An exploration of Costa Rica that's perfect for all ages
Upon arrival in San Jose, we are met and taken to our luxury hotel. This evening we’ll gather with our Expedition Leader for an orientation dinner.
Today we’ll visit Poas Volcano National Park, stopping for lunch at La Paz waterfall gardens. After some time to relax in Sarapiqui, we’ll enjoy an interactive lesson about bats at Tirimbina Rainforest Center. We’ll venture into the forest at night to find the mist nets that the scientists here have erected in the forest to trap bats. We’ll have the chance to touch, weigh, and maybe even feed them, before they are released.
This morning, we’ll take a guided walk through O.T.S. La Selva, one of the most important sites in the world for research on tropical rainforest. We may see monkeys, sloths, peccaries, and iguanas. This afternoon, we’ll have several activities to choose from. You may enjoy an afternoon zip-line tour and either a rafting excursion or a horseback ride at Hacienda Pozo Azul.
This morning, we’ll take the Chocolate Tour at Tirimbina Rainforest Center. We’ll see how the cacao seed is transformed into sweet chocolate and we’ll sample different local organic chocolates. Later, we’ll depart by road for Arenal. We’ll overnight at Arenal Observatory Lodge. For over twenty-five years, seismologists from the Smithsonian Institute and the National University of Costa Rica have been intensely monitoring Arenal from their research station at the Arenal Observatory Lodge, which is set high on a ridge facing the famous volcano. This afternoon, we’ll explore a lava flow by foot. If the skies are clear at night, we’ll have the opportunity to watch as the bright red lava tumbles down the side of the volcano.
Today we’ll enjoy a quiet ride down the Rio Peñas Blancas in canoes or rafts (age dependent). Animals like sloths, monkeys, toucans, iguanas, frogs, crocodiles, Jesus Christ lizards and turtles might be spotted in the farmland along the riverbanks and the forest canopy will be filled with a beautiful array of birds. Later, we’ll take some time to relax in Ecotermales Hot Springs.
This morning, we’ll venture into the treetops on a canopy tour. We’ll ride a tram car up into the rainforest canopy, moving slowly to enjoy the views. To get back down the mountain, you can experience the thrilling Sky Trek tour, a canopy zip-line tour comprised of cables running from mountain to mountain. Those who prefer a slower ride can take the tram back down. (Minimum age 6 years. Children under 8 must pass guide approval according to physical ability.) Later this afternoon, we’ll drive to the Tamarindo area in northwest Costa Rica for a stay at Paradisus Playa Conchal. We’ll bid farewell to our guide at this point and head for the beach!