Tour Discovery of the real Costa Rica turned to the land and agriculture


Trip description

An authentic 15 days tour with car rental to enjoy the extraordinary biodiversity of Costa Rica and to discover the real Costa Rica turned towards the land and agriculture.


15 days

From : €1,500*



Karina

Karina has been organizing tailor-made tours in Costa Rica for 10 years, she has lived there for 3 years and returns there very regularly to update her address book. Very available and reactive, she will design your tour according to your desires and tastes!

Day 1: Arrival in San Jose

Day 2: San Jose - Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

Day 3: Puerto Viejo de Talamanca and Cahuita National Park

Day 4: Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

Day 5: Puerto Viejo de Talamanca and Sarapiqui

Day 6: Sarapiqui and Volcan Arenal

Day 7: Arenal Volcano

Day 8: Arenal Volcano and Tenorio Volcano

Day 9: Tenorio Volcano and Carara National Park

Day 10: Carara National Park and Baru Refuge

Day 11: Baru Refuge

Day 12: Refuge Baru Refuge and Dota Valley

Day 13: Dota Valley and Turrialba

Day 14: Turrialba and San Jose

Day 15: San Jose and Airport

Day 1 : Arrival in San Jose

©EDGAR MONESTEL - ICT


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




Day 2 : San Jose - Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

©Pepeira, Tom - Iconotec


Our French speaking 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 tells you 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 the Ticos.
 Our car rental company will deliver your 4x4 to the hotel around 1pm and you will drive 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 (4h drive).
Installation in an ecolodge within walking distance of Playa Chiquita.

 




Day 3 : Puerto Viejo de Talamanca and Cahuita National Park

Parc National de Cahuita ©Richard Taylor


At 9am you meet our French speaking guide for the visit of the Cahuita National Park, a promontory covered with tropical forest with at its feet beaches with turquoise waters and a well preserved coral reef.
Afternoon free to enjoy the many beaches in the area (Cocles, Chiquita, Punta Uva and Manzanillo) or snorkeling on the coral reefs of the Cahuita National Park.
Night in an ecolodge




Day 4 : Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

©ICT (Institut Costaricien de Tourisme)


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 .
After free to enjoy the beaches or try surfing!
Night in an ecolodge




Day 5 : Puerto Viejo de Talamanca and Sarapiqui

©Vilainecrevette / Shutterstock.com


You take the road to Sarapiqui (4h).
At lunch time, you visit Maria's farm, a 7-hectare palm farm: young palm trees for its hearts, large palm trees for its fruits (pejibaye) followed by an excellent lunch made of palm hearts (ceviche, lasagne, cake, pancakes with palm heart flour).
Installation in an ecolodge whose architecture is based on the building techniques of pre-Columbian natives

 




Day 6 : Sarapiqui and Volcan Arenal

Volcan Arenal. ©Nstanev - iStockphoto


Small guided walk in a Cocoa plantation (with passage on 2 suspension bridges which pass over the Rio Sarapiqui), the guide explains you 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 around the property to observe the rich nightlife.

 




Day 7 : Arenal Volcano

©robert cicchetti - Shutterstock.com


Hiking on the suspension bridges: 3 km trail with 15 suspension bridges over 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.
Night in an ecolodge




Day 8 : Arenal Volcano and Tenorio Volcano

©helovi - iStockphoto.com


From 8 am 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)
Installation in a small charming hotel of 5 rooms.

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)




Day 9 : Tenorio Volcano and Carara National Park

©Caroline DHERBEY


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


Route to Tarcoles and Carara National Park (3h)


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




Day 10 : Carara National Park and Baru Refuge

©JUAN AMIGHETTI - ICT


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


Route to the Baru Wildlife Refuge (2h30)


Installation at the Hacienda Baru located in the wildlife reserve of the same name.




Day 11 : Baru Refuge

©Pepeira, Tom - Iconotec


Morning free to enjoy the lodge's many trails and the beach accessible on foot.
At 3pm you leave with the lodge guides to the heights of the reserve to spend a night in the jungle. Dinner and breakfast prepared by your guides. Accommodation in rustic bungalows with real bedding.




Day 12 : Refuge Baru Refuge and Dota Valley

Tabacon dans le parc du volcan Arenal, pandanus ©Pepeira, Tom - Iconotec


You return from your mid-morning excursion.
Route to the Dota Valley: 2h30
Installation in a mountain lodge at 2900m altitude, the landscapes change radically and the temperature too!




Day 13 : Dota Valley and Turrialba

©Angela ARENAL


Morning excursion around 6am to observe the famous Quetzal, the mythical bird of the Maya people, with its emerald colour and red breast.
Back at the lodge, you can enjoy the trails and beautiful gardens of the property.
Road to Turrialba (3h)
Settling in a 350-hectare family farm that grows coffee, sugar cane and raises horses, cows, chickens...




Day 14 : Turrialba and San Jose

Paysage de Turrialba. ©Raularosa - iStockphoto


You take a guided tour of the farm before heading back to San jose (2h)


You deliver the car to the rental company at your hotel.


Overnight in a small charming hotel in the centre of the capital.




Day 15 : San Jose and Airport

©Julie OLAGNOL


Our driver will accompany you to the airport.




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