Day 1.

 

Upon arrival a representative of the car rental company will be waiting for you outside the terminal doors, you´ll load your luggage in the car rental company van, you'll be driven to the HQ to do all the paperwork and pick up the car. Your first adventure is to cross the city from West to East, if you want to stop for a walk on the Avenida Central or for a visit to the Mercado Central iT will be on your way, you can search for a public parking place and have a city walk, San Jose is a nice city with lots of recent history and good places to eat, just ask your travel advisor for tips. The drive continues to the valley of Turrialba about 2 hours from San Jose city, there are different ways to get to your hotel, you can drive over the Orosi valley or the Irazu and Turrialba volcano. Your hotel is nestled in the mountains and is one of the best places for bird watching in Costa Rica.

 

Dinner Included 

 

Overnight at Rancho Naturalista

 

Day 2. 

 

Today the adventure starts in the rivers of the valley, Turrialba Valley is famous for the rivers for rafting, so you can choose the Pacuare River (class III, class IV) and the Pejibaye River (class III). Both rivers are clear water and both run from the mountains so the water is refreshing and after a long paddle you can jump in the water. The river trip is scenic and the landscape is unique, there is rainforest on both sides of the river where with a bit of luck you can see wildlife such as sloths or coatis. From the Pacuare River takeout, your hotel is about 1 hour, from Pejibaye takeout, it is just 20 minutes.

 

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner Included 

Overnight at Rancho Naturalista

 

 

Day 3.

 

The adventures are always blended with nature in this valley. We have different options for today.

- horseback riding at Hacienda Monteclaro

- hiking at la Marta wildlife refuge

- coffee tour at Naturalba coffee 

- cooking class 

- mountain bike ride

- chocolate workshop

- visit a local farm

- guided birdwatching tour at the lodge

- waterfall hike

 

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner Included 

 

Overnight at Rancho Naturalista

 

Day 4. 

 

The adventures are always blended with nature in this valley. We have different options for today.

- horseback riding at Hacienda Monteclaro

- hiking at la Marta wildlife refuge

- coffee tour at Naturalba coffee 

- cooking class 

- mountain bike ride

- chocolate workshop

- visit a local farm

- guided birdwatching tour at the lodge

- waterfall hike

 

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner Included 

 

Overnight at Rancho Naturalista

 

Day 5.

 

You'll drive towards the Caribbean coast, from your hotel it takes about 2 hours to reach Goshen dock, right there you can leave your car in a secure parking place. The boat will be waiting for you, you'll join a group and you'll have your assigned guide and captain for the next two days. You'll reach the lodge on time for lunch and in the afternoon your guide will take you to Reserva Pacuare trails for a short walk that ends at the beach, this is not a beach destination since the currents are strong and dangerous. You can see the rooms of the volunteers for the leatherback turtle nesting season. If it is the nesting season, the lodge offers the tour at night where you can see the turtles nesting.

 

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included 

 

Overnight at Lirio Lodge

 

Day 6.

 

The early morning hours are the best for wildlife watching, after breakfast your guide and your captain will take you to the canals of Reserva Pacuare, where you´ll have the chance to see abundant wildlife, like Tortuguero, was 40 years ago, with just a few motorboats and a couple of little lodges there will be no crowds and the chances to see wildlife are higher. Without a doubt, staying at Lirio Lodge means exploring and discovering the most unspoiled area of the Caribbean rainforests of Costa Rica and the Pacuare canals in their most authentic, unspoiled and natural state. The flora and fauna in the area is rich, wonderful and unique, presenting several species in danger of extinction, such as several sea turtle species, like the Green turtle, the Carey turtle, the Leatherback turtle, as well as mammals and birds as rare as the Jaguar as well as the Tapir, and one of the rarest birds the beautiful Agami Storch.

 

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner Included 

 

Overnight at Lirio Lodge 

 

Day 7.

You'll get out by boat to pick up the car. The drive to the next destination is about 2 hours, you'll reach the Sarapiquí area which is full of wildlife. Today you can relax on the grounds of the hotel, go for a walk or take a dip at the river. 

 

Breakfast included

 

Overnight at La Quinta de Sarapiquí 

 

Day 8.

 

We have arranged a guided hike at La Selva Biological Station. Your guide will take you to the trails and give you all the details and information regarding the rainforest and all the efforts they do to keep it safe.

 

Breakfast Included 

 

Overnight at La Quinta de Sarapiquí

 

Day 9.

 

You can keep exploring the area, we have optional activities you can enjoy, adventure or nature or a blend 

- stand up paddle boarding

- flat river kayaking

- nature hike

- frogs heaven

- chocolate tour

- Sarapiquí river rafting

 

 

Breakfast Included 

 

Overnight at La Quinta de Sarapiquí

 

Day 10.

 

We'll continue our way North. We'll drive near the Arenal volcano. We'll show you this area from another perspective, by staying at Leaves and Lizards you'll be away from the crowds but you'll have the volcano always on the horizon, today you can explore the grounds of the hotel, enjoy the pool and relax.

 

Breakfast included 

 

Overnight at Leaves and Lizards 

 

Day 11.

 

Today you'll drive closer to the volcano for a hike in the lava trails where you can see the volcano from a closer perspective. The hike is light and with wonderful views of the cone-shaped Arenal. Later we can visit the hot springs to relax and drive back to the hotel.

 

Breakfast Included 

 

Overnight at Leaves and Lizards

 

Day 12. 

 

There are different activities to do in the area.

- horseback riding

- canyoning

- Costa Rica cowboy for a day

- Safari Float

- waterfall hike

 

 

Breakfast Included 

 

Overnight at Leaves and Lizards

 

Day 13. 

 

You'll keep driving towards north to the Tenorio volcano area, La Carolina Lodge is 2 hours driving. This lodge is nestled between the Tenorio volcano and Miravalles volcano, it has its own farm where the guest can join the farmers for a real farm experience. You can spend the rest of the day at the lodge relaxing in the jacuzzi or just enjoying the silence of the place.

 

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included

 

Overnight at La Carolina Lodge 

 

Day 14.

 

You can enjoy your day and the activities the lodge offers such as horseback riding, hikes, farming, river tubing at Rio Celeste, Rio Celeste hike, tapir valley hike.

 

From here you can choose the beach extension of your preference, we are close to Guanacaste where the most scenic beaches are but you can also choose the central Pacific or South Pacific as well the Caribbean. Ask your travel advisor for the location that fits your preference.

 

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included

 

Overnight at La Carolina Lodge.