Classic Costa Rica Adventure

Welcome to Costa Rica! We'll meet with your guide this morning for a trip orientation over breakfast. Our first stop on our adventure is a hike through a lush tropical rainforest ending with lunch at La Paz Waterfall Gardens.

Afterwards, we will make our way to Arenal Vida Campesina Organic Farm to learn about traditional Costa Rican farming and the growing of coffee, followed by an authentic locally sourced dinner. 
Accommodation: Arenal Observatory Lodge, La Fortuna
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, we'll meet with our river guide before a short drive to to the Sarapiqui River, where our whitewater rafting experience awaits us! This adventure is perfect for all ages and provides two experiences of exhilarating white water action on this beautiful tropical river.

After getting off the river, we'll enjoy lunch before our afternoon hike to the Fortuna River waterfall. Part of the Arenal Volcano National Park, the waterfall tumbles amidst a biological reserve of 210 acres of transition premontane tropical wet forest.  The waterfall itself was formed by the old lava flow of the Cerro Chato volcano. We'll hike along the path to the 70-meter-high waterfall, and have the opportunity to take a refreshing swim in the clear waters of the Fortuna River, in one of the two natural pools.

We'll return to the lodge to enjoywith plenty of time to enjoy the hot springs before dinner together.  
Accommodation: Arenal Observatory Lodge, La Fortuna
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Hiking: 0.6 miles (1 kilometer), 1 hour
Elevation Gain/Loss: 216 feet (65 meters) ascent, 216 feet (65 meters) descent

Early risers can join an optional morning bird walk through the surrounding forest, when the jungle is most alive. Listen for movement in the canopy as toucans, parrots, tanagers, honeycreepers, and oropendolas make their morning rounds. It’s a peaceful, immersive way to ease into the day. After breakfast, you’ll drive to the Arenal Conservation Area for a very different perspective of the landscape. 

You’ll saddle up for a scenic horseback ride through rolling hills beneath the ever-present silhouette of Arenal Volcano. The route winds through open pasture and pockets of lush forest, offering sweeping views across Arenal Lake and the volcano’s near-perfect cone. Along the way, you’ll stop at a quiet lagoon crater, a striking reminder of the region’s volcanic past. A relaxed lunch at a local restaurant follows, with time to refuel and reflect on the morning’s ride. 

This afternoon, you’ll explore Arenal on foot, hiking along the slopes of the volcano through the 1968 lava fields. The three-mile trail reveals a landscape shaped by fire and transformed by time, with young forest reclaiming hardened lava and wide-open views stretching across the lake below. Your guides share the stories behind what you see, adding depth and context to every step. Back at the lodge, the day winds down with a soak in the hot springs, a perfect way to ease tired muscles before gathering for dinner. 
Accommodation: Arenal Observatory Lodge, La Fortuna
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning, you’ll explore one of Costa Rica’s most wildlife-rich waterways on a guided boat tour along the Tárcoles River. Drifting quietly through mangroves and winding channels, you’ll get a close look at an ecosystem where land, river, and sea meet. 

With knowledgeable local naturalist guides at the helm, you’ll learn how this environment supports an incredible range of life. Watch the riverbanks for American crocodiles resting in the sun, while herons, scarlet macaws, and other tropical birds move through the trees overhead. 

In the afternoon, you’ll travel to Playa Hermosa on Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast, stopping for lunch along the way. As the landscape opens to ocean views and salty air, the pace naturally slows. You’ll check in at Fuego del Sol Beachfront Hotel, set between lush forest and rolling waves, and settle in for two relaxing nights by the sea. This evening is free to enjoy at your own pace. Take a sunset walk along the beach or choose from nearby local restaurants, with your guides happy to point you toward their favorite spots. 
Accommodation: Fuego del Sol, Playa Hermosa
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

This morning we'll head out to a private reserve for a hike along the river, encountering waterfalls, as well as plenty of swimming opportunities, along the way. The trail is inhabited by wildlife, and leads us to the top of the El Encanto Waterfall, falling 180 feet (55 meters) down to the rainforest canyon below.

Our adventure continues on a zip line tour, soaring over rainforest canopies, rivers, and the beautiful valley below. With over 1.2 miles (2,000 meters) and eight platforms, we'll encounter breathtaking mountain and ocean views.

After a hearty lunch, we're back to the coast for an afternoon on an Outrigger Canoe at Playa Agujas. The canoes are more efficient than kayaks, and we'll glide past spectacular cliffs filled with frigate birds and pelicans. We can then snorkel from the beach, or perhaps do some monkey and bird watching while relaxing on the beach.

After a full day of adventure, we'll get back to the hotel in time for a sunset dinner. 
Accommodation: Fuego del Sol, Playa Hermosa
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Hiking: 2 hours

After breakfast at the hotel, it is a two-hour trip to the San Jose airport to make your post-trip connections home or continue your Costa Rica adventure. 
Accommodation: Not applicable
Meals: Breakfast