Enjoy Costa Rica's extraordinary biodiversity

An authentic 15-day tour with car rental awaits you; discover the true nature of the Costa Rican between land and agriculture. You will be captivated by this stay off the beaten track.

---

Day 1: Arrival in San Jose

Transfer with your driver Ernesto to your hotel located in the historical district of the capital.

Day 2: San Jose – Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

Our English guide will meet you at your hotel and spend the morning with you. He takes you through the lively streets of the city, shows you the historical buildings, and talks about the culture, traditions, economy, and politics of the country. The tour ends at the central market where you can taste a local speciality with Ticos.

Our car rental company will deliver your 4×4 to the hotel around 1pm and you take the road to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, a charming village on the lively south Caribbean coast where the mix of cultures (Creole, Rasta, Surfer, and Bohemian) is unique in the country (4 hours drive).

Day 3: Puerto Viejo de Talamanca and Cahuita National Park

At 9am you will meet our English-speaking guide for the visit of the Cahuita National Park, a promontory covered with tropical forest with turquoise water beaches and a well-preserved coral reef at its feet.

Afterwards, free time to enjoy the many beaches of the region (Cocles, Chiquita, Punta Uva, and Manzanillo) or snorkeling on the coral reefs of the Cahuita National Park.

Day 4: Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

You visit a wildlife rescue centre that allows you to be in direct contact with monkeys, wild cats, sloths, raccoons, coatis, anteaters, reptiles, frogs, crocodiles, caimans, and all kinds of birds including the magnificent toucan…

Afterwards, free time to enjoy the beaches or try your hand at surfing!

Day 5: Puerto Viejo de Talamanca – Sarapiqui

You take the road to Sarapiqui (4 hours drive).

At lunchtime, you visit Maria’s farm, a 7-hectare palm farm: young palm trees for their hearts, large palm trees for their fruits (pejibaye) followed by an excellent lunch made of palm hearts (ceviche, lasagne, cake, pancakes made with palm heart flour).

Whose architecture is based on the building techniques of pre-Columbian natives.

Day 6: Sarapiqui – Arenal Volcano

Small guided walk in a Cocoa plantation (with passage on 2 suspension bridges which pass over the Rio Sarapiqui), the guide explains all the process of chocolate making (with tasting of cocoa in all its states).

You take the road to the majestic Arenal Volcano in the shape of a perfect cone (1h30).

Installation in an ecolodge run by a Costa Rican family and located on a biological corridor making this lodge an ideal place to observe the local wildlife.

In the evening, guided night hike through the property to observe the rich nightlife.

Day 7: Arenal Volcano

Hiking on the suspension bridges: 3 km trail with 15 suspension bridges above the canopy (length of the bridges from 48 to 100m) and a superb view of the Volcano.

In the afternoon you will relax in the thermal springs.

Day 8: Arenal Volcano – Tenorio Volcano

From 8am you leave for “Pura vida Cooking Classes” a Costa Rican cooking class – You will start by taking a short walk through the farm to pick up some ingredients for your creations, which will depend on the season. You will prepare the famous “Gallo Pinto”, Costa Rican breakfast, “tortillas”, “patacones” or “empanadas” and taste your creations for lunch.

Route to the Tenorio Volcano in the early afternoon (2h)

Day 9: Tenorio Volcano – Carara National Park

You start the day with a hike in Tenorio National Park to see Rio Celeste (the turquoise blue river), thermal waters, and waterfall.

Route to Tarcoles and Carara National Park (3h)

Installation in a guest room with a breathtaking view of the meanders of Rio Tarcoles.

Day 10: Carara National Park – Baru Refuge

Boat trip on Rio Tarcoles to see huge crocodiles, red macaws and other water birds.

Drive to Baru Wildlife Refuge (2h30)

Located in the wildlife reserve of the same name.

Day 11: Baru Hut

Morning free to enjoy many trails of lodge and beach accessible on foot.

At 3pm you leave with guides of lodge in heights of reserve to spend night in jungle. Dinner and breakfast prepared by your guides. Accommodation in rustic bungalows with real bedding.

Day 12: Baru Refuge – Dota Valley

You return from excursion in middle of morning.

Route to Dota Valley: 2h30 Settling in mountain lodge at 2900m altitude, scenery changes radically and temperature too!

Day 13: Dota Valley – Turrialba

Morning excursion around 6am to observe famous Quetzal, mythical bird of Maya people, with emerald color and red chest.

Back at lodge, enjoy trails and beautiful gardens of property.

Road to Turrialba (3h) Installation in family farm of 350 hectares which cultivates coffee, sugar cane and raises horses, cows, chickens…

Day 14: Turrialba – San Jose

You take guided tour of farm before heading back to San Jose (2h)

You deliver car to rental company at hotel.

Night in small charming hotel in center of capital city.

Day 15: San Jose – Airport

Our driver will accompany you to airport.