Compare A Taste of Costa Rica by Road Scholar vs Highlights of Costa Rica by Explore!

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 Join trip in San Jose

Arrive in San Jose. The cosmopolitan Costa Rican capital lies in a fertile valley at an altitude of 1150 metres. Coffee and sugar cane are big industries here and coffee is even planted between new buildings and along the roadside on the outskirts of the city. For those arriving on time our Leader plans to meet you in the hotel reception at 7pm for the welcome meeting, and for those that wish there is the chance to go out for dinner. There are no other activities planned today, so you are free to arrive in San Jose at any time. If you would like to receive an airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive into San Jose's Juan Santamaria International Airport (airport code SJO) which is 18km, around thirty minutes from our hotel. Should you miss the welcome meeting, your Leader will inform you of any essential information as soon as you catch up. If your flight arrives earlier in the day, perhaps you might choose to head out to explore the city which is easy to navigate with a grid pattern of avenues and streets with a good choice of local eateries, which you may choose to sample this evening. The National museum (Museo Nacional De Costa Rica) is also well worth a visit.

Meals Provided : None

Day 2 Visit the Poas Volcano; try out traditional oxcart painting

This morning, an hour's drive will take us to the Poas Volcano National Park, where the smoke from one of Costa Rica's most active volcanoes rises majestically from the tropical rainforest. At almost a mile in diameter, the main crater is one of the largest in the world. Due to recent volcanic activity, time at the crater viewpoint is restricted to 20 minutes. If activity increases again the authorities may choose to close the park, and in that case you'll visit the Doka coffee estate, including a tasting session of Costa Rica's finest export. After our visit to Poas, we'll continue on to the town of Sarchi, well known throughout Costa Rica for its beautiful and intricate arts and crafts. It is famous for producing colourful and decorative oxcarts, which are a huge part of Costa Rican culture today, and even considered one of Costa Rica's national symbols. We're going to meet one of the town's hard-working artisans and learn to paint a traditional oxcart with some of the patterns and designs familiar to the area. Finally, we travel to Arenal (approximately 2.5 hours), where we will catch our first sight of the famous Arenal Volcano. This classic cone, which rises to 1633 metres, is covered by a tangled mass of vegetation on one side, while the other is starkly barren. Our accommodation for the next two nights is in La Fortuna. The town was renamed after a big eruption in 1968, when it was seen as being 'fortunate' that its location, on the volcano's eastern side, saved it from decimation. This evening, we can make the most of the local geothermal activity by enjoying an optional bathe in nearby hot springs.

Meals Provided : Breakfast

Day 3 Wildlife float trip on the Penas Blancas river; free afternoon with options including a waterfall hike

The Arenal area is well known for its diverse wildlife, and this morning we'll set out on a tranquil rafting safari to spot some of the most sought-after species. There is no white-water here, we'll simply be floating down calmly with our local guide, who will scour the water and the canopy to point out a variety of colourful creatures from toucan and sloth to jesus-christ lizard and caiman. We'll most likely see capuchins swinging from the trees, and a wide array of birdlife during the float trip. In the afternoon we're free to explore Arenal as we choose. There are beautiful local hikes to waterfalls and along lava trails, whilst those keen to relax can enjoy an optional trip to the local Hot Springs. Our Tour Leader will be able to provide information on all the options available.

Meals Provided : Breakfast

Day 4 Drive to Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve; night walk through the forest

Today we will travel around Arenal Lake up into the cloud forest region of Monteverde - one of the most well-known places in Costa Rica to see wildlife. Perched on the Continental Divide between the Pacific and the Caribbean, it is thought that there has been indigenous habitation in Monteverde since 3000 BC. However, the turning point in its recent history came in 1950, when a group of pacifist Quakers from Alabama moved here to avoid subscription in the Korean War. They sought a lifestyle in a country in which they could embrace their peaceful beliefs and continue to cultivate their dairy farms. These families went on to establish the community of Monteverde and some of its famed cloud forest reserves. The drive takes approximately 5 hours from Arenal, and on arrival we are at our leisure to enjoy one or several of the many optional activities available in the area. One of the most popular activities in the area is to walk the hanging bridges that extend over the reserve, giving you the chance to take a bird's eye view over the canopy. Couple this with the thrill of zooming through the trees on a zip wire and it makes an exhilarating afternoon. For something less adrenaline-filled, choose to visit the local butterfly or orchid garden. This evening we will have the adventure of a guided night walk in the cloud forest, in search of nocturnal species such as pacas and tarantulas.

Meals Provided : Breakfast

Day 5 Free morning in Monteverde; drive to Manuel Antonio National Park

We leave Monteverde at approx. 10:30am. For those who wish, there is the option to revisit the cloud forest reserve in the early morning (the reserve opens at 7:00am). The paths here wind their way through gigantic ferns, underneath the lichen and moss that hangs from the giant trees. The famous, but now very rare, resplendent quetzal is fairly commonly seen in this area, one of the last remaining places in Central America where its habitat has been preserved. Sacred to the ancient Maya and Aztec peoples, it is considered one of the most beautiful birds in the world and the best time to see it is during its breeding months of March and April. Leaving the cloud forest behind us, we descend to the Pacific Coast, enjoying staggering views over the Gulf and Peninsula of Nicoya. Heading south, we cross the Rio Tarcoles Bridge from which huge crocodiles are regularly seen. We then pause at Carara Biological Reserve, famed for the scarlet macaws and abundant birdlife which populate this transitional forest. Finally, we continue along the Pacific Coast to Manuel Antonio National Park, where we will spend the next two nights.

Meals Provided : Breakfast

Day 6 Explore Manuel Antonio's wildlife and beaches

Manuel Antonio National Park is famed for its beautiful beaches and rich wildlife. We'll spend the morning exploring the park, where white-faced capuchin monkeys swing from the trees, and poison-dart frogs hide under a protection of lush tropical plantlife. Coatimundi (part of the raccoon family), tiny squirrel monkey and howler monkey also make their home in the park - we may well see them on our exploration. Manuel Antonio is also one of the best places in Costa Rica to see sloths. As their diet of leaves and buds provides little energy, sloths move only when necessary and even then very slowly, making them very easy to spot. Our guides will know where they are most likely to be found. The remainder of the day can be spent relaxing on the white sandy beaches, enjoying a swim in the warm azure waters. The sunsets from this coast are spectacular and have to be seen to be believed.

Meals Provided : Breakfast

Day 7 Free morning in Manuel Antonio National Park; return by vehicle to San Jose

This morning is free to relax in Manuel Antonio. You could choose to revisit the park*, or relax on the beaches around the town of Manuel Antonio. There are also lots of other activities on offer if beach time isn't for you, including white water rafting or snorkelling trips. In the early afternoon we'll leave the Pacific Coast, driving back inland to San Jose, a journey of approximately four hours. *Please note that Manuel Antonio National Park is closed on Tuesdays.

Meals Provided : Breakfast

Day 8 Trip ends in San Jose

The trip ends this morning at our hotel in San Jose. There are no activities planned today, so you are free to depart at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day, luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you would like to receive an airport transfer today, you'll need to depart from Juan Santamaria International Airport (airport code: SJO), approximately a 30 minute drive from our hotel.

Meals Provided : Breakfast