Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in San José
You'll land in San José and head to your hotel to settle in. It's a good time to rest up after traveling and get your bearings for the week ahead.
- Day 2
San José to Tortuguero
Early start as you drive through Braulio Carrillo National Park toward the Caribbean coast, stopping for a local breakfast along the way. A boat then carries you through jungle canals to reach your lodge. Later in the afternoon, you can visit the small village of Tortuguero, where there's an optional turtle museum if that interests you.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Typical local breakfast on the way), Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Boat transfer through jungle canals to lodge
- Excursion to Tortuguero village
- Breakfast - typical local
Optional Activities
- Visit to turtle museum
- Night excursion to observe sea turtles laying eggs on beach (July to September)
Landmarks Braulio Carrillo National Park Tortuguero Village 
- Day 3
Tortuguero National Park
Morning boat tour through Tortuguero National Park's canals where you might catch sight of monkeys, crocodiles, sloths, and birds. After breakfast back at the lodge, take a short walk around the grounds for more wildlife watching. You'll head out again by boat in the afternoon to explore more of the canal network.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Morning boat tour through Tortuguero National Park canals
- Walk around lodge
- Afternoon boat trip through park canals
- Breakfast after first boat tour
Landmarks Tortuguero National Park - Day 4
Tortuguero to South Coast
You'll travel by boat and then bus to reach the palm-lined southern coast. The journey includes stops and local conversation that give you a real sense of the region before arriving at your next spot.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Boat and bus transfer to south coast
- Day 5
BriBri Community Visit
Head up into the Talamanca mountains to spend time with a BriBri indigenous community. A local shaman talks through spiritual practices and medicinal plants they use, while a family shows how they build traditional roofs and incorporate plants into daily life. Lunch is a typical community meal, and then you'll have free time in the afternoon to relax.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Typical lunch in the BriBri community)
Included Activities
- Visit to BriBri community in Talamanca mountains
- Shaman explanation of spiritual traditions, medicinal plants and rituals
- Family demonstration of traditional roof building and local plant use
- Typical lunch in the community
Landmarks Talamanca Mountains - Day 6
Cahuita National Park to Turrialba
Walk through Cahuita National Park along its wild beaches, where you can swim and watch for animals. After that, you'll travel to Turrialba and check in at a nice hacienda for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Exploration of Cahuita National Park
- Swimming opportunity at park beaches
Landmarks Cahuita National Park 
- Day 7
Turrialba
Tour CATIE University and its botanical gardens to learn about tropical crops and sustainable practices, including a look at their seed bank for food security. In the afternoon, you can choose between optional horse riding or rafting on the Pejibaye River. By evening, you'll join a cooking workshop where you'll prepare and cook traditional local dishes.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Cooking workshop - prepare and eat typical local dishes)
Included Activities
- Tour of CATIE University in Turrialba
- Botanical garden tour
- Learning about tropical agriculture and sustainability
- Seed bank presentation
- Cooking workshop - prepare typical local dishes
Optional Activities
- Horse riding
- Rafting on Pejibaye River
Landmarks CATIE University Pejibaye River - Day 8
Guayabo Monument to San José
Visit Guayabo Monument to see Costa Rica's pre-Columbian sites and artifacts. From there, you'll pass through the small villages of Santa Cruz and Pacayas before heading to Cartago, the old capital, where you can see the Basilica of Nuestra Señora de los Angeles. The tour ends with a transfer back to San José.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to Guayabo Monument
- Drive through villages of Santa Cruz and Pacayas
- Visit to Basilica of Nuestra Señora de los Angeles in Cartago
- Transfer from Cartago to San José
Optional Activities
- Optional follow-up program after return to San José
Landmarks Guayabo Monument Santa Cruz Pacayas Basilica of Nuestra Señora de los Angeles
