10-Day “Taste of Costa Rica” Tour
Tour Dates:
July 18 - 27, 2024
July 30 - Aug 8, 2024
Join us on this amazing 10-day excursion, where you will experience a broad array of activities which include adventure, relaxation, learning, cultural experiences, and some time at the beach!
The cost of the tour includes airport transfers, all transportation, guides, lodging, entrance fees, all meals, daily snacks, and non-alcoholic beverages. (Flights are not included.) Maximum of 14 participants. Contact us today!
- Cloud forest/bird watching
- Scenic hikes
- Visit a volcano
- Tropical beaches
- Costa Rican food/culture
- Coffee, chocolate, sugarcane
- Neotropical plants & wildlife
- Hot springs and waterfalls
- Inter-cultural experiences
- Archaeological sites
Tour length: 10 days
Price per person: $2,500*
Rating: Easy to moderate
Group Size: 12 – 14 people
Sign-up deadline: May 15, 2024
EARLY BIRD OPPORTUNITY: Sign up by April 15, 2024 and receive $100 discount!
* (Based on double occupancy. Add $300 if single room requested.)
ITINERARY
Arrival - SJO Airport Pick-up
Upon arrival at Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) you will be met by your guide and transportation. Enjoy the ride to Casa Amanecer with snacks of fresh tropical fruits and fresh coconut water. Upon your arrival, relax and enjoy some empanadas and fresh coffee. In the evening enjoy a welcome dinner and orientation.
Lodging: Casa Amanecer B&B or similar
Tractor Ride to a Secluded Waterfall
After breakfast we will drive about 40 minutes to the small rural community called Bajo la Paz. We’ll board a tractor-drawn trailer and be transported to the trailhead at a stretch of secluded cloud forest. This is where we will disembark and begin our hike to a beautiful waterfall Catarata la Danta (Tapir Waterfall) to spend some time exploring and bathing in the cool (some would say cold) pure water. Lunch will be packed in to be enjoyed in this beautiful wilderness area.
Lodging: Casa Amanecer B&B or similar
Cross-Cultural Visit With a Native Costa Rican Community
We will get an early start today for a drive down the coast to the southern area of Costa Rica. We will get a glimpse of the mysterious giant rock spheres created by an ancient regional civilization. Our final destination is in a remote region to visit the Térraba people, a matriarchal society who have struggled to preserve their way of life for eons. We will learn about their culture, and participate in mask-making and textile-making demonstrations.
Lodging: Accommodations in the Térraba community
Beach Day
This morning, after breakfast we will say our farewells and thank the Térraba community for their hospitality, then we will board our microbus to begin our journey back up the coast to the beautiful beaches of Esterillos and Parrita. After we check into our hotel, we will have time to relax, spend some time around the pool, and of course, visit the beach.
Lodging: Hotel Play Bejuco or similar
Beach Day
We will have the entire day to relax, explore, and enjoy the beach and pool. The beaches here are known for their stunning natural beauty and laid-back atmosphere, with soft golden sands, rolling waves, and lush tropical vegetation along the shoreline.
Lodging: Hotel Play Bejuco or similar
Monkeys and Mangroves
Today, before we begin our journey back north to San Ramón, we will board a boat to navigate the local mangroves and sure see some White-faced Capuchin Monkeys in their natural habitat. Afterward, once we arrive Casa Amanecer, we will have some time to settle into our rooms and relax.
Lodging: Casa Amanecer B&B
Zip Lines, Butterflies, Hot Springs and a Volcano
Today we embark on our journey to the volcanic hot springs at Volcano Arenal. On the way, we will participate on a zip line adventure at San Luis Canopy to move our legs and scream at the top of our lungs while we fly above the canopy of the rainforest. Next, we will visit and enjoy a “mariposario” (butterfly garden before continuing north to the volcano and hot springs to explore, soak, and relax at Eco-Termales. We’ll finish the day with some fine Costa Rican dining at the Eco-Termales open-air restaurant.
Lodging: La Pradera or similar
Chocolate, Coffee, and Sugarcane
This morning we will head to our next destination to learn all about how chocolate is cultivated and made by this small, family-owned farm. The family at Don Jorge Chocolate Tour will greet us with a hands-on tour of their cottage-industry plantation and open-air kitchen and workshop. We will get to make chocolate bars, learn about the rich history of “the food of the gods”. We’ll enjoy a homemade lunch prepared by this warm family before we head back to Casa Amanecer.
Lodging: Casa Amanecer or similar
Small, Local Family Coffee Farm, Live Folk Music
Today we visit a small, family-owned coffee farm. This is an opportunity to see how coffee has been traditionally cultivated and processed on a small-scale family operation. We will walk the coffee farm, then see for ourselves, how the high-quality green coffee beans are magically transformed into an amazing hot cup of coffee. We’ll sip our aromatic, flavorful drink while we are shown the fine art of tortilla making. This is a rare glimpse into the “campesino” life of a coffee-producing family in Costa Rica, where you will experience warmth and hospitality beyond comparison. After dinner, for a proper farewell, we will enjoy live folk music and spoken word performed by local musicians at Casa Amanecer!
Lodging: Casa Amanecer or similar
Departure
We will bid our final farewells. Transportation will be provided to the airport.
*** Please read our Terms and Conditions ***
Do you have a group ready to embark on a tour such as this? We offer a 50% discount to one designated leader of any group of 12 – 14 people. Just get in touch with us to request your specific dates. We can customize the tour to fit your group’s needs. Six month advanced notice needed.
