Costa Rica Collection: Arenal Volcano, Turquoise Río Celeste & Two Oceans




This is a WeRoad Collection
A trip designed for ultimate comfort, with specially selected hotels and unique experiences.
Itinerary
Sloths hanging from branches, smoking volcanoes and beaches on two different oceans: this trip to Costa Rica has it all, and most importantly, the time to actually enjoy it. Collection means three bases, four nights each, and no repacking: every morning we head out to discover the greenest country in Central America, where pura vida is the way people actually live.
We start at the foot of the Arenal volcano, with lava trails, natural hot springs and the Río Celeste in Tenorio National Park, so milky blue it looks photoshopped. Then the Pacific coast at Manuel Antonio, with sloths, capuchin monkeys and iguanas, plus a boat trip to Marino Ballena by the whale tail of Punta Uvita. We wrap up on the Caribbean side in Puerto Viejo, with reggae and rice and beans: snorkeling at Cahuita, a bike ride to Manzanillo and a Bribri community cocoa farm.

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.
Three hours to La Fortuna: a drive past coffee plantations and endless green hills that’s already worth the trip.
Arenal in sight: in La Fortuna, the Arenal cone is right in front of us, appearing and disappearing among the clouds as if playing hide-and-seek.
Four nights at the lodge: we settle in, four nights in the same room, so we only unpack once.
First Tica dinner: gallo pinto, fried plantains and casado, while the Group Leader goes over the trip details.
We toast with a glass of guaro. You’ll hear "Pura vida" a thousand times: it’s not a slogan, it’s a way of life.

Arenal Park by day, natural hot springs by night
Fire and water
We set off early, while the forest is still damp.
On the lava trails: trekking through Arenal National Park, where the 1968 flows are now lush and green.
Binoculars at the ready: our nature guide has us reaching for them every two minutes: toucans, coatis and a family of howler monkeys making an absurd amount of noise for their size.
Hot springs at sunset: after a slower afternoon, we head to the natural thermal springs: thirty-eight-degree water flowing from the volcano and steam drifting through the trees.
Dinner by the volcano: dinner is served right there, with the Arenal cone as our backdrop.
This is our WOW experience, and you’ll see why the moment you dip a toe in!

Río Celeste: the river that turns turquoise
It might look fake, but it's real
A day trip to Tenorio National Park, an hour and a half by van. Seen the Río Celeste in photos and thought it was photoshopped? It’s not.
Where the river turns blue: two transparent rivers meet and the water turns milky blue: a chemical reaction between sulfur and calcium carbonate, but the science doesn’t make it any less magical.
Trekking to the waterfall: three hours across hanging bridges and roots, with the waterfall as the prize at the end.
Back to base in the afternoon: same room, same hammock. That’s the beauty of a fixed base.
Ziplining over the canopy (or rafting, it's your call)
Adrenaline in the jungle
Free day, and everyone does their own thing:
Ziplining over the canopy? A kilometer of cable on the zipline, feet dangling in the void and the forest rushing by below.
Rafting the Río Balsa? Some might prefer rafting on the Río Balsa: class II and III rapids, plenty of laughs and almost certainly someone ending up in the water.
Doing absolutely nothing? The pool, a book and some coffee from the finca nearby: that’s Costa Rica, too.
We all meet up in the evening to swap stories.
Heading down to the Pacific: arrival in Manuel Antonio
The jungle meets the sea
Goodbye volcano, hello ocean: a four-hour ride in our private van.
Crocodiles at Río Tárcoles: a pit stop at the bridge over the Río Tárcoles, where massive crocodiles line up on the riverbank, completely still.
Arriving in Manuel Antonio: here the road ends in the jungle and the jungle ends on the beach. Seriously, it’s exactly like that.
First Pacific sunset: check-in at our hotel for the next four nights and a first sunset with an Imperial beer in hand.
The capuchin monkeys are always on time for aperitivo hour: keep a close eye on your stuff, they’re 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.
Wildlife with our guide: 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.
A dip at Playa Manuel Antonio: at the end of the trail lies Playa Manuel Antonio, a white-sand crescent inside the park, where we stop for a swim.
Back to the hotel at a leisurely pace in the afternoon. How often do you leave a national park with your hair still salty from the sea?

A free day of surfing, dolphins and the pool
The Pacific, your way
No alarm clock: today the Pacific is all yours.
Surfing at Playa Espadilla? Playa Espadilla is the place to surf: the waves are forgiving, and the two-hour beginner lesson almost always ends with someone standing up on the board.
Dolphin spotting? If you prefer the sea from a distance, hop on the afternoon boat to go dolphin spotting: sometimes humpback whales even swing by.
Hammock and ceviche? 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 hand-drawn.
The whale tail of Punta Uvita: at low tide, the sand at Punta Uvita forms a perfect whale tail stretching into the ocean. The surrounding marine park shares the name, Marino Ballena, with a twist of fate: from December to April and July to October, humpback whales actually show up to give birth.
By boat in search of whales: we head out to find them, and even if they play hide-and-seek, there are still the 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 cross the country: five hours by van from the Pacific to the Caribbean, with a quick stop in San José to stretch our legs.
Welcome to Puerto Viejo: arriving here feels like landing in a whole new country: you’ll hear Creole, reggae vibes are everywhere and everyone moves a few gears slower. On the plate: rice and beans cooked in coconut milk.
Four nights in an ecolodge: surrounded by nature, with bikes at our disposal.
First night out: at a beach restaurant, with 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.
Snorkeling on the reef: we get there by boat, mask and snorkel included, and dive into a whole other world: parrotfish, sea urchins and staghorn corals.
Along the coastal trail: then we 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
Today we’re ditching the cars: time to pedal!
By bike to Manzanillo: the 13km stretch from Puerto Viejo to Manzanillo is flat, smooth asphalt with jungle on one side and the sea on the other, and we stop at every beach that catches our eye.
A swim at Punta Uva: Punta Uva has the calmest water, perfect for just soaking in.
Lunch at a soda: in Manzanillo, at a 'soda' (that’s what they call local eateries here) right by the sea.
A stop at the sloth sanctuary? We head back at our own pace in the afternoon, maybe with a stop at the sloth sanctuary.

Last day in the Caribbean, between a hammock and some cocoa
The rhythm of the Caribbean
We take our last full day exactly as it should be taken here: nice and easy.
Bribri cocoa farm: in the morning we visit a cocoa farm run by the Bribri community, where chocolate is still made by hand from roasted beans. And yes, we get to taste it!
A free afternoon: last swim, last stroll through the village stalls, last coffee.
Group dinner: in the evening we have dinner together, always when the best stories from the trip come out.
See you soon, Costa Rica!
Time to head back from San José
A slow, relaxed breakfast, then off to San José in time for your flight.
Tallying it all up: from the van: two oceans, three bases, one volcano, a coral reef and an untold number of sloths.
Pura vida, for real. See you on the next adventure!
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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