Costa Rica Adventure Experience

A warm welcome awaits you in San José as you set out on your adventure in Central America. We will meet you from your flight and transfer you to the hotel where your Tour Director will meet with you and your fellow travellers.

We have an early pick up from our hotel to give us as much time as possible today, to admire the biodiversity of this astonishing protected area. We drive through Braulio Carrillo National Park. We stop en-route for a delicious traditional breakfast. Along the road, you can observe the many different produce grown in this area, such as pineapples and bananas.
Then we board our comfortable boat and let this extraordinary exotic paradise enchant us as we travel through the Tortuguero canals. We will enjoy a delicious lunch as we arrive at the lodge. After lunch we explore the picturesque town of Tortuguero before enjoying dinner served at the lodge.

After breakfast we will spend the morning exploring the canals of the Tortuguero National Park by boat. Abundant wildlife inhabits Tortuguero, including 57 species of amphibians, 111 species of reptiles, and 60 species of mammals - so you are sure to enjoy the wildlife spotting in the rain forest. After lunch at the lodge we have some time at leisure before dinner is served.

After breakfast, we take a boat transfer back to the pier to travel to Sarapiquie. On the way we will stop in Trimbina forest to take a guided tour of a former cacao growing plot. Here we experience the artisanal process by which the cacao fruit is transformed into chocolate. Be sure to taste all the different types of chocolate prepared for you, it doesn’t get much more authentic than this! During the hike, the fascinating cultural history of pre and post-colonial chocolate is told.
We will then continue our journey to Sarapiquie where dinner will be served.

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before we begin our journey to Arenal. Today we travel by boat for a guided safari down the Penas Blancas River. We will paddle downstream for a couple of hours, soaking in the incredible sights and sounds of this tropical setting. Keep your eyes peeled for an eclectic mixture of wildlife, from monkeys to Jesus Christ Lizards, which walk on water!
We stop at a riverside farm where we will have a tortilla making lesson & enjoy a delicious home cooked Costa Rican lunch.
Upon arrival at the hotel, the rest of the day can be spent at your leisure. You may enjoy a walk around the spacious gardens to discover yet more of the diverse wildlife or a take a tour of the farm.

After breakfast we will take a morning visit to Arenal Volcano National Park. Although currently in a resting phase, this is Costa Rica's most active volcano. We will enjoy the breath-taking view of the volcano whilst we walk along the trails and across the hanging bridges, bringing us closer than you could imagine to the beautiful inhabitants of the rainforest.
To add an element of relaxation to the day we will also visit the Paradise Thermal Resort & Spa. These natural pools are located along the walking trails, surrounded by steaming tropical gardens. Dinner will be enjoyed here before we return to the hotel.

This morning after breakfast we will take a boat transfer to Monteverde, a truly picturesque journey across the largest, and most important artificial lake in Costa Rica, it provides hydro electracy for the whole country. After crossing the lake we will arrive at Rio Chiquito, an area where all kinds of resident & migratory birds can be found, you might even spot a sloth! A bus will then transfer us to Monteverde. On the way we will enjoy a hands-on experience at the Helicona Ranch where we will be taught how to create a traditional Costa Rican lunch. After settling into the hotel, this evening we will venture out to experience the local wildlife and the incredible atmosphere of this tropical environment at night.

After breakfast we will enjoy a half day guided nature tour through the renowned Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve. Here we will learn all there is to know about the spectacular flora and fauna alongside visiting the habitat of the native wildlife, after all Costa Rica is one of the most bio-diverse country in the world. A highlight of today will be witnessing the Resplendent Quetzal, arguably one of the most beautiful birds in the Americas.
The rest of the afternoon can be spent at leisure enjoying the superb facilities the hotel has to offer where we will later enjoy dinner.

First stop of the day today is in Carara National Park. This gorgeous natural sanctuary is home to almost 50% of Costa Rica's bird species. An incredible highlight will be the opportunity to see Red Macaw's flying overhead.
We will then continue our journey to Manuel Antonio, driving over to Tarcoles Bridge where we can look down and admire - from a distance - the enormous crocodiles which call the river home.

Following breakfast we will take a transfer to Manuel Antonio National Park, one of the most popular wildlife areas in Costa Rica. We will venture out on a guided walk along a picturesque loop through the park looking out for monkeys along the way - 3 out of 4 of Costa Rica's existing monkey species call this National Park home. Your guide is on hand to tell you everything there is to know about the surrounding environment.
Enjoy some time on the beach before continuing along the trail where sloths, birds & reptiles alongside beautiful orchids and tropical trees can be admired. We will then enjoy the rest of the day at leisure before having dinner at the hotel this evening.

After breakfast we will travel to San Jose where you will be free to follow your own interests with some time spent at leisure. Ask your Big Journey tour Director for ideas for exploring this beautiful city.
This evening we will all get together for our farewell dinner.

Following breakfast we will transfer to the airport for our onward flights home to London Heathrow Airport.