Meals

7 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 3 dinners

Others

Welcome meeting Visit to a private coffee estate Cooking class and lunch Visit to Toro Amarillo Waterfalls Guided walk at Arenal Volcano National Park Chocolate tour Morning visit to Guaitil indigenous community

Transport

Transfers to and from the airports

Accommodation

7 nights accommodation Chayote Lodge, Naranjo This dreamy mountain lodge in the cloud forests of central Costa Rica is a boutique haven surrounded by coffee plantations and boasting views of volcanoes, valleys and, on a clear day, a glimpse of the Pacific. The lodge is made up of 12 charming bungalows, each with their own terrace, designed as an homage to the region’s rich coffee culture. You can sample said culture first hand at the onsite cafe, or go for something a little stronger at the bar, before tucking into dinner at the restaurant. Hotel Lomas del Volcan, Arenal This luscious resort, set amid the stunning backdrop of Arenal Volcano and its surrounding rainforest, is made of a series of spread-out wooden cabins, as cosy as they are cute. There is an onsite pool and Jacuzzi area, as well as a restaurant, a bar and a spa. There is even a small walking trail exclusive to guests, while our location in the heart of Arenal places us perfectly to explore the region. Diria Beach Resort, Tamrarindo This gorgeous beachfront hotel is just steps away from Playa Tamarindo, one of the most famous stretches of white sand in all of Costa Rica. As well as Pacific Ocean views and quick access to the beach, you’ll be treated to comfy rooms, a glamorous pool and garden area, plus a selection of six cafes and restaurants. It’s the perfect place to wind down our Costa Rican retreat. Please note that, while unlikely, the accommodation indicated may be subject to change (see T&C’s). On a rare occasion, alternative arrangements may be necessary – this may be due to a lack of availability at our preferred accommodation, or other reasons outside our control. We’ll do everything we can to prevent this from happening; however, in cases where it is unavoidable, we will use a similar standard of accommodation.

Guide

Local Insider

Not included:

Others

Visas Travel Insurance Flights to and from the destination Resort taxes (where applicable)

Insurance

Travel Insurance is not included

Flights

Flights are not included

Optional

Other activities and services are not included

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Welcome To Costa Rica!
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Welcome To Costa Rica!

Upon your arrival at Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) in San Jose, you’ll be picked up by a private driver, who’ll whisk you off to our quaint country lodge in the central Costa Rican town of Naranjo. You should have plenty of time to settle in before gathering to meet the group and our Local Insider during a welcome meeting, swiftly followed by our first group dinner.

Accommodation:

Chayote Lodge

Activities included:

Private transfer to the hotel

Welcome meeting

Welcome dinner
Day 2 Sip On The World’S Finest Coffee And Master Costa Rican Cooking
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Sip On The World’S Finest Coffee And Master Costa Rican Cooking

If breakfast at the lodge doesn’t wake you up this morning, then our first activity will, as we make our way to a local cooperative’s coffee estate. Costa Rica is home to the finest coffee growing culture on the planet, with perfect climate conditions and a ban on growing any beans that aren’t 100% Arabica. You’ll spend around an hour and a half learning about each phase of the coffee growing process, from seed to cup, amid glorious natural scenery. After a good walk and a cup of world-class Joe, you’ll have developed an appetite, so we’ll head to a local home to take part in an authentic Costa Rican cooking class. You’ll be using traditional equipment, like a wooden stove, and focusing on local produce grown in the region, before gobbling down your creations for lunch. After that we’ll return to the lodge, where you can spend the rest of the day exploring the area at your own pace.

Accommodation:

Chayote Lodge

Activities included:

Visit to a private coffee estate

Cooking class and lunch
Day 3 Road Trip To Scenic Waterfalls And A Famous Volcano
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Road Trip To Scenic Waterfalls And A Famous Volcano

After breakfast we’ll head north towards Arenal Volcano National Park but, first, we’ll stop off in Los Bajos del Tor, a small village surrounded by the rainforest slopes of Poas Volcano. This area is home to Toro Amarillo Waterfall, one of the most spectacularly beautiful in all of Costa Rica, which you’ll get to see up close. Our drive will continue past potato and cabbage plantations as well as dense green forests en route to Arenal. The park’s titular volcano is famous for its near perfect cone shape and the splendid natural beauty surrounding it, including countless natural hot springs. We’ll check-in at our hotel in La Fortuna and have some free time before dinner at the hotel.

Accommodation:

Hotel Lomas del Volcan

Included activities:

Visit to Toro Amarillo Waterfalls

Dinner
Day 4 Spot Sloths In The Jungle And Gorge On Locally Grown Chocolate
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Spot Sloths In The Jungle And Gorge On Locally Grown Chocolate

This morning starts with a guided walk through the luscious rainforests surrounding Arenal Volcano, which are a perfect representation of Costa Rica’s remarkable eco-diversity. You’ll traverse through a wide variety of plant life and fungi, spot exotic birds and reptiles, and perhaps even a sloth or two hanging above. We’ll lunch at a local restaurant but hold back on the dessert, since our afternoon will be spent on a sumptuous chocolate tour. Cocoa is another high-class Costa Rican export and you’ll spend around 45 minutes strolling through trails to learn about the process of planting, maintaining and harvesting organic cocoa – you could taste some cocoa fruit if you come during harvest. Back at the ranch you’ll learn about the roasting, grinding and conching of the beans, tasting a series of delicious flavors along the way and even making your own chocolate bonbon. Our chocoholic experience is capped off with “God’s Drink”, a rich concoction thought to have originated from the ancient civilisations of Mesoamerica.

Accommodation:

Hotel Lomas del Volcan

Included activities:

Guided walk at Arenal Volcano National Park

Chocolate tour
Day 5 Time To Hit The Beach!
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Time To Hit The Beach!

Having had a taste of Arenal, we’ll continue our journey west to the beautiful Pacific beaches of Tamarindo. The route we’ll take is spectacular, as we drive around the serene Arenal Lake, before ascending into the Tilaran Mountains and towards the plains of Guanacaste, before finally reaching the coast. After check-in at our beach resort, you’ll have an evening to chill, but just make sure you find a good spot to enjoy the sunset – it is truly special in this part of the world.

Accommodation:

Diria Beach Resort
Day 6 Learn About The Indigenous Traditions Of The Chorotega People
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Learn About The Indigenous Traditions Of The Chorotega People

Today starts with some cultural learning as we head to Santa Cruz de Guanacaste, where you’ll get to visit the community of Guaitil. This place is the cradle of two important Chorotega (Costa Rica’s largest indigenous culture) traditions, namely the unique traditional methods of pottery and cooking, both connected deeply to the mud of the mountains and the ancestral roots of indigenous people. There really is nowhere better to experience authentic Costa Rica first hand. We’ll return to the coast for the afternoon, where the rest of the day can be spent at your own leisure.

Accommodation:

Diria Beach Resort

Included activities:

Morning visit to Guaitil indigenous community
Day 7 Embrace Pura Vida On The Beach
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Embrace Pura Vida On The Beach

We want to make sure you have plenty of time to bask in the bounties of Costa Rica’s majestic coastline, so our last full day in Tamarindo is a blank page ready to be written by you. You could chill by the pool, book a massage and hit the beach, or you could go exploring the area – popular activities include diving, river tubing and horseback riding. We’ll reconvene in the evening for one final group dinner, where you can reminisce about the adventure of a lifetime and say farewell to your fellow travellers.

Accommodation:

Diria Beach Resort

Included activities:

Farewell dinner
Day 8 ¡Hasta Luego, Costa Rica
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

¡Hasta Luego, Costa Rica

Sadly, our time in paradise has come to an end. You’ll have one last breakfast at the resort before we transfer you to Guanacaste International Airport (LIR) in Liberia, unless you’re planning to continue your adventures solo, of course…

Included activities:

Group transfer to Liberia Airport

8 days tour

The Real Costa Rica

This tour includes:

Not included:

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip The Real Costa Rica

Welcome To Costa Rica!

Sip On The World’S Finest Coffee And Master Costa Rican Cooking

Road Trip To Scenic Waterfalls And A Famous Volcano

Spot Sloths In The Jungle And Gorge On Locally Grown Chocolate

Time To Hit The Beach!

Learn About The Indigenous Traditions Of The Chorotega People

Embrace Pura Vida On The Beach

¡Hasta Luego, Costa Rica

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