Itinerary

Saturday - Arrive San José
Your trip begins in San José. If you're flying in on day one of the trip, your ACTIVE SOUTH AMERICA trip leader will meet you at the airport at 2pm to take you to your accommodation. Once you arrive, you'll have a couple of hours to explore San José's beautiful town squares, quaint cafés and bustling streets where lively street performers dot the sidewalks. San José sits in a beautiful valley surrounded by towering volcanoes. Its location, just 60 miles from the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea, gives it a mild, spring-like climate. In the evening you'll meet up with your ACTIVE SOUTH AMERICA trip leader and the rest of the group for a full briefing and a delicious tico dinner!
ACCOMMODATION: Fleur de Lys Hotel, San José (D)

Sunday - Raft Pacuare River
An early start this morning sees us leaving the city behind and driving to the rafting put-in on the Pacuare River, one of the most beautiful rivers in the world. The rafting is suitable for all experience levels and you will receive a full safety briefing from our guides. We'll set off down the river, descending Grade III and IV rapids from Costa Rica's central highlands down to the Caribbean lowlands through virgin rainforest. Lush, green vegetation hangs down the towering vertical walls of this amazing river canyon. This trip is known as one of the world's best rafting trips and you'll see why. With exciting white water, stunning scenery and pleasant water temperature, it's an unforgettable rafting experience for novice paddlers and experts alike! After we take out, we'll continue on to the quaint Caribbean lowland town of Guápiles for the night.
ACCOMMODATION: Guapiles accommodations, Guapiles (B,L,D)

Monday - Sea kayak Tortuguero, Mawamba Lodge
This morning we'll take a short drive to Rio Suerte to start an incredible day of sea kayaking. We'll navigate the lazy waters of the Tortuguero canals, past banana plantations and wild jungle, down to the confluence of the Rio Penitencia. Tortuguero National Park is the most significant breeding ground for sea turtles in the Caribbean. Six of the world's eight species of sea turtle nest in Costa Rica and four of these lay their eggs in Tortuguero. We'll keep our eyes peeled for howler monkeys, sloths, tropical birds and iguanas as we paddle through lush primary rainforest. The mighty tarpon and shy manatee (aka sea cow) can also be found in the waters surrounding Tortuguero, so we'll hopefully see some amazing sea life too! We'll come ashore at the luxurious Mawamba Lodge, where we'll have the chance to relax in our hammocks and listen to the sounds of the jungle. This afternoon you can hike the miles of beautiful beach and nature trails or relax on the deck overlooking the Caribbean Sea.
ACCOMMODATION: Mawamba Lodge, Tortuguero (B,L,D)

Phil: "Tortuguero National Park is incredible, both for its ecological significance and stunning scenery. It's a special place, rich in biodiversity and amazing rainforest, so to explore it by foot and by sea kayak is a really cool and unique way to get up close and personal with its amazing creatures - I just love it!"

Tuesday - Visit sea turtles, hike Tortuguero Hill We'll rise early this morning for a walk along the beach in search of the sea turtles this area is named after. If we're lucky, we'll have the chance to see the famous green sea turtles arrive on the beach and lay their eggs - an incredible experience! Then we'll return to the lodge for breakfast before heading off to hike through virgin rainforest up Tortuguero Hill. The abundance of wildlife in this area will take your breath away and our trip leaders are experts at finding the monkeys, reptiles, birds and other wildlife hidden in the thick jungle. When we return, we'll have the afternoon free to relax by the pool or soak in the sun at the beach.
ACCOMMODATION: Mawamba Lodge (B,L,D)

Wednesday - Depart Tortuguero, Baldi Hot Springs
This morning we'll leave Tortuguero by motorboat. Then it's back to conventional transport for the drive to Fortuna, a small town at the foot of the mighty Arenal Volcano, that has been constantly erupting for over a decade! We'll spend the afternoon at the incredible Thermo Mineral Baldi. This lavish complex of 16 hot pools and amazing landscaped gardens will be the backdrop for a typical tico dinner. On a clear night you'll enjoy spectacular night-time views of the volcano, which often glows orange with fresh lava flow from its crater.
ACCOMMODATION: Fortuna lodgings, Fortuna (B,L,D)

Thursday - Hike Arenal National Park, Catarata La Fortuna
This morning we'll set off for a day of hiking through the lush rainforest of Arenal National Park to the crater of a nearby dormant volcano. We begin by hiking through typical tico farmland, before entering stunning virgin rainforest canopy as it encloses the trail. Cascading waterfalls, brilliant rainforest flowers and the call of howler monkeys in the treetops make this a memorable hike. Our hike ends at spectacular Catarata La Fortuna. This 230-foot (70m) waterfall, surrounding rainforest and black volcanic rock are a dramatic finale and the plunge pool is the perfect place to cool off for a well-deserved swim!
ACCOMMODATION: Fortuna lodgings, Fortuna (B,L,D)

Friday - Cycle Lake Arenal, Monteverde
This morning we'll cycle around the edge of Lake Arenal. After an early breakfast, we'll begin riding under the rainforest canopy as we follow the shores of the lake. You'll be greated by a cacophony of tucan calls, howler monkeys and other wildlife sounds. Later we'll head to Monteverde Cloud Forest, nestled in the heart of one of the most beautiful valleys in the Americas in the cloudy heights of the Tilarán mountain range. Monteverde will be our base for the next two nights. We'll enjoy spectacular views of the sun setting over the Pacific Ocean from our cosy lodging in the hills just outside Santa Elena township.
ACCOMMODATION: Sunset Hotel, Monteverde (B,L,D)

Saturday - Hike Monteverde Cloud Forest, free afternoon
Today we'll explore some of the most intriguing forest trails in Central America accompanied by a specialist local nature guide who will interpret the flora and fauna of the region for us. Tucked in a highland valley of the Costa Rican mountains, Monteverde offers a surreal hiking experience with stunning waterfalls, lush forest canopy, and plenty of native animals ducking in and out of the mist if you have sharp eyes! When we get back from our hike, you'll have the afternoon free to try some of the wide range of optional activities on offer at Monteverde - you'll find everything from canopy tours to horse riding and even a mariposario (butterfly garden)! If you'd like an adrenalin-pumping view of the forest canopy from above, there's an option to take a zip line high above the trees. It's an unforgettable ride with magical views of the rainforest and the valleys below.
ACCOMMODATION: Sunset Hotel, Monteverde (B,L,D)

Sunday - Visit coffee plantation, explore Montezuma
Today we'll continue down to the tropical warmth of the Pacific lowlands where we'll hit the Pacific Ocean. We'll stop at a local coffee plantation on the way to learn a little bit about the processes of coffee making in Costa Rica (and of course, have a chance to try some of their fine brew!), before making our way to Montezuma, a laid-back coastal village surrounded by nature reserve. This remote township is known for its history as a hippie town during the 60s, as well as for its sprawling white-sand beaches. The area also has beautiful rivers, waterfalls, rainforest, rocky points and tidal pools - perfect for exploring! Tonight we'll stay on the Nicoya Peninsula, in charming bungalows right on the beach and surrounded by jungle. Our hosts, Belgian couple Hilda and Andre, will welcome you and make sure you're well fed, with several local specialities on this evening's menu! After dinner, enjoy a stroll on the beach, swim in the beautiful calm waters, or just hang out on the beach and watch the sun go down.
ACCOMMODATION: Hotel Celaje, Montezuma (B,L,D)

Monday - Sea kayak and snorkel Tortuga Island, return to San José
We have a big day today. This morning we'll paddle our sea kayaks across to Tortuga Island, a short distance offshore from the Curu Nature Reserve. After a briefing from our guides, we'll set off across the warm, clear waters of the Golfo de Nicoya. This beautiful stretch of water is frequented by whales, so bring your camera! When we arrive on the island, we'll have lunch on a picture-postcard beach. Tortuga Island is a stunning place, with pristine beaches laden with coconut palms, clear water and a green rainforest interior. This afternoon we'll set off with our masks and snorkels into the warm Pacific waters surrounding Tortuga Island to look for sea turtles, iguanas, lobsters and hundreds of varieties of fish in crystal clear waters. In the afternoon we'll head back to the mainland to our hotel just outside San José where we'll enjoy our final evening together in Costa Rica.
ACCOMMODATION: Local hotel near San José (B,L,D)

Tuesday - San José, depart
Today is the last day of your Quetzal trip in Costa Rica with us. If you have time before your flight or you're staying on for a few days, we'll be happy to make some suggestions on how to make the most of it - you won't want to miss San José's bustling central market, and relaxing with an ice cream in the central square makes for fantastic people-watching and a priceless view of tico city life. If you prefer to take in a little culture, your trip leader will be happy to point you in the direction of San José's many museums, art galleries and charming streetscapes. Alternatively, if you're flying out today, we'll send you home refreshed, relaxed and invigorated after experiencing the best that Costa Rica has to offer - great activities, fantastic scenery and friendly people. Pura Vida! (B)

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