a free day to explore Manuel Antonio at your own pace. Return to the national park to search for capuchin monkeys in the trees, or simply relax on the calm beaches. The green trees lining the coast provide shade, making it perfect for reading or enjoying a local drink.
Optional Activities
- Return to Manuel Antonio National Park
- Relax on Manuel Antonio Beach
Landmarks Manuel Antonio National Park Manuel Antonio Beach - Day 14
Manuel Antonio to San Jose
Return to San Jose by public bus this morning. Once you arrive, you're free to relax or explore the city at your own pace. In the evening, join your fellow travelers and group leader for a farewell dinner to celebrate the trip.
Optional Activities
- Explore San Jose
- Farewell dinner with group
- Day 15
San Jose
Your trip ends today. Check out at your own pace and depart whenever you'd like. If you want to extend your stay, contact your booking agent in advance to arrange it.
