Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in San José
Your Costa Rica trip starts when you land in San José. Your guide and driver will be waiting at the airport exit with an avenTOURa sign, then they'll take you to your hotel in downtown San José.
- Day 2
Doka Plantation - Ciudad Colón
After tropical breakfast, you'll drive through Alajuela to Doka Plantation on Poás volcano's slopes. There you'll learn how coffee grows and taste some while looking out over the Central Valley. Next, stop in Ciudad Colón to see a traditional mask maker and catch a 'Cimarrona' carnival parade. You'll have a local lunch before heading back to your hotel in San José.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Tropical breakfast), Lunch (Typical local lunch)
Included Activities
- Guided coffee tour of Doka Plantation with coffee tasting
- Visit traditional mask maker in Ciudad Colón
- Experience typical 'Cimarrona' carnival parade performance
Landmarks Poás Volcano Doka Plantation Alajuela - Day 3
Monte Alto Forest Reserve
Take an island bus to Montero Beach and walk through mangrove forests to reach Lodge La Amistad, a women's eco-tourism project. Learn about their conservation work and fire brigade, then board a boat through San Pablo mangroves where you might see herons, frigate birds, roseate spoonbills, or crocodiles. Later, drive to Hojancha in Monte Alto forest reserve. Dinner and overnight at the lodge, with an option to sleep under mosquito nets in the semi-open rancho.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Island bus tour to Montero Beach
- Visit Lodge La Amistad and learn about the Damas de Chira women's eco-tourism project
- Guided presentation on conservation efforts and fire-fighting brigade
- Boat exploration of San Pablo mangroves with wildlife observation
- Stay at Monte Alto forest reserve lodge
Optional Activities
- Sleep under mosquito nets in the semi-open 'Rancho'
Landmarks Montero Beach San Pablo Mangroves Monte Alto Forest Reserve Río Nosara - Day 4
Samara
Start your morning with natural sounds like howler monkeys. Have typical breakfast with gallo pinto in the forest, and you can help prepare it if you'd like. Hikers can head to the Mirador viewpoint before eating. Walk the orchid path with a guide to explore the forest, then attend a talk about the reforestation project. After lunch, drive through palm-lined hills and past teak plantations to Carillo Beach and then to Samara.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Typical breakfast with 'Gallo Pinto' in the forest), Lunch
Included Activities
- Guided forest reserve biodiversity exploration
- Hike along orchid path
- Lecture on reforestation project by Tropica Verde eV
Optional Activities
- Pre-breakfast hike to Mirador viewpoint
- Help prepare Gallo Pinto with the cook
Landmarks Carillo Beach Mirador viewpoint - Day 5
Samara Free Day
This is your free day in Samara with its palm-lined bay. Swim, take walks, or sit with a cocktail. Optional activities are available if you want to book them, but you can also just spend time at the beach and around town however you like.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Guided boat tour on the Pacific to watch dolphins (dolphins, turtles, and whales may be observed)
- Kayak trip to Chora Island for snorkeling
- Canoeing on river
- Cycling
- Horseback riding
- Paragliding
- Canopy tour
- Watch turtles at CAMARONAL animal sanctuary (evening)
- Watch turtles at OSTIONAL beach (once per month on second most important turtle beach in the world)
Landmarks Samara Bay Chora Island CAMARONAL animal sanctuary OSTIONAL beach - Day 6
La Fortuna
Leave the Pacific coast and visit Nicoya's colonial church, the second oldest in the country. Cross the Tempisque Bridge at Palo Verde National Park, then drive through cattle country and tropical vegetation toward the Arenal Reservoir and active Arenal volcano. You'll do a short hike through the national park before arriving at your lodge between the volcano and La Fortuna. Dinner is at a local restaurant.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner together at a local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit second oldest colonial church in Nicoya
- Hike through Arenal National Park
Landmarks Colonial Church in Nicoya Tempisque Bridge Palo Verde National Park Arenal Reservoir Arenal Volcano 
- Day 7
Maleku Indigenous Culture
Drive to San Rafael Guatuso to meet Iki, a Maleku artist who'll show you how the Maleku indigenous people (about 750 remain in Costa Rica) live and work. Learn about jicaros, traditional carved gourds once used for drinking and storage, then carve your own using traditional methods. Share chicha, a local corn beer with symbolic meaning, from your jicaro. Lunch together before returning to the lodge. Afternoon is free, and an evening trip to Arenal Paradise hot springs is optional.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Maleku artist Iki and learn about indigenous traditions
- Carve your own jicaro (traditional gourd)
- Participate in chicha drinking ceremony with self-carved jicaro
Optional Activities
- Visit Arenal Paradise hot springs (evening)
Landmarks San Rafael Guatuso Arenal Paradise hot springs - Day 8
Boca Tapada
Optionally walk through La Fortuna's plaza in the morning before lunch. Then drive through Caribbean lowlands to Pital, a small town surrounded by pineapple plantations. Continue to Río San Carlos at Boca Tapada to reach your lodge on the river.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Shopping stroll through Plaza of La Fortuna
Landmarks Plaza of La Fortuna Pital Río San Carlos - Day 9
Boca Tapada Jungle & Wildlife
Watch colorful birds during breakfast at the lodge. Head out on a jungle tour where you might spot poison dart frogs, monkeys, parrots, and wild turkeys. After lunch, you can relax or try optional activities like hammock time, horseback riding, kayaking, dinghy rides for wildlife viewing, or a boat trip to Río San Juan at the Nicaraguan border.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided natural history jungle tour at lodge
Optional Activities
- Relaxation in hammock
- Horseback riding
- Kayaking
- Dinghy ride for wildlife viewing
- Boat trip to Río San Juan at Nicaraguan border
Landmarks Río San Juan - Day 10
Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí
Continue in the morning to Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqu. In the evening, take an exciting night hike in La Tirimbina Biological Reserve or a similar reserve to see the rainforest's nocturnal wildlife and ecosystem up close.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Night hike in La Tirimbina Biological Reserve
Landmarks La Tirimbina Biological Reserve 
- Day 11
Cahuita
Drive along the Atlantic coast through pineapple and banana plantations toward the Caribbean. Stop in Puerto Limón, the largest city on the Caribbean coast and home to the country's main port. Continue along palm-lined beaches to Cahuita, a typical Afro-Caribbean fishing town, and check into your accommodation.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks Puerto Limón 
- Day 12
Cahuita National Park
Head to Cahuita National Park to see capuchin monkeys, sloths, and sometimes snakes. Relax on the park's palm beaches. In the afternoon, you can book an optional boat trip to snorkel at the national park's reef. Evenings, visit restaurants and bars in Cahuita or nearby Puerto Viejo with its beachfront bar scene.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour through Cahuita National Park with wildlife observation
Optional Activities
- Boat trip for reef snorkeling
Landmarks Cahuita National Park Puerto Viejo - Day 13
Cahuita Free Day
You have the full day to choose what you do. Relax on the Bacardi beach under palm trees in Cahuita National Park, stay at your lodge, or take a 45-minute bus to Manzanillo to hike in the Gandoca-Manzanillo Nature Reserve. Snorkel in the local reef or swim in calm waters. Ask your tour guide for other tips and optional activities.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Optional Activities
- Hike in Gandoca-Manzanillo Nature Reserve
- Snorkeling in Manzanillo reef
- Swimming and bathing
Landmarks 'Bacardi' Beach Manzanillo Gandoca-Manzanillo Nature Reserve - Day 14
San José
After breakfast, head back to San José, crossing the country's second largest national park. If you want more beach time, you can stay in Cahuita, Puerto Viejo, or Bocas del Toro in Panama, with shuttle bus service to San José later before your departure flight.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Extend beach stay in Cahuita, Puerto Viejo, or Bocas del Toro, Panama before returning to San José
- Day 15
Departure
Say goodbye to Costa Rica. Your transfer takes you to the airport for your flight back to Europe.
- Meals
- Breakfast
