Guide

All group trips are accompanied by one of our group leader or local representative. The aim of the group leader or local representative is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. Intrepid endeavours to provide the services of an experienced group leader or local representative however, due to the seasonality of travel, rare situations may arise where your group leader or local representative is new to a particular region or training other group leader or local representative. Your group leader or local representative will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense, you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the places visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious, and social aspects. At Intrepid we aim to support local guides who have specialised knowledge of the regions we visit. If you are interested in delving deeper into the local culture at a specific site or location then your group leader or local representative can recommend a local guide service in most of the main destinations of your trip.

Transport

Shared vehicle , Public bus , Raft , Bicycle

Others

Monteverde - Cloud Forest Entrance Pacuare - 4hrs. Pacuare River white water rafting - Class 3 & 4 Puerto Viejo de Talamanca - Coastal Bicycle ride Caribbean cooking demonstration

Accommodation

The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation. Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we’re arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn’t always possible which means we won’t be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available. Hotel (6 nights), Lodge (1 nights)

Meals

6 breakfasts, 2 lunches

Not included:

Optional

Other activities and services are not included

Flights

Flights are not included

Others

Other activities and services are not included

Insurance

Insurance is not included

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Day 1: San José
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: San José

Hola! Welcome to Costa Rica. Your adventure begins in San Jose with a welcome meeting at 6 pm. With over half the country’s population living within its parameters, San Jose is a city with colourful markets, many museums and a lively atmosphere. If you arrive early, maybe start exploring in the main plaza. Artisan booths are common here and you never know when there will be a spontaneous art fair. Check out the Gold Museum, home to an amazing collection of indigenous gold art. If these cultural gems get you in the mood for a bit of shopping, head to the San Jose Handcraft Market or the Central Market, where you can buy anything from handicrafts to fresh seafood.
Day 2 Day 2: Monteverde
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Monteverde

This morning you’ll travel by bus to the incredibly lush Monteverde. Settled by North American Quakers in 1951, this area was initially used as an environmentally conscious agricultural community and is now a biological preserve. Make the most of your free time in lush here and maybe organise a local guide to take you on an evening nature walk. There are also several local communities that operate cooperatives worth visiting. Get a different perspective of the forest by walking through the canopy on suspension bridges or watch butterflies in the Butterfly Garden. More than 2000 species of plants, 320 bird species and 100 different types of mammals call Monteverde home, making it the ideal spot for wildlife spotting. No matter what you choose to do today, be sure to keep an eye out for the resplendent quetzal, one of the most elusive birds in the world.
Day 3 Day 3: Monteverde Cloud Forest Hike & La Fortuna
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Monteverde Cloud Forest Hike & La Fortuna

Monteverde Cloud Forest has near-constant cloud cover, providing consistent rainfall, giving the area an enchanted feeling. Spend the morning in the forest on a leader-led nature hike, looking out for hummingbirds, quetzals and maybe even a lazy sloths hanging among the mist. After your hike, drive to Lake Arenal in La Fortuna – a small but vibrant town with an abundance of hot springs and natural pools to soak in. When you arrive, you have the rest of the day free to explore, swim or get active. Tonight, why not grab a classic local dinner with a few of your fellow travellers? Chifrijo (fried pork, salsa, beans and tortilla chips) always goes down a treat!
Day 4 Day 4: La Fortuna
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: La Fortuna

Enjoy a free day to explore La Fortuna as you wish. This region offers lush forest, rare plants and lots of wildlife watching opportunities. There are also plenty of exciting water-based activities available on Lake Arenal. The volcano’s inner workings also mean there are plenty of thermal springs where hot, lava-heated water gushes to the surface. These springs are often surrounded by foliage, making them the ideal place to kick back and relax. Maybe try stand-up paddleboarding on the lake with a backdrop of the volcano and rolling green hills behind you. Animal lovers might want to take a boat tour of Cano Negro Reserve to count sloths, monkeys, crocodiles and the basilisk lizards that skip across the water.
Day 5 Day 5: Pacuare River White Water Rafting & Puerto Viejo
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Pacuare River White Water Rafting & Puerto Viejo

This morning, leave the towering volcano behind and drive east to Pacuare River – renowned for its natural beauty. What better way to experience the river in all its glory than an adrenaline-filled white water rafting adventure? While not an overly challenging or technical river, the 29 km (18 mi) one day run includes 52 rapids, guaranteeing you a day of fun on the water. Flanked by green gorge walls, tumbling waterfalls and tropical rainforest, this is Costa Rican nature at its best! Keep an eye out for the abundant wildlife, including the sloth, parrots, toucans, butterflies and frogs. After, continue to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca for a taste of the Caribbean seaside – think reggae bars and palm-fringed beaches. Afterwards continue by vehicle (approximately 4 hours) to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca for a taste of Caribbean seaside – think reggae bars and palm-fringed beaches.
Day 6 Day 6: Puerto Viejo De Talamanca Cycling
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: Puerto Viejo De Talamanca Cycling

After breakfast, get to know the area better with a relaxed bike ride along the palm-fringed coastal road of Puerto Viejo, stopping at various beaches and inlets along the way. Stop at a local restaurant for lunch and be introduced to the local cuisine in the best way – by watching it being made during at a Caribbean cooking demonstration! Experience a mix of African, indigenous and Spanish flavours with a mix of coconut milk, spices, fruits, seafood and curry flavours. Return to Puerto Viejo for the evening, where you can hit the bars or chill out at the beach to end the night.
Day 7 Day 7: Puerto Viejo De Talamanca & San Jose
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: Puerto Viejo De Talamanca & San Jose

This morning is free for you to explore Puerto Viejo further at your own pace. Maybe rise early and take the public bus to Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge – this area is made up of several rare habitats, including a lowland rainforest, a wetland, a coral reef and a mangrove swamp. Spend around 2 hours exploring and keep your eyes peeled for monkeys, reptiles, toucans and macaws. Otherwise, you can kick back and relax on the Caribbean shores or take to the waves for a beginner’s surf lesson. Around midday you’ll take the bus back to San Jose. With time to explore the bustling food and artisan markets, you’ll see a more urban Costa Rica, quite different to the past few days of natural habitats and wildlife opportunities. Around midday take the bus back to San Jose (approximately 5-6 hours). With time to explore the historic buildings and bustling food and artisan markets, you’ll see a more urban Costa Rica, quite different to the past few days of travel. After so much activity in Costa Rica, you may instead be up for a quiet night, so perhaps head out for a group dinner and become acquainted with the city’s night scene – your group leader will know a good place to go.
Day 8 Day 8: San José
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 8: San José

There are no activities planned after breakfast today and your adventure comes to an end. You’re free to leave at any time after check out. If you’d like to extend your stay, just get in touch with your booking agent ahead of time to organise additional accommodation. If you are exploring San Jose in more depth, why not book in an Urban Adventures tour like the San Jose Bites & Sights.

8 days tour

Costa Rica: Hike, Bike & Raft

This tour includes:

Not included:

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Costa Rica: Hike, Bike & Raft

Day 1: San José

Day 2: Monteverde

Day 3: Monteverde Cloud Forest Hike & La Fortuna

Day 4: La Fortuna

Day 5: Pacuare River White Water Rafting & Puerto Viejo

Day 6: Puerto Viejo De Talamanca Cycling

Day 7: Puerto Viejo De Talamanca & San Jose

Day 8: San José

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