Go on an adventure in Costa Rica with this eight-day trip filled with action and excitement. Hike to the mighty Colossus, get an adrenaline rush with a mountain bike tour from Irazu to Turrialba, and jump onto the back of a horse and discover the beauty of the surroundings, River rafting, volcanoes, hot springs and a chocolate plantation will occupy your time on this journey through the best of Costa Rica.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:
Cartago: Climb to “the Colossus” Volcano and cycle your way to the Turrialba Volcano in a Mountain bike
Atirro: Horseback riding through a sugar cane plantation with panoramic views, followed by a cooking class
Pacuare: Rafting on the Pacuare River for 13.6 kilometres
La Virgen: Discover the secrets of chocolate in a biological reserve
Arenal: Splash around in hot springs with the majestic views of the volcano.
Day 1: ARRIVAL SAN JOSE (16km – 30min)
Arrive at the Juan Santamaría Airport and transfer to the city of San José where our representative will warmly welcome you.
Overnight in San José.
Day 2: SAN JOSE – IRAZU VOLCANO – TURRIALBA VOLCANO – AQUIARES WATERFALL – TURRIALBA
After breakfast, start today’s adventure by heading towards the second-highest point in Costa Rica: the Irazu Volcano, also known as ‘The Colossus’ because of the destruction the volcano has wreaked in the past. Once inside this national park, begin a brisk walk around the two main craters. After the hike, begin the descent by riding a mountain bike from the volcano down to the outer perimeter of the Turrialba Volcano National Park through different trails surrounded by flora and fauna typical of the area. Along the way, see a great many potatoes, chamomile, sugar cane, white onions and coffee plantations, as well as cattle fields in the small rural towns of the area. Continue the trek and arrive at the outskirts of the Turrialba Volcano, a great opportunity to take some pictures of the active volcano before a stop for lunch at Torre Alba Restaurant. Afterwards, visit a beautiful historical church in the small town of Aquiares. Continue your ride through the rainforest where you can take some pictures and swim in a breath-taking natural pool underneath an incredible 15-metre thundering waterfall. Activity: 1 hour - 10 Km walking, 3.5 hrs on a mountain bike on a gravel trail, rolling hills terrain.
Overnight in Turrialba.
Day 3: TURRIALBA – ATIRRO HORSEBACK RIDING – COOKING CLASS – TURRIALBA
Welcome to the farm at Casa Turire where we venture off on a horseback riding tour. Following a quick safety briefing, this two-hour horseback riding trip takes you past sugar cane and coffee plantations and a secondary forest. In the forest, the guide will explain the development and regrowth of secondary forests and the pioneer plants that are being cut down. Riders may see a variety of birds such as golden orioles, tanagers, black guans and a plethora of other animals. Additionally, the riding tour takes us to areas with amazing views of the surrounding natural beauty. Take a break and enjoy a scenic lookout, where you can take in the entire Turrialba Valley and surrounding mountains. Visit a typical house where local women from the community will give you a cooking class on how to make corn tortillas with tasty, local Turrialba cheese. Activity: 2hrs horseback riding.
Overnight in Turrialba.
Day 4: TURRIALBA – PACUARE RIVER WHITE – WATER RAFTING – SARAPIQUÍ (95km – 2hrs)
In the morning, after breakfast, embark on a white-water adventure on the Pacuare River, one of the best rivers in the world for rafting. The equipment and guides await you to start the adventure after a safety briefing. Once on the river, move quickly through a variety of class III and IV rapids. Around 14 kilometres downriver, take a break, enjoy a tropical fruit snack and make a short side hike to appreciate the beauty of a nearby waterfall where you can even take a dip in the refreshing waters. Roughly an hour and a half into the trip, a large waterfall on the right marks the entrance into a canyon and the start of the two most significant rapids of the first half of the run – the Upper and Lower Huacas. After conquering the Huacas, continue downriver and hopefully catch a glimpse of some of the exotic wildlife that roams the area. Still ahead are 16 kilometres of the continuous white-water left, including some adrenaline-pumping rapids. You know it’s time to relax when you enter a dramatic yet tranquil canyon, where everyone can enjoy a dip in the river. From there, float to our facility in Siquirres, where you can enjoy a shower and change into dry clothes before the short trip to a local restaurant where you’ll indulge in a buffet-style Costa Rican lunch. Activity: 3.5hrs white-water rafting & activities.
Overnight in Sarapiquí.
Day 5: SARAPIQUI – CHOCOLATE TOUR – HOT SPRINGS – ARENAL (95km – 2hrs)
After breakfast, head to the neighbouring property of La Tirimbina and begin a chocolate tour. Led by a trained guide, the tour takes you across a suspension bridge and into a section of the Tirimbina Biological Reserve, where you’ll come upon a former cacao plantation. During the hike, learn about the natural and cultural history of the cacao tree. On arrival to the site, see a demonstration of the artisanal processes by which the cacao fruit is transformed into chocolate – the harvest, fermentation, drying, etc – while the story of pre-and post-colonial chocolate is recounted. Here, enjoy tasting different kinds of chocolate, all prepared on the spot in the traditional way. At night, enjoy a dip in the hot springs at the hotel.
Overnight in Arenal.
Day 6: ARENAL – HOT SPRINGS – ARENAL (5km – 20min)
Wake up to breakfast in the hotel and prepare for a day of well-deserved rest and relaxation. Head to the mesmerising wealth of hot springs that dot the area surrounding the Arenal Volcano, and spend a day indulging in their warm relaxing waters at leisure (activity duration 4hrs). There’s no better way to begin or end a day in Arenal than soaking in one of these relaxing springs.
Overnight in Arenal.
Day 7: ARENAL - MONTEVERDE - SAN JOSÉ (56km – 1.5hr)
After breakfast, head to Monteverde Reserve to hike along one of the most beautiful and famous natural areas in the country. Created in 1972, the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve is one of the most famous in the world, as well as one of the most important private reserves in Costa Rica, with a total of 35 square kilometres of lush land. In 2007 it was listed as one of Costa Rica’s 7 Wonders. This park counts with four ecological ‘Live Zones’, spots that overlook different ecosystems in which you can espy hundreds of species of mammals, birds, butterflies, amphibians, reptiles, insects and arachnids, as well as a healthy variety of mosses, vines and other plants and trees typical of the Cloud Forest. Once finished, enjoy lunch (not included) followed by a trip to the charming Presidente Hotel, where you’ll check-in and spend the night.
Overnight in San Jose
Day 8: DEPARTURE SAN JOSE (16km – 30min)
After one last breakfast at the hotel, it’s time to pack your bags and say goodbye to beautiful Costa Rica. Hop onto your transfer to Juan Santamaria International Airport to catch your flight to your following destination. Have a good trip!
