Costa Rica Collection: Arenal Volcano, the Pacific, and the Caribbean
This is a WeRoad Collection
A trip designed for ultimate comfort, with specially selected hotels and unique experiences.
Itinerary
When we think of Costa Rica, we picture sloths hanging from branches, smoking volcanoes, and beaches overlooking two different oceans. This trip has all that, but most importantly, it has the time to actually enjoy it. No repacking your suitcase every two days: we’ll stay in three bases, four nights each, and head out every morning to discover the greenest country in Central America. It’s the comfort that only our Collection trips can offer, in a place where pura vida isn't just a slogan, but the way people actually live.
We’ll start at the foot of the Arenal volcano, hiking with a naturalist guide along the national park's lava trails, and in the evening, we’ll soak in the natural hot springs flowing from the volcano, with dinner served right in front of the crater. We’ll dedicate a day to the Río Celeste, the river in Tenorio National Park that turns milky blue at one point: it looks like a photoshopped image, but it’s all real! Then we’ll head down to the Pacific coast, to Manuel Antonio, where the forest spills onto the beach amidst sloths, capuchin monkeys, and iguanas. We’ll also take a boat trip to Marino Ballena, right in front of the whale tail at Punta Uvita. We’ll wrap it all up on the Caribbean side in Puerto Viejo, surrounded by reggae and rice and beans: snorkeling on the Cahuita reef, a bike ride to the beaches of Manzanillo, and a visit to a Bribri community cocoa farm, where chocolate is still made by hand.

Pura vida! From San José to the slopes of Arenal
The volcano is waiting for us.
We land in San José and jump straight into our private van: a three-hour drive that’s already worth the trip, passing coffee plantations and endless green hills. Upon arriving in La Fortuna, the Arenal cone is right in front of us, appearing and disappearing among the clouds as if playing hide-and-seek. We settle into the lodge—four nights in the same room, so we only have to unpack once—and then we all meet up for our first Tica dinner: gallo pinto, fried plantains, and casado. The Group Leader goes over the trip details, and we toast with a glass of guaro. You’ll hear "Pura vida" a thousand times here; it’s not just a slogan, it’s a way of life.
Arenal Park by day, natural hot springs by night.
Fire and water
Río Celeste: the river that turns turquoise
It might look fake, but it's actually real.
Today, a day trip to Tenorio National Park—an hour and a half by van. The Río Celeste is that place you’ve seen in photos and thought was photoshopped: it’s not. Two transparent rivers meet, and from that point on, the water turns milky blue—it’s a chemical reaction between sulfur and calcium carbonate, but the science doesn't make it any less magical. Three hours of trekking across hanging bridges and roots, with the waterfall as your prize at the end. Back to base in the afternoon: same room, same hammock. That’s the beauty of having a fixed base.
Ziplining over the canopy (or rafting, it's your call)
Adrenaline in the jungle
Free day, and here everyone does their own thing. Some will launch themselves on a zipline over the canopy—a kilometer of cable, feet dangling in the void, and the forest rushing by below—while others might prefer rafting on the Río Balsa: class II and III rapids, plenty of laughs, and almost certainly someone ending up in the water. And for those who prefer to do absolutely nothing? Spend the day by the pool with a book and some coffee from the finca nearby: that’s Costa Rica, too. We’ll all meet up in the evening to swap stories.
Heading down to the Pacific: arrival in Manuel Antonio
The jungle meets the sea
Time to say goodbye to the volcano as we head down towards the ocean. It’s a four-hour ride in our private van, with a pit stop at the bridge over the Río Tárcoles—where you’ll spot those massive crocodiles lined up on the riverbank, completely still. Once we hit Manuel Antonio, the road ends right in the jungle, and the jungle ends right on the beach—seriously, it’s exactly like that. We’ll check into our hotel for the next four nights and catch our first Pacific sunset with an Imperial beer in hand. The capuchin monkeys are always right on time for aperitivo hour, so keep a close eye on your stuff—these guys are professional thieves!
Manuel Antonio Park: sloths, monkeys, and beaches
The country's most beloved park
The park opens at seven, and we're already there—it's prime time for spotting wildlife. Our guide has a telescope and a pair of eyes we can only dream of: a sloth twenty meters away, frozen in place for three days; a family of raccoons; and iguanas the size of cats. At the end of the trail lies Playa Manuel Antonio, a white-sand crescent hidden right inside the park, where we'll stop for a dip. We'll head back to the hotel at a leisurely pace in the afternoon. Seriously, how often do you get to leave a national park with your hair still salty from the sea?
A free day to alternate between surfing, spotting dolphins, and chilling by the pool.
The Pacific, your way
No alarm clock. Playa Espadilla is the place to surf: the waves here are forgiving, and the two-hour beginner lesson almost always ends with someone standing up on the board. If you prefer to enjoy the sea from a distance, hop on the afternoon boat to go dolphin spotting—sometimes humpback whales even swing by. And if the right answer today is a hammock, a pool, and a ceviche, that’s perfectly fine: in the Collection, free time is part of the plan, not something to endure.
Uvita and the whale tail at Marino Ballena
Sailing the Pacific
An hour south, there’s something that looks like it was hand-drawn: at low tide, the sand forms a perfect whale tail stretching into the ocean. It’s called Punta Uvita, and the surrounding marine park shares the name—Marino Ballena—and for a bit of a twist of fate: from December to April and July to October, humpback whales actually show up to give birth. We’ll head out by boat to find them, and even if they decide to play hide-and-seek, you’ve still got islands, rocks teeming with frigatebirds, and water so blue it’ll catch you off guard.
Switching oceans: we're heading to Puerto Viejo!
Welcome to the Caribbean
Today we're crossing the country: five hours by van from the Pacific to the Caribbean, with a quick stop in San José to stretch our legs. And honestly, arriving there feels like landing in a whole new country. In Puerto Viejo, you'll hear Creole, reggae vibes are everywhere, you'll be eating rice and beans cooked in coconut milk, and everyone moves a few gears slower. We're staying in an ecolodge surrounded by nature for four nights, with bikes at our disposal. First night out at a beach restaurant: grilled fish and patacones.
Cahuita by boat and snorkeling on the reef
Corals and mangroves
Cahuita National Park has something the rest of Costa Rica doesn't: a living coral reef, just a few strokes from the shore. We'll get there by boat—mask and snorkel included—and dive into a whole other world: parrotfish, sea urchins, and staghorn corals. Then we'll hike the park's coastal trail, winding through the mangroves and popping out onto deserted beaches. Sloths are right at home here, so keep your eyes peeled!
Punta Uva and Manzanillo by bike
Beach after beach
Last day in the Caribbean, between a hammock and some cocoa.
The rhythm of the Caribbean
We're taking our last full day exactly as it should be taken here: nice and easy. In the morning, we're off to a cocoa farm run by the Bribri community, where they still make chocolate by hand from roasted beans—and yes, we get to taste it. The afternoon is yours: last swim, last stroll through the village stalls, last coffee. In the evening, we'll have a group dinner together, which is always when the best stories from the trip come out.
See you soon, Costa Rica!
Time to head back from San José
What's included
12 nights in lodges and 4-star hotels across the three bases of your trip
All breakfasts
Welcome dinner on day 1 and group dinner on day 12
Private transport with a driver for all transfers between bases and for excursions
- Day 2: Entrance to Arenal National Park and a nature guide.
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
- Airport transfers
- Food and beverages when not specified
- All that is not mentioned in "what's included"
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.
Ziplining over the canopy - approx. USD72
Rafting on Rio Balsa - approx. USD65
Doplhins and whales watching - approx. USD95
Additional info
- Transport
Private van with driver for all transfers between bases and for excursions. No internal flights.
- Documents
Make sure your passport has at least 6 months of validity remaining from your return date. If you're an Italian citizen, you won't need a visa for tourist stays of up to 90 days—but always double-check the latest rules before you head off.
- Physical rating
Medium-low. Expect forest trail hikes of up to 3 hours a day, in hot and humid conditions. Pack some light trekking shoes and be ready to rise and shine early a couple of times.
- Meeting point and goodbyes
We'll meet up on Day 1 at Juan Santamaría Airport in San José. The adventure wraps up on Day 13, right back in San José.
- 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
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