Colorful Costa Rica

Day 1: San Jose to Heredia - Welcome to Costa Rica! 
Upon arrival at San Jose International Airport, you will be met and greeted by your AAW guide and driver and transferred in a private vehicle to the city of Heredia, which lies 25 minutes to the east of San Jose. After settling into your accommodations, you will enjoy a walking tour of the city with your guide, including a visit to the park and the central market, getting a feel for the day-to-day life of a typical Costa Rican city. Heredia, though a large city, is much less busy than San Jose and provides a great starting point for your travels. Known as the “City of Flowers,” this area is famous for its beauty, featuring verdant coffee plantation-covered hills, volcanic national parks, dense tropical forests, stunning waterfalls, and roaring rivers. Tonight, you will enjoy a welcome dinner and orientation with your guide. (D)  

Day 2: Pacuare River - Pacuare River Rafting Adventure 
After a hearty breakfast at your hotel, you will begin your two-day adventure on the Pacuare River, which was named by National Geographic as one of the top five most beautiful rivers to raft on in the world. Along your journey, you will see lush vegetation, waterfalls, pools, and a pristine rainforest filled with wildlife, such as jaguars, sloths, and monkeys. You will be rafting along exhilarating class II-III rapids for two to three hours, with the opportunity to stop and explore the nearby canyons and wilderness. Once you get off the river, you will spend the night at the Pacuare Lodge in river-facing rooms. (B, L, D)

Day 3: Pacuare River to Arenal - River Rafting & Arenal Volcano 
After waking to the sounds of the jungle birds singing, you will continue your adventure, rafting on thrilling class III-IV rapids for two to three hours. Once your trip has concluded, you will be privately transferred to Arenal. The evening will be spent relaxing in the hot springs and enjoying the breathtaking scenery of one of the most active volcanoes in the world. You will be able to hear Arenal Volcano’s deep rumbling and hopefully witness an explosion that will send red-hot lava rocks tumbling down its steep slopes.  (B, L)

Day 4: Arenal - Rural Tourism Project 
After a delicious breakfast, you will have the incredible opportunity to travel to rural Costa Rica, experiencing life as the locals do. On a beautiful rainforest hike, you will explore waterfalls and observe many different types of wildlife. You will go fishing with a local family and even cook your catch for dinner! After eating with your hosts and learning about their way of life, you will be transferred back to Arenal for the night, with time to enjoy the hot springs if you wish. (B, L, D)

Day 5: Arenal to Nosara - Zip-Line Canopy Adventure 
This morning, after breakfast, you will enjoy a zip-line canopy tour that will take you to new heights through the jungle of Costa Rica. Afterwards, you will have lunch and then be driven to the tranquil beach community of Nosara, a haven for both beach and nature lovers. Though it’s right on the ocean, you will still feel like you are in the jungle in this lush and shady city. After settling into your accommodations, you will let your Costa Rican experience be taken to new heights as you soar through the jungle canopy on zip-lines! (B)

Day 6: Nosara - Explore Nosara 
After breakfast, you will be able to choose from the plethora of activities offered in this natural paradise, including fishing, scuba diving, or horseback riding on the beach. (B)

Day 7: Nosara - Surfing & Biking 
Nosara, though famous for its beauty, is also famous for its consistent waves. This morning, you will be able to experience them firsthand on a private three-hour surf lesson. Then, spend your afternoon exploring hidden beaches on a bike ride around the area. (B)

Day 8: Nosara to Tortuguero - Tortuguero Turtle Expedition 
In the morning, you will be driven to the Nosara Airstrip for your private charter flight to Tortuguero (70 minutes). Translated as the “Land of Turtles,” Tortuguero sits along a network of narrow canals, and its beaches are key nesting sites for some of the most endangered species of sea turtles. Inaccessible by roads, you will be truly immersed in the natural beauty of Costa Rica during your stay here. Upon arrival, you will take a tour of the tiny village and explore the surrounding creeks. Later in the evening, you will embark on a guided night expedition to try and spot the green sea turtles laying their eggs on the beach (only from July to October).  The green sea turtle is thought to get its color (and hence its name) from its diet of green sea algae and can grow to be over four feet and 400 pounds! (B, L, D)

Day 9: Tortuguero - Tortuguero Canals 
Early this morning, you will take a boat tour through the intricate canals to explore more of Tortuguero’s amazing flora and fauna. Be on the lookout for monkeys, iguanas, crocodiles, sloths, and all kinds of colorful birds!  Then, depending on the weather, you will take a private charter flight to San Jose (30 minutes). Upon arrival, you will be driven 30 minutes to the famed Café Britt, the producer of Costa Rica’s most popular export coffee. Here you will enjoy a tour of the grounds and see how coffee is made, as well as learn about coffee’s significance to the Costa Rican people. You will eat lunch at the farm’s restaurant and have the opportunity to taste several different types of coffee. You will have the evening free in Heredia to relax or do any last minute shopping. (B, L)

Day 10: Tortuguero to San Jose - Return Flight Home 
Depending on your flight time, you will have a leisurely morning at the pool and gardens. When it is time for your departure, you will be driven to the San Jose Airport for your return flight home. (B)