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Costa Rica, baby! Between jungle trails, dream waterfalls, and mangrove forests by kayak, you’ll meet sloths, monkeys, and a bit of pura vida. Relax, explore, and discover that living to the Tico rhythm is contagious!

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Itinerary

Welcome to Costa Rica, it's time to enjoy some pura vida and wind down and get lost in this corner of paradise! Get ready to hike trails that lead to waterfalls in the jungle, explore mangrove forests by kayak, encounter the most diverse wildlife and learn to recognise its sounds. On our tour of Costa Rica, you will finally get back to what life should be, so when it's eventually time to say goodbye to this incredible country, you will take a little bit of their lifestyle home with you.

Our trip starts in San José but don't worry, we leave the city right away: on day 2 we are already on the road to the sea in Puerto Viejo. Here we enjoy the Caribbean, exploring the surroundings by bicycle and taking our first swim of the trip! Then it's all nature: we go into Tortuguero National Park, where we trek and kayak among the mangroves, and, if the season is right, we'll see turtles hatch! Can we then miss a fair dose of adrenaline? Here we go them with some rafting on the Rio Sarapiquì and in Monteverde we'll explore the rainforest by zipline - but first we'll also make a stop in Arenal Volcano National Park, where the landscape is dominated by the cone of the majestic volcano. Finally, we reach Uvita, on the Pacific coast, where days of relaxation, yoga on the beach, long sunset walks and lots of snorkelling await! We end our trip with one last national park, Manuel Antonio National Park, where we will have our last full immersion in nature before returning to civilization in San José, where it all began. After this trip, 'Pura Vida' will be our new motto, and we will return home with new awareness of the natural world.

A map of a tour itinerary showing a route that starts and ends in San José.
A yellow-throated toucan hangs upside down on a thin branch, reaching for red and green berries.

Check-in: our adventure starts in San José

Roundtrip flights or transportation to reach the destination are not included in the package, so you can decide from where and when you want to leave! This gives you complete freedom of choice to adjust your travel itinerary to your needs.

Check into your hotel in San José before getting ready to head out to discover the lively neighbourhood of Escalante and its many bars and restaurants. It will be the perfect opportunity to taste our first casado, a dish made up of rice, beans, salad, fried plantain and meat or fish.

A leaning palm tree and driftwood logs rest on a sandy beach next to the calm turquoise sea under a clear sky.

From San José to Puerto Viejo

Let our adventure begin! Our first stop takes us to the Caribbean side of the country – welcome to the vibrant town of Puerto Viejo! After a few hours in the van crossing the scenic and pristine Braulio Carrillo National Park, we can rent bicycles to go from white-sand beach to white-sand beach while being cheered by the families of howler monkeys that love to hang out during the sunset hours. This evening we will enjoy a traditional Caribbean-style dinner – bring your appetite with you!

Cahuita National Park

Today we'll have the chance to experience our first encounter with the local wildlife in the beautiful Cahuita National Park. We can explore the different trails that cross the jungle and grab our snorkels to take a peek at the amazing underwater world filled with coral and tropical fish. But it's not just wildlife that we can observe – we will also get in close contact with the indigenous people of the area, the Bribri, and their centuries-old way of preparing chocolate!

A large sea turtle rests on a dark sand beach next to the ocean surf, with a line of tropical palm trees in the background.

Exploring the north of the country

It takes a little patience to reach Tortuguero National Park , but it's worth it! We will have 3 hours to try to spot caimans, toucans and monkeys during an excursion in a shared boat that will take us from the port of Moin to the village of Tortuguero. The park functions as the lung of the area: nature reigns supreme here, with lagoons, rivers, rainforest and animals of all species. The name Tortuguero is derived from the word for 'turtle' in Spanish, as turtles come to the park's beaches every year to lay their eggs. If you are lucky, we might witness newborn turtles on their journey to reach the sea. If it's the right season, this is something we simply cannot miss!

In the afternoon we can stretch our legs with a hike up to Cerro Tortuguero, an extinct volcano with the best views of the area. We'll be on the lookout for monkeys, geckos, lizards, frogs and brightly-coloured birds that inhabit the forest – and may keep us company during our adventure!

A WeRoad group trip smiles for a selfie while riding in a blue boat down a river through a dense jungle.

Kayaking and a cooking class

The best time to spot animals around here is early in the morning, so we'll wake up before dawn for a kayak tour through the park's mangrove channels. No one likes to have their alarm clock set so early, but this time it will be worth it. The magic of the early-morning silence, broken only by the sounds of the animals and accompanied by the colours of the rising sun, will take us into a world far removed from our daily routine. Let's enjoy these moments of peace and quiet in nature before... a nice breakfast!

After breakfast it's time for a change of landscape as we move inland towards the central valley region. In the afternoon we reach our lodge in the middle of the rainforest surrounding the Sarapiquí River. After an early morning, we have the afternoon at our leisure. We can take it easy and soak up the chilled-out vibes of the riverside town or if we're still in the mood for more exploration, we can go on a hike out of town for a glimpse of the rapids and waterfalls awaiting us tomorrow. But wait, there's even more planned! We'll get to learn how to prepare an authentic Costa Rican empanada with our local chef.

A WeRoad group trip takes a high-angle selfie while rafting on a river in a yellow boat, all smiling and wearing helmets.

In the middle of the rainforest

Another early morning today, but we won't need a brew this time as adrenaline will be our caffeine! This morning we raft down the Río Sarapiquí – there will be times when we go through calm stretches of the river and we'll be able to enjoy the scenery, while other parts will see us paddle hard to conquer the rapids! Is there a risk of getting wet? Absolutely, and we can't wait! After lunch, the waterways of Costa Rica will remain our focus as we to explore what's considered the waterfall capital of Costa Rica: Bajos del Toro in Juan Castro Blanco National Park. We have more than 30 falls to choose from but trust us, all of them are equally impressive.

A WeRoad group trip smiles and poses for a photo on a hiking trail, with a large volcano visible in the background.

Natural pools

Fun fact: Costa Rica has 5% of the world's biodiversity. We're on a mission to see as much of it as possible, so it's a new day and another national park – and perhaps one of the most famous in Costa Rica. Arenal Volcano has a symmetrical conical shape which dominates the park's landscape. Until recently it was one of the country's most active volcanoes, with an average of 41 eruptions a day, but luckily for us it is currently in its dormant phase!

It's time to take advantage of the several hot pools and enjoy a dip surrounded by lush jungle and perhaps accompanied by a cool pipa fría, a drink served directly in a coconut. What more could we wish for? Well, we could also add one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the country and the opportunity to feel on top of the jungle walking across several hanging bridges observing the wildlife up close. Sounds like a pretty cool day doesn't it?

A coiled, bright green snake with yellow markings rests on the stalk of a leafy plant at night.

Nocturnal animals

After driving all around Lake Arenal waving goodbye to the iconic volcano, we start gaining altitude immersing ourselves in one of the most distinctive landscapes of Costa Rica: the mystic cloud forest of Monteverde. Home to a unique flora and fauna we'll get to explore the area late in the evening when the sun goes down and the nocturnal wildlife comes out... sloths, armadillos, racoons, red-eyed tree frogs, scorpions and tarantulas! They'll be our walking companions for the night.

Let's keep some of the adrenaline going into the morning, as we'll get the chance to fly through the clouds on one of the longest zip lines in all of Latin America before heading down towards the Pacific coast. If that's not our thing though, we can find out more about where our morning cappuccino comes from with a visit to a sustainable coffee farm. We'll discover the importance of the coffee industry in Costa Rica, and of course we'll get to try it too!

A colorful sunset with orange and pink clouds reflects on the wet sand of a beach, with small islands on the horizon.

Surfing, yoga and chilling

The last few days of our adventure are spent in paradise, Uvita! We can take surfing lessons, go snorkelling, go hiking... there are plenty of options to choose from!

This is also home to Marino Ballena National Park, where every year humpback whales come to carry out their reproductive cycle so keep an eye out! Funnily enough, the whole bay has the shape of a whale tail. We're also close enough to pay a visit to famous Manuel Antonio National Park. In the evenings we can find our favourite place for sunset and enjoy a drink or two – ticos (Costa Ricans) know how to party!

A white-headed capuchin monkey sitting on a large green palm frond while holding a dry leaf.

Nature and city

This morning the last immersion in the jungle that has accompanied us these days awaits us with the guided tour of the Manuel Antonio National Park. This 680 m park overlooks the Pacific Ocean and is made up of a rainforest inhabited by curious little creatures such as the sloth , but also of pristine sandy beaches. A park guide will take us to discover the dozens of paths that cross it and if we have time and desire to relax a bit, we take out the towel and lie down on these wonderful beaches, among the most beautiful in all of Costa Rica.

We return to the capital in the evening for our last evening in Costa Rica. For dinner we can taste more typical dishes, such as marisco soup, chicharrones or chifrijo. And we should undoubtedly raise a glass to us and to the memories we have made together through this trip!

A WeRoad group trip smiles and poses for a photo on mossy rocks in a dense green jungle.

Check-out and goodbyes

Check-out and goodbye – until your next WeRoad adventure!

What's included

  • 12 nights hotel/lodge in shared room with private bathroom

  • All breakfasts

  • 2 dinners in Sarapiquí

  • Private transfer to Puerto Viejo on Day 2

  • 3-hour shared boat excursion to Tortuguero on Day 4

  • Medical and baggage insurance - (coverage limits by destination country/region - €10,000 Italy, €20,000 Europe, €30,000 World, €50,000 USA/Canada)

What's not included

Roundtrip flight to/from destination
  • Food and beverages unless specified

  • All souvenirs and extras that you wish to buy and will be able to squeeze in your backpack 

  • Anything not mentioned in the "What's included" section

Optional activities

Please see below extra optional activities that you can experience during your trip. Your Group Leader will be happy to assist with organizing these activities for the group. Availability may vary depending on location and group preferences.

Please note these activities are provided by third party suppliers and liability rests exclusively with these third party suppliers.

  • Puerto Viejo excursion including Cahuita, Almuerzo, Catarata - approx. USD60

  • Tortuguero National Park entrance fee - approx. USD17

  • Entrance fee to La Fortuna waterfall - approx. USD18

  • Excursion on the suspension bridges - approx. USD32

  • Visit to a coffee plantation - approx. USD40

  • Cerro Tortoguero Hike - approx. USD12

  • Tortoguero turtle nest (available June-October only) - approx. USD40

  • Monteverde natural walk - approx. USD35

  • Monteverde zip line - approx. USD68

  • Surf lesson in Uvita - approx. USD60

  • Whale watching (available July-October only) - approx. USD90

  • Uvita Isla del Cano snorkeling excursion - approx. USD150

  • Uvita Corcovado tour - approx. USD150

Additional info

Learn more about accommodation, transport, and other useful travel information.
  • Accommodation

    Hostels, hotels and typical Central American posadas.

    The private room option is unavailable for the 2 nights in Sarapiqui (Days 5-6).

    The first hotel will be shared with you at least 2 days before your departure by your Group Leader!

  • Transport

    Minivan with local driver.

  • Staff

    Our trips are led by a Group Leader who has been specifically trained by us to lead group travels to ensure you have the best time. A WhatsApp group with all travel participants will be created two weeks prior to departure by your Group Leader.

  • Passport

    For this trip, you must provide a passport image with six months of validity remaining at least 30 days before departure to allow us to proceed with booking all travel services. If you do not provide it, we cannot accommodate your participation in the trip. The image can be uploaded to your reserved area after booking.

  • Luggage

    Backpacks are mandatory to allow easy transfers - we recommend a 45L backpack for our trips.

  • Info on private roomsShow all details

Why WeRoad

  • Small groups, on average 11 people

  • Move or change your trip for free up to 31 days before departure

  • Book with $ 0. Pay the $ 100 deposit only once the trip is confirmed

The Group Leaders

Our Group Leaders are chosen because they’re people just like you: passionate travelers who share the experience authentically, while having the skills to take care of the organisation, and help you get the most out of every moment of the trip.

Find your flight

For this trip, we recommend arriving and departing from these airports.

ArrivalSan José (Alajuela) (SJO)
ReturnSan José (Alajuela) (SJO)
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FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions

About this trip

About WeRoad

About Costa Rica

From
$ 2,260
Book with $ 0
Free trip change
Interest-free installments