Costa Rica Nature and Culture Private Journey

Welcome to San Jose! Upon arrival at the San Jose International Airport, you will be met by your private driver and driven approximately 35-minutes into downtown San Jose.

Early in the morning, you will be transferred to the Turrialba area, in the heart of the lush jungles surrounding the Pacuare River. The Pacuare River is one of the most scenic rivers in Costa Rica and one of the most biodiverse in the country. During the trip, it is possible to admire spectacular landscapes that include rural villages, rivers, lakes, and mountains with a thousand shades of green. Arriving at the Pacuare River you will find a charming boutique hotel in the middle of the rainforest. The lush tropical environment surrounds its beautiful and intimate villas, allowing you to enjoy the sounds of nature like nowhere else in the country. (L, D)

Today you will have an opportunity to experience the Cabécar Indians' way of life - Costa Rica's largest tribe - in relative comfort and without invading their privacy. Members of a clan that live in the nearby Nairi- Awari Indigenous Reserve have built a typical Cabécar Rancho (thatched house) a short hike from the lodge, where the son of a local shaman provides visitors with an introduction to his people’s culture and customs. After your meeting, you will hike back to the lodge. The remainder of the day is at leisure. (B, L, D)

After breakfast at the lodge, you will experience the best class III and IV rafting like nowhere else in the country! You will challenge the wild river and take your adrenaline levels to the maximum. During this adventure, breathtaking scenery and the natural environment will accompany you through the narrow canyons that are formed with gorges. At the end of the excursion, you will have time to change clothes and then continue your tour to the northern plains of Costa Rica. This route offers beautiful landscapes accompanied by rural villages until you reach La Fortuna de San Carlos. From this town, if the weather conditions are favourable, you will be able to appreciate the biggest natural attraction of the country; the Arenal Volcano which will welcome you with its majestic volcanic cone. Late afternoon you will be picked up at your hotel for your night walk through the Hanging Bridges of Mistico Park. Enjoy the tropical rainforest at night, where you will see with your guide spiders, birds and other nocturnal animals, that cannot be seen in the daytime. (B, L)

Today you will be picked up at your hotel for a short drive to the stables where your guide will help you pick the right horse according to your experience and will bring you the security equipment and recommendations that should be followed to enjoy this excursion. Afterwards, you will begin the horseback riding adventure along the beautiful countryside, passing through some pastures, cattle farms, agriculture fields and rainforests, besides an extraordinary view of the San Carlos Valley. The entire route offers stunning views of the Arenal Volcano. As you get to the entrance of La Fortuna Waterfall, the horses will be left in a resting place to start the hike of 530 stairs through the forest in a deep canyon that will lead you into an impressive 230-foot-high waterfall. This natural wonder emerges from an emerald-coloured jungle cliff into a natural pool where you can swim in the cold mountain waters for about one hour. However, if you do not want to swim, enjoy the riverside of the scenic beauty of the natural surroundings and take some unforgettable pictures while hearing the sounds of nature. Rest of the day free time to enjoy the facilities of your hotel or maybe do another tour on your own. (B)

After breakfast at the hotel, you will depart from Arenal Volcano to the Cloud Forest area in Monteverde. You will be crossing Arenal Lake by boat, which is the largest and the most important lake in Costa Rica. The first part of the trip is adorned with the beautiful scenery of Arenal Lake. Then, you will start driving and ascending through the Tilaran Mountain Range. The final portion of your journey is on gravel roads, giving you more time to enjoy the beautiful mountain scenery and you will feel a slight change of temperature as per the location above 4265 feet above sea level. Monteverde is known for its diverse and rich tropical cloud forests. Wind-sculptured elfin woodlands on the exposed ridges are spectacularly dwarfed, whereas protected cove Monteverde cloud forests have majestically tall trees festooned with orchids, bromeliads, ferns, vines, and mosses. Alpine-like weather will revive the rural experience of our country. In the afternoon you will visit a local Costa Rican farm, where you will learn how sugar cane and coffee were processed before modern times. (B)

Today, you will depart for Monteverde Cloud Forest Private Reserve. You will set out to discover the secrets of the misty cloud forest with its dense vegetation and majestic trees, enjoying its climate and hiking the trails amongst the varieties of plants and over 450 bird species seen in the area. It protects and provides a habitat for hundreds of species of flora and fauna. The reserve is 26.000 acres and is an important link in the growing network of protected areas in Costa Rica. Located at an altitude between 3937 and 5249 feet, this cloud forest gives you the chance of exploring a different type of forest, allowing you to make your very own comparison between the biodiversity found in a rainforest and a cloud forest, proving that Costa Rica is full of natural treasures. This hour-long tour will show you all the different types of ecosystems to be found in the region, as you learn more about the unique wildlife, many of which are endemic to the area. The remainder of the afternoon is at leisure. (B)

After breakfast, you will check out of your hotel and meet your private driver for the approximate 2-hour, 30-minute transfer to the Juan Santamaria International Airport where you will check-in for your onward flight. (B)