Pura Vida in Costa Rica

Meet the group at the airport and board our flight to San Jose

Upon our arrival  we will take our private  transfer to the hotel Barcelo San Jose where we will be staying for 2 nights. Check in and relax.

The hotel has an outdoor pool and lush garden. It has three restaurants and a bar where you can enjoy a wide range of cuisine and an extensive cocktail menu.

After breakfast at the hotel we start the day with a coffee tour at the Doka farm, where we will learn all about the fascinating process of planting, growing and preparing coffee.

Costa Rica produces some of the very best coffee in the world and is renowned for its high-quality Arabica beans grown in rich volcanic soil and ideal high-altitude conditions. The country produces a diverse spectrum of flavourful profiles, from mild and nutty to intense and fruity, with popular tasting notes including chocolate, citrus, berries, and caramel.

Visit the Poas Volcano National Park to see the impressive crater. There will be a lunch stop during the day. (not included)

Return to the Barcelo San Jose hotel.

Meals Breakfast.

Early in the morning we will take a transfer to the village of Guapiles and enjoy breakfast.

We then transfer by vehicle and then by boat to the hidden depths of the rainforest in Tortuguero National Park where we will be staying for 2 nights at the gorgeous Aninga Lodge hotel on a full board basis in beautiful bungalows, listen to monkeys howling in the trees as you fall asleep in the very heart of nature.

After enjoying lunch at the hotel we will visit the village of Tortuguero, to learn about the daily life of this town, dedicated almost entirely to tourism.

Visit  the Sea Turtle Conservancy program, a non-profit organisation where we learn about the research and conservation initiatives that have been instrumental in saving the Caribbean green turtle from extinction. Learn about the four species of sea turtles found in Tortuguero and discuss the main activities at the station including track surveys, biometric data collection and tagging, satellite tracking, nest excavations, environmental education and outreach.

Return to the hotel. Dinner.

Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

As the rainforest awakens for the day we will take a boat tour through the canals of Tortuguero NationalPark, to observe the exuberant flora and fauna with our personal guide.

This tropical eco-paradise is home to countless bird and animal species, and you will have many opportunities to view and photograph wildlife.

Return to the hotel for breakfast and enjoy some free time relaxing in the stunning surroundings

After lunch, we will take a walk through the hotel’s private reserve to learn about this incredible ecosystem.

Dinner at the hotel

Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Breakfast. Transfer by boat and then by minibus to the town of Guapiles for Lunch.

Transfer to the Sarapiqui area and our accommodation for the next 2 nights. The Selva Verde hotel.

Meals Breakfast.

Breakfast. Early in the morning go on a birding / naturalist walk with our guide on the lodge’s gardens and trails.

We will have the rest of the day free and for those amongst us that love a little adrenalin, the optional activities are as follows, the guide and tour leader will take care of all of the arrangements, but I can tell you from experience, they are all really fun! Whitewater rafting on the Sarapiquis River $ 78 pp, zip line ( canopy )  $78ppHorseback riding $ 60 pp.  

Meals Breakfast.

After breakfast we head for a Cacao Tour to learn all about chocolate and the whole process from growing to eating.

Transfer to our hotel the Arenal Paraiso which is situated at the foot of the majestic Arenal Volcano. Check into our hotel and unwind by the pools, taking in views of the surrounding jungle, the verdant hills, and the dark silhouette of the volcano.

Optional zip line (canopy ) in La  Fortuna area $ 85 pp.

This evening relax in the shadow of the Arenal Volcano immersed in one of the naturally heated pools at Ecotermales. Rejuvenate your muscles, detox your cells, and stimulate all your senses in nature’s thermal spa. Breathe in the pure rainforest air and marvel at the mystic surroundings of these outdoor pools of paradise.

Meals Breakfast, Dinner.

Breakfast. Walk on the slopes of the Arenal Volcano then visit  the La Fortuna waterfall. Don’t forget your swim shoes as we will descend on rough steps (more than 500 of them!) to get to the base of the falls. The water cascades 65m (200 ft) down the side of the dormant Cerro Chato. Sit on the rocks, get sprayed, watch for iridescent blue morpho butterflies and then plunge into the cool waters.( please note that if you do not feel able to go down all of the steps there is a very nice coffee shop where you will be able to wait for the group until they return).

Return to the hotel Arenal Paraiso.

Meals, Breakfast.

From La Fortuna, we make our way by road and boat to the misty mountain region of Monteverde.

Spend two days exploring this charming little town and the nearby cloud forest reserve—a nature lover’s paradise.

Experience a one of a kind adventure at Selvatura national Park, where walking on hanging bridges allows you to admire the lush flora and fauna of Monteverde’s cloud forest. From these bridges, you can enjoy panoramic views of the forest at various heights giving you the chance to observe the incredible biodiversity of this unique ecosystem. The tour spans 3 kilometres of trails and has eight bridges.

After checking in and settling into our accommodation at the Monteverde Country Lodge where we will be spending the next 2 nights, we will join our naturalist guide for a tour in the cloud forest after dark. Learn more about the habits of the area’s nocturnal wildlife including mammals, birds, insects, reptiles, and amphibians, and keep your eyes and ears open on this slow-paced walk. You never know what you might see – it depends on the day and your luck!

Meals, Breakfast.

Breakfast. Visit to Doña Herminia’s farm with lunch included. Lunch (Gallos).

Afternoon transfer to the Pacific coast 2 miles from Samara beach, where we will be spending the last 4 nights at the Casa Buenavista Hotel

Hotel “Casa Buenavista” is a family run adults only hotel which features 2 pools and 10 Rooms so the group will have sole use here.  It is  located on one of Costa Rica’s most beautiful beaches, ​Playa Carrillo which received a 5 Star Ecological Blue Flag award from the Costa Rican Tourism Institute.

Our next few days can be as lazy as we like.

Relax around to pools or book additional excursions from the hotel as you please.  There are 4 restaurants within a 5 minute walk, the rooms all have mini fridges and breakfast is included each morning.

Meals, Breakfast.

We love to include some chill time at the end of a busy trip, some time to reflect and relax before we head home, Our hotel is a little out of town by a gorgeous beach but there are options of additional activities for when you need a little more to keep you busy…..

Free Day to relax, take the local bus or a taxi into Samara, hit the beach or enjoy an additional excursion.

There is plenty to do in the “Hip” beachtown of Samara, chill in the chic cafes, or surfer shack style bars, you can even book surfing lessons.

Werner Sauter Biological Reserve is a great place to spend a morning or afternoon. You can see a range of animals like birds, monkeys and other types of wildlife!

The Macau reserve is close by so don’t be surprised to find some flying around here too! There are also hiking trails within and there is a rewarding look out point of the town and beaches!

Meals, Breakfast.

Free Day to relax, take the local bus or a taxi into Samara, hit the beach or enjoy an additional excursion.

Meals, Breakfast.

Free Day.

To end our trip in the most perfect way, this evening we will enjoy a catamaran cruise along the coastline of Samara Beach with a cold drink while admiring the breathtakingly beautiful Costa Rican sunsets, sailing with the waves, listening to music and creating unforgettable memories.

Our captain will make a stop to enjoy a dip near Isla Chora, ask for a pool-noodle and relax away! Once back from our swim we will be greeted with freshly cut fruit, tasty bites and cocktails, while our captain guides our Catamaran to the perfect spot to watch the sun dip below the horizon. The perfect goodbye!

Meals, Breakfast.

After breakfast we take our private transfer to the airport (around 4.5 hours) for our flight back to the UK.

Meals, Breakfast.