Costa Rica Eco Adventure
8 Day Costa Rica Tour from San Jose | Operated by Trafalgar
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8 Days
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1 Country
Costa Rica -
9 Cities
San José, San Isidro, Braulio Carrillo National Park, Tortuguero, Sarapiqui, Arenal, Monteverde, Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Preserve, Liberia -
17 Meals
6 Dinners, 7 Breakfasts, 4 Lunchs -
Pace: Active
Faster paces with mix of 1–2-night stays in each location. Typically features 4+ miles of walking on some days and may involve steep hills and uneven surfaces, such as cobblestones.
Trip Itinerary
Learn the secrets of Pura Vida – Costa Rica’s inimitable zest for life that will linger throughout your effortlessly delivered encounter with a land that boasts no artificial ingredients. This evening, join your Travel Director and fellow expeditioners for a Welcome Reception.
Journey to San Isidro de Heredia where we’ll Dive Into Culture with master chocolatiers Julio Fernandez and George Soriano to learn about the history of chocolate and its production at this small workshop. Then, it’s on to Siquirres where we embark on a river journey with a Local Specialist through protected wetlands and on to secluded Tortuguero, gliding through canals, lagoons and lowland rainforest. Visit the Village of Tortuguero for a culturally enriching MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience meeting Tortuguero Village pioneers and learning about their way of life. Then continue to your Stays with Stories at Laguna Lodge, where you’ll learn the story of how the lodge was built with materials that protect this biodiverse environment and natural habitat. Later, enjoy dinner at your hotel accompanied by the enchanting sounds of resident cicadas and tree frogs.
Cruise the canals and streams of the park today with a Local Specialist as howler monkeys watch from the treetops, toucans and egrets fly through the air and crocodiles ply the cool waters. Visit the Village of Tortuguero. If you are here between July and September, take an optional tour to see the sea turtles laying eggs on the beach.
Bid adiós to Tortuguero and head back to the mainland where we’ll enjoy lunch before meeting the Tico family for a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® experience at their palm plantation. There you'll learn about and sample the delicate heart of palm. Tonight you'll enjoy dinner with the owners of your hotel as they prepare a special barbecue meal just for you.
Rise with the sun to get up close and personal with Costa Rica's exquisite nature during a leisurely walk. Keep a lookout for the endangered great green macaw and connect with your beautiful natural surroundings. Embark on an optional rafting trip later this morning. We Connect With Locals this afternoon, enjoying a Be My Guest experience lunch at an eco-friendly hacienda built by the Quintana family as a retirement project. Today, it is home to an organic farm and related eco-adventures. Learn how your experience contributes to the local community. Our journey continues to Arenal Volcano, on whose slopes we spend the afternoon relaxing in our resort's beautifully landscaped thermal pools.
Our soul-stirring encounter with Costa Rica’s natural wonders continues after a morning at leisure. Straddle the Continental Divide and touch the sky in Monteverde Cloud Forest, where you’ll have an opportunity to explore this biodiverse sanctuary, renowned for its collection of orchid species – more than in any other single place. Tonight, you will Dive into Culture as you meet descendants of native Quaker, and Local Specialist, who will share stories of Old Town Monteverde and delve into the history of the American Quakers who settled in the area in the 1950s. This evening, relish some of the best views as you enjoy dinner.
This morning, join your Local Specialist guide for an excursion through the lush rainforests of Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® as we ascend to the treetops high above the jungle floor below, treading lightly along the Sky Walk suspension bridges amongst the wildlife that find sanctuary in the boughs of the surrounding canopy. As our epic eco-adventure nears its end, we share stories with newfound friends at a Farewell Dinner.
Transfer to Liberia International Airport. Airport arrival will be at approximately 11:00 am, please be aware when booking your flights.
Price Includes
What's Included- - All porterage and restaurant gratuities
- - An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
- - Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
- - All hotel tips, charges and local taxes
- - Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals
- - Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras
- - Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing
- - All transport and transfers shown
- - Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)
- - Optional Experiences and free time
- - On occasion, hotels of similar standard and location may be utilized.
- - 6 Dinners (D)
- - 7 Breakfasts (B)
- - 4 Lunchs (L)
- In the Village of Tortuguero, meet the village’s first pioneers and hear stories of what life was like in Tortuguero. You’ll also learn about all the sustainability efforts that have taken place and how the community has changed their perceptions of the environment around them.
- Meet a local Tico family at their palm plantation to learn about and sample the delicate heart of palm surrounded by tropical forest.
- Walk above the jungle floor on the Sky Walk. A chain of six suspension bridges at canopy level with complete views of the forest and access to a completely different ecosystem that can only be discovered at the highest points of trees. A naturalist guide will point out intriguing plant and animal life, so you won’t miss out on any amazing details these forests offer.
- Meet master chocolatiers, Julio Fernandez and George Soriano, to learn about the history of chocolate and how it is produced at this small workshop.
- Meet Monteverde's Quaker descendants and Local Specialist to learn about Old Town Monteverde and the fascinating history of the American Quakers who settled in the area in the 1950s.
- Welcome to Laguna Lodge Tortuguero, a remote 15-acre retreat which embraces the rich natural environment Costa Rica is known for. You’ll feel a part of nature among towering trees, exotic plants, and spacious gardens that host a number of birds and butterflies. Feel good knowing that the lodge itself protects this biodiverse environment by using alternate materials and structures that don’t permanently harm the land but instead preserve the natural resources you’ll come to appreciate. Take in this slice of paradise lounging by the pool, strolling in the garden or drifting off to sleep to the gentle sound of jungle rain.
- Welcome to Laguna Lodge Tortuguero, a remote 15-acre retreat which embraces the rich natural environment Costa Rica is known for. You’ll feel a part of nature among towering trees, exotic plants, and spacious gardens that host a number of birds and butterflies. Feel good knowing that the lodge itself protects this biodiverse environment by using alternate materials and structures that don’t permanently harm the land but instead preserve the natural resources you’ll come to appreciate. Take in this slice of paradise lounging by the pool, strolling in the garden or drifting off to sleep to the gentle sound of jungle rain.
- Tonight you'll enjoy some time with the owners of your hotel, providing a unique experience, as they prepare a special BBQ meal just for you.
- Visit the Quintana family's Hacienda Pozo Azul and discover how they reduce their carbon footprint and support the local community.
Optional Experiences
Optional Experiences are subject to change. Your Travel Director will supply you with a final list of Optional Experiences available on your trip. Optional Experiences cannot be booked online; they can be purchased during your trip through your Travel Director.
White Water Rafting Level II and III (Available on Day 5)The morning excursion on a class II and III river involves navigating nearly 13 km (over 8 miles) on the Sarapiqui River, and is a great introduction for first-time paddlers and families interested in a fun, wet rollercoaster ride.
Adult Price: $73 Child Price: $73 Arenal Natura Ecological Park & Walking Tour (Available on Day 6)At this wonderful park you will have the opportunity to experience Costa Rica’s wildlife up close and personal where beautiful frogs, birds, reptiles in their natural habitats will have the starring role. This package includes a frog sanctuary, bird watching, a serpentarium (home to different species of snakes found in Costa Rica), a reptile lagoon (to observe crocodiles) and a heliconia garden.
Adult Price: $83 Child Price: $61 Arenal Volcano Hike (Available on Day 6)Ever since the 1500s, locals considered Arenal to be just a regular everyday mountain. However, everything changed on the morning of July 29, 1968, when the mountain erupted spewing ash and lava over the region. Up until 2010, the volcano was quite active but has settled down in recent years. Your guided hike will allow you to see up close the areas that were destroyed in the 1968 eruption. Hike through recent lava flows, and see how Mother Nature has brought life back to the region.
Adult Price: $89 Child Price: $73 Kayak On Lake Arenal (Available on Day 6)Arenal Lake is the largest in the country and home to a wide diversity of birds, both resident and migratory, such as flycatchers, kingfishers and great blue herons. Kayaking on Arenal Lake is a great way to take part in an outdoor activity while you enjoy the amazing, one-of-a-kind views of Arenal Volcano. Along the shoreline watch for howler monkeys enjoying the good life high in the trees.
Adult Price: $75 Child Price: $58 ATV Tour (Available on Day 6)Enjoy nature and unique views of the majestic Arenal Volcano on this exhilarating ATV adventure. After a brief operation and safety demonstration, your tour will begin, taking you across a beautiful private farm, areas of re-pasture, special ATV trails, and even a stop at a crocodile farm. Next, a special viewpoint will treat you to amazing photo opportunities and a chance to get to know your group, before making your way along a new route to the town of La Guaria, where you can enjoy a refreshing dip in the cool, clean waters of the Arenal River. Your tour concludes with a final ride back to the base.
Adult Price: $116 Child Price: $116 El Trapiche Tour (Available on Day 7)The tour begins with a walk through the farm where you’ll view sugarcane, banana, orange and coffee plantations. You will learn about the coffee making process and how liquor is made of out sugarcane. The farm provides an education to visitors about the various crops and farm life in Costa Rica.
Adult Price: $58 Child Price: $27 Horseback Riding Tour (Available on Day 7)On your horseback excursion, enjoy sweeping views of the Nicoya Gulf and its islands as you ride your way through coffee and sugarcane plantations, tropical forest and open fields. Be on the lookout for wildlife including toucans, green parrots and white-faced monkeys.
Adult Price: $99 Child Price: $85 Sky Tram and Sky Trek (Available on Day 7)Board a comfortable gondola and fly among the trees on the lookout for local wildlife. As you glide among the forest, see how it changes in vegetation due to elevation. At the end of the Sky Tram you will be faced with a choice, you can either return to the starting point in the same way you came or you can enjoy the ultimate adrenaline rush on the Sky Trek. With this option you will fly across the forest in a series of ten zip lines with heights ranging from 100 – 524 feet (30 to 160 meters) and with distances of up to 2,500 feet (762 meters). All of these zip lines were built to give you a 360° perspective of the rainforest.
Adult Price: $113 Child Price: $76 Sky Tram Up and Down (Available on Day 7)Board a comfortable gondola and fly among the trees on the lookout for local wildlife. As you glide among the forest, see how it changes in vegetation due to elevation. At the end of the Sky Tram you will be faced with a choice, you can either return to the starting point in the same way you came or hike down a self-guided trail back to the operations base.
Adult Price: $70 Child Price: $53