Natural Costa Rica

Visit to Poás Volcano, which is an active volcano with some of the most beautiful sceneries in Costa Rica. On the road towards the National Park we pass along many coffee plantations until reaching the cloud forest. We arrive to the immense active crater that measures 1.5 km in diameter. Enjoy also the Botos Lagoon with its trails and diversity of sceneries. Visit to a coffee cooperative, here you will get to know all the stages of the coffee process, from the plant to the cup. Walk through the plantation and guided visit to the facilities of the Beneficio (Coffee Processing Installation) were you can enjoy tasting the different coffee blends.   Continue on route towards the north. Little by little the conical silhouette of the Arenal Volcano appears. With an altitude of 1,633 meters, its regular eruptions offer one of the most extraordinary and impressing natural panoramas of Costa Rica. (x 2 nights)

If the top of Arenal Volcano is clear of clouds, the spectacle is impressive: fumaroles during the day, falling lava at night.  Hanging Bridges adventure. Walk through these bridges at more than 50mts from the ground; enjoy the view from a different angle. Seek for birds, monkeys and sloths.  Visit of the village La Fortuna. In the afternoon visit Ecotermales La Fortuna where you will enjoy the hot springs.

Transfer to the Sarapiquí region towards the east. It is an agricultural region that specializes in the production of fruits such as the pineapple and different citrus.  Guided visit to an organic pineapple plantation. At a family ranch of more than 1500 hectares, that offers the unique experience of combining this with the history and morphology of the pineapple. The trip has an approximate duration of 2 hours and includes a trip through the ranch in a unique trailer were you can appreciate the large plantations of this fruit and the packing process. Finally you will enjoy a snack of freshly made and delicious pineapple juice, Piña Colada.   Visit the Biological Reserve The Tirimbina Rainforest Center for the Chocolate Tour.  Hike across the Tirimbina suspension bridge to an old cacao plantation, as well as through the forested section where you will observe how the product originally developed there. You´ll see the chocolate-making process first-hand and even have the opportunity to treat your taste buds to organic rainforest chocolate!

Free morning for optional activities. Sarapiquí has turned into one of the top places of eco tourist activities. Hiking or horseback riding, visits to the forests or agricultural farms, white-water rafting, canoying, kayaking, etc.  Recommended Optional: WHITE-WATER RAFTING. Unforgettable adventure on the river. At the edge of Sarapiquí river(level II – III), The level of this white-water rafting is ideal for debutants.  Continue to the town of Santa Cruz in the picturesque Turrialba valley, one of the new destinations of the country, it is not very well-known and therefore it is away from the big tourist flows.

Visit the active Turrialba Volcano. It is a complex volcano with three craters. Its flanks are covered by abundant vegetation and also serve as cattle farms.  Return to the Turrialba Valley and visit the Botanical Gardens CATIE, the “Tropical Agronomic Center of Investigation and Education”. Here you will find one of the most interesting and best preserved botanical gardens of the country, where it is possible to find big variety of tropical plants, depending the season.  Continue to Valle de Dota, located south of San José between the Central Valley and the Talamanca Mountain Range, where the highest mountains of our country are located. Home to a wide variety of bird species, including the legendary Quetzal. (x 2 nights)

Walk through the forest of the mountain range in order to admire its theatrical decoration, between the thick clouds that wrap the gigantic trees. Its rainy forest, the dense clouds, the lianas, the ferns and mosses give the impression of being lost in a planet of water and  green. It is also one of the well known kingdoms of the famous quetzal. Afternoon for optional activities.

Early departure towards the Pacific Coast. The route descends from the mountains of Talamanca first in south direction, to the city of San Isidro, then towards the west: the Pacific Coast.  Arrival at Quepos. Excellent place for a stay at the spa since it is very close to the beaches of Manuel Antonio National Park . (x 3 nights)

During the morning: organized visit to Manuel Antonio National Park. This park gives the possibility of covering beautiful trails full of life, where you will be able to find and observe monkeys, birds, reptiles and others.  You will also enjoy some of the most beautiful beaches of the country.

Free day to enjoy optional activities and/or relax at one of the beaches of Manuel Antonio.

AM at leisure.  Transfer to San José International airport.