Your itinerary
Day 1
Adventure starts in San José
Begin your adventure in San José, the culture-rich capital of Costa Rica. A complimentary transfer from the airport to the hotel is available. Check in and take it easy, there’s plenty of excitement on this trip, so today’s all about relaxing and easing ourselves into the adventure.
Around 7.30pm, say hola to your tour leader and fellow travellers during a short briefing. Our main briefing takes place tomorrow morning due to the late arrival of some flights today.
Want to explore San Jose further? Secure pre-tour hotel nights through your sales representative.
Meals: Dinner
Day 2
To Arenal; La Fortuna Waterfall walk
This morning your tour leader will host the main welcome briefing when we gather as a group to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead.
Today we drive to the area surrounding Arenal Volcano. Following a large eruption in 1968, Arenal was the most active volcano in Costa Rica until recently when it entered a resting phase. There is a lot of geothermal activity in this area, with natural hot springs, waterfalls and Lake Arenal waiting to be discovered.
We visit La Fortuna Waterfall, a 215ft (65m) cascade plunging into an emerald pool. A short rainforest trail brings us to a steep set of steps that we must descend to reach the waterfall and then ascend to exit – this takes around 20-30 minutes and is rewarded with a swim in the emerald pool. It is possible to visit the lookout point and wait for the group if you prefer. There is plenty of time to see what animals you can spot in the forest along the way; keep an eye out for colourful toucans in the trees!
Tonight we gather together for a group dinner at a local restaurant, where your tour leader will ensure a big welcome.
Meals: Breakfast,Dinner
Day 3
Try grade II and III white-water rafting on the Balsa River
After breakfast, we head to the Balsa River for an exhilarating white-water rafting excursion. The rapids here are graded II and III and have nicknames such as Magnetic Rock and Dredges – prepare to get wet and wild! No experience of this activity is needed as a full safety briefing and instruction is given before getting into the rafts. Tropical scenery flanks the river and we may spot monkeys, toucans or other animals in the forest. There is also a stop for drinks and tropical fruits along the way.
On our return to La Fortuna, we stop to enjoy a delicious lunch at Vida Campesina, a traditional country estate that allows visitors to experience typical country life in Costa Rica. Lunch is made with ingredients harvested on the property and prepared on a wood stove in traditional style.
Meals: Breakfast,Lunch
Day 4
To Monteverde in the Tilaran Mountains; night walk to experience the cloud forest in the dark
From Arenal, we travel to the Tilaran mountain range in the Central Highlands for a taste of the Costa Rican cloud forest. Reaching Monteverde involves a fast boat across Lake Arenal, which is incredibly scenic and takes roughly 30 minutes. We then complete our journey by shared land transfer, climbing into the hills towards Monteverde, whose name literally means Green Mountain. The high altitude in this Central Highlands region supports a complex ecosystem where plants thrive, particularly orchids of which there are some 400-plus varieties here. Our journey takes about 3hr 30min in total, including the lake crossing.
Around 6pm, we have a night walk to experience the forest in the dark. This gives an entirely new perspective on the cloud forest habitat, with many pairs of eyes staring back at you! We may see sloths, armadillos, porcupines, possums and coatis and will surely hear a cacophony of insects and amphibians.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5
Zip-line adventure through the treetops; visit the hanging bridges and butterfly garden
Visit Selvatura Park today, where 850 acres (345ha) of protected land are dedicated to nature and adventure. We begin with the hanging bridges excursion, a system of treetop walkways through the forest designed to let you experience the beauty of the cloud forest and observe its many inhabitants.
We also visit the butterfly garden, which has one of the largest exhibitions of butterflies in the world. After, it’s time to try aerial manoeuvres on a zip-line adventure through the treetops! Before you fly, guides teach you the proper technique, including how to position yourself and hold the cable correctly, enabling you to safely embark on this adrenaline-pumping adventure above the trees.
After our day of fun, we gather this evening for dinner at a local restaurant.
Meals: Breakfast,Dinner
Day 6
To the Pacific Coast; afternoon at leisure to enjoy Carrillo Beach
We travel to the Samara region on the Pacific Coast, one of the best-kept secrets in Costa Rica! The broad, shady bay is backed by coconut palms and the water is calm and safe for swimming thanks to a coral reef just out to sea on which the normally large Pacific waves break before reaching the beach. There are plenty of facilities in this area but there’s a noticeable absence of big resort hotels, which makes for a nice atmosphere. Our hotel faces onto Carrillo Beach in the neighbouring bay to Samara. We have a free afternoon here to enjoy the facilities and discover the area.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 7
Boat trip to see dolphins offshore from Carrillo Beach; go snorkelling
Today, we take a boat trip offshore from Carrillo Beach in search of dolphins. You could be lucky enough to see spotted dolphins, Central American spinner dolphins or common bottlenose dolphins, which all inhabit this area year around. Feel the ocean breeze and enjoy the scenic coastline as we search for these playful animals who love to swim in the bow wave of the boat! As we make our way back along the coast, we anchor near the shores of Isla Chora, a delightful white-sand beach full of hermit crabs and iguanas. This is a great spot for a refreshing swim and a chance to observe the underwater world by wearing a mask and snorkel. Beneath the surface teems a lively world with huge marine diversity. In total, today’s excursion lasts around four hours, with the rest of your time at leisure to enjoy the area.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 8
Transfer available to Liberia Airport; trip ends
Our adventure ends after breakfast, either at Carrillo Beach or at Liberia Airport if you join the group transfer. Check the Joining Instructions for more information on transfers.
But if you don’t want the adventure to end, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay and enjoy more time in Costa Rica.
Meals: Breakfast
What’s included
What’s not included
Additional information
Food
Costa Rican specialities include gallo pinto, a black bean and rice dish considered a staple part of the local diet. Soups, stews and fresh fish are also common, and most hotels offer international menus. There is a lot of fresh fruit in the tropics – you may need to share your bananas with monkeys from the hotel gardens!
Vegetarian and vegan options are limited but food is plentiful and tasty – please inform us before departure of any special dietary requests.
Monteverde Cloud Forest Night Walk
Join a guided night walk in the Monteverde Cloud Forest as the mist thickens and the forest awakens. Follow your naturalist’s soft lights to catch the chorus of frogs, locate eyes reflecting in the beam, and feel cool, damp air beneath towering tree ferns and moss-draped branches.
The nocturnal shift may reveal sloths, armadillos, porcupines, coatis and dazzling insects, while orchids and epiphytes cloak the canopy overhead. Your guide interprets this high-elevation ecosystem, explaining how cloud-borne moisture sustains a web of life unique to Monteverde’s mountaintop reserves.
Balsa River White-Water Rafting (Class II–III)
Tackle the white-water rafting run on the Río Balsa, splashing through Class II–III rapids with playful names like Magnetic Rock and Dredges. Paddle as a team between wave trains and calm pools, framed by jungle-clad banks and canyon walls alive with birdsong.
Expert river guides deliver a full safety briefing and coach paddling technique before you launch. Between rapids, scan for howler monkeys and toucans and refuel with fresh tropical fruit on a riverside pause — a lively, confidence-building introduction to Costa Rica’s warm, fast-flowing rivers.
Selvatura Park Canopy Day: Hanging Bridges, Butterfly Garden & Zip-Lines
Discover Selvatura Park, beginning on elevated hanging bridges that carry you through drifting cloud and the upper canopy. Step into a vast butterfly garden alive with iridescent wings and the buzz of hummingbirds, surrounded by orchids and bromeliads.
Harness up for a guided zip-line adventure, gliding above moss-draped trees as instructors manage lines and braking. This blend of natural history and gentle adrenaline reveals the forest from floor to sky, spotlighting the biodiversity that makes Monteverde a benchmark for cloud-forest conservation.
Carrillo Dolphin Boat Trip & Snorkelling at Isla Chora
Cruise the Pacific on a dolphin-watching boat trip from palm-lined Playa Carrillo, scanning for acrobatic spinner and bottlenose dolphins riding the bow wave. The low, green coastline slips by, revealing secluded coves while sea breezes keep everyone cool.
Anchor at tiny Isla Chora to swim and snorkel in clear, shallow water where reef fish flit over volcanic rock. A white-sand cove with hermit crabs and iguanas frames this relaxed marine interlude, perfectly balancing wildlife encounters with beach time.
Farm-to-Table Lunch at Vida Campesina
Taste rural Costa Rica at Vida Campesina, a family-run farm where a hearty farm-to-table lunch is prepared over a traditional wood-fired stove. Stroll past beds of tropical staples and aromatic herbs before sitting down to colourful, seasonal plates.
Your hosts share sustainable practices and everyday flavours—gallo pinto, ripe plantains, garden-fresh salads and fruit juices—served with warm hospitality. This convivial meal celebrates countryside traditions and the generosity behind Costa Rica’s pura vida spirit, adding cultural depth to your Arenal stay.
Arenal Welcome Dinner in La Fortuna
Gather for a hosted welcome dinner in La Fortuna and meet your Tour Leader over plates of typical Costa Rican dishes. Expect homestyle flavours—casado, grilled meats, fresh salsas and sweet plantains—in a relaxed local restaurant with views toward the volcano on clear evenings.
Beyond the meal, your host shares tips on wildlife, weather and pace, helping you settle into the rhythm locals call pura vida. It’s an easygoing introduction to Arenal’s food scene and the friendly hospitality that defines travel in Costa Rica.
La Fortuna Waterfall Swim & Rainforest Trail
Explore the jungle path to La Fortuna Waterfall, descending a steep staircase to reach an emerald pool at the base of a 65m cascade in the Arenal Volcano foothills. Take a cooling swim in the jungle pool as fine mist drifts through the trees and the roar of water fills the gorge.
Along the forested trail, guides help you spot toucans, tanagers and blue morpho butterflies. Prefer to stay dry? Enjoy the elevated lookout and pause for photos and reflection while others swim below. This protected reserve highlights the region’s volcanic geology and thriving rainforest habitats.
