4 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 4 dinners

We believe single travellers should not have to pay more to travel so our group trips are designed for shared accommodation and do not involve a single supplement. Single travellers joining group trips are paired in twin or multi-share accommodation with someone of the same sex for the duration of the trip. Some of our Independent trips are designed differently and single travellers on these itineraries must pay the single trip price.

Eating is a big part of traveling. Travelling with G Adventures you experience the vast array of wonderful food that is available out in the world. Generally meals are not included in the trip price when there is a choice of eating options, to give you the maximum flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat. It also gives you more budgeting flexibility, though generally food is affordable. Our groups tend to eat together to enable you to taste a larger variety of dishes and enjoy each other’s company. There is no obligation to do this though. Your CEO will be able to suggest favourite restaurants during your trip. Please refer to the meals included and budget information for included meals and meal budgets.

You must be 18 to travel unaccompanied on a G Adventures tour. For minors travelling with a guardian over 21 years old, the minimum age is 12.

Costa Rica will not be allowing anyone to enter the country without proof of a departure ticket (bus, airplane, boat, etc.). If you are travelling through a few countries in Central America, you will need to show proof of your itinerary and a departure ticket from your last destination. Please print the itinerary and voucher and bring it with you.

ACCOMMODATION NOTE:

Please be aware that properties we stay in with only two stories may not have elevators installed and climbing the stairs with your luggage will be necessary.

All G Adventures group trips are accompanied by one of our Chief Experience Officers (CEO). The aim of the CEO is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. They will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the countries visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects. We also use local guides where we think more specific knowledge will add to the enjoyment of the places we are visiting- we think it’s the best of both worlds.

We recommend using a backpack for your convenience, or a medium-sized suitcase if you prefer. A daypack is also essential for carrying everyday items. Space is limited on transportation, so there is a limit of one main piece of luggage per person. You will be responsible for carrying and handling your own luggage.

Every traveller is different and therefore spending money requirements will vary. Some travellers may drink more than others while other travellers like to purchase more souvenirs than most. Please consider your own spending habits when it comes to allowing for drinks, shopping and tipping. Please also remember the following specific recommendations when planning your trip.

Arrive in the capital and meet your CEO and fellow travellers on day 1 in San José. Your tour director outlines the journey through the Pacific and Caribbean coasts, cloud forest, and northern plains, setting expectations for pace, packing, and optional activities. It’s a relaxed session designed to enjoy a free evening afterwards and ease into Costa Rican time.

San José’s core blends neoclassical architecture like the National Theater with lively mercados. Your CEO shares tips on local dishes—think casado plates and fresh tropical fruit—and how to move comfortably through the country. This welcome helps you connect as a small group, ask questions, and start the adventure with confidence.

On day 3, enter Manuel Antonio National Park with your CEO and stroll forested trails toward Playa Manuel Antonio and the bluff of Cathedral Point (Punta Catedral). Along the way, scan for sloths, white-faced capuchins, bright lizards, and coastal birds while the surf booms beyond the trees. Trails are well maintained, with shady stretches for pauses to pause for photos and reflection.

Learn how this compact park protects rare habitats wedged between mountains and sea. After the walk, kick off shoes for a swim in turquoise coves sheltered by rocky headlands, or linger at lookouts over the misty Pacific coastline. The mix of wildlife, warm water, and white sand captures the pura vida spirit of Costa Rica’s central Pacific.

On day 9 in San Miguel de Sarapiquí, visit the Mi Cafecito cooperative, a Planeterra-supported project uniting small farmers. Walk the rows of shade-grown coffee, hear how beans are harvested, husked, dried, and roasted, and sample a fresh cup with the aromas of citrus and chocolate. Then sit down to a farm-to-table lunch, often featuring tilapia from on-site ponds and hearty Costa Rican staples.

Beyond flavor, this experience highlights community economics and environmental stewardship. Your visit helps sustain 200+ local families while protecting river corridors and bird habitat. It’s an engaging, hands-on window into a national craft that shaped Costa Rican identity—one cup at a time.

Settle into a rainforest lodge for nights on days 9–10 in the Sarapiquí Valley. Follow a nature trail to the river for a refreshing swim, then relax in a hammock as cicadas buzz and toucans call. After dusk, join a guided night walk to spot tree frogs, owls, and the glitter of spider eyes while learning how the forest transforms after dark.

At dawn, lace up for a birdwatching walk to look for tanagers, motmots, and trogons. Your CEO and lodge guides share insights into lowland rainforest ecology and the region’s role as a vital biological corridor. The rhythm of hikes, swims, and quiet moments brings the sounds and scents of the rainforest into daily life.

During the Sarapiquí stay on day 10, roll up your sleeves for a hands-on cooking demonstration. Learn to mix masa, press dough, and cook empanadas on a hot comal, pairing them with fresh salsas and sweet plantains. The aromas of roasted corn and cilantro fill the open-air kitchen as you taste the results warm from the griddle.

Your hosts share recipes rooted in Costa Rican home kitchens and explain how seasonal produce and coffee-farming traditions shape daily meals. It’s a satisfying way to connect with local culture, celebrate shared food, and carry home techniques to recreate the flavors of the rainforest.

On day 11, trade roads for water as you cruise the Tortuguero canals toward the Caribbean coast. Glide past tangled mangroves and rainforest reflected in dark, tannin-stained water while scanning for herons, caimans, and basilisk “Jesus Christ” lizards. The boat ride is both transport and immersion, revealing a watery world that defines this remote region.

Along the route, your guide explains how canals and lagoons sustain wildlife and the car-free village of Tortuguero. The journey sets the stage for exploring beaches and waterways where sea turtles nest seasonally, and where howler monkey calls roll over the canopy at dawn.

On day 14, join your CEO to cycle palm-fringed coastal roads around Puerto Viejo de Talamanca toward beaches like Cocles or Punta Uva. Feel the warm Caribbean breeze as you pause for photos and reflection under almond trees and sample fresh coconut water. Terrain is mostly flat, with time to lock bikes and swim in clear, gentle surf.

Along the way, learn how Afro-Caribbean culture shaped the area’s rhythms and flavors. Swaying reggae, colorful wooden houses, and black- and white-sand beaches create a distinctive mood far from the highlands. Return salty and smiling, with the afternoon free to linger by the sea or explore village cafés.

While in Quepos (typically on day 4), board a catamaran to cruise the Pacific coastline past islets and forested headlands. Keep watch for spotted dolphins and sea turtles as crew point out seabirds soaring on thermals. Drop anchor in a sheltered cove to snorkel over volcanic rock reefs where sergeant majors and angelfish weave between corals.

Afternoon departures often time a sunset over the ocean, bathing Manuel Antonio’s cliffs in gold. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour; ask your CEO about morning vs. sunset sailings and conditions, which vary by season.

Choose your pace around Quepos on day 2–3: take a beginner-friendly surf lesson on the gentle breaks of Playa Espadilla, or paddle a kayak through the Damas Island mangroves at high tide. Instructors tailor surf sessions to your ability, while mangrove guides help you spot herons, iguanas, and crabs in the roots’ shade.

Both options reveal different faces of the coast—warm Pacific rollers on the open beach or calm, labyrinthine waterways where the forest meets the sea. These activities are at additional cost and bookable on tour. Your CEO can advise on tides, swell, and best times of day.

In Monteverde (day 4–5), join a naturalist to walk suspended bridges strung through the canopy, then continue along forest trails where epiphytes, orchids, and moss-draped branches thrive in mist. From bridge decks you may glimpse hummingbirds hovering and, in season, the resplendent quetzal flashing emerald and crimson.

The guide shares how moisture-laden trade winds create this rare ecosystem and why community conservation here became a model for Costa Rica. Time permitting, step into a butterfly garden to learn about metamorphosis and pollinators up close. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Clip in and fly across zip lines that span ravines and treetops in Monteverde (often on day 5). Guides demonstrate technique, then send you soaring over misty forest valleys with panoramic views toward the Gulf of Nicoya on clear days. Platforms nestled in giant trees provide moments to breathe and listen to the echoing forest.

This high-adrenaline experience complements the slower pace of hanging bridges. It’s a chance to feel the scale of the cloud forest while learning about its protection. At additional cost and bookable on tour; weight/age limits and closed-toe shoes apply.

After dusk in Monteverde (day 5), venture into the forest with a naturalist to search for nocturnal wildlife. Under red light, look for glowing frog eyes, sleeping birds, and the rustle of kinkajous in fruiting trees. The chorus of insects swells as your guide reveals plants and fungi that come to life after dark.

The walk illuminates the cloud forest’s hidden half, when many creatures feed and pollinate. Trails are gentle and unhurried with time to pause for photos and reflection. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Spend a morning or afternoon (day 5) learning how highland farms cultivate shade-grown coffee in volcanic soils. Walk through nursery plots, see depulpers and drying patios, and finish with a guided tasting that compares roasts and brewing methods. Many tours touch on sustainable practices and the economics of small producers.

Monteverde’s cool climate and cooperative spirit produced a strong coffee culture distinct from lowland regions. It’s an ideal add-on if you’re curious to explore the bean beyond your included Sarapiquí visit. At additional cost and bookable on tour.

From La Fortuna (day 7–8), choose between the Sarapiquí River’s class III–IV rapids for punchy waves and fast action, or the Peñas Blancas for gentler class II runs with wildlife watching between riffles. Professional river guides lead safety briefings and teach paddle commands before you launch.

Between rapids, drift past lush riverbanks where herons stalk and iguanas sun on branches. Water levels and routes vary by season. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour; gear and transport are included, and no prior rafting is required for the easier option.

Test your nerve in rainforest gorges near Arenal (day 6–8) as you rappel down waterfalls, scramble through pools, and descend via forested canyon walls. Guides outfit you with harness and helmet, demonstrate technique, and belay each drop so you can focus on the rush of cool spray and jungle birdsong.

The route blends short hikes with vertical challenges, revealing the volcanic geology that shaped Arenal’s foothills. It’s an adventurous complement to scenic hikes, suited to anyone comfortable with heights and getting wet. At additional cost and bookable on tour.

Descend the steps through forest to the base of the La Fortuna Waterfall (Catarata Río Fortuna) on day 6–8, where cool spray mists the air and a turquoise pool invites a careful dip near calmer eddies. Hear how the falls are fed by Arenal’s watershed and how park fees support local conservation.

As dusk nears, continue to Baldi Hot Springs (or similar) to soak in terraced, geothermal pools framed by tropical gardens. Steam rises into the night as you unwind muscles and recount the day’s highlights. This combined experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Choose your saddle around La Fortuna (day 7–8): pedal quiet lanes past pastures and lava fields with views of the Arenal cone, or ride horseback along rural tracks to riverside lookouts. Guides tailor routes to conditions, sharing stories of the 1968 eruption and how agriculture thrives in volcanic soils.

Both options offer broad views and time to pause for photos and reflection amid heliconia, grazing cattle, and distant forest. These activities are at additional cost and bookable on tour. All equipment is provided; no prior riding experience is required for the gentle horse trails.

From La Fortuna (day 7–8), travel north to Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge near the Nicaraguan border for a naturalist-led boat tour through seasonal wetlands. Glide past gallery forests where howler monkeys, caimans, and a dazzling array of waterbirds—anhingas, jacanas, and sometimes roseate spoonbills—feed and roost.

The refuge is a crucial stopover for migratory species and a lesson in floodplain ecology. With binoculars in hand, you’ll appreciate Costa Rica’s commitment to corridors that link habitats across regions. This excursion is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

When in Tortuguero (day 11–12) during nesting seasons, join certified local guides for a night walk on the beach to observe green turtles (Jul–Oct) or leatherbacks (Mar–Jun) as regulations permit. Learn about strict protections, red-light use, and how tourism supports conservation and community livelihoods.

Watching a turtle heave sand and lay eggs, or later, seeing hatchlings scramble toward the surf, is deeply moving. Group sizes, routes, and timing follow park rules to minimize disturbance. This experience is at additional cost, strictly controlled, and bookable on tour only when conditions allow.

Swap motorboats for silence as you paddle the back canals of Tortuguero on day 12. A guide helps you thread narrow waterways beneath arching palms and buttressed trees, pausing to watch green herons hunt and sloths hang motionless above. The rhythm of the paddle draws you into the stillness of the lagoon.

Kayaks allow closer wildlife encounters and a deeper appreciation of how water shapes life here. It’s gentle, unhurried, and ideal for photographers. This activity is at additional cost and bookable on tour; departures vary with water levels and weather.