Upon arrival to Juan Santamaria International Airport in San Jose (SJO), you will be met by Gustavo and Ricardo and transfer to the Bougainvillea Hotel, where you have the rest of the day to enjoy the wonderful gardens of the property.

Lodging: Bougainvillea Hotel

Hotel Amenities: Swimming pool, bird feeders, beautiful gardens

Guide and Tour Director: Gustavo Orozco

Driver: Ricardo Gómez

Visit Sibu Chocolate.

Note: This tour is optional and is not included in the price of the tour.

Lodging: Bougainvillea Hotel

Meals: Breakfast and welcome dinner

This morning we drive to the lowlands of the Caribbean slope of Costa Rica, right on the foothills of the Braulio Carrillo National Park with its impressive 100.000 acres of virgin rain forest. We will explore this jungle from a different perspective.

How about a ride in a gondola over the canopy of the rain forest, sitting comfortably, and having a 360-degree view of the rain forest? The rain forest aerial tram was designed to take tourists deep inside the rain forest to behold its wonders. There will be great possibilities of seeing wildlife such as toucans, parrots, butterflies, monkeys and more.

https://www.rainforestadventure.com/

Lodging: Ara Ambigua

Hotel Amenities: swimming pool

Meals: Breakfast

Today is a busy day!

In the morning we will visit a cacao plantation. We chose this plantation because it is the closest, and we can show you to the ones that existed prior to the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors. Once there, we will learn all about this incredible crop and get to sample some chocolate too!

We will have lunch nearby and, in the afternoon, we will visit an organic pineapple farm. Pineapple has become one of the largest export crops of Costa Rica and this region is one of the best in the world to grow it. We will drive through the plantation and learn all about this delicious fruit and how to choose one at the market at home.

Lodging: Ara Ambigua

Meals: Breakfast

This morning we drive to La Fortuna, home of Arenal Volcano—once one of the most active volcanoes on the planet.

Lodging: Tilajari Hotel

Meals: Breakfast

Type of room: Standard

Today we drive to Caño Negro National Park, by the border of Nicaragua. This wetland habitat gives visitors the opportunity to explore nature on a river safari.  This is one of the best boat rides in the area and offers good opportunities to see monkeys, caimans, sloths, and many different types of tropical birds.

We will explore the river for two hours in search of these fantastic tropical animals. The river is calm, and our boat will have a small deck up front from where you can take pictures of the amazing wildlife.

Lodging: Tilajari Hotel

Meals: Breakfast and lunch

This morning we drive to the Monte Verde Cloud Forest.

Our drive will take us through farmland and beautiful scenery. Upon arrival we will visit the Monte Verde Orchid Garden, a small sanctuary that protects a fabulous collection of the smallest orchids in Costa Rica.

Lodging: Country Lodge Monteverde

Meals: Breakfast

Hotel Amenities: swimming pool

Type of room: Superior

Today we explore the Monteverde Cloud Forest by foot. This two-hour walk takes us on a journey to explore one of the most beautiful forests anywhere. We will search for the elusive resplendent quetzal and learn more about the natural history of this magnificent ecosystem.

Note: in the mornings, the cloud forest is cool, so make sure you bring a jacket and good walking shoes. The drive between our hotel and the preserve is only 15 minutes.

Lodging: Country Lodge Monteverde

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast we visit the hummingbird garden, an enchanted place where several of the most charismatic hummers gather from the highlands. We will learn all about these fabulous tropical creatures. After our visit to the garden, we will find a place to have lunch and then drive to Punta Leona on the Central Pacific Coast.

Lodging: Punta Leona Hotel

Meals: Breakfast

Hotel Amenities: swimming pool and spa

Today we explore the Carara National Park. This amazing ecosystem in a transitional forest between the dry forest in the Northwest and the very wet Southeast region of the Pacific side of Costa Rica.

Once in the woods we will be looking for capuchin, howler, and spider monkeys. Scarlet macaws will be active due to the start of their breeding season. Iguanas, poison dart frogs, agouties, and coati mandis can also be spotted in our nature walk.

Carara, which means ‘crocodile’ in the language of the Huetar people, is most definitely one of the best natural areas to explore in the region. In the afternoon we go in search of crocodiles on a river safari on the Tarcoles river.

The comfort of our canopy motorboat will allow us to cover several miles up and down the river in search of amazing wildlife.

Lodging: Punta Leona

Meals: Breakfast

Today we drive to the town of Sarchi, home of the oxcarts of Costa Rica. This vehicle was used during the first part of the 20th century to transport coffee to the coast. Today it is a decorative item.

After our visit to Sarchi we drive back to our hotel to get ready for our farewell dinner.

Lodging: Bougainvillea Hotel

Meals: Breakfast and dinner

Transfer to the Juan Santamaria International Airport for your flight home.