Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in San José, Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Highlights: Welcome dinner, beautiful Orosi Valley

Welcome to Costa Rica! We'll meet at 1:00 pm to shuttle from San José to our starting hotel in Orosi. Here we we'll fit bikes, have a safety talk, and enjoy a traditional Costa Rican casado dinner together.

Hotel Features: Resort with hot springs surrounded by the forest in the picturesque Orosi River Valley.
Day 2: Bicycling the Reventazón Valley
Reventazon Valley
Highlights: Cycling Orosi & Reventazón river valleys, Angostura Lake

Our bike ride this morning starts right outside the hotel, and follows the scenic Orosi and Reventazón River valleys as they wind through coffee, sugar, and palm plantations to Turrialba and on to our hotel for the evening on Angostura Lake. We'll enjoy dinner together tonight in this lush tropical retreat. Biking distance: 54 km (36 miles). Please note that 15 km or 9 miles will be on a gravel road.

Hotel Features: Colonial Plantation House surrounded by gardens on the shore of Angostura Lake.
Day 3: Rafting the Pacuare River
Suspension Bridge
Highlights: Guided whitewater rafting trip on a National Wild and Scenic River

After a short shuttle to the Pacuare River, we will enjoy a day of white water rafting. The Pacuare features some of the best rafting in Latin America and a project to build a hydroelectric dam on this river was recently rejected by the environmental authorities of Costa Rica based on lack of information about the project's social and environmental impact. Throughout the day we see stunning scenery as the river winds its way through deep canyons and primordial rainforest. Professional guides with years of experience on the river pilot each raft. We stop to enjoy a picnic lunch in these beautiful surroundings. Following our trip, we'll shuttle on to Sarapiquí where our hotel is located near La Tirimbina Rainforest Reserve. Dinner together. Rafting distance: 27 km (17 miles).

Hotel Features: Sustainable eco-lodge with butterfly garden, frog pond, medicinal plants and vegetables garden and walking trails.
Day 4: Guided Rainforest Hike
Highlights: Hike in La Tirimbina Rainforest Reserve with local naturalist, hot springs, night viewing of Arenal Volcano

The rainforest reserves in this area feature some of the last remaining mid-elevation tropical forests in Central America. Today at La Tirimbina Reserve, you can choose a short hike or a longer hike guided by a local naturalist. At sunset we shuttle to the hot springs at the base of the volcano where we'll enjoy a traditional homemade dinner together. The dining room is a replica of the buildings made by pioneers who colonized this area in the first half of the 20th century. After dinner we'll shuttle closer to the Arenal Volcano to get a night-time view of the mountain. Walking time: 2 - 4 hours, your choice.

Hotel Features: Sustainable eco-lodge with butterfly garden, frog pond, medicinal plants and vegetables garden and walking trails.
Day 5: La Fortuna and East Arenal Foothills Loop Ride
Arenal Volcano
Highlights: Scenic ride

Our loop ride out of La Fortuna takes us into the countryside on the Santa Clara plains, past many small rural villages, all with a church and the soccer field in front. We return to Fortuna on the road at the base of the Tilaran Mountains, crossing beautiful rivers. Dinner is on your own tonight and we'll recommend our favorite restaurant in town. Biking distance: 28 or 52km (17 or 33 miles), your choice.

Hotel Features: Family run hotel in the center of the town. Very close to restaurants, post office, banks and pharmacy.
Day 6: Bicycling near Arenal
Lake Arenal
Highlights: Arenal Volcano and Lake Arenal

Arenal Volcano dominates our ride this morning - and what a sight! As you approach Lake Arenal, keep your eyes and ears open for the playful sounds of howler monkeys and the comic antics of coatimundi, as well as other wildlife that call the lake home. At our hotel this afternoon, we enjoy views back to the lake and the volcano in the distance. Dinner is together. Distance: 38 or 55km (24 - 34 miles) your choice.

Hotel Features: Colonial style accommodation in the middle of the Costa Rican Dry Forest with traditional Costa Rican restaurant, swimming pool, and walking trails full of wildlife.
Day 7: Viewing Wildlife on the Tenorio River
Float Trip
Highlights: Float trip and wildlife on the Tenorio

As we shuttle to the Pacific Coast we'll stop for a float trip down the Tenorio River. Enjoy views of iguanas, monkeys, egrets, herons and more on this two-hour scenic and educational float trip. We'll stop for lunch in the old town of Liberia before continuing to Esterillos Beach, where you can relax by the pool or take a walk on the almost endless stretch of beach. Dinner together at our hotel in Esterillos this evening.

Hotel Features: Oceanfront boutique hotel on isolated Esterillos beach.
Day 8: Canoeing & Snorkeling
Highlights: Canoeing and snorkeling along the Pacific Coast

The last full day of our Costa Rica adventure takes us to nearby Agujas Beach, where we'll take outrigger canoes for a day of paddling and snorkeling. Each canoe holds 6 to 7 people plus a guide, so you don't have to do all of the work. We'll paddle to a nearby beach where we'll stop to eat a picnic, rest, swim, and snorkel before heading back to the starting point in the afternoon. We'll celebrate the end of our journey with a final dinner together at a seaside restaurant.

Hotel Features: Oceanfront boutique hotel on isolated Esterillos beach.
Day 9: Shuttle back to San José
Highlights: Morning shuttle back to San José, arriving late afternoon
After breakfast together, we offer a free shuttle back to San José for those needing to get home. We'll arrive in San José between 11:00AM and noon, so make sure your departing flight leaves no sooner than 3:00PM. There are daily flights from a local airport to San José as well, if you would like to spend some extra time on the beach. Pura Vida!

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