Active Costa Rica: Waterways & Wildlife

Tour Itinerary

• Day 1 • Adventure starts in San José

  Begin your adventure in San José, the culture-rich capital of Costa Rica. A complimentary transfer from the airport to the hotel is available. Check in and take it easy, there’s plenty of excitement on this trip, so today’s all about relaxing and easing ourselves into the adventure. Around 7.30pm, say hola to your tour leader and fellow travellers when we gather as a group for a short briefing. Our main briefing takes place tomorrow afternoon in Tortuguero due to the late arrival of some flights today.

• Day 2 • To Tortuguero National Park

  Our adventure begins early this morning, leaving San José as we travel to Tortuguero National Park in northeast Costa Rica. Accessible only by boat, the vast network of waterways, canals and swamps in Tortuguero are remarkably tranquil, unspoiled and devoid of noise pollution. On reaching the pier, we board a small motorboat for the journey to our lodge (up to 1hr 30min) , which is a short distance from the main lagoon. Please note the transfer from San José to Tortuguero is not private for our groups. This afternoon your tour leader will host the main welcome briefing when we gather as a group to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead. We also visit Tortuguero village, where it’s possible to enter the Sea Turtle Museum (a donation is requested at the entrance). Tortuguero is probably most famous as a nesting site for the endangered green turtle, which can be seen coming ashore to lay eggs from late July to October (as part of an optional excursion). Hawksbill, loggerhead, and giant leatherback turtles also nest in this region, and from late August through to November, baby turtles hatch and make their way to the ocean. Today’s travel time will be in the region of six hours including a stop for breakfast.

• Day 3 • Boat tour around Tortuguero waterways

  After breakfast we board a small boat that enables us to discover the extraordinary flora and fauna of Tortuguero as we pass serenely along the waterways. At this time of day, wildlife is usually at its most active; with the help of our expert guide, we are likely to encounter monkeys, caiman, iguanas, butterflies and many of the 300-plus bird species recorded here. We return to the lodge for a hearty breakfast near the river. The lodge is a tranquil spot to relax for the rest of the day if you want to take time out to enjoy the facilities. Alternatively, you can join a second boat trip (included but optional) or follow a short walking trail through the forest.

• Day 4 • To Sarapiqui • Night walk in the rainforest

  We leave Tortuguero the same way we arrived, taking a small boat to the pier. Our bus will be at the pier waiting to drive us to the Sarapiqui region, stopping for lunch en route. Sarapiquí is one of Costa Rica’s most rewarding wildlife destinations, known for its exceptional biodiversity, lush lowland rainforest and the beautiful Sarapiquí River. The region is home to important protected areas and private reserves, including Tirimbina Biological Reserve, which help safeguard habitat for a remarkable variety of birds, amphibians, reptiles, insects and mammals. Alongside its rich natural heritage, Sarapiquí is also an important agricultural area, with banana, cacao, coffee, cardamom, corn and tropical fruits grown here. In the evening, we take a night walk through Tirimbina Biological Reserve, crossing a suspension bridge for a different perspective on the rainforest and its many inhabitants. Our guide will focus on nocturnal species such as insects, frogs and mammals, which become active after dark — see how many eyes you can spot staring back at you!

• Day 5 • Visit a family-run pineapple farm • To La Fortuna

  We’re off to the farming region of La Virgen de Sarapiquí, where warm, wet conditions and fertile soils are well suited to pineapple cultivation. At a family-run farm, we see how pineapples are grown without synthetic pesticides and learn about the practical choices behind small-scale agriculture, from planting and harvesting to maintaining soil health. The visit gives us a clearer view of rural livelihoods in Costa Rica: the work, skill and uncertainty behind a fruit many of us only meet on a supermarket shelf. It also supports a local family enterprise that shares its knowledge directly with visitors. Naturally, we finish with a taste of the crop itself. We then continue to La Fortuna, near Arenal, arriving around lunchtime. Arenal was the most active volcano in Costa Rica until recently when it entered a resting phase. There is a lot of geothermal activity in this area, with natural hot springs, waterfalls and Lake Arenal. The afternoon is free to relax at the hotel or join an optional excursion.

• Day 6 • Farm-to-table culinary activity • Enjoy an immersive Costa Rican cooking experience

  Today, enjoy a farm-to-table culinary experience at an organic farm. This is a wonderful opportunity to experience authentic Costa Rican hospitality, discover traditional cooking methods, explore the organic gardens and savour regional dishes made with fresh, locally sourced ingredients. During your visit, you’ll learn about local farming practices and sample natural products, including locally produced honey, before sitting down to lunch in beautiful natural surroundings. Later, we head to a local family project for an immersive cookery experience. Start with an exploration of their garden, where we collect vegetables and aromatic spices for the kitchen. Then, under the expert guidance of a chef, we learn the art and techniques behind Costa Rican cuisine, learning how to cook a traditional dish and tortillas over a wood fire. Dinner will be delicious.

• Day 7 • Hike at Arenal Volcano National Park • Free afternoon for optional activities

  This morning, we take a short scenic hike within Arenal National Park, walking through secondary rainforest and passing lava fields from past eruptions. Walking on the base and flanks of the volcano gives extraordinary views, as our guide explains about the history and recent activity and points out landmarks left over the years. The high vantage points on this walk also provide great views overlooking Lake Arenal and the birdlife is plentiful. This afternoon is free to join one of the optional activities available in this region.

• Day 8 • Boat and transfer to Monteverde in the Tilaran Mountains

  From Arenal, we travel to the Tilaran mountain range in the Central Highlands for a taste of the Costa Rican cloud forest. Reaching Monteverde involves a fast boat across Lake Arenal, which is incredibly scenic and will take roughly 30 minutes. Our journey continues by shared land transfer as we ascend the hills towards Monteverde, a forest-cloaked region whose name literally means green mountain, where we meet our private bus. The high altitude supports a complex eco-system where plants thrive, particularly orchids of which there are some 400-plus varieties here. Our total journey time will be about 3hr 30min, including the lake crossing.

• Day 9 • Zip-line adventure through the treetops • Visit the hanging bridges and butterfly garden

  Today we visit Selvatura Park, 850 acres (345ha) of protected land dedicated to nature and adventure. We begin with the hanging bridges excursion, a system of treetop walkways through the forest designed to let you experience the beauty of the cloud forest and observe its many inhabitants. We also visit the butterfly garden, which has one of the largest exhibitions of butterflies in the world. After, it’s time to try some aerial manoeuvres on a zip-line adventure through the treetops. Before you fly, guides will teach you the proper technique, including how to position yourself and hold the cable correctly, enabling you to safely enjoy this adrenaline-pumping adventure suspended above the trees.

• Day 10 • To Rincón de la Vieja • Free afternoon with optional activities

  After breakfast at the hotel, we check out and transfer to Rincón de la Vieja, an area that combines dry forest with enchanting waterfalls and is best known for its bubbling mud pots, steaming vents in the earth, hot springs and a whole host of wildlife. The afternoon is free to relax or enjoy one of the optional activities available in the area such as a hike to the waterfalls with a refreshing swim in the clear waters (approx. 3 hours, payable locally).

• Day 11 • Hiking in Rincón de la Vieja National Park • Visit the mud baths and choose between a canyon canopy tour, tubing or horse riding

  Today we discover Rincón de la Vieja National Park and its network of trails during a hike through the exotic dry tropical forest on the Las Pailas Trail. This loop walk twists through jungle around the base of the volcano, passing steam-spitting fumaroles and hopefully encountering wildlife on the way: toucans, spider monkeys and lizards are found here as well as many bird species. After, we visit a hot spring. Heated naturally by the Rincón de la Vieja Volcano, these hot springs feed directly from the Rio Negro and are mineral rich with therapeutic properties. There are 10 human-made pools created to capture the steaming mineral water, surrounded by thick forest. Smooth volcanic clay over yourself, let it dry and wash off with a cool shower or jump in the river before soaking again in the hot pools. There are three activities to choose between this afternoon: a canyon canopy tour, tubing or horse riding. The cost of joining one activity is included, so it is up to you to decide which you would like to do! The canyon canopy tour is a zip-line adventure involving rappelling, climbing, a Tarzan swing and hanging bridges over a narrow river canyon. Tubing takes place on the Rio Negro, with individual inner tube rafts across 3mi (5km) of class II and III rapids. The horse-riding excursion follows a forest trail leading to a rainforest waterfall. Experience is not needed for any of these activities and you can decide which you prefer once you’re in Costa Rica. * If your group is staying at Hacienda Guachipelin, the canyon canopy tour, tubing or horse riding activity can take place on Day 10.

• Day 12 • To the Pacific Coast • Afternoon at leisure to enjoy the beach

  We travel to Carrillo on the Pacific Coast, one of the best-kept secrets in Costa Rica. The broad, shady bay is backed by coconut palms and the water is calm and safe for swimming thanks to a coral reef just out to sea on which the normally large, Pacific waves break before reaching the beach. There are plenty of facilities here but there’s a noticeable absence of big resort hotels, which makes for a nice atmosphere. We have a free afternoon here to enjoy the facilities and discover the area.

• Day 13 • Boat trip to see dolphins • Have a go at snorkelling

  Today we take a boat trip in search of dolphins. You could be lucky enough to see spotted dolphins, Central American spinner dolphins or common bottlenose dolphins, which all inhabit this area year-round. Feel the ocean breeze and enjoy the scenery of the coastline as we search for these playful animals who love to swim in the bow wave of the boat. As we make our way back along the coast, we anchor near the shores of Isla Chora, a delightful white-sand beach full of hermit crabs and iguanas. This is a great spot for a refreshing swim and to explore the lively, colourful underwater world with a mask and snorkel. In total, today’s excursion will last around four hours, with the rest of your time at leisure to enjoy the area.

• Day 14 • Wildlife and mangrove kayak tour • Time at leisure to enjoy the Pacific coast

  Today, we take a kayaking tour through the mangroves of Sámara Bay (the tour leader will confirm timings locally as it is tide-dependent). Paddle through the stunning ecosystem, surrounded by lush mangrove trees and diverse wildlife. We explore along the Ora River, discovering some of the more remote corners of the forest, passing through mangrove tunnels and heading towards Camaronal Beach. Be on the lookout for native birds, crabs, monkeys, iguanas and more along the way. At the beach, enjoy refreshments while you learn more about the area’s ecosystem, before returning to the hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to relax at the hotel or explore the local area. Tonight we have a farewell dinner at a local restaurant, a chance to toast the end of our adventure and look back on the highlights of the trip.

• Day 15 • Adventure ends in San José

  A five-hour journey takes us back to San José, where the adventure comes to an end. We advise that you don’t book a flight leaving San José before 4pm today. Of course, if you’d like a little more time to explore, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay.