Itinerary

DAY 1 :  ARRIVE SAN JOSE

Arrive at San Jose Juan Santamaria International Airport and transfer to your Central Valley area hotel. Bask in the new sights, sounds, smells, and warm air. Relax, let your cares slip away, and look forward to the adventure tour that lies ahead.  Overnight at Hotel Presidente or similar.

DAY 2 :  MONTEVERDE

Savor an early morning cup of Costa Rica's coffee and a hearty breakfast before hopping in the van with your guide for the 3.5 hour drive to Monteverde. Travel the Pan-American Highway for the first 2.5 hours before turning off onto a winding gravel road for the remainder of the trip. Stop and stretch your legs while enjoying a typical Tico lunch.

Take in the views of hillside pastures and the Gulf of Nicoya before reaching Monteverde with its refreshingly cool climate. Walk the trails looking for wildlife at Finca Ecologica, a 75 acre private wildlife preserve. The lush environment hosts abundant bird life, sloth, agoutis, and coatimundis. Overnight Monteverde Lodge. [BLD]

DAY 3 :  MONTEVERDE

A guided naturalist hike introduces you to the unique Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. The reserve extends down both slopes of the Tilaran Mountains covering an elevation range from 2,300 to 5,600 feet encompassing eight different ecological life zones and protecting over 100 species of mammals, 400 of the approximately 850 species of birds in Costa Rica, and 1,500 species of plants.

Depending on your luck and patience, from January to July you may observe the resplendent quetzal, the three-wattled bellbird, the emerald toucanet, and white faced and howler monkeys in their natural habitats. Return to the lodge around mid-day for lunch before immersing yourself in the colorful world of butterflies. We explore the butterfly garden where butterflies and other insects are raised and displayed in shade cloth enclosures within tropical gardens. Monteverde Lodge. [BLD]

DAY 4 :  MONTEVERDE TO ARENAL VOLCANO

Leave the cloud forest behind and depart Monteverde mid-morning. The 4 hour drive to the Arenal area passes through picturesque towns and villages, around the north end of Lake Arenal and near the Arenal Volcano. Stop for lunch enroute and chat with the locals. Weather permitting  take in the stunning views of the volcano which has been active since 1968. In the dark of night watch the fireworks explode and lava spill over the crater rim. Overnight at Hotel Arenal Manoa, Volcano Lodge or similar. [BLD]

DAY 5 :  ARENAL VOLCANO
Grab your hiking shoes and head out with our naturalist guide to experience the rain forest canopy from the amazing aerial perspective provided by the Arenal hanging bridges. This system of bridges within a 618 acre reserve threads its way through the rainforest surrounding the volcano. We traverse 15 connected bridges ranging from 5-100 meters in length looking for white hawks, great curassows, rufous motmots, howler and spider monkeys, coatimundis, sloth, and white-collared peccary. (The bridges are made of aluminum, galvanized steel, and concrete to ensure maximum safety for visitors.) Soothe tired muscles with an afternoon soak in the Hidalgo Family Hot Springs followed by a typical Costa Rican dinner prepared under a rustic rancho. Enjoy the true tradition of local hospitality! Overnight at Hotel Arenal Manoa, Volcano Lodge. Volcano Lodge. [BLD]

DAY 6 :  CENTRAL HIGHLANDS TO THE JUNGLE CANALS OF TORTUGUERO
We begin our scenic drive from the Central Highlands to the Caribbean coast early passing through small towns, lush farmlands and forests until we descend amongst the many banana plantations of the Caribbean lowlands. Bananas were once Costa Rica's primary export crop before the introduction of coffee. We reach  the coast and board a jungle boat meandering several hours through the languid tropical rivers and canals of Tortuguero's lowland rain forest in search of shore birds, sloth, monkey and caiman. Tortuguero National Park preserves 51,870 hectares of tropical rain forest, one of the last large areas of tropical rain forests in Central America. Overnight Tortuga Lodge [BLD]

DAY 7 :  TORTUGUERO NATIONAL PARK
Explore the flooded lowland rainforest of Tortuguero National Park established to protect the sea turtles that nest on these beaches and the forest habitat which is one of the best areas to see wildlife in Costa Rica. We glide quietly through the natural jungle canals in an electric boat with a local Tortuguero guide who helps us spot and photograph the lush flora and fauna. Bring binoculars and keep a keen eye out for sloth, caiman, river otters, monkeys, iguanas and a myriad of tropical birds including macaws, toucans, trogons and many more. Visit the Caribbean Conservation Natural History Center to learn more about the life history of the Atlantic Green sea turtle and turtle conservation and research programs.  There is often time to wander the deserted beach and enjoy swimming in the lodge pool. When turtles are in nesting season (July through October) a guided night walk on the beach is available to witness giant sea turtles digging nests and depositing eggs in the sand (not included). Overnight Tortuga Lodge . [BLD]

DAY 8 :  SCENIC FLIGHT AND COFFEE TOUR

Take off from the local airstrip for a spectacular 30 minute flight over the jungle lowlands and central highlands back to San Jose. You have an option today to join a tour of the Britt Coffee Plantation to discover coffee's vital role in forging Costa Rican democracy and cultivating a national identity around their hard-working, peace-loving, friendly, and environmentally conscious people. This daily coffee tour demonstrates how to properly brew a perfect cup of coffee, to store your beans, and to distinguish good coffees from great ones. If you would prefer not to join this public group tour we can make alternative arrangements for you to take a walking city tour and visit the Gold and Jade museums, or help direct you to local craft and souvenirs stores. Ask for details about other day tours including white-water rafting available at extra cost. Overnight at Hotel Presidente or similar. [BLD]

DAY 9 :  SAN JOSE
Pack your bags and relish one last cup of Costa Rican coffee before departing for the airport in time to arrive approximately two hours before your scheduled international flight. [Meals on Own]

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