Colorful Costa Rica (2024)

Passengers who purchase flights will depart the same day as the tour starts and return on the same day as the tour ends.

For flight details, see Before You Depart.

Our unforgettable adventure to Costa Rica begins today as we arrive in San José and check into our hotel in the Central Valley, an exclusive area of Santa Ana in San José's outskirts that still maintains its traditional feel of a typical Costa Rican town. After we check-in, we'll have time to rest and relax and might consider enjoying the hotel's art collection - the largest art collection of Costa Rican artists after the national gallery. This evening, we'll enjoy a welcome dinner together.

We'll depart early this morning and drive towards Tortuguero, stopping en route for a traditional breakfast of rice, beans, eggs, and fresh tropical fruit. From the port, we'll board a motorboat and navigate the Tortuguero canals to our hotel on Costa Rica's northern Caribbean side. After lunch, we'll visit the colorful village of Tortuguero where we'll learn more about the lives of the residents and shop for Afro-Caribbean handicrafts. Tortuguero depends on eco-tourism and sea turtle conservation so our visit and any purchases help to sustain this community and the turtle protection project. We'll return to our hotel and enjoy the rest of the afternoon at leisure.

Today we'll discover the area's wildlife spotting birds, monkeys, caiman, and river turtles as we travel through the creeks and lagoons of Tortuguero National Park. Tortuguero is the primary nesting site for the Green Turtle (July–October). Arrive earlier in the season and we may be lucky enough to see the larger Leatherback Turtle come ashore to lay her eggs. Outside of nesting season, there is plenty of wildlife to keep us occupied. November through January we may miss the turtles nesting, but we might have the chance to see baby turtles make their first dash into the waves. This afternoon is free to relax or explore independently.

After breakfast, we'll depart Tortuguero, traveling by boat through the verdant waterways to the port where we'll board our bus. We'll enjoy lunch at a local restaurant near Guapiles before we continue to Sarapiqui. Located on the banks of the Sarapiqui River and next to the Braulio Carrillo National Park, this area is a nature lover's paradise and a gateway to many thrilling adventures and activities. Upon arrival, we can enjoy the rainforest around our lodge or consider visiting a pineapple farm.

This morning, we'll visit a family-run organic farm where we'll learn more about organic and sustainable agriculture as well as the history of the area's traditional products and how they've influenced the local economy and community. During our visit, we'll also learn about some of the crops that transcend borders like sugar cane, papaya, pineapple, banana, cocoa tunnel (chocolate-making process), and more! We'll also enjoy a delicious farm-to-table lunch before we enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

Today, we'll travel onwards towards the northern lowlands enjoying the beautiful scenery which includes amazing views of the mountains and the famous Arenal Volcano, and one of the major sources of revenue in the area: agriculture. Upon arrival, we'll have free time. We might relax at our hotel's pool or consider joining an optional excursion.

This morning we'll embark on a hike into the forest of the Arenal Reserve. From the reserve's hanging bridges, we'll enjoy incredible views of the rainforest canopy, the Arenal Volcano, Arenal Lake, and the surrounding mountain range. During our excursion, we'll learn more about the native flora and fauna with plenty of opportunities to spot birds and howler monkeys in the surrounding canopy. This evening, we'll visit the home of Don Oscar and his family who own an amazing property with beautiful gardens. We'll explore the trails as the sun sets, spotting nocturnal wildlife at this magical time. We'll also enjoy a home-cooked meal prepared on a wood-burning stove before we return to our hotel for the evening.

Our tour comes to an end after breakfast today. Travelers who purchased the air-inclusive package will depart our hotel early this morning as we make our way back to San José's airport for our return flight to the USA. We'll arrive home filled with memories from our Costa Rican adventure!