HIGHLIGHTS:

- Boat tour to Tortuguero National Park- Rara Avis Rainforest Lodge excursion with naturalist guide- Horseback riding trip from La Fortuna to Monteverde (weather permitting)- Guided visit to Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve

Itinerary:

Day 1 Arrive San Jose Arrive in San Jose at any time.
Day 2-3 Puerto Viejo de Talamanca Begin with an incredible bus ride over the mountains to Costa Rica?s Caribbean coast. The picturesque village of Puerto Viejo de Talamanca's white and black sand beaches are surrounded by exotic tropical vegetation. Several optional activities are available, including bike rentals, snorkelling, and hiking in Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge.
Day 4 Tortuguero National Park Take a morning boat ride to Tortuguero, with spectacular wildlife viewing en route. The beaches here are nesting grounds of the enormous Green and Leatherback sea turtles.
Day 5-6 Rara Avis (2B,1L,2D) The journey is half the adventure as we begin by travelling along two rivers, the San Juan and the Sarapiqui, briefly crossing the border into Nicaragua. Back on land we board a unimog (all terrain truck) then a tractor-drawn cart to get to our special jungle oasis. We enter the primary rainforest bordering Braulio Carrillo National Park, where at 700m (2000 ft) above sea level, the climate is cool year-round. A naturalist guide leads us along nature trails, a butterfly farm and swimming spots at the twin waterfalls. There is also the option to climb to a viewing platform 30m (100 ft) above the jungle floor.
Day 7-9 La Fortuna / Arenal La Fortuna, at the foot of Arenal Volcano, is an excellent base for area explorations. Take a night hike around the base of the Arenal Volcano, accompanied by the sounds of monkeys and the distant rumbling of the volcano. Other optional activities include whitewater rafting, horseback riding, canyoneering (rappelling), a tour of the Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge, or a relaxing soak in hot springs.
Day 10-11 Monteverde Climb into the misty mountain air of the Monteverde Cloud Forest. Weather permitting, travel by horse around Lake Arenal to Monteverde. Spend a couple of days exploring the town and the Cloud Forest Reserve, a true nature lover's paradise. Optional activities include a trail of suspended bridges through the canopy, a butterfly garden and a thrilling canopy zip line.
Day 12-14 Quepos / Manuel Antonio National Park Quepos is a small Pacific town perfect for relaxing at the end of your tour. A short distance away, Manuel Antonio National Park offers excellent hiking, spectacular views, and abundant wildlife. There are beautiful white sand beaches and the warm turquoise water is ideal for swimming, fishing, kayaking, boogie boarding, sailing or surfing. The nightlife in the area is also some of the best in the country.
Day 15 San Jose Return to San Jose for some last-minute shopping and a final night on the town.
Day 16 Depart San Jose

Accommodation: Simple hotels/inns (13 nts), multi-share lodge (2 nts).
Group Size: Max 15, Avg 10
Local Payment: USD250
Meals Included: 2 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 2 dinners while at Rara Avis.
Transport: Public bus, tractor, van, boat, horseback.
Trip Reference: CRA