Wild Costa Rica

You’ve Arrived 

Arrival in San José. Private Ground Transfer Juan Santa Maria International Airport (SJO) to your San José Hotel. Free time for sightseeing. Depending on your arrival time, you may have time to visit the bustling capital city of San José. At the heart of downtown take a stroll through the Plaza de la Cultura where you Costa Ricans gather and feed birds. If you head to Juan Mora Fernández Square, you can take in the local culture on Avenida Central and sip some delicious Costa Rican coffee at one of the busy “cafeterias,” enjoy a dreamy ice-cream cone or visit the “Teatro Nacional,” a replica of the Paris Opera House. Lunch and Dinner are on your own today.

Overnight San José area hotel

“The Amazon of Costa Rica”

Early morning departure from the hotel. Along the route, you can learn about the cultivation and production processes of
bananas, one of the world’s most popular fruit. Head to the far northeast corner of Costa Rica. Your drive will take you alongside
the extraordinary Braulio Carrillo National Park and through the Caribbean coast’s banana plantations before your boat ride into
“The Amazon of Costa Rica” — Tortuguero. Continue on your journey via boat to the remote Tortuguero canals and your eco-lodge
located on the waterway canals. After you arrive at the lodge and check-in, you will enjoy lunch. This afternoon you will visit the
quaint village of Tortuguero, a picturesque community accessible only by boat. Your guide will give you time to explore the green
sea turtle museum and the beautiful Atlantic beach. Enjoy some time in the hammock or by the pool before enjoying a delicious
dinner. While sleeping tonight be lulled to sleep by the sounds and rhythm of the jungle.
NOTE: Day 2 and 3 schedules may be reversed or modified, depending upon your day of arrival. The guide will go over-scheduled
activities at check-in.

Overnight at Tortuguero área Ecolodge (B, L, D)

Breakfast at the lodge. Today, you will explore the canals of Tortuguero in search of wildlife, birds, and reptiles with your experienced naturalist guide. The small boats make it easy to get close to the many species of birds, monkeys, sloths, crocodiles, manatees, and fish native to Tortuguero National Park. This afternoon you will be free to hike, explore, rent a kayak or get out the binoculars for some great wildlife viewing on the property. Relax and take a refreshing shower before dinner at the lodge. Depending on the time of year you visit, you might consider this optional activity: Turtle Nesting Tour (July-October) or Guided Hike.
Enjoy a special dinner on the Tortuguero Canal Floating Restaurant Katonga is not a canoe, and definitely not a boat either. It is the new fun way to quietly navigate the Tortuguero Lagoon while enjoying a delicious dinner on board. The Katonga was carefully built to provide a fun, refreshing, and relaxing way to dine and cruise around the Lagoon with the sounds of the surrounding jungle as they awaken at twilight.
NOTE: Your tour schedule will be confirmed at the time of booking. Your local guide may need to make modifications to the schedule and change the order of the activities.

Overnight at Tortuguero área Ecolodge (B, L, D)

Breakfast at the lodge. You will wake up to the lush green foliage and brightly colored tropical plants that attract so many birds, butterflies, and much more to this birding paradise. Early morning birdwatching on the grounds before breakfast provides one of the best times to encounter many species. After breakfast you will leave Tortuguero’s jungle waterways and head to Arenal for an amazing volcano and rainforest experience, passing through the agriculturally rich Northern lowlands towards the iconic Arenal Volcano.

When you catch your first glimpse of Arenal you will be mesmerized by its beauty, so have your camera ready. You are likely to see monkeys, coatimundis, and toucans along the way. This afternoon you will stop to see rescued animals and birds at an Animal Sanctuary, and this evening you can relax in thermal water that will restore your body and renew your energy, so make sure you have your swimsuit and a change of clothes. Dinner will be enjoyed at The Springs resort with a spectacular view of Arenal Volcano.

Overnight Arenal area hotel (B, L, D)

Majestic Arenal Volcano sits in the heart of the rainforest and is surrounded by tropical flowers, birds, sloths, monkeys, and toucans. Today you will hike to the Arenal Waterfall and visit the Sloth Territory looking for these gentle, slow-moving rainforest creatures. And, lunch today will be an amazing experience. Not only will you have a hands-on Tortilla-making lesson, but you will get to enjoy some of these delectable treats in the company of a local family. While your tortillas and lunch are cooking on Dona Mara’s wood-fired stove, you will be relaxing back at the rancho with family members. This culturally enriching day will be sure to be one of the highlights of your trip. If skies are clear, you can enjoy spectacular views from almost anywhere in La Fortuna.

During the evening your guide will take you to La Fortuna downtown, you will have some time to explore the town, buy souvenirs or just enjoy the magic views of the Arenal volcano. Afterward, dinner will be served at one of the tastiest restaurants in town. This town with the central park and church as the focal point, and Arenal as its background, has lots of shops, restaurants, and grocery stores, a great place to pick up snacks, coffee, salsa inglesa, chilero or tabasco made in Costa Rica to take back home. If you haven’t tried Costa Rica’s ice cream yet, buy a cone in town, you won’t regret it – so creamy and delicious – or maybe you prefer tropical ice with one of the local flavors like Guanabana or Mango!

Overnight Arenal area hotel (B, L, D)

Breakfast at the lodge. If you are an early riser, take a stroll on the grounds of your hotel and look for birds that love the early morning hours. Today you will leave the rainforest and Arenal Volcano behind and be on your way to the stunning Central Pacific Coast. At about the halfway point, you will stop for a guided Crocodile Boat Tour.
The adventure takes place on the Tárcoles River, one of 4 rivers flowing out into the Nicoya Peninsula, and home to one of the world’s largest crocodile populations in the wild with individuals measuring up to 15ft long. In addition to the crocodiles, over 50 different kinds of birds can be seen on-site, including the very rare scarlet macaw and a great variety of resident and migrant waterfowl. Iguanas and Jesus Christ lizards are very common as well. The Jungle Crocodile Safari tour time is 1.5 hours in length.
We will head down the river as the boat heads along the Estero Guacalillo, a beautiful mangrove ecosystem that features four different species of mangrove trees. We will enjoy a local buffet lunch after the boat tour.
As we head to our final destination in Manuel Antonio there will be time to relax around the pool, catch some sun or enjoy a cocktail to catch the magnificent sunset. Dinner on your own

Overnight Manuel Antonio area hotel (B, L)

You will take a short drive to Manuel Antonio National Park. The entrance sits right at sea level making it an easy park to hike. But don’t let that fool you, because this park is packed with animals. Naturalist guides carry high-powered spotting scopes that provide you with an optimal view of toucans, sloths, monkeys, and much more. At the end of the hike, you will enjoy a fresh fruit snack and some icy cold water before heading back to the hotel with plenty of time to relax at the pool this afternoon.

For those who prefer to spend some time enjoying the golden-sand beaches of Manuel Antonio take your suit with you. Your guide will come back after dropping the rest of the group at the hotel.
In the afternoon you will cruise the Pacific coastline, and it is nothing short of breathtaking. There is just no other way to get a spectacular view of the Pacific coast than by boat. If winds permit, the captain will set sail so you can enjoy the experience even more. Stop at a protected cove to snorkel while the crew prepares a tasty lunch. Enjoy tropical fruit cocktails, beer or other beverages, and the gentle tropical breeze. Dolphins love to frolic in the wake of the boat, and there are two annual migrations of humpback whales, but no matter what time of year you go, you will be sure to enjoy this day. End the trip with a view of the sun setting over the Pacific horizon.

Overnight Manuel Antonio area hotel (B, and light Dinner on Catamaran)

Today you will volunteer at Kids Saving the Rainforest – Wildlife Rescue Center and Sanctuary whose mission is to protect the diverse wildlife of Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast by rehabilitating wildlife, conducting original scientific research, training volunteers, and promoting conservation and reforestation with Wildlife BIologitst Dr. Soto and his team. This wildlife sanctuary is home to over 50 animals that cannot be released back for different conditions. You will have the evening free to enjoy your last night in the country. This evening you will enjoy time together with your group during sunset and dinner at Ronny’s, a local favorite.

Overnight Manuel Antonio area hotel (B, L, D)

Breakfast at the hotel. Today is the last day of your memorable trip to Costa Rica. You will head back to Juan Santamaríeea (SJO) International Airport in San José and check-in for your flight home. Your head will be filled with memories of Costa Rica, the charming, genuine “Ticos” you have met, and the indelible experiences you have had along the way.

Now you truly know the meaning of Pura Vida! (B)