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- Day 1 Welcome to San José Arrive in San José, Costa Rica’s capital set at 1,100 meters in the Central Valley between Poás and Irazú volcanoes. Coffee production in the 19th century shaped much of the city’s early development, funding institutions such as the National Theater, completed in 1897 and still operating today. This evening, meet your Travel Director and your small group for dinner. Locations Visited: San José CR.
- Day 2 Explore Costa Rica’s Capital Begin with a before-hours visit to the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum with your Local Expert, then step out on a walking city tour through central San José. You’ll take in Plaza de la Cultura and the Teatro Nacional de Costa Rica, continue to Plaza de la Democracia y de la Abolición and the National Museum of Costa Rica, finishing in Parque Nacional. Later, take part in an authentic experience at the home of Randall and Doña Aradina, spending time in their orchid garden before lunch is served in their garden pavilion. Back in San José, your evening is at leisure. Locations Visited: San José CR.
- Day 3 San José to Sarchí and the Central Valley Leave San José behind and step into Costa Rica’s Central Valley craft traditions in Sarchí, one of the country’s best-known centers for painted oxcarts and artisan woodwork. You’ll have space to explore workshops where carretas are built and hand-painted, and to browse small studios producing carved and painted pieces. The central park is a natural point to pause, with the town’s landmark oxcart as a reference to the tradition Sarchí is known for. Later, take part in a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience on an organic farm. You’ll learn sustainable growing methods, harvest seasonal ingredients from the garden and use them to create a local dish before dinner. Locations Visited: San José CR, Sarchi CR, La Fortuna CR.
- Day 4 La Fortuna and the Arenal Region Enjoy a Relaxed Start in La Fortuna, then head out to explore the region with Insight Choice. Choose between a hands-on chocolate experience tracing cacao through each stage of production, including the origins of traditional chocolate drinks and a tasting of organic chocolate, or choose a zipline adventure reached by safari truck, with 11 cables running between platforms in the hills above La Fortuna. Later, you’ll join a guided nature walk to learn how the area’s rainforest ecosystems support local flora and fauna. This evening is at leisure in La Fortuna, with the option to visit the town’s hot springs, browse local eateries around the central park or take an early night ready for tomorrow’s plans. Locations Visited: La Fortuna CR.
- Day 5 Cloud Forests and on to Monteverde Begin the day at Canto del Río in La Paz de San Ramón with naturalist Edwin Ramírez. On his property, you’ll walk a reforested section of montane cloud forest and hear how restoration is approached on privately managed land. Continue to Monteverde, a highland community in the Tilarán range closely linked to conservation and research, with protected cloud forest reserves established here from the early 1970s. Settle into Santa Elena and enjoy an evening at leisure. Perhaps browse the small galleries and craft shops along the main street, stop in for Costa Rican coffee and dessert, or choose a local restaurant for dinner. Locations Visited: La Fortuna CR, San Ramon CR, Monteverde CR.
- Day 6 The Hanging Bridges of Monteverde Explore the Monteverde Cloud Forest with a naturalist, walking forest trails and crossing a series of hanging bridges that bring you into the upper levels of the canopy. At this elevation, persistent mist supports moss-covered branches, orchids and other epiphytes. As you move through the tree canopy, look out for species recorded here, including resplendent quetzals, bellbirds and hummingbirds, with the chance of seeing monkeys and coatis along the trails and around the canopy. Return to your hotel later in the day for dinner. Locations Visited: Monteverde CR.
- Day 7 Cruise the River and on to Tamarindo Descend from the mountain landscapes of Monteverde towards Costa Rica’s north-west lowlands, where wide river systems and seasonal wetlands define Guanacaste. You’ll take a boat tour on the Bebedero River, cruising through this important wetland corridor known for birdlife and riverside wildlife. From the water, you’ll scan the banks and overhanging branches for species that gather along the river’s edge. Continue to Tamarindo for the night. The evening is at leisure. Perhaps head to the coast for sunset views or choose a local restaurant to sample regional dishes like arroz de maíz or chorreadas. Locations Visited: Monteverde CR, Tamarindo CR.
- Day 8 Tamarindo at Leisure Today is free to use as you like in Tamarindo. You may choose a beach day on the Pacific coast, book a surf lesson in one of the area’s best-known beach towns, or head inland for a change of landscape with volcanic trails, waterfalls and geothermal features in the Rincón de la Vieja area. If you’d like time on the water, you can choose an Optional Experience with a morning snorkel and catamaran tour to Playa Tamarindo. This evening, join your Travel Director and small group for a final dinner together to celebrate your journey through Costa Rica. Locations Visited: Tamarindo CR.
- Day 9 Depart Liberia Say goodbye to your Travel Director and your small group, taking with you the days spent between cloud forest, wetlands and the Pacific coast. Locations Visited: Tamarindo CR, Liberia CR.
Name: Costa Rica Rainforest - Small Group
Brand: Insight
Quality: Superior First Class
Tour Type: Escorted
Start City: San Jose
End City: Liberia
Location Summary: San José, CR, Sarchi, CR, La Fortuna, CR, San Ramon, CR, Monteverde, CR, Tamarindo, CR, Liberia, CR
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Highlights
- Dining Summary - 4 Dinner (D). 8 Breakfast (B). 2 Lunch (L).
- Top Rated Highlights - San José: Walk through central San José to see Plaza de la Cultura and the Teatro Nacional de Costa Rica, then continue to Plaza de la Democracia y de la Abolición, the National Museum of Costa Rica and Parque Nacional.. La Fortuna: Join a guided nature walk to explore the rainforest habitats of the Arenal region. As you walk, you’ll learn how heat, rainfall and volcanic soils shape local plant life, and how these conditions support species ranging from birds and insects to mammals and amphibians found in the forest.. Monteverde: Explore the first hanging bridges built in Costa Rica as you walk the Monteverde cloud forest with a naturalist. You’ll cross six bridges, suspended up to 50 m (164 ft) above the forest floor, giving a clear view into different layers of the canopy. . Bebedero: Cruise the Bebedero River by boat through one of north-west Costa Rica’s key wetland systems. From the river, watch for water birds, reptiles and mammals along the banks, with changing scenery between river forest and open wetland margins..
- Insight Experiences - San José: Enter the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum before opening with your Local Expert. You’ll view gold pendants and figurines shaped into animal forms alongside ceremonial pieces that show how metalwork signaled identity and belief.. La Paz Cloud Forest: Walk through a reforested section of cloud forest with Edwin Ramírez as he explains how restoration is planned and maintained on this terrain. You’ll hear how persistent mist and elevation shape cloud forest conditions, and why protecting these habitats is linked to biodiversity and water systems beyond the region..
- Authentic Dining - San José: Visit Randall and Doña Aradina at their home and walk through their orchid garden with the family. You’ll see a variety of orchids and tropical planting, then sit down for lunch and hear how the garden is cared for and grown in this climate..
- Make Travel Matter - La Fortuna: At Finca Educativa Don Juan, lunch is shaped by seasonal harvesting and sustainable farming. You’ll see sugar cane pressed at the trapiche, gather produce from the farm and join a cooking workshop using ingredients picked during your visit, before sitting down to your Farm-to-Table lunch. Your visit directly supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production..
- Insight Choice - La Fortuna: Ride in a safari truck to the start of the zipline course, then move through 11 cables strung between platforms in the hills above La Fortuna. From the lines and platforms, you’ll look out across forest and farmland in the Arenal region.. La Fortuna: Follow the life of cacao from start to finish, learning how it is grown, fermented and dried before it becomes chocolate. You’ll also learn how traditional chocolate drinks developed, then taste organic chocolate..
- Choice Highlights - Choose between two carefully selected activities. La Fortuna: Ride in a safari truck to the start of the zipline course, then move through 11 cables strung between platforms in the hills above La Fortuna. From the lines and platforms, you’ll look out across forest and farmland in the Arenal region.. La Fortuna: Follow the life of cacao from start to finish, learning how it is grown, fermented and dried before it becomes chocolate. You’ll also learn how traditional chocolate drinks developed, then taste organic chocolate..
