Day 1:  From your preferred airport you fly to San José. Your English-speaking guide will be waiting to greet you upon arrival at the airport. After a short transfer to your hotel and a quick check in you will get to know the other participants of the group.

Accommodation: Studio Hotel. Meal Plan: None

Day 2: Tony Alberto Aguilar Solís has been responsible since 2005 for bringing joy to the citizens of Ciudad Colón by the Cimarrona (folk music band) and Mascarada Santa Cecilia. Its 13 members are between 14 and 50 years old, including musicians and those who perform the Mascarada presentations. The need for a Mascarada in Mora arose from the rescue of the traditions in the area. Tony Aguilar is a mascarero (master mask maker) and craftsman. He creates the hand-crafted traditional Costa Rican Mascaras (oversized puppets with giant heads/masks) featuring traditional characters such as the Giant, the Policeman, the Devil and depictions of Costa Rican legends. After a delicious typical lunch we visit the National Museum where you can learn a lot about the history of Costa Rica.

Accommodation: Studio Hotel. Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch (Santa Cecilia). 

Day 3: Today we drive past Costa Rica's first coffee plantations and the old capital of Cartago to the Irazu National Park, the highest volcano in Costa Rica at 3,432m. We walk through the volcanic landscape to the main crater and then on to the highest point of the volcano. Here we can enjoy the breathtaking views of the volcano’s 3 craters and with good weather the Braulio Carillo National Park and Volcano Turrialba.

Following a visit to the Basilica in Cartago we travel in the afternoon through the picturesque Orosi Valley to San Gerardo de Dota, which is below the Cerro de la Muerte (Peak of Death 3,500 m). The Dota Valley is framed by mountain rain forest.

Accommodation: Trogon Lodge. Meal Plan: Breakfast

Day 4:  Today, we start early with a hike in the surroundings by the lodge to observe the dazzling quetzal birds with their long tail feathers. The colorful quetzals – revered in the Mayan culture as Birds of the Gods – live in the native Aguacatillo trees nearby and can be observed with a little bit of luck during the guided tour.

Afterwards, be excited to discover the surrounding tropical mountain forest. Evergreen oak forest with bromeliads, ferns, orchids and mosses cover every corner of this area. You can see beautiful highland plants, rare birds and an opulence of magnificent blossom. Without doubt one of the most beautiful places for extensive hikes in Costa Rica.

Accommodation: Trogon Lodge. Meal Plan: Breakfast 

Day 5: A scenery drive down the mountains into the Pacific Plain and visit the Terraba tribal community in a village with the same name.

The indigenous Terrabas speak their ancient language and many continue the old crafts that reflect their culture. Ornately carved and imaginatively painted masks are made by the families as well as weavings coloured with natural dyes. Together we will learn the various techniques and can, at a typical lunch, learn a lot about the traditions of the Terrabas.

Accommodation: Esquinas Rainforest Lodge. Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch (Terrabas), Dinner 

Day 6: Today we explore the Esquinas Tropical Forest, an area located in the south of Costa Rica which is also known as the Rainforest of the Austrians. Since the 1980s, with the help of Austrian donations, a large part of the rain forest has been purchased and protected against deforestation. Our hotel complex, the Esquinas Rainforest Lodge located well off the main tourist routes at the edge of the Piedras Blancas National Park. Surrounded by thousands of hectares of untouched wilderness, it is the ideal place for nature lovers to experience the tropical rain forest in a peaceful atmosphere. During a hike through the rainforest, we will learn from our guide more about the incredible density of the jungle with its 140 tree species and over 2500 plant species. As we hike past waterfalls, we come across not only colourful birds and brightly coloured butterflies but also monkeys, agoutis or the South American coati.

Accommodation: Esquinas Rainforest Lodge. Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7: It is only a cat-jump to the little harbor town of Sierpe. There, board a boat to explore the fascinating and unique mangrove forests. The riverbanks are lined with the most extensive mangrove area of the Central America's Pacific coast and also serve as a protection for the young marine fish. Local wildlife is diverse, with numerous waterfowls such as herons, ibises, and many more. Howler monkeys, spider monkeys and capuchin monkeys are among the mangrove inhabitants as well as iguanas, bats, caimans and crocodiles. After the boat tour, enjoy a delicious typical lunch by the riverbank. The afternoon hours impress us with more nature scenes that boast along the coast towards the north until we reach our hotel in Dominical in the early evening.

Accommodation: Villas Rio Mar Hotel. Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch (Perla del Sur).

Day 8: This morning, get ready for an extended beach walk through the Bahia Ballena National Park. The rest of the day is at your leisure. Enjoy your hotel taking the opportunity for a refreshing dip into the pool. 

Optional: We highly recommend a boat excursion at the Ballena Marine National Park offshore in order to observe the whales and dolphins. In this region and with a little luck you can spot five different species of whales.

Accommodation: Villas Rio Mar Hotel. Meal Plan: Breakfast

Day 9: On the way to the cloud forest reserves in Monteverde, you will visit the Barú Nature Reserve with 800 acres of rainforest, mangroves, wetlands, river banks and beaches. It is known for its enormous biodiversity - including 365 sighted bird species that can be observed form an observation tower. Then the journey continues towards Monteverde, past diverse landscapes. In the late afternoon you will reach your hotel in the Monteverde Nature Reserve ("green mountains").

For nature lovers and explorers, we mostly recommend an optional Cloud Forest Night Tour. Around dawn, you are able to discover the mysterious sounds of the Cloud Forest during a night hike. Many animals of this particular eco system are nocturnal and can therefore only be seen after sunset. This allows you to experience the tropical cloud forest in a totally different way.

Accommodation: Arco Iris Lodge. Meal Plan: Breakfast 

Day 10: Today we have an adventure with a difference at Selvatura Nature Park: We go on a hike following a system of metal suspension bridges in the dizzying heights of the forest. Here, we have the opportunity to gain an insight into the delicate ecosystem of the forest canopy. Due to its location on the Continental Divide an incomparable biodiversity of fauna and flora can be found here. The trees, overgrown with epiphytes point to the high humidity of the cloud forest.

Those who want to test their head for heights have the option to take a Canopy Tour and zip from tree to tree through the forest canopy.

Afterwards. we are introduced to the mysterious world of bats at Monteverde Bat Jungle. Let's be surprised by the countless wonders.

Accommodation: Arco Iris Lodge. Meal Plan: Breakfast 

Day 11: Today just outside Monteverde we visit the Coffee Finca of the Bello family. For many generations they have been growing organic coffee, various herbs and other useful crops. With a little guidance we learn about the cultivation and processing. We visit the old, built by the great-grandfather, main house, and are allowed together with the family, to taste a homemade snack on the porch.

Here you feel yourself transported to another time. Also, many somewhat strange appliances from centuries past can be admired. We then continue our journey towards La Fortuna de San Carlos.

Later in the day, an optional visit to one of the relaxing volcanic hot springs around La Fortuna could be arranged, too. 

Accommodation: Lomas del Volcan Hotel. Meal Plan: Breakfast, Snack (Bello)

Day 12:  We take a walk in the Arenal National Park over volcanic sand to the lava fields, acoustically accompanied by the distant rumble from the crater and crashing sounds of rolling boulders. In the fertile earth flourish orchids and other exotic plants - Toucans like to settle in the tree tops. From the now cooled lava flow we have, on a clear day, a beautiful view of the volcanic cone and the Atlantic lowlands.

Short time after, having surrounded the volcano for about 180 degrees, we will drop into the Finca Educativa Ecológica of the well-known farmer Don Juan. Together with his family, he grows the many regional crops on his only two hectares large organic farming finca. With his great enthusiasm he is always able to enchant visitors about the traditional routine and country life up there in the northern lowlands. In his "classroom without walls" you will learn a lot of interesting facts about the cultivation and harvesting of tropical crops. The crowning conclusion of this educational visit is a delicious lunch with products from their family finca.

Accommodation: Lomas del Volcán Hotel. Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch (Don Juan) 

Day 13: On the way towards the Central Valley, we stop by the Biological Station Tirimbina, also part of the northern Caribbean lowlands in the region of Sarapiquí. Surprisingly small and naturally kept paths lead us through a small cocoa plantation to a rancho in the middle of the rainforest. There, a local guide reveals every secret about the cocoa tree, the processing of its cocoa fruit and the historical relevance. Of course, taste from the freshly prepared rainforest chocolate! This adventure day ends with a drive to Santo Domingo de Heredia, near the capital San José, where you arrive in the late afternoon.

Accommodation: Bougainvillea Hotel. Meal Plan: Breakfast

Day 14: Transfer to the International Airport

Accommodation: None. Meal plan: Breakfast

Services included

Guided Tour

• All Transfer
• All overnight stays are based on double occupancy with breakfast incl.
• 3x lunch, 1x snack, 2x dinner
• All entrance fees listed in the table Activities and National Parks
• Qualified English-speaking tour guide
• Transport in modern, comfortable and fully air-conditioned vehicles
• EU safety guidelines for drivers and driving times are maintained
• 24-hour English-speaking emergency hotline (25+ years of experience in Costa Rica)

Self Drivers

• Airport Transfers
• Accommodation is based on double occupancy including breakfast
• 3x lunch, 1x snack, 2x dinner
• Activities mentioned in the program description
  NOT included: National park entrance fees, guides in the national parks, National Museum entrance fee
• Rental car including basic insurance
  Vehicle Type: Hyundai Tucson 4x4 or similar
• Mobile Wi-Fi Hotspot in the rental car
• Free mileage
• 24-hour emergency hotline

Services not included

• Gratuities (optional)