10-Day Costa Rica: Caribbean to Pacific Adventure

Day 1: ARRIVAL SAN JOSE

1. 12h
   Upon arrival to San Jose, the meet and greet services at Juan Santamaria International Airport will direct you to your transport. You will be transferred to the selected hotel in San Jose for your first night in Costa Rica.
   
   Overnight in San Jose

Day 2: SAN JOSE – PUERTO VIEJO DE TALAMANCA (215km – 5 hrs)

1. 12h
   Begin your day with a delicious breakfast at the hotel and then depart towards Puerto Viejo, passing through Braulio Carrillo National Park and its rainforest and admiring the spectacular mountain scenery, as well as the quaint villages of Costa Rica Caribbean region. Arrive at your hotel in the afternoon and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure to explore the surroundings on your own or join an optional activity like a Horseback riding session. Meet your experienced guide, a great horse lover with whom you will share this wonderful experience. Once assigned to a horse, you are ready to ride towards Punta Uva to enjoy a beautiful stroll along the shores of the Caribbean Sea and reach the estuaries of Punta Uva River. Afterwards, begin returning along the paths of the wetland, an ideal time to learn about the different species of animals and plants encountered on your way. And if horseback riding is not your cup of tea, enjoy a memorable Canopy Tour. This consists of 9 aerial platforms and 13 ground platforms, with a total of 2,760 m of cable. The guide will teach you about the flora and fauna of the primary forest, including its use by the indigenous people. It is a great way to indulge in the Southern Caribbean coastal experience. The Canopy Tour and Horseback Riding are not included.
   
   Overnight in Puerto Viejo.

Day 3: CAHUITA NATIONAL PARK

1. 12h
   Luxuriate in a tasty breakfast and prepare yourself for an active day of snorkelling and hiking through the nearby Cahuita National Park. First, venture out on a snorkelling tour, going out in a 12-person boat with captain and guide, riding the coast of Cahuita National Park. Here, we will snorkel for about two hours in the most important coral reef of Costa Rica. Packed full of sea life, be prepared to see many different species of coral, an abundance of tropical fish, sharks, eels, sea urchins, and more. Snorkelling equipment included (mask, fins and snorkel tube).
   
   After discovering the beauty of the underwater world, savour a tropical fruit snack and some water to reenergize before beginning the second part of the tour, hiking through Cahuita National Park with a naturalist guide. The guide will take you to different points of interest between Cahuita Point and the small town of Cahuita on a 3.5-kilometre stretch, with the possibility of observing various types of snakes, sloths, white-faced and howler monkeys, anteaters, armadillos, and much more. At the end of the tour, delight in a delicious Caribbean lunch. After lunch, return to your hotel with the rest of day at leisure to relax or enjoy an optional tour. If you didn´t adventure yourself into joining the exciting Canopy Tour or the relaxing Horseback Riding experience, today you have another chance!
   
   Overnight in Puerto Viejo.

Day 4: PUERTO VIEJO – TURRIABLA (180km – 4 hrs)

1. 12h
   Start the day with a delicious breakfast at the hotel. Then, in the early morning, you will be picked up in a shared transfer and taken to the village of Turrialba. Enjoy a four hours journey and have the rest of the day at leisure. Explore the mesmerising surroundings or just relax, luxuriating in the hotel facilities. Unwind and prepare yourself for tomorrow’s rafting adventure down the River Pacuare.
   
   Overnight in Turrialba.

Day 5: PACUARE RIVER

1. 12h
   Have a nice breakfast to make sure your energy reserves are high for today’s adventurous outing. Embark on a Pacuare white-water rafting adventure, riding down one of the best rafting rivers in Costa Rica. Feel the adrenaline rush as you paddle through the thrill of the rapids and observe the natural beauty that surrounds you, admiring the paradisiacal cascading waterfalls and the variety of tropical flora and fauna. Halfway through the tour, we make a stop to admire the tremendous views of the Pacuare and indulge in a mouth-watering lunch. It will be a day full of thrilling but safe adventures. Once at the point of disembarkation, return back to the hotel and have the afternoon free to enjoy the hotel and the spectacular surroundings.
   
   Overnight in Turrialba.

Day 6: TURRIABLA – SAN GERARDO DE DOTA (120km – 3 hrs)

1. 12h
   After breakfast at the hotel, you will be picked up in a shared transfer to San Gerardo de Dota, in the Los Quetzales National Park, a cloud forest reserve where the iconic quetzal bird lives. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure to explore the area on your own or join an optional activity. Visiting the Guayabo Monument is a fantastic choice. Veiled in the shadow of the Turrialba Volcano, like a mythical lost city from a storybook, lies a mysterious ancient city that was home to over 10,000 people who seemed to have mysteriously vanished just before the arrival of the Spanish in the 16th century. This area, known as Guayabo National Monument, is Costa Rica’s most important archaeological site and its only named national monument. A guide will walk you through the park while explaining the findings of the excavations and the history of the people that once lived there. Another great activity is the Tropical Biking Tour at CATIE. This tour takes place in and around the plantations and botanical gardens of CATIE. The topography of the trails used on this tour is for all levels of bike riders and children over eight years old. As you go along, your naturalist guide will explain the great diversity of forest and fruit plantations, which can include coffee, cocoa, sugar cane, citrus, plantain, bananas, macadamia, pineapple, mangosteen, mango, avocado and many other exotic species from tropical countries all over the world. Thanks to the diversity in flowers and fruits, the plantation is also an ideal site for the observation of birds, mammals and some reptiles. The Canyoneering and Canopy Tour is another memorable activity availed today. Canyoning involves rappelling and descending cliffs and waterfalls within the canyon. Begin this exciting tour with an introduction of our guides and the equipment, as well as with a safety speech, to help you familiarise with the activity. Your guide will make sure you know the mechanisms and procedures for canyoning, ensuring you a safe and fun experience. You are off on a 2-3 hour adventure, rappelling down four waterfalls, zip lining down four canopy cables, and walking across a 40m hanging bridge – all giving you an unforgettable adrenaline rush! The optional activities mentioned are not included.
   
   Overnight in San Gerardo de Dota.

Day 7: SAN GERARDO DE DOTA

1. 12h
   Begin your day early to go out on a ‘quetzal quest’ in San Gerardo de Dota, a proud home to a large population of these birds. Join the local guide for coffee before going on this adventurous journey. Your guide will lead the tour to try and spot at least one of these magnificent birds. Its metallic green plumage, bright red breast, spikey head and its fascinating tail feathers make spotting a male quetzal in flight, a magical experience. Return to the lodge for a tasty breakfast and take advantage of the rest of the day, indulging in a self-guided hike in the forest or relaxing at the hotel.
   
   Overnight in San Gerardo de Dota.

Day 8: SAN GERARDO DE DOTA – MANUEL ANTONIO (150km – 3 hrs)

1. 12h
   After enjoying a delicious breakfast, transfer to the Central Pacific Coast down the Pan-American Highway to San Isidro de El General. Enjoy a beautiful trip, admiring the stunning surroundings, take the road to the South Pacific, and finally, the coastal route will take you to the town of Quepos, just outside of Manuel Antonio National Park. Check in at your hotel and have the afternoon to enjoy the inspiring area.
   
   Overnight in Manuel Antonio.

Day 9: MANUEL ANTONIO NATIONAL PARK

1. 12h
   After breakfast, you will be picked up from your hotel to transfer to the Manuel Antonio National Park. During today’s tour of the park, your knowledgeable nature guide will walk you through the park and explain the mysteries of the rainforest. The trail is flat, picturesque and loops through the park, making your course about two miles long. Throughout your hike, your guide will stop and narrate the park’s natural history, which includes thorough descriptions of the plants and animals that can be observed along the way. The park is a great place to take pictures or just to admire the impressive views. One of the highlights of this tour is that Manuel Antonio is home to three of the four existing tropical primates living in Costa Rica. Halfway through the hike, enjoy a leisurely stop at the world-famous ‘Third Beach’. Take a rest on the soft sand or play in the waves. The stop will last around 20 minutes. Throughout the hike, it is common to see sloths, birds and reptiles as well as admire wild orchids, butterflies and tropical vegetation. Your guides are equipped with Pentax and Swarovski monocular/telescopes, so you can observe wildlife and take pictures from a different perspective. Once the tour is over, transportation is provided back to your hotel.
   
   Overnight in Manuel Antonio.

Day 10: MANUEL ANTONIO – DEPART SAN JOSE (160km – 3 hrs)

1. 12h
   Begin your last day in spectacular Costa Rica with a delicious breakfast. Then, at the appropriate time, transfer to Juan Santamaria International Airport to catch your flight back home or on to your next destination.
   
   Breakfast included.

Pickup details

Upon arrival to San Jose, the meet and greet services at Juan Santamaria International Airport will direct you to your transport.

• Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• No refund for unused services. Splitting of package is not allowed
• Manuel Antonio National Park is closed on Monday
• Recommended departure time: after 15:00 hrs.
• What do I need to bring? Comfortable and light clothing is the most suitable for travelling in Costa Rica. Visitors should not wear sleeveless shirts, shorts, short skirts or skimpy clothing when visiting temples, religious or official buildings. Sun protection, sunglasses, a hat and mosquito repellent can be very useful during your stay.