An authentic 15-day tour with car rental awaits you; discover the true nature of the Costa Rican between land and agriculture. You will be conquered by this stay off the beaten track.
Day 1: Arrival in San Jose
Transfer with your driver Ernesto to your hotel located in the historical district of the capital.
Day 2: San Jose – Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
Our English guide will meet you at your hotel and spend the morning with you. He takes you through the lively streets of the city, shows you the historical buildings and talks about the culture, traditions, economy and politics of the country. The tour ends at the central market where you can taste a local speciality with Ticos.
Our car rental company will deliver your 4×4 to the hotel around 1pm and you take the road to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, a charming village on the lively south Caribbean coast where the mix of cultures (Creole, Rasta, Surfer and Bohemian) is unique in the country (4 hours drive).
Installation in an ecolodge within walking distance of Playa Chiquita.
Day 3: Puerto Viejo de Talamanca and Cahuita National Park
At 9am you will meet our English speaking guide for the visit of the Cahuita National Park, a promontory covered with tropical forest with turquoise water beaches and a well preserved coral reef at its feet.
Afterwards, free to enjoy the many beaches of the region (Cocles, Chiquita, Punta Uva and Manzanillo) or snorkeling on the coral reefs of the Cahuita National Park.
Night in an ecolodge.
Day 4: Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
You visit a wildlife rescue centre that allows you to be in direct contact with monkeys, wild cats, sloths, raccoons, coatis, anteaters, reptiles, frogs, crocodiles, caimans and all kinds of birds including the magnificent toucan…
Afterwards, free to enjoy the beaches or try your hand at surfing!
Night in an ecolodge.
Day 5 : Puerto Viejo de Talamanca – Sarapiqui
You take the road to Sarapiqui (4 hours drive).
At lunch time, you visit Maria’s farm, a 7-hectare palm farm: young palm trees for its hearts, large palm trees for its fruits (pejibaye) followed by an excellent lunch made of palm hearts (ceviche, lasagne, cake, pancakes made with palm heart flour).
Installation in an ecolodge whose architecture is based on the building techniques of pre-Columbian natives.
Day 6: Sarapiqui – Arenal Volcano
Small guided walk in a Cocoa plantation (with passage on 2 suspension bridges which pass over the Rio Sarapiqui), the guide explains you all the process of chocolate making (with tasting of cocoa in all its states).
You take the road to the majestic Arenal Volcano in the shape of a perfect cone (1h30).
Installation in an ecolodge run by a Costa Rican family and located on a biological corridor making this lodge an ideal place to observe the local wildlife.
In the evening, guided night hike through the property to observe the rich nightlife.
Day 7: Arenal Volcano
Hiking on the suspension bridges: 3 km trail with 15 suspension bridges above the canopy (length of the bridges from 48 to 100m) and a superb view of the Volcano.
In the afternoon you will relax in the thermal springs.
Night at the ecolodge.
Day 8: Arenal Volcano – Tenorio Volcano
From 8am you leave for “Pura vida Cooking Classes” a Costa Rican cooking class – You will start by taking a short walk through the farm to pick up some ingredients for your creations, which will depend on the season. You will prepare the famous “Gallo Pinto”, Costa Rican breakfast, “tortillas”, “patacones” or “empanadas” and taste your creations for lunch.
Route to the Tenorio Volcano in the early afternoon (2h)
Installation in a small charming hotel of 5 rooms.
Day 9: Volcano Tenorio – Carara National Park
You start the day with a hike in the Tenorio National Park to see the Rio Celeste (the turquoise blue river), the thermal waters and the waterfall.
Route to Tarcoles and Carara National Park (3h)
Installation in a guest room with a breathtaking view of the meanders of the Rio Tarcoles.
Day 10: Carara National Park – Baru Refuge
Boat trip on the Rio Tarcoles to see the huge crocodiles, red macaws and other water birds.
Drive to the Baru Wildlife Refuge (2h30)
Installation at the Hacienda Baru located in the wildlife reserve of the same name.
Day 11: Baru Hut
Morning free to enjoy the many trails of the lodge and the beach accessible on foot.
At 3pm you leave with the guides of the lodge in the heights of the reserve to spend a night in the jungle. Dinner and breakfast prepared by your guides. Accommodation in rustic bungalows with real bedding.
Day 12: Baru Refuge – Dota Valley
You return from your excursion in the middle of the morning.
Route to the Dota Valley: 2h30
Settling in a mountain lodge at 2900m altitude, the scenery changes radically and the temperature too!
Day 13 : Dota Valley – Turrialba
Morning excursion around 6am to observe the famous Quetzal, the mythical bird of the Maya people, with its emerald colour and red chest.
Back at the lodge, you can enjoy the trails and beautiful gardens of the property.
Road to Turrialba (3h)
Installation in a family farm of 350 hectares which cultivates coffee, sugar cane and raises horses, cows, chickens…
Day 14: Turrilaba – San Jose
You take a guided tour of the farm before heading back to San jose (2h)
You deliver the car to the rental company at your hotel.
Night in a small charming hotel in the center of the capital city.
Day 15: San Jose – Airport
Our driver will accompany you to the airport.
