Experience the culture and warmth of 3 unique communities across Costa Rica. Locals will share their knowledge about sustainable farming, traditional cooking, ancient art of pottery and much more. You'll also get to visit incredible waterfalls, walk across hanging bridges in the rainforest and spend time relaxing at one of the best surfing beaches in the country.
One of our local experts in Costa Rica will make this the perfect trip for you!
Speaks: Spanish and English
Welcome to Costa Rica! One of the most diverse countries on Earth!
At your arrival your driver will be waiting for you at the entrance of the airport to drive you to your hotel.
Depending on your arrival time you may have the chance to visit the Central Market and start getting to know the Costa Rican culture. Try your Spanish and buy a fruit you have never taste, experience the smells and the colors of the market.
Overnight at Rosa del Paseo or similar.
Included: transfer, Guided Central Market visit & lodging.
After breakfast, you will drive to the community of Quebrada Arroyo - the hear of the Los Campesinos Reserve. In the afternoon, you will visit a Trapiche, a typical Costa Rica country farm which is run by a local family is the perfect place to experience the cozy and easy-going lifestyle of the Tico campesinos. Trapiche, which translated means Sugar Cane Mill, is a super fun cultural day trip that will take you to a still active sugar mill farm. Learn about the process of making sugar step by step, from the raw sugar cane freshly cut until the stage where it's ready to use.
Before dinner you will hear stories of the tropical vanilla farmers who live in this region and enjoy a typical meal prepared in a wood oven.
Overnight at Los Campesinos
Included: breakfast, rental car, lunch, dinner, chat with local campesinos, sugar mill experience & lodging.
Before breakfast you will walk to the Mirador del Sendero del Pacífico (2.5 hours). You can swim in the beautiful natural pools, after crossing the suspension bridge 40 m high and 127 m long, which offers magnificent views of the Los Chorros waterfall.
During the afternoon you will visit the Quebrada Arroyo Community, check the sites of interest, history and visit the Mirador where you can appreciate the Pacific Ocean and the Savegre River.
Overnight at Los Campesinos
Included: breakfast, hike to the Mirador, rental car, walk into Quebrada Arroyo town, lunch, dinner, & lodging.
After breakfast you will say goodbye to your new friends and continue to Zapotal of Miramar. Zapotal is located at the highlands of the Puntarenas province, a small community with chilly weather and surrounded by pastures and forests. Part of the community decided to try their luck into the tourism industry by sharing their daily life with travelers and offering lodging into their houses at first and then by an ONG donation they built the Posada Las Orquideas.
At your arrival will start with cooking classes to make your own lunch, all you will use is organic and from the gardens and orchards from the locals.
After lunch you will hike into Jaboncillal Waterfall. It takes place inside the mountain visiting primary and secondary forest and along the Jabonal river. You will also have the opportunity to see the oldest bridge in the community, which is more than 100 years old.
Overnight at Las Orquideas or Homestay (your choice!)
Included: breakfast, rental car, Cooking lessons, Waterfall hike, lunch, dinner, & lodging.
The experience starts early in the morning to be part of milking the cows at the Dairy Farm. You will learn the whole process of milk from milking to make your own cheese, custard and feed the animals.
During the afternoon you will visit an ecological farm where everything is produced organically. You can learn and appreciate the process of purification of wastewater, they have a biodigester which is fed by pigs, chickens for fattening, an organic garden and medicinal plants.
Overnight: Las Orquideas lodge or Homestay (your choice!)
Included: breakfast, rental car, dairy farm, sustainable farm, lunch, dinner, & lodging.
After breakfast you will start your journey into the North Pacific. On the way you will visit Las Pumas Animal Rescue Center, they dedicate to help orphan and ill wild animals recue from their surrounding areas. Currently there are 18 exhibition halls within which 5 of the 6 species of wild cats can be observed: jaguar, puma, ocelot, yaguarundi and caucel; primates such as the spider and white-faced monkeys; mustelids like grayón; ungulates such as the white-and-white-tailed deer; and more than 50 psittacids, from 7 different species.
From here you will drive towards the town of Santa Barbara, the birthplace of the marimba, instrument that is a national symbol of Costa Rica. In addition, it is the only part of the country where the ancient tradition, inherited from our indigenous people, of ceramics is maintained.
Today you will be greeted by a local and visit la Casona Guanacaste, a more than 100 year old typical house, you will learn about the story of it. Visit another important sites of town.
Overnight: La Casona Guanacaste / Homestay (your choice)
Included: breakfast, rental car, Las Pumas Entrance, Casona & town walking experience, dinner & lodging.
During the morning you will have the chance to learn the process to make tortillas, from the corn grinding to eating your own tortilla for breakfast, corn is a really important ingredient in the blue zone area diet.
After breakfast you will continue to your pottery classes, a complete demonstration of the process, starting with the kicking of the clay, creating the piece and finally cooking it in a traditional oven. You will make your own piece and in addition expend time with a family whose modus vivendi has been transmitted from generation to generation.
Open afternoon to relax or walk around town.
Overnight: La Casona Guanacaste / Homestay.
Included: breakfast, rental car, Tortilla classes, pottery lessons, lunch, dinner & lodging.
After you say bye to your friends at the Santa Barbara Community, you'll continue to one of the best beaches in Costa Rica for surfing: Playa Negra. Spend 2 nights at the local lodge and relax at the beach.
Overnight: Latica Lodge
Included: breakfast, rental car, dinner & lodging.
During the morning you will have the chance to enjoy the beach and the area.
In the afternoon you will drive back to Alajuela, for your last night.
Overnight at Rosa de America or similar
Included: breakfast, rental car, & lodging.
After breakfast you will be transfer to the international airport. We hope you leave the country with a new perspective on how ecological & cultural tourism help to protect the environment and the culture of local communities.
Included: Breakfast & transfer out.
Included
1 night at Rosa del Paseo or similar, standard room.
2 nights at Los Campesinos, standard room
2 nights at Las Orquideas, standard room
2 nights at La Casona Santa Barbara
2 nights at Latica Lodge
1 night at Rosa de America, standard room
Meals as Specified in itinerary
Transfer in
Rental Car from day 2 to 11 (4 x 4 Automatic, basic insurance, GPS)
Guided Central Market visit
Sugar mill Experience
Hiking to the Mirador
Quebrada Arroyo town visit
Cooking lessons
Jaboncillal waterfall hike
Dairy and Sustainable farm
Las Pumas Entrance
Tortillas lessons
Marimba Workshop
Pottery classes
Las Pumas Entrance
Not Included:
Tips
Personal and / or medical expenses
International flights
Optional Activities or tours
Meals not specified in the program
Accommodations can be adjusted to match your style! Here's more info on the specific lodges included in this version of the itinerary:
Rosa del Paseo, located in the heart of the Costa Rican capital, build in 1910. First, the home of the wealthy coffee farmers, now 80 years later, restored and remodeled, preserving its historical splendor, transformed into a modern-day family hotel.
Los Campesinos, A rural eco lodge, run by the community Quebrada Arroyo with focus on sustainable tourism. This little village can be found just 25km east of the famous Manuel Antonio beaches. A really impressive suspension bridge across a canyon with a length of over 200m. Part of this property is a 35hectar large primary and secondary forest where hiking is one of the most popular attractions. All rooms have private bathroom and shower, different bedding, ceiling fan.
Las Orquídeas- cabins located 5 minutes away walking distance from the center of the community (Zapotal of Miramar), offers a restaurant with a very homemade menu and 4 cabins for a maximum capacity of 12 people. All rooms have private bathroom and shower, television with cable, with 1 double bed plus 2 single beds.
Casona Santa Barbara** - private rooms with shared bathroom in a 150 year old traditional house.
Latica Lodge** six double rooms with King Size bed that can be converted into two single beds and a family room with two King Size beds that can be converted into four single beds. The total of the seven rooms have air conditioning, ceiling fan and private bathroom.
Rosa de America - private bathroom and hot shower, some with walk-in closet, ceiling fan, cable TV, clock/radio, very comfortable beds, gorgeous hardwood furniture, room safe (in most rooms), covered patios, WIFI, and access to all the hotel’s amenities.
**Homestay (optional) - for lodges marked with asterisks above, you can also choose the option to stay in the home of a local family where you will be treated as a member of the family. You will have a private room and share the bathroom with your host family.
Locally Owned Social Enterprise
A local travel agency specializing in connecting travelers to Costa Rica's nature and cultures. Their goal is to create authentic experiences for travelers that contribute to sustainable growth for local communities. The agency offers mid-range bookings and is