Costa Rica Adventure

Begin your adventure in San José, the culture-rich capital of Costa Rica. A complimentary transfer from the airport to the hotel is available. Check in and take it easy, there’s plenty of excitement on this trip, so today’s all about relaxing and easing ourselves into the adventure. Around 7.30pm, say hola to your tour leader and fellow travellers when we gather as a group for a short briefing. Our main briefing takes place tomorrow afternoon in Tortuguero due to the late arrival of some flights today. Want to explore San Jose further? Secure pre-tour hotel nights through your sales representative.

Our adventure begins early this morning, leaving San José as we travel to Tortuguero National Park in northeast Costa Rica. Accessible only by boat, the vast network of waterways, canals and swamps in Tortuguero are remarkably tranquil, unspoiled and devoid of noise pollution. On reaching the pier, we board a small motorboat for the journey to our lodge (up to 1hr 30min) , which is a short distance from the main lagoon. Please note the transfer from San José to Tortuguero is not private for our groups. This afternoon your tour leader will host the main welcome briefing when we gather as a group to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead. We also visit Tortuguero village, where it’s possible to enter the Sea Turtle Museum (a donation is requested at the entrance). Tortuguero is probably most famous as a nesting site for the endangered green turtle, which can be seen coming ashore to lay eggs from late July to October (as part of an optional excursion). Hawksbill, loggerhead, and giant leatherback turtles also nest in this region, and from late August through to November, baby turtles hatch and make their way to the ocean. Today’s travel time will be in the region of six hours including a stop for breakfast.

After breakfast we board a small boat that enables us to discover the extraordinary flora and fauna of Tortuguero as we pass serenely along the waterways. At this time of day, wildlife is usually at its most active; with the help of our expert guide, we are likely to encounter monkeys, caiman, iguanas, butterflies and many of the 300-plus bird species recorded here. We return to the lodge for a hearty breakfast near the river. The lodge is a tranquil spot to relax for the rest of the day if you want to take time out to enjoy the facilities. Alternatively, you can join a second boat trip (included but optional) or follow a short walking trail through the forest.

We leave Tortuguero the same way we arrived, taking a small boat to the pier. Our bus will be at the pier waiting to drive us to the Sarapiqui region, stopping for lunch en route. Sarapiquí is one of Costa Rica’s most rewarding wildlife destinations, known for its exceptional biodiversity, lush lowland rainforest and the beautiful Sarapiquí River. The region is home to important protected areas and private reserves, including Tirimbina Biological Reserve, which help safeguard habitat for a remarkable variety of birds, amphibians, reptiles, insects and mammals. Alongside its rich natural heritage, Sarapiquí is also an important agricultural area, with banana, cacao, coffee, cardamom, corn and tropical fruits grown here. In the evening, we take a night walk through Tirimbina Biological Reserve, crossing a suspension bridge for a different perspective on the rainforest and its many inhabitants. Our guide will focus on nocturnal species such as insects, frogs and mammals, which become active after dark — see how many eyes you can spot staring back at you!

We're off to the farming region of La Virgen de Sarapiquí, where warm, wet conditions and fertile soils are well suited to pineapple cultivation. At a family-run farm, we see how pineapples are grown without synthetic pesticides and learn about the practical choices behind small-scale agriculture, from planting and harvesting to maintaining soil health. The visit gives us a clearer view of rural livelihoods in Costa Rica: the work, skill and uncertainty behind a fruit many of us only meet on a supermarket shelf. It also supports a local family enterprise that shares its knowledge directly with visitors. Naturally, we finish with a taste of the crop itself. We then continue to La Fortuna, near Arenal, arriving around lunchtime. Arenal was the most active volcano in Costa Rica until recently when it entered a resting phase. There is a lot of geothermal activity in this area, with natural hot springs, waterfalls and Lake Arenal. The afternoon is free to relax at the hotel or join an optional excursion.

Today, enjoy a farm-to-table culinary experience at an organic farm. This is a wonderful opportunity to experience authentic Costa Rican hospitality, discover traditional cooking methods, explore the organic gardens and savour regional dishes made with fresh, locally sourced ingredients. During your visit, you'll learn about local farming practices and sample natural products, including locally produced honey, before sitting down to lunch in beautiful natural surroundings. Later, we head to a local family project for an immersive cookery experience. Start with an exploration of their garden, where we collect vegetables and aromatic spices for the kitchen. Then, under the expert guidance of a chef, we learn the art and techniques behind Costa Rican cuisine, learning how to cook a traditional dish and tortillas over a wood fire. Dinner will be delicious.

This morning, we take a short scenic hike within Arenal National Park, walking through secondary rainforest and passing lava fields from past eruptions. Walking on the base and flanks of the volcano gives extraordinary views, as our guide explains about the history and recent activity and points out landmarks left over the years. The high vantage points on this walk also provide great views overlooking Lake Arenal and the birdlife is plentiful. This afternoon is free to join one of the optional activities available in this region.