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Day 1 San Jose

Hola! Welcome to Costa Rica. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm today in San Jose. With over half the country's population living within its parameters, San Jose is a dynamic atmosphere. If you arrive early, why not wander around at your own pace – a good place to start exploring is the main plaza, perfect for some people watching. Tonight, maybe head out to get to know your group with an optional welcome dinner.

Day 2 Santa Rosa de Pocosol

Travel by private vehicle to Santa Rosa de Pocosol today, where you’ll spend the night in a homestay. Just down the road is the Juanilama agricultural community, where you can get to know the locals, help with farm chores, and take an informal cooking lesson. Several villagers have built comfortable rooms for guests next to their homes, and you’ll stay in one of them this evening. Please note that these rooms use shared facilities. In order to make the most of this homestay experience, it may take a bit of effort from your side to break the ice first. Learn as many Spanish words as you can before you arrive!

Day 3 La Fortuna

Today, continue to La Fortuna – a small town situated just a few minutes away from Costa Rica's famous Arenal Volcano. Besides its panoramic views, the town offers a range of other activities such as the 70-m-high La Fortuna waterfall, stunning lush forest, rare plants, animal watching and water-based activities on the lake. The volcano’s inner workings also mean that the area has a number of thermal springs where lava-heated water gushes to the surface. These springs have been sculpted into several pools and waterfalls, making them the ideal place to relax. Spend the rest of the day as you please in this exciting town, maybe even testing your balance on a stand-up paddleboard.

Day 4 Monteverde

Today, you’ll take the scenic route to Monteverde. Monteverde was founded as an agricultural community in 1951 by a group of North American Quakers – they cleared virgin forests to create verdant pastures ideal for dairy farming. These environmentally aware settlers were conscious of the danger that unrestricted settling and farming could cause to this precious habitat, so they established a small, privately owned wildlife sanctuary, which has grown to become the internationally renowned Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Preserve. More than 2000 species of plants, 320 bird species and 100 different types of mammals call Montverde home. When you arrive, you can choose from a range of outdoor activities to wildlife spot, hike or cruise on the waters.

Day 5 Monteverde

Today is free for you to choose how you'd like to spend your time in this beautiful area. Maybe start your exploration with a tour of the suspension bridges that hang in the trees, or head to the Serpentarium to see some crawly critters. Watch butterflies at play in the specially created garden, hire a local guide to show you around the area, visit a community cooperative or zip-line through the lush canopy. Whatever you do, be sure to keep an eye out for the resplendent quetzal – one of the most elusive birds in the world.

Day 6 Quepos

Travel through the mountains to Quepos by private minibus. Located close to the beautiful Pacific beaches and exotic wildlife of Manuel Antonio National Park, Quepos is a laidback town with a vibrant nightlife. This afternoon, you'll get the chance to meet three generations of Costa Ricans and tuck into a traditional cooking class for lunch with them in their home. Prior to the pandemic, the family ran one of the most popular restaurants in Quepos for almost 20 years. Now, you're lucky to learn the secret flavours and spices of their traditional dishes and get to know the whole family. Once the sun goes down, why not grab a spot at a waterfront restaurant and sink your teeth into some fresh seafood with your travel crew – this is the life.

Day 7 Quepos - Manuel Antonio NP

Spend your time enjoying all that Manuel Antonio National Park has to offer with a free day today. Perhaps head out for a hike along one of the many trails, keeping one eye on the great views and the other looking for the abundant wildlife. Monkeys, armadillos, sloths and hundreds of birds are among the species you can spot here. The park also boasts turquoise seas and white-sand beaches – perfect for swimming, kayaking, sailing and fishing. It would be easy to spend your whole time here in, or by, the water.

Day 8 San Jose

Take a public bus back to San Jose today, arriving back in time for you to pick up some last-minute souvenirs at the city's colourful and vibrant markets. Then, head out for an optional dinner and a night on the town, getting a taste of the huge variety of nightlife on offer here.

Day 9 San Jose

With no further activities planned, your trip comes to an end after breakfast today. If you’d like to extend your stay, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.

Day 1: USA to San José

Meals: Dinner

Accommodation: Radisson Hotel

Your unforgettable adventure to Costa Rica begins as you depart Miami today. Later today, arrive in San José where you’ll enjoy a welcome dinner this evening.

Day 2: San José to Tortuguero

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Laguna Lodge

Early this morning depart from San José Central Valley to the Tortuguero area. On the way, you will pass through the Braulio Carrillo National Park, a sanctuary for flora and fauna alike. From the comfort of the bus you may see open pasture lands and small farming towns. You may also notice a change in the climate as you travel and the temperatures become warmer.

 After breakfast on the way, travel deeper into Costa Rica’s Caribbean side where boats wait to transfer you to your lodge. A two-hour boat ride will take you through the canals sheltered in the jungle of the rain forest. From the boat, you will be able to admire the unique flora and fauna of this area and you’ll also have the opportunity to see different bird species.

Upon arrival, there will be a short briefing of the lodge and the activities included during your stay followed by lunch.

 This afternoon, visit the village of Tortuguero where you will learn the lifestyle of local residents and the significant conservation efforts that some NGOs have developed to protect the sea turtles that come to spawn each year along the 22 miles of protected coastline.

Day 3: Tortuguero

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Today, explore Tortuguero, an exciting destination for ecotourism lovers. During the day you can explore the secondary canals of this paradise where you can see different species of mammals, birds, and reptiles. Here, much of the National Park extends along unspoiled beaches that serve as a refuge for sea turtle nesting and hatching, with hatching typically taking place between July and September. After your tour, return to the lodge for a delicious breakfast with the balance of the day at your leisure.

Day 4: Tortuguero to Arenal

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Tilajari Resort

This morning, continue your adventure with a boat transfer back to the disembarking point. From here, you’ll travel to the Guapiles area where you’ll enjoy lunch. Continue towards the northern lowlands enjoying the beautiful scenery which includes amazing views of the mountains and one of the major sources of revenue in the area: the agriculture. Stop along the way at a local pineapple plantation where you can learn more about the local agriculture and enjoy an opportunity to taste the delicious fruit. Afterwards, continue to Muellle de San Carlos where you’ll check-in at your hotel.

Day 5: Arenal

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, visit the Arenal Volcano area! Known worldwide for its near perfect cone shape, Arenal volcano has become a must-see when visiting Costa Rica. Its volcanic activity and its surrounding natural beauty make this a very exciting hiking tour.

Ever since the 1500’s, locals considered Arenal to be a mountain. However, everything changed on the morning of July 29, 1968 when this supposed mountain suddenly erupted. The eruptions continued non-stop for several days covering the surrounding area with lava, rocks and ash and affecting three towns. From this eruption onward, Arenal volcano has been quite active, often spewing rocks, lava, ash and smoke. After lunch (on your own) you’ll enjoy some time to wander La Fortuna, a town where you can do some shopping.

Day 6: Arenal to Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Accommodation: El Establo Mountain Hotel

After breakfast at your hotel, begin your journey to the Monteverde Cloud Forest. Monteverde is famous for a reason – its cloud forests are brimming with plants and animals, its zip lines and suspension bridges are the longest and most exciting in the country, and its coffee is tasty, local and cheap. Each of these diversions, as well as countless other activities, can be enjoyed through a number of exciting tours. Some tours combine several of these activities into one action-packed, fun-filled day.

This afternoon is at leisure to explore the area.

Day 7: Curicancha Cloud Forest Reserve

Meals: Breakfast

Visit the Curicancha Private Reserve today after breakfast. In 1970, the Lowther family purchased the property of Hubert and Mildred Mendenhall and named it Curi-Cancha, the name derived from “Golden Enclosure” in Inca. At the time, the property was approximately half pasture and half virgin rain forest. In the ensuing forty-five years, the Lowthers allowed the majority of the pastured areas to be reclaimed by the forest.

 Curi-Cancha is a birdwatcher’s paradise. The Resplendent Quetzal, Three-Wattled Bellbird, Blue-Crowned Motmot, Orange-bellied Trogon, and many others are frequently seen. Indeed, over 200 species of birds have been observed making their home in Curi-Cancha. Frequently sighted mammals include armadillo, coati, agouti, kinkajou, ocelot, two-toed sloth, and three species of monkey: the mantled howler, white-faced capuchin, and spider monkey. Guests are welcome to explore on their own or explore with a local naturalist guide who can find and identify local birds and traverse the trails with you. The balance of the day is at your leisure.

Day 8: Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve to San José

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Accommodation: . Radisson Hotel

After breakfast today, depart for San José. On the way, visit the Sarchi Oxcart Factory in the town of Sarchi where you can enjoy lunch (on your own). Afterwards, continue to San José where you might consider a visit to the National Theater, the Gold Museum, and other interesting attractions. This evening enjoy a farewell dinner

Day 9: San José to USA

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast this morning, transfer to the San José International Airport for your return flight to the USA. Arrive home filled with memories from your Costa Rican adventure!