Itinerary
- Day 1
San José
You'll arrive at San José international airport where your German-speaking guide meets you at the exit. From there, you'll transfer with other tour participants to your city hotel, getting settled in for the trip ahead.
- Day 2
San José to Arenal
Your guide picks you up at 8:00 am from the hotel and you'll drive toward the Arenal Volcano area. At Ecocentro Danaus Nature Conservation Center, you'll walk through habitats to see tropical plants, butterflies, amphibians, reptiles, and birds. By afternoon, you'll head to a thermal resort where you can relax in the warm volcanic pools before evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Ecocentro Danaus Nature Conservation Center with guided tour of tropical biodiversity
- Observe butterfly garden with up to 30 day butterfly species
- Access to thermal pools at volcanic resort
Landmarks Arenal Volcano Ecocentro Danaus Nature Conservation Center - Day 3
Arenal to Sarapiqu
After a short drive to Arenal National Park, you'll hike for about 1.5 hours across ash-covered paths and past a cooled lava river, taking in views of Lake Arenal and the surrounding hills. Later, you'll travel to San Miguel organic coffee finca for the Mi Cafecito tour at 750 meters altitude to learn how coffee is made and taste some samples. The day wraps up in Sarapiqu where you'll have the chance to plant your own tree.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided hike in Arenal National Park (approximately 1.5 hours)
- Hike through cooled lava river and ash-covered paths
- Mi Cafecito coffee finca tour with coffee tasting
- Tree planting activity
Landmarks Arenal National Park Lake Arenal - Day 4
Sarapiqu to Tirimbina Rainforest
You'll meet the Gómez family at Finca Surá and tour their citrus, cassava, sugar cane, and pineapple plantations where tropical plants grow naturally. During the visit, you'll help plant pineapple seedlings and have lunch on the finca. In the afternoon, you'll head to Tirimbina Rainforest Reserve for a forest walk where monkeys, sloths, coatis, and birds might appear. You'll also learn about cacao production and watch chocolate-making from bean to bar with a tasting included.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Joint lunch at Finca Surá)
Included Activities
- Tour of Finca Surá organic plantations
- Participate in planting pineapple seedlings
- Lunch at Finca Surá
- Guided walk through Tirimbina Rainforest Reserve
- Cacao and chocolate production workshop with tasting
Landmarks Tirimbina Rainforest Reserve - Day 5
Sarapiqu to Tortuguero
You'll travel via Horquetas to Guápiles for a typical Costa Rican breakfast. From there, the route takes you through La Pavona or Caño Blanco, banana production towns where your guide explains farming techniques. You'll take a boat tour along rivers and canals past natural islands heading toward Tortuguero, then check in at the lodge and have late lunch. An afternoon village visit is included, plus optional visits to the Sea Turtle Conservancy Center (USD 2, separate fee) or night turtle nesting beach tours (about USD 40, July-September).
- Meals
- Breakfast (Typical Costa Rican breakfast in Guápiles), Lunch (Late lunch at lodge), Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of banana plantations at La Pavona or Caño Blanco
- Boat tour along rivers and canals to Tortuguero
Optional Activities
- Sea Turtle Conservancy Center visit (USD 2 entrance fee, not included)
- Optional night excursion to Tortuguero beach for sea turtle egg-laying observation (cost locally approximately USD 40 per person, available July to September)
Landmarks Tortuguero National Park - Day 6
Tortuguero
Starting early, you'll take a boat tour through Tortuguero National Park canals watching for crocodiles, monkeys, turtles, sloths, bats, iguanas, and birds as they wake up. Back at the lodge, you'll have breakfast and then take a guided walk on the trails looking for frogs, butterflies, birds, and insects. After lunch at the lodge, your afternoon is free before dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at lodge), Dinner
Included Activities
- Early morning guided boat tour through Tortuguero National Park canals
- Guided nature walk on lodge trails
- Wildlife observation opportunities
Landmarks Tortuguero National Park - Day 7
Tortuguero to Caribbean Coast
Following breakfast, you'll board a boat for the return trip to La Pavona or Caño Blanco, traveling back through Tortuguero National Park. The bus then takes you to Guápiles for lunch. You'll continue south along the Caribbean coast where tropical forest lines the road and the sea appears between palm trees. Your guide will share details about the region's history and unique culture during the drive.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch in Guápiles)
Included Activities
- Return boat tour through Tortuguero National Park
Landmarks Tortuguero National Park - Day 8
Bribri Community
You'll visit a Bribri indigenous community in the Talamanca mountains where you'll meet a Bribri shaman and learn about indigenous beliefs, worldview, medicinal plants, and rituals. Meeting an indigenous family, you'll see how they build traditional roofs and use plants and crops for daily life. You'll spend time experiencing their tranquil way of living, and the day ends with a typical traditional lunch.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Typical lunch with Bribri community)
Included Activities
- Guided visit to Bribri indigenous community
- Meeting with Bribri shaman
- Traditional teachings on indigenous beliefs, medicinal plants, and rituals
- Family visit and demonstration of traditional construction and plant use
- Typical indigenous lunch
Landmarks Talamanca Mountains - Day 9
Cahuita National Park to La Suiza
Your day is spent in Cahuita National Park, which protects about 1,068 hectares of rainforest and secluded beaches. You'll walk park trails looking for capuchin monkeys, howler monkeys, sloths, and raccoons. In the afternoon, you'll travel inland toward the Irazú and Turrialba volcano regions, characterized by agricultural landscapes. You'll check in at Hotel Casa Turire in the La Suiza district.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided exploration of Cahuita National Park trails and beaches
- Wildlife observation opportunities
Landmarks Cahuita National Park 
- Day 10
CATIE and Optional Activities
A morning guided walk takes you through the University of Tropical Agriculture CATIE campus and its botanical garden to learn about food security projects and seed banks. In the afternoon, you can choose optional activities like horseback riding over nearby fincas, Category I-II rafting on the Pejibaye River, or swimming. Later, you'll join a cooking workshop in doña Mónica's kitchen with a wood stove to learn how Costa Rican cuisine is prepared.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Delicacies of Costa Rican cuisine in cooking workshop in doña Mónica's kitchen with wood stove)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of CATIE University campus and botanical garden
- Cooking workshop with Costa Rican cuisine preparation
- Dinner from cooking workshop
Optional Activities
- Horseback riding over Casa Turire adjacent fincas
- Easy Category I-II rafting on Pejibaye River
Landmarks University of Tropical Agriculture (CATIE) - Day 11
Guayabo Monument to San José
You'll visit Guayabo Monument, Costa Rica's most important archaeological site, and explore the ancient settlement that housed about 1,000 residents between 1000 B.C. and 1400 A.D. Stone cisterns, functioning aqueducts, and cobblestones sit surrounded by tropical rainforest. Heading back to San José, you'll pass through the picturesque villages of Santa Cruz and Pacayas, and Cartago with its Basilica Nuestra Señora de los Angeles. Arrival at your city hotel happens early afternoon if staying overnight, or transfer to the airport terminal around 4:30 pm for same-day departures.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Guayabo Monument archaeological site
- Visit to Basilica Nuestra Señora de los Angeles in Cartago
Landmarks Guayabo Monument Basilica Nuestra Señora de los Angeles
