Embark on an amazing 15 day nature and culture adventure starting in the highlands. Stay in local lodges and explore a rural and indigenous communitiy full of people wanting to share their knowledge on sustainable farming, medicinal plants, and ancient masks carving and weaving.
You'll spend four exhilarating days on the Pacific Coast, in The Osa Peninsula before heading to the Arenal Volcano.
The Osa is the last virgin rainforest on the Pacific side of Central America, and has amazing wildlife, flora and fauna, and a really unique culture compared to the rest of Costa Rica. The region comprises a whopping 2.5% of the world's biodiversity. During your time there you will have the opportunity to stay in amazing ecolodges, eat delicious local food, hike in Corcovado National Park, observe the cetaceans in Golfo Dulce and more!
One of the best places to take in the Arenal Volcano’s awe-inspiring beauty is at La Fortuna, a tiny town located near the foot of the volcano. The perfect place to kick back and enjoy the area’s superb beauty, La Fortuna still retains much of its original Tico charm. Here you will have many options for activities ranging from hiking, to canyoning, to river rafting.
From the Arenal volcano you will continue to your last destination: Sarapiqui. One of the few remaining areas in Costa Rica that is the dwelling of the endangered Green Macaw, Sarapiqui is also home to a number of nature reserves and national parks including the Braulio Carrillo National Park and the Sarapiqui Protected zone.
Feel the welcoming and kind spirit of locals in this itinerary while getting a deeper understanding of the culture, traditions and natural biodiversity of Costa Rica.
One of our local experts in Costa Rica will make this the perfect trip for you!
Speaks: English and Spanish
Welcome to Costa Rica, one of the most biodiverse countries on Earth! Once you arrive to the San Jose airport you will be greeted by your driver and head towards the Providencia community where you will spend the next two nights. Providencia is an impressive forest of high altitude with abundant nature, waterfalls, coffee plantations and giant oaks with an abundance of optional nature and culture activities. Settle into your lodge for the evening and enjoy your first Costa Rican dinner.
Transportation: 2 hour drive from San Jose Airport to Providencia.
Accommodation Options: Tami Lodge (3 star hotel) or Rivera Lodge (2 star hotel), or Homestay.
Enjoy a hot cup of coffee and some gallo pinto, a classic Costa Rican breakfast. After breakfast you will learn about sustainable farming, medicinal plants and coffee at Armonía Ambiental which is an ecological farm where everything is produced organically.
Noire and her family are passionate about organic farming. The processes of the products that are harvested throughout the year are explained and demonstrations of various food processes such as flour, coffee, vinegar are explained
Included Activities: Guided coffee tour, sustainable farming and medicinal plants experience.
Optional activities:
Sugar mill tour - Learn about the full process of making sugar, from raw sugar cane to the final product.
Dairy farm visit - Milk the cows to make your own cheese, sour cream and feed the farm animals.
Artisan coffee experience - The Calderón -Agüero family will share treasures of knowledge in the artisanal coffee process.
Marmalade lessons -You will learn how they use local fruits such as blackberry, tomato or tomatillo, naranjilla and others, to demonstrate the process of pulping the fruit.
Handcraft lessons -Using recycled materials, they show you how to make jewelry, earrings, portraits, bracelets, and more.
Accommodation Options: Tami Lodge (3 star hotel) or Rivera Lodge (2 star hotel) or Homestay.
After breakfast you will be picked up by a private shuttle and continue your way to the Indigenous Territory of Terraba (approx. 2 hours). The origin of the Brörán, proper name of the Térrabas, which means mass of fermented corn, is known to be of Chibcha ancestry as well as other indigenous peoples that inhabit the South of Costa Rica.
Your will start with the petroglyph visit, surrounded by coffee, medicinal plants, fruit trees and timber. On the way the local guide will give you details on the use and importance of these species in the local culture, when you reach the petroglyph you can observe carefully the symbolic drawings that were carved there years ago by ancient Térraba and the meaning of these in their culture.
After lunch you will learn the process of roasting and grinding cacao. The presentation will end with a delicious cup of freshly prepared hot chocolate.The cacao plant is very important within the Térraba culture and holds many mystical powers.
Tonight will be a special experience because you will spend the night in the community at their local lodge.
Included activities: Cacao presentation and Petroglyph visit
Transportation: 2 hours from Providencia to Terraba.
Overnight at: El Descanso lodge
Today you will transfer to Boruca, another indigenous community next to Terraba. Daily life in Boruca reflects a self- sustaining agricultural village, but one where the majority of the economy is supported by artisan crafts and ecotourism.
At Magdalena´s house you will learn about the ancient natural dying and weaving processes. Boruca has a long tradition of hand-dying threads from naturally found colors from sources including leaves of the sangrilla tree, bark of the carbonero tree, clay, indigo plants and occasionally the ink of a mollusk. After spinning thread from locally-grown cotton, they use a loom to weave the thread into handbags, wall hangings, coin purses and more.
In the evening you will head back to Terraba for dinner and to settle into El Descanso Lodge for the night.
Included Activities: Mask Carving, weaving and natural dyeing lessons.
Transportation: 30 minutes from Terraba to Boruca.
Overnight at: El Descanso lodge
After an early breakfast you will take a private transfer to Puerto Jimenez. On your way you will visit Finca 6, the Stone Spheres Archeological Site. These spheres’ purpose and how they got there is a mystery. Your guide will lead you on a short hike and provide different theories as to what the spheres’ background is. Because of the importance and unique stone spheres this archeological site was declared as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
In the afternoon you will head to the Osa Peninsula. National Geographic Magazine called the Osa Peninsula “the most biologically intense place on Earth.”
Home to some one of the most pristine rainforests in the world, Osa Peninsula also contains Central America’s largest lowland tropical rainforests and is one of the tallest rainforests in the world, as well as some cultural traditions unique to Costa Rica.
Settle into your hotel in Puerto Jimenez and get ready for some adventures the next couple days.
Optional afternoon activities: Kayak in the mangroves
Transportation: 3 hours from Terraba to Puerto Jimenez.
Accommodation Options: El Chontal (2 star, family owned lodge) or Iguana Lodge (4 star hotel)
After breakfast enjoy the incredible wild landscapes of Golfo Dulce which has the characteristics of a tropical fjord (only 4 are registered in the world) and four main rivers provide it with fresh water. It gathers a wide range of habitats, from shallow waters and mangroves to coral reefs, but also oceanic waters.
Boat excursions are a great way to explore the estuaries of this isolated paradise. Among its residents are two species of cetaceans that are commonly sighted: in the coastal areas the bottle-nosed dolphin, in the central part the spotted dolphin. It is frequent to see marine turtles and a great variety of coastal birds.
The calm waters of the gulf are the cradle of a large number of humpback whales from both hemispheres. These whales visit the area once a year from late July to the beginning of October (Southern Hemisphere) and from December to February (Northern Hemisphere). Males usually congregate in certain areas of the Gulf to sing to females and display their charms with their majestic jumps and flutters.
Included Activities: Boat tour in Golfo Dulce
Optional Activities: Kayak in the mangroves, night hike or bioluminescence kayak tour.
Accommodation Options: El Chontal (2 star, family owned lodge) or Iguana Lodge (4 star hotel)
Today you will enjoy a private hiking excursion into Corcovado National Park, the most biodiverse place on Earth! Early in the morning you will take a boat from Puerto Jimenez to Sirena Station. Once at the park you will enjoy a guided hike into the tropical rainforest of Corcovado where you can see a lot of birds and mammals and enjoy the magical jungle. The tour includes a guide, picnic lunch, and entrance fee to the park. Due to its geographical location, climate, soil conditions and topography, this area is home to an amazing diversity of biological species and animals that include monkeys, sloths, pumas, scarlet macaws, tapirs, and many many more!. Experience the lush, natural beauty of Costa Rica’s most wondrous rainforest. Whether you are a simple nature enthusiast, bird watcher, or photographer, the atmosphere here will captivate you.
Included activity: Five hour flat guided hike in Corcovado National Park with a local guide, lunch and transportation to & from your hotel.
Transportation: 1.5 hour boat from your lodge to the park.
Accommodation options: El Chontal (2 star, family owned lodge) or Iguana Lodge (4 star hotel)
Today you will have the option to relax at the hotel and beach for the day, or choose one of two exciting activities below.
Option #1: Visit the local community of Rancho Quemado and go on a gold panning tour and birdwatching canoe tour
Your day will begin with a 1 hour drive to the rural community of Rancho Quemado, a small town of 300 inhabitants in the heart of the Osa Peninsula. You will meet Juan Cubillo and his wife Rosa, longtime Osa residents and gold miners. Spend a few hours learning about the history of gold mining in the region and even try your luck in one of the streams close to Juan’s residence! Enjoy a freshly prepared home cooked lunch and then either head back to Puerto Jimenez for the afternoon or stay in Rancho Quemado for an afternoon birdwatching activity with Carlos Villalobos. You will hike 1km on a flat trail to a rainforest lagoon where you will hop on a canoe and take a 2 hour guided canoe ride to observe up to 20 different species of birds.
After the tour either head back to Puerto Jimenez or choose to spend the night in Rancho Quemado at a guesthouse with the Ureña family.
Included activities: Guide + gold panning demonstration, Laguna Chocuaco bird watching canoe tour
Optional activities: Overnight guesthouse stay in local community.
Option #2: Gold panning tour and El Salto hike and swimming holes in the community of Dos Brazos.
The Osa Peninsula's rivers are still, to this day, rich in gold deposits. The region's history of gold mining has had a huge influence on the culture and the independent and self-reliant personalities of the people. Gold is still panned for in the Río Tigre, which passes through Dos Brazos.
The town's pulperias (local shops) even have scales where they regularly weigh and trade gold. Our Gold Panning Tour makes it easy for visitors to experience how it is done first hand with local expert "oreros."
Visit the community of Dos Brazos de Rio Tigre (approx. 45 mins) and go on a short 45 minute hike through the jungle to the El Salto swimming holes. Spend a few hours enjoying the crystal clear waters then head back to Puerto Jimenez for a free afternoon and evening or stay in Dos Brazos at a jungle ecolodge.
Included activities: Guided hike to swimming holes and gold panning tour
Optional activities: Full day guided hike into Corcovado National Park through the ‘El Tigre’ trail. Visit the mountainous side of Corcovado, hike to a jungle cabin with Xinia to eat lunch and visit her farm.
Accommodations Options: El Chontal (2 star, family owned lodge) or Iguana Lodge (4 star hotel)
If you stay in Rancho Quemado Rancho Verde (community guesthouse)
If you stay in Dos Brazos Amazonita (2 star jungle ecolodge)
After an early breakfast at the hotel, take a domestic flight from Puerto Jimenez to La Fortuna and then a private transfer to your lodge (approx. 3 hours).
Arenal’s perfectly symmetrical shape makes it a sightseer’s dream, while its abundance of outdoor activities makes it an easy place to enjoy hiking, zip lining, thermal waters, and observe a diverse population of wildlife.
Once you arrive in the afternoon you will have the opportunity to soak in the hot springs in the hotel or at any of the hot springs resorts around town.
Included Activities: Hot springs
Optional Activities: Rainforest chocolate tour, volcano hike.
Transportation: Approx. 45 minutes flight from Puerto Jimenez/ Drake Bay to San Jose, 45 minutes flight from San Jose to La Fortuna and 20 minutes drive from local airstrip to your hotel at La Fortuna.
Accommodations Options: Arenal Springs (5 star hotel) or Miradas Arenal (3 star hotel)
Today you will soar through the Arenal sky, in between treetops and across expansive canyons as you ride along the Sky Trek Zipline. Your tour will start with an open-air gondola trip to an observation area atop the reserve. From there you will start riding down the exhilarating adventure of a lifetime on 8 separate ziplines and eventually end up back down at the main building.
Included Activities: Guided sky tram & trek zip lining experience
Optional Activities: Rainforest chocolate tour, volcano hike.
Transportation: 20-30 minutes each way from your hotel
Overnight at: Arenal Springs (5 star hotel) or Miradas Arenal (3 star hotel)
Today you will have the option to relax at the hotel and pool for the day, or choose one of two exciting activities below.
Option #1: Canyoning
You will head to a canyon about a 20 minute drive outside La Fortuna. Then transfer to 4x4 trucks for an exciting short drive into the rainforest with spectacular views of the Arenal Volcano along the way. Once you arrive at the ranch house, you are off for a morning of exciting and exhilarating Canyoning. Rappel down waterfalls, a canyon wall, monkey drop (zip line & rappel) and rock climb all in a spectacular rainforest canyon. Then top it off with a delicious typical Costa Rican lunch.
Included activities: Transportation, bilingual guide, canyoning.
Transportation: 20 minutes each way from your hotel
Option #2: Tenorio Volcano Hike
Mysterious and enchanting. In the very depths of Tenorio Volcano National Park a chemical phenomenon transforms the water of the Buena Vista and Quebrada Agria rivers into a sky blue stream. As they blend, one of the most extraordinary and shocking optical illusions of nature appears: “Rio Celeste.”
The 4.5 mile (7km) hike will start by going to the Rio Celeste waterfall. From there you’ll hike through the jungle until arriving at “Los Teñideros,” where two streams of crystalline water come together. As you walk along these paths you might also get to know some of the resident animals.
Included Activities: Transportation, bilingual guide, hike and park entrance.
Transportation: 1 hour each way from your hotel
Accommodation Options: Arenal Springs (5 star hotel) or Miradas Arenal (3 star hotel)
After breakfast you will be picked up by your private transfer to continue your way to Sarapiqui. (approx. 1.5 hours)
Sarapiqui is known throughout Costa Rica for its amazing and rich biodiversity as well as for being an adventure seeker’s dream destination. Located in the northeast part of the country, bordered by Nicaragua, Sarapiquí is a heaven for nature lovers and adventure seekers alike. It is a certified sustainable destination and has a number of nature reserves and national parks in its surroundings that makes it a biodiversity heaven. Irrigated by the waters of the Sarapiquí river, it is a very fertile land, producing banana, coffee, cocoa, pineapple, heart of palm and corn amongst many other crops. The lush vegetation, high quality produce and adventure activities, make Sarapiquí a unique destination within Costa Rica.
Optional afternoon activities: Night hike, organic pineapple tour, heart of palm tour, horseback riding, cooking class, or rappelling.
Transportation: 1.5 hours
Accommodation Options: La Selva Biological Station or La Quinta Sarapiqui (3 star hotel)
After breakfast enjoy the adventure of the day: Sarapiquí floating trip.
This tour begins in a community known as Chilamate, and ends at Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí. It is a very quiet and safe area, perfect for observing nature, birds, the forest and animals such as iguanas, monkeys and crocodiles.
Experience a relaxing t safari float immersed in the tropical jungle that surrounds the Sarapiquí River. The Rainforest reserve, next to the river, is home of many otters, sloths, amphibians, birds, iguanas, and lush flora. After getting settled with your lifejacket and paddle, the guide will lead you, slowly paddling, to enjoy the sights and sounds of the rainforest. After the river tour is over, you will be taken to have a traditional lunch in the riverside facilities.
Included activities: Transportation (approx. 30 mins), bilingual guide & Sarapiqui floating trip.
Optional afternoon activities: Night hike, organic pineapple tour, heart of palm tour, horseback riding, cooking class, or rappelling.
Accommodation Options: La Selva Biological Station or La Quinta Sarapiqui (3 star hotel)
Enjoy a leisurely morning in Sarapiqui. After lunch your private transfer will take you to your hotel in San Jose for your final night.
Optional morning activities in Sarapiquí: Organic pineapple tour, heart of palm tour, horseback riding, cooking class, or rappelling.
Optional afternoon activities in San Jose: City tour or cooking lessons with a local family.
Transportation: Approx 2 hours.
Accommodation Options: Rosa de America (3 star hotel) or Xandari Resort (4 star hotel)
Your amazing trip is coming to an end! You will take a private transfer to the San Jose airport where you will connect to your flight home. We hope you enjoyed your trip and will come visit again soon!
Transportation: Approx. 30 minutes from your hotel to the San Jose International Airport.
Accommodations
Lodging each night is included in your choice of hotels, ecolodges, or community lodges (except for days 3 & 4 where there is only one option). Recommendations are included in the day-by-day itinerary.
Tours & Activities
Unique experiences available daily. See the day-by-day itinerary for recommended tours and additional options available.
Guides
English speaking local & specialized guides during activities
Ground Transportation
Private shuttles or cars to get you between destinations
Food
Included meals are noted in the itinerary: B= Breakfast, BB= Boxed Breakfast, L= Lunch, BL= Boxed Lunch, D= Dinner
Entrance Fees
To sites of interest, museums and national parks
Domestic Flights
Osa Peninsula - San Jose - Arenal
24/7 assistance
In country assistance in English during the whole trip
Airport Transfers
Transportation arranged to get you to/from the airport
International Flights
Optional Activities
Not specified meals
Alcoholic drinks
Tips
Travel Insurance
If trip is cancelled:
45+ days in advance - 100% will be refunded
15 - 44 days in advance - 50% will be refunded
8-14 days in advance - 30% will be refunded
0-7 days in advance - 0% will be refunded
High Season Cancellation Policy
If your trip falls during peak season (The weeks of Easter, Christmas & New Years) the following applies.
If trip is cancelled:
90+ days in advance - 100% will be refunded
45-89 days in advance - 50% will be refunded
14-44 days in advance - 30% will be refunded
0-13 days in advance - 0% will be refunded
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