Compare A Taste of Costa Rica by Road Scholar vs Costa Rica: See & Experience it ALL in 11 Days, 1st Class Custom Tours by Charlie The Traveler

Day 1 Arrive San José, Orientation, Welcome Dinner San José

Participants must book flights that arrive into San José no later than 4:30 p.m. if they plan to attend the program orientation. Some Road Scholar gateways require the use of overnight flights in order to arrive in San José by the suggested time. Please contact your Road Scholar Program Provider at 1-800-866-7111 or roadscholarprograms@holbrooktravel.com if you made plans to arrive a day early and would like assistance in booking your hotel. See your program’s travel details regarding transfers.

Orientation: 6:00 p.m. at the hotel. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Meals will feature local cuisine. Beverage choices will typically include coffee, tea, water; other beverages are usually available for purchase. Travel and transfers will be via air-conditioned bus unless specified otherwise. The bus does not have a restroom on board; however, there will be stops at least every two hours for program activities, meals, and/or basic rest stops to break up longer travel times. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

At the hotel.

Day 2 Gold Museum, Sarapiqui, Rainforest Introduction Sarapiqui

Getting on/off a bus with several steps up/down; driving about 56 miles, approximately 2 hours riding time. Walking and standing, approximately 1.5 hours; mostly flat terrain.

We will be joined at the hotel by a local expert who will give us an overview of Costa Rica. We’ll then check out of the hotel and set out on foot for a field trip to the Museo del Oro Precolombino — Pre-Columbian Gold Museum. Led by an expert, we’ll explore and see some of the splendid display of artifacts from multiple indigenous Latin American civilizations. The total weight of the 2,000-piece collection is than 20,000 troy ounces, making it one of the richest spots in the nation. We’ll then board the bus and begin our transfer to Sarapiquí in Costa Rica’s Caribbean lowlands.

We’ll continue our journey to Sarapiquí. This is one of the richest sites for birds in Middle America with more than 400 species recorded. The nearby La Selva Protection Zone and the Braulio Carrillo National Park form the only significant corridor of forest on the Caribbean slope linking the highlands with the lowlands — a corridor crucial to birds and animals that undertake seasonal altitudinal migrations. Arriving at the lodge, we’ll check-in with some time to freshen up. We’ll then regroup for a presentation by a local expert that will give us an introduction to the rainforest.

At leisure. You might like to spend time with new Road Scholar friends on the porch, enjoy a nightcap while relaxing to the sounds of the rainforest, or turn in for a good night’s rest before tomorrow’s activities.

At the hotel.

At a local restaurant en route.

At the lodge.

Day 3 Birding, River Rafting, Cultural Interaction, Latin Dance Sarapiqui

Early morning (pre-breakfast) birding walk with Group Leader around lodge grounds. Getting on/off a bus, on/off a river raft. Rafting involves an upper body workout and the likelihood of getting wet; wear bathing suit and water shoes/sport sandals; apply sunscreen well before water activity. Class I & II rapids: easy/moderate conditions including waves, rocks, sand banks, and light riffles. River conditions monitored daily; activity can be cancelled/rescheduled if conditions aren’t optimal.

We’ll join our Group Leader for some early morning birding on and around lodge grounds, then walk back to the lodge for breakfast. Next, we’ll board the bus and drive to a nearby drop-off site along the shores of the Sarapiquí River in preparation for our rafting field trip. A rafting expert will conduct a safety orientation and go over rafting procedures and equipment before giving us the go-ahead to don our gear and board the rafts. A rafting expert will sit at the back of each boat and navigate, and we’ll help by paddling at various stretches along the river. At the end of the field trip, we’ll take the bus back to the lodge and change into dry clothes.

We’ll have some “down” time before our next activity. This is a good opportunity to enjoy a walk around the lodge grounds, cool off in the pool or perhaps practice your photography skills. Our next field trip will commence with a short ride into the Sarapiquí community, where a local resident will invite us into her home, talk about their daily life and show us on how to prepare some typical Tico dishes. We’ll be accompanied by a member of the Sarapiquí Conservation Learning Center (SCLC), who will give us an overview of their mission and talk to us about their work together with the community. Founded by Giovanna Holbrook in the mid-1990s, the SCLC is a registered non-profit organization whose mission is to link communities and conservation through education and ecotourism in the Sarapiqui region. Programs include environmental education, ecotourism activities, English classes, an ecology club, community outreach, a women's group and many others.

Latin dance! We’ll have some lessons with local people to learn three styles of Latin dance: Merengue, Salsa, and Cumbia. The dancers will demonstrate the different styles, then lead us through the dances step by step. We’ll end the evening dancing with partners. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

At the lodge.

At the lodge.

At the lodge.

Day 4 River Boat Nature Safari, Local Plantation, Arrive Arenal Arenal Volcano

Getting on/off a bus; driving about 61 miles, 2.5 to 3 hours riding time including stops. Getting on/off a motorized riverboat with covered top and open sides; no restroom on board, riding about 1 hour. Descend/ascend 3 flights of stairs with handrail to/from boat dock.

After checking out of the hotel, we’ll ride to the Puerto Viejo dock and board a river boat that will take us on a study cruise along the Sarapiquí River. The boat captain and our Group Leader will put their expert spotting skills to use by pointing out riverine wildlife along the way. Some of the animals we might see include caimans, turtles, iguanas, bats, monkeys, sloths, kingfishers, and Anhinga water birds. After disembarkation, we’ll get on our bus and ride to a local plantation to learn about some of the environmental and economic impacts of agriculture in Costa Rica. A farm representative will lead us through various sections of the plantation and explain how the crops are grown and processed for shipping. We’ll reboard the bus and be on our way to Arenal, once Costa Rica’s most active volcano. It has been a main draw to the town of La Fortuna and Arenal Volcano National Park.

Once at the hotel, we’ll check in with some time to freshen up and relax. We’ll reconvene before dinner for an expert-led presentation on the forces of nature and how they help shape life here.

Time at leisure.

At the lodge.

At a local restaurant en route.

At the hotel.

Day 5 Hanging Bridges, Local School, Local Farm,Traditional Dinner Arenal Volcano

Walking on forest trails and hanging bridges. Comfortable clothing, closed walking shoes, and binoculars suggested for this activity.

For our next field trip, we’ll drive to Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges and explore some of its many trails and scenic bridges. The private nature reserve has more than 600 acres of tropical rainforest that can be explored through a network of trails, hanging bridges and standing bridges. We’ll then return to the hotel.

We’ll board a bus and ride to a local school where we'll enjoy a charming presentation by local children. Moving on, we'll ride to a local farm to learn about its history and some of the agricultural traditions in this fertile region. Although tourism surpassed agriculture as the main source of revenue in the area, many local plantations still produce important amounts of papaya, sugar cane, tapioca, and ornamental plants. At the farm, we’ll work-up an appetite while learning to make tortillas and cooking them on a traditional wood stove. Note: Many participants in previous Road Scholar programs have brought a few basic school supplies such as pencils, erasers, pens, colored markers, children’s books in Spanish, etc., to donate during the school visit. This is completely voluntary and is not required.

Returning to the hotel, the remainder of the evening is at leisure. Prepare for check out and transfer in the morning.

At the hotel.

At the hotel.

At the farm, we’ll have a traditional dinner hosted by the family.

Day 6 Crossing Arenal Lake, Coffee Plantation Monteverde

Getting on/off a bus; driving about 21 miles, approximately 1.5 to 2 hours riding time with stops. Boat ride across Arenal Lake approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour. Bus will travel separately with luggage. Pack any needed items in daypack.

The bus will carry our luggage to the next hotel. Take what you need in a day pack as we won’t have access to our luggage until late afternoon at Monteverde. After checking out, we’ll drive to a local boat dock on the shores of Arenal Lake. A small covered boat will ferry us across the scenic lake. Upon reaching the other shore, we’ll board a bus and ride uphill along scenic back roads to Monteverde. We’ll then ride to a local coffee plantation.

During our field trip, we’ll learn about the harvesting and processing of coffee as well as the history of this crop from its beginning in the Arabic countries and Ethiopia. We’ll also gain insights into the importance of the golden bean — grano de oro — and its impact on Costa Rica’s social, cultural, and economic development. Moving on to the hotel, we’ll check in with some time to freshen up and relax. There will be an opportunity to watch the sunset! We’ll regroup for a presentation by a local expert on conservation and development of the Monteverde Area.

At leisure.

At the hotel.

At the coffee plantation.

At the hotel.

Day 7 Cloud Forest Reserve, Bat Jungle, The Quaker Story Monteverde

Walking up to 3 miles; forest trails and irregular terrain; potentially muddy conditions. Wear closed toe/heel walking shoes with lug soles and consider bringing a lightweight rain poncho.

Our first field trip of the day is to a cloud forest reserve at Monteverde for an expert led exploration. While walking on forest trails, we’ll learn about the characteristics of a cloud forest and stop along the way to study its flora and fauna. The edges of this rich forest system, often cloaked in clouds and blowing mist, are home to more than 350 avian species and a myriad of other creatures and critters. The Monteverde area is perhaps most famous for breeding Resplendent Quetzals, Three-wattled Bellbirds, and Bare-necked Umbrellabirds. While these charismatic species can be elusive, a host of other cloud forest birds and amphibians are found in the area.

Next, we’ll head to the Bat Jungle, an educational space designed and managed by noted U.S. bat biologist Dr. Richard LaVal. Informative displays help to explain about bat biology, bat diversity, and their crucial role in nature as pollinators. The Bat Jungle also has more than 90 bats, representing 8 different species, housed in a recreated nighttime cloud forest environment. Glass windows give visitors the rare opportunity to look inside the forest enclosure and observe bats feeding, flying, and socializing. Special microphones capture the high pitched bat vocalizations and broadcast them through loudspeakers in the bat viewing area. Next, we'll learn about the history of Monteverde's Quaker community during a home visit with a longtime resident. In 1951 a group of American Quakers, fearful of their nation’s growing militarism, fled the United States. The Quakers found Costa Rica, a country without a military, to be the most inviting option for their pacifist beliefs. This group settled Monteverde and intended to transform the area into profitable farmland. The Quakers developed a fairly successful cheese industry but they also recognized the delicate nature of the land and helped establish the area's first wildlife sanctuary.

Returning to the hotel, the remainder of the evening at leisure. Prepare for check out and transfer tomorrow.

At the hotel.

At a local restaurant.

At a local home.

Day 8 Butterfly Garden, Farewell to Costa Rica San José

Getting on/off a bus; driving about 90 miles to San José, approximately 3.5 hours riding time.

We’ll take a field trip to the Monteverde Butterfly Garden and Arthropod Education Center. Jim Wolfe and his wife, Marta Iris, opened the Monteverde Butterfly Garden in 1989. The couple devoted themselves to hand-raising butterflies and gaining more knowledge of their preferences and habits. These fragile creatures require extreme care as they develop and grow. Every species feeds on a different variety of plants. Unlike most butterfly gardens, which buy their butterflies as chrysalids, all the butterflies we will see here were bred and raised on the premises. Though no longer managing the project, Jim and Marta’s dream lives on in the hands of a new generation of dedicated naturalists. We’ll begin our transfer to San José after the field trip.

Arriving in San José, we’ll check in to our hotel with time to freshen up and relax before dinner.

At leisure. Enjoy our last evening together in Costa Rica, then prepare for check out and departure in the morning.

At the hotel.

En route.

At the hotel. Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.

Day 9 Program Concludes, In Transit From Program In Flight

Hotel check out by 11:00 a.m. See your program’s travel details regarding transfers.

If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Please join our Facebook page and share photos of your program. Visit us at www.facebook.com/rsadventures. Best wishes for all your journeys!

At the hotel (dependent on flight schedules). This concludes our program.

Day 1: A Social Gathering on the Sand & Horseback Riding

Our tour to Costa Rica starts in Tamarindo. This beach village is a popular destination for couples and families looking for a good time. Tamarindo is the epitome of everything Costa Rica prides itself on. Let's head to the beach, where there is likely to be a gathering/party of some sort. On a side note, Tamarindo is also home to leatherback turtles. The day ends with horseback riding on the beach and in a nearby valley.

Day 2: Sunset Catamaran Cruise with an Open Bar & Appetizers & Going Snorkeling

We go on an excursion today. Passing by the beaches in Brasilito and then Potrero, we stop at Flamingo beach so we can go swimming. Afterwards, we do a cruise into the bay. We are provided with snorkeling gear, local appetizers and access to an open bar. Enjoy the sunset while “sipping on some bubbly.”

Day 3: Zip-Lining & a Night Expedition in a Cloud Forest Reserve

We relocate from Tamarindo near to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. There we go on a zip-lining tour. We return in the evening for a night tour.

This reserve draws roughly 70,000 visitors a year. It consists of over 10,500 hectares of cloud forest and 6 ecological zones, 90 percent of which are virgin forest. A high biodiversity-consisting of over 2,500 plant species, 100 species of mammals, 400 bird species, 120 reptilian and amphibian species and thousands of insects-has drawn scientists and tourists alike.

Day 4: Rappelling, Climbing & Hiking & Bathing in Natural Hot Springs

We relocate from Monteverde to the town of La Fortuna. Shortly thereafter, we are taken on an adrenaline-pumping adventure to the Lost Canyon. There we climb and hike and otherwise go waterfall rappelling. Lunch is included on today’s tour.

After the Lost Canyon, we are taken to one of the many natural hot springs in La Fortuna. More specifically, we are taken to a resort called Ecotermales Fortuna. There we bathe as well as eat. Dinner is included this evening.

Day 5: Walking Over Hanging Bridges & Swimming Under a Waterfall

Today we are taken on a tour to the nearby surroundings. First is Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park, which features cool-looking bridges hanging in the tropical rain forest. Next is La Fortuna Waterfall, where we can go swimming. Following the waterfall is lunch, which is included on today’s tour. Lastly for today is Arenal Volcano National Park. It offers a nice hike amid tropical scenery. The volcano measures at least 1,633 meters (5,358 feet) high and is estimated to be less than 7,500 years old.

Day 6: An Intimidating Volcano

We go on a daytrip today. We are taken to Tenorio Volcano National Park. The jewel of this national park is its volcano, from which it receives its name. Tenorio Volcano consists of 4 volcanic peaks and 2 craters. Thermal springs and small geysers dot the area, as do rivers, waterfalls and lagoons. The upper area of the park is dominated by primary cloud forest, while the lower regions are carpeted with rain forest. The summit can be reached via the Lago Las Dantas Trail, which winds up the volcano and passes through forested terrain before eventually reaching the peak. From the park’s entrance, it takes about an hour to hike up to the peak/main viewpoint. Lunch is included on today’s tour.

Day 7: The Country's Most Famous Beach

We relocate from La Fortuna to Manuel Antonio. We see why this town is so popular with tourists. Its national park receives almost 150,000 visitors annually. Manuel Antonio is Costa Rica at its most tropical. Let's head to the beach.

Day 8: White Sand & Taking a Surf Class

The day starts with a guided tour inside Manuel Antonio National Park. Extra time is given so we can go swimming. This park has impressive landscapes and several coves with many white sand beaches and lush foliage amidst great mountains and forests. The second half of the day is spent taking a surfing class.

Day 9: Discovering Wildlife Inside an Animal Kingdom

Before relocating to the capital of Costa Rica, San Jose, we are provided with a guided tour inside Manuel Antonio National Park. Extra time is given so we can go swimming. This park has impressive landscapes and several coves with many white sand beaches and lush foliage amidst great mountains and forests.

Day 10: The Most Stunning Volcano in Costa Rica & a Coffee Plantation Visit

We go on a daytrip today. We are first taken to Doka Estate. There we are provided with breakfast followed by a guided tour of a coffee plantation. Next, we visit Poás Volcano National Park. There we are provided with a guided tour. Please note that Poás Volcano National Park is often closed due to eruptions. If this is the case during your visit, then this park would need to be removed from today’s itinerary. Lastly, we visit La Paz Waterfall. There we are provided with lunch as well as a guided tour.

Day 11: Our Tour Ends This Morning

San Jose is the final destination on our tour around Costa Rica. Transportation will be arranged for you to reach the international airport.