Costa Rica Canopies, Culture, and Coastlines Signature Journey

Meals: Snacks, Dinner

Distance: 3 miles

Elevation Gain: 250 feet

Largest Single Elevation Gain: 50 feet

Our tour starts with a 1pm pickup in San Jose at the pre-tour hotel. Our private van will take us straight to the cool cloud forest of Monteverde. After check in and an early dinner of traditional Costa Rican Casado, we step into the cloud forest for a fascinating wildlife adventure. More than 80% of tropical wildlife becomes active after sunset, and a guided night tour will help us spot sloths, frogs, tarantulas, bioluminescent organisms and other nocturnal wildlife.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Distance: 5 miles

Elevation Gain: 1,200 feet

Largest Single Elevation Gain: 300 feet

After a hearty breakfast at the hotel, we head to our first waterfall – or 8! The El Tigre Reserve includes a well maintained 5 mile trail along the El Tigre River through the cloud forest, over bridges, and past numerous waterfalls and cascades. There are several opportunities for swimming in the pools. After this excursion we will catch a quick lunch from the fruit stands and head to our next activity. An exclusive, immersive coffee experience at the Plinc Coffee Farm. We’ll learn about the journey of coffee from plant to cup, as we walk the grounds and participate in the sensory experience.

Accommodation: Lake Arenal Farm and Brewery

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Distance: 3 miles

Elevation Gain: 520 feet

Largest Single Elevation Gain: 50 feet

An exciting day is planned as we head to the Selvatura Adventure park and reserve. Our tour package will include a walk on the hanging bridges trail, where we can view the forest from above, with an opportunity to spot wildlife and experience the forest as they do. The zipline portion of the day lets you fly high above the treetops, offering unbeatable panoramic views of the forest below. As an added bonus, we also include a guided walk through the contained sloth habitat 20 sloths live freely among the trees. After our adventures through the cloud forest canopies, we will transfer to our resort on Lake Arenal.
Note: alternate activities are available if you are not interested in the canopy zipline tour.

Accommodation: Lake Arenal Farm and Brewery

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Distance: 3.2 miles

Elevation Gain: 670 feet

Largest Single Elevation Gain: 62 feet

From our beautiful resort on Lake Arenal we take a short drive to Tenorio Volcano National Park and the gorgeous Río Celeste. Our hike along this stunning, turquoise-blue river includes a fabulous waterfall, a deep blue lagune, several viewpoints, and culminates at the confluence of the two rivers that create the magical color. There is no swimming allowed within the park, but there is a great swimming hole nearby. From here we head to La Fortuna, the gateway city to Arenal National Park. You will have a variety of activity choices for the afternoon including a chocolate farm tour, bicycle rental, nearby kayaking, a hot springs water park, and more.

Accommodation: Lake Arenal Farm and Brewery

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Distance: 7 miles

Elevation Gain: 500 feet

Largest Single Elevation Gain: 50 feet

Today we explore the many trails at the foot of Arenal Volcano, a recently active volcano. We will travel over lava fields, trek along hot springs rivers, see an ancient Ceibo tree, visit an ecological park and even kayak on the small Lagito Dos. After our full day of exploring the area, we return for a last night at the wonderful farm and brewery.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Distance: 2 miles

Elevation Gain: 50 feet

Largest Single Elevation Gain: 20 feet

After a leisurely breakfast, we will pack up and transfer to the Pacific Coast. We are headed to Jacó, a lively, gray-sand beach town, famous for its consistent surfing and energetic atmosphere. There is a little of everything with nearby beaches, hiking trails, shopping and even some nightlife. We will visit the Neofauna Costa Rica Wildlife Rescue Center and Wildlife Reserve for a short hike and a guided stroll through the reserve while we learn about wildlife rehabilitation, scarlet macaw breeding programs, butterfly farming, tropical reforestation efforts and more. We will have one night in Jacó where you can walk the beaches in moonlight, spend a relaxing evening in your room, or live it up with a night on the town.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Distance: 5 miles

Elevation Gain: 850 feet

Largest Single Elevation Gain: 350 feet

We will travel from Jacó to Uvita by the end of the day, stopping for activities along the way. The Damas Island Estuary, adjacent to Manuel Antonio National Park is the largest mangrove ecosystem in Central America. Within the giant twisted root systems is a biodiversity hotspot, home to tons of birds, reptiles, and aquatic animals that our local guide will expertly point out. We’ll hear unique stories and insights about the area as we paddle peacefully through the mangrove forest. Later in the day we continue south to the Nauyaca Waterfall, that some consider the most beautiful in the country. Our 4 mile hike will take us to the base of the waterfall for a refreshing swim and copious photos. Tonight we settle into our cottages in Uvita, our home for the next 2 nights.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Distance: 6 miles

Elevation Gain: 2,300 feet

Largest Single Elevation Gain: 800 feet

Today will be our longest hike of the tour, following a ridgeline high above the coastline, with ever wider views out past Uvita’s Whale’s tail and across the Pacific Ocean. We start from the Uvita River and follow an unused ATV road up the ridgeline. Views across the ocean appear almost immediately and get better as we climb higher. The beauty of this trail is you can climb as much or as little as you like. When you have had your fill, simply return via the same route back to the river. We will welcome the small swimming hole as we cross back over the river before our return to Uvita. There should be ample time in the afternoon to enjoy Uvita’s sheltered beach, explore the Whale's Tail, or just hang at the hotel pool.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Distance: 6 miles

Elevation Gain: 880 feet

Largest Single Elevation Gain: 200 feet

We have save the best for last, as we embark on a truly unique excursion into the sugar plantation owned by personal friends. We will walk through the farmland with our escorts telling us stories of their life on the plantation and explaining the process that transforms their crops into a valuable commodity. We carry only a day pack as the farm will provide us with all we need for an overnight stay in their sugarhouse. The afternoon will be filled with demonstrations, cooking lessons and experimentation as we gain a deeper understanding of this way of life. We will sleep well tonight in the humble accommodations.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Distance: 5 miles

Elevation Gain: 598 feet

Largest Single Elevation Gain: 200 feet

Our morning will start with a full breakfast on the plantation before we depart on the trail back to our waiting van. Although it is a several hour drive back to San Jose from there, our time will be filled with reminiscing about the memories we have created on this exclusive and varied exploration of the fascinating tropical country of Costa Rica. As road conditions and traffic are difficult to predict, we do not recommend trying to depart from San Jose on this day, but will take you to the post tour hotel for a good rest before your travel day.