Collection

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A trip designed for ultimate comfort, with specially selected hotels and unique experiences.

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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.

A large volcano rises above a dense forest and a green lake, framed by leafy trees under a partly cloudy sky.

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.

A large volcano with green, forested slopes seen from behind a lush tropical garden under a clear blue sky.
Steam rises from a volcanic crater nestled in a mountainous landscape, with colorful plants in the foreground.

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!

A waterfall cascades down a moss-covered cliff into a vibrant turquoise pool surrounded by dense, green jungle foliage.
A waterfall cascades into a bright blue pool, surrounded by the lush green foliage of a dense jungle.

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.

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.

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!

A close-up of a sloth hanging from a tree branch and looking at the camera, with green leaves in the background.
A close-up of a red-eyed tree frog with green, blue, and orange skin, perched on a leaf against a blurred green background.
A northern tamandua, also known as a collared anteater, walking on a thick tree branch in a lush green jungle.

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 white sand beach with leaning palm trees, turquoise water, and a lush green forest under a clear blue sky.

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.

An aerial view of a whale tail-shaped beach formation with turquoise water on both sides and a green forest at its base.

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.

An aerial view of a tropical peninsula covered in dense forest, featuring a curved sandy beach and turquoise ocean water.

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!

A palm tree leans over a sandy beach, its shadow falling on the sand as turquoise waves wash ashore under a blue sky.

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!

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.

An arrangement of cacao pods, beans, cocoa butter, and a dark chocolate bar on a wooden table.

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.

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

Round-trip flights to and from the destination
  • 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

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

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

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Book with $ 0
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