Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival
You'll arrive and get transferred to your hotel on your own. Settle in and rest up before the tour officially starts the next day.
- Day 2
Coffee Plantations to Arenal Volcano
The drive takes you through coffee and ornamental plantations heading toward Arenal Volcano area. At Ecocentro Danaus you'll see tropical plants, amphibians, mammals, reptiles, insects and birds, plus there's a butterfly garden to walk through. After checking into your La Fortuna hotel at the volcano's base, you'll head out later in the afternoon to visit the thermal springs.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Ecocentro Danaus nature conservation center
- Late afternoon excursion to thermal springs
Landmarks Arenal Volcano Ecocentro Danaus 
- Day 3
Arenal Volcano Hike and Coffee Finca
A 1.5 hour hike across cooled lava fields in the national park gives you views of the volcano and Lake Arenal. Next you'll visit a coffee finca to learn how coffee gets processed. From there it's on to Sarapiqu and your hotel where you can plant your own tree.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Approximately 1.5 hour hike across cooled lava fields in national park
- Visit coffee finca and learn about coffee-making process
- Plant your own tree at hotel
Landmarks Arenal National Park Lake Arenal - Day 4
Pineapple Plantation and Tirimbina Reserve
You'll check out a finca with pineapple plantations and tropical plants. After lunch, head to Tirimbina Reserve for a short walk where you can spot various animal species and learn about the cocoa to chocolate process from bean to bar.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit finca with pineapple plantation and tropical plants
- Short walk in Tirimbina Reserve to observe animal species
- Learn about cocoa bean to chocolate process at Tirimbina Reserve
Landmarks Tirimbina Reserve - Day 5
Journey to Tortuguero Jungle Lodge
An early start takes you through Horquetas to Guápiles. You'll have a small breakfast, then continue to Caño Blanco and transfer by boat to your jungle lodge in Tortuguero, arriving around lunchtime. The afternoon is yours to either relax by the pool or visit Tortuguero village.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Small breakfast), Lunch
Included Activities
- Boat transfer to jungle lodge
Optional Activities
- Visit village of Tortuguero
Landmarks Tortuguero National Park 
- Day 6
Tortuguero National Park Wildlife Tours
Start early on a boat tour through Tortuguero National Park canals where you might see crocodiles, monkeys, turtles, sloths, bats, iguanas and birds. After breakfast comes a guided walk to find frogs, butterflies and other wildlife. The afternoon brings another canal boat tour.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Early morning boat tour through Tortuguero National Park canals
- Guided walk through Tortuguero National Park
- Afternoon boat tour through canals
Landmarks Tortuguero National Park - Day 7
Tortuguero to Selva Bananito Lodge
Morning boat ride returns you to Caño Blanco, then a bus takes you to Guápiles for lunch. From there you'll drive to the port city of Limón, and travel about 40 minutes by 4x4 vehicle to the remote Bananito village and Selva Bananito Lodge.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Boat return to La Pavona/Caño Blanco
- Bus transfer to Guápiles
- 4x4 transfer to Selva Bananito Lodge
Landmarks Limón - Day 8
Selva Bananito Wildlife and Forest Exploration
Start with a bird watching tour at the lodge sanctuary where toucans, golden blackbirds, trogons and kingfishers live among roughly 300 bird species. After breakfast you'll take a natural history hike through primary forest, along small rivers and through the Muchila mountains landscape. You'll have free time in the afternoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Bird watching tour at Selva Bananito
- Natural history hike through primary forest, rivers and Muchila mountains
Optional Activities
- Optional afternoon activity
Landmarks Selva Bananito Protected Area - Day 9
Cahuita National Park and Journey to Volcanic Region
The 4x4 takes you back to Bananito, then you'll head to Cahuita National Park where capuchin monkeys, howler monkeys, sloths and raccoons roam and secluded beaches wait. Later in the afternoon you'll leave the coast and travel toward the Irazú and Turrialba volcano areas.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Cahuita National Park with wildlife observation
Landmarks Cahuita National Park Irazú Volcano Turrialba Volcano - Day 10
University of Tropical Agriculture and Optional Activities
Walk with your guide through the University of Tropical Agriculture campus and its botanical garden. The afternoon lets you choose optional activities like horseback riding across nearby fincas at Casa Turire or Category I-II rafting on the Pejibaye River. Toward evening there's a Costa Rican cooking workshop.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Costa Rican cuisine at cooking workshop)
Included Activities
- Guided walk through University of Tropical Agriculture campus and botanical garden
- Cooking workshop featuring Costa Rican cuisine
Optional Activities
- Horseback riding across fincas at Casa Turire
- Rafting on Pejibaye River (Category I-II)
Landmarks University of Tropical Agriculture Pejibaye River Casa Turire - Day 11
Guayabo Monument and Return to San José
You'll visit Guayabo Monument, the country's most important archaeological site, learning about the roughly 1,000 settlers who lived there between 1000 BC and 1400 AD. Then drive back to San José through Santa Cruz and Pacayas villages and Cartago, the former capital, where you'll see the Basilica Nuestra Señora de los Angeles.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Guayabo Monument archaeological site
Landmarks Guayabo Monument Cartago Basilica Nuestra Señora de los Angeles - Day 12
Departure
You'll get transferred from your hotel to the airport without a guide.
- Meals
- Breakfast
