itinerary
DAY 1: ARRIVE SAN JOSE
You will be met at the airport and transferred to the colonial-style hotel, Grano de Oro. Spend the rest of the afternoon at leisure either exploring San Jose or relaxing at the hotel.
Accommodation: Grano de Oro
DAY 2: WHITE-WATER RAFTING IN PACUARE AND TRANSFER TO ARENAL
Boasting 18 miles of class III and class IV rapids and some of the most beautiful scenery in Costa Rica, the Pacuare River is ranked as one of the top five rivers in the world for white-water rafting. Cascading waterfalls and tropical flora and fauna provide a stunning backdrop to the adrenaline thrill of the rapids. You will be driven about 2 1/2 hours east of San Jose to the town of Tres Equis where the excursion begins. Following a fully comprehensive safety briefing, the excitement then kicks up a notch as you experience the rush of your first rapid! There’s a stop for lunch in a lovely spot with wonderful river views and the adventure then continues downriver through more rapids and striking surroundings. Arrival at the bridge in the town of Siquirres indicates the end of the excursion, and from here there’s a 2 1/2 hour transfer on to the Casa Luna Hotel and Spa in Arenal. Nestled in the rainforest and with fabulous views of the Arenal Volcano, this charming hotel is a superb base for the next three nights.
Accommodation: Casa Luna
DAY 3: PICK 'N’ MIX OF ACTIVITIES IN ARENAL
Today your 4X4 vehicle will be delivered to Casa Luna so you are free to explore the local area independently and take your pick of the various activities and attractions. Highlights include wallowing in hot springs, traversing hanging bridges and ziplining through the emerald tree canopy at 'Skytrek', an expansive complex where seven zipwires are suspended over a vertiginous canyon (not recommended for those afraid of heights or for children who don’t like being out of their comfort zone). A visit to the remarkable Fortuna Waterfall which cascades down about 75 metres from the tropical rainforest into a swimmable pool is a must – it’s best to get there early and make the steep but short hike to and from the waterfalls in the relative cool.
Guided or independent hikes on marked trails in the Arenal Volcano National Park are also superb; weather permitting, there will be stunning views of the volcano and the opportunity to walk on the now-dry lava fields. This rainforest-clad area teems with wildlife from jaguars to tree frogs, and although the volcano hasn’t erupted since the 1960’s, it can occasionally be heard rumbling and small clouds of vapour might be seen emerging from the cone. We recommend a morning’s activity followed by a visit to the hot pools – with two full days to explore Arenal, there's plenty of time to try a few things.
Accommodation: Casa Luna
DAY 4: SECOND DAY AT LEISURE IN ARENAL
Another day free to explore Arenal.
Accommodation: Casa Luna
DAY 5: DRIVE TO RIO PERDIDO AND EXPLORE
This morning, drive the 3 hours to Rio Perdido, a beautiful spot tucked away in Costa Rica's Guanacast province. Swim in the abundant and completely natural hot springs which are dotted along a mile of thermal gorge that cuts right through a spectacular, 600-acre reserve. Activities include ziplining, mountain biking, yoga classes and exploring the reserve's hiking trails.
Accommodation: Rio Perdido
DAY 6: RIO PERDIDO – CHOICE OF RIVER TUBING OR CANYONING
Today, opt for either white-water tubing or a canyoning adventure. The canyoning is a unique and relatively challenging trail which is reliant on a series of cables which criss-cross the stunning Rio Blanco Canyon. The route includes 15 platforms; 6 of them are rock-based, 9 are suspended on the canyon walls. There’s a pendulum cable, a 15-metre 'Tarzan swing', a 27-metre challenge bridge, 4 via ferratas with lengths varying from 5 to 15 metres, and 5 zip lines of various lengths from 73 to 80 metres.
Alternatively, give white water tubing a go (minimum age 12). This water-based challenge will enable you to safely traverse the river and get a real sense of the vast canyon in all its glory. Note that there are parts of the canyon where the rock walls narrow and daylight is scarce. This activity is great fun, but not suitable for everyone since while it’s a slow float for most of the journey, there are several intense rapids along the way. There’s always a chance of making contact with some of the exposed rocks, which can result in bruising and even minor cuts; however, this is more likely to occur in the dry season, when the current slows and the water level drops.
Accommodation: Rio Perdido
DAY 7: SCENIC DRIVE TO NOSARA, A WORLD-CLASS SURFING HOT-SPOT
Enjoy a picturesque 3 ½ hour drive to Nosara through Guanacaste Province. Note that the last hour's drive into Nosara is on rough dirt roads, and although the roads are regularly repaired, they can be uneven, especially after heavy rains. While the 4x4 is well equipped to deal with the terrain, we do recommend taking it slow.
Accommodation: Gilded Iguana
DAY 8: NOSARA – SURFING, MOUNTAIN BIKING, YOGA, LAID-BACK NIGHTLIFE
Nosara combines superb beaches with a laid-back atmosphere and its unique offering of world class surf, yoga expertise, great food, coffee and craft beer is hard to beat. Playa Pelada is best for swimming, restaurants and enjoying the sunsets, while Playa Guiones is the main surf beach with miles of golden sands lapped by consistent and clean 3-5 foot waves, ideal for beginner and intermediate surfers. There are a handful of surf hire shops in town and lessons are easy to arrange. The Gilded Iguana has an excellent surf school of its own, with a wide range of boards available and there’s also a mountain biking centre on site. Surf lessons for beginners and children last approximately 90 minutes, and elite training is also on offer.
Accommodation: Gilded Iguana
DAY 9: NOSARA – SURFING, MOUNTAIN BIKING, YOGA, LAID-BACK NIGHTLIFE
If surfing’s not for you, then it’s possible to rent a body-board and play around in the waves. Nosara also has miles of mountain biking trails to explore, plus it’s known for being Costa Rica's premiere yoga location. Yoga is on offer not only at the hotel but also at the renowned Bodhi Tree Yoga Resort which offers daily classes to anyone who wishes to sign up. The nearby Ostional Beach offers some of the best turtle viewing in Costa Rica (seasonal). Turtles return to land to nest in the evenings, particularly during full moons. Ask at your hotel and they will let you know the best time to visit and arrange a tour for you. If self driving to the beach, please note the road involves a river crossing which may invalidate the insurance on your rental car.
Accommodation: Gilded Iguana
DAY 10: NOSARA – SURFING, MOUNTAIN BIKING, YOGA, LAID-BACK NIGHTLIFE
Another full day at leisure. Eating out in Nosara is fantastic fun, with half a dozen good restaurants to choose from, each with a buzzing atmosphere. 10 Pies (pizzas and swing chairs), Burgers & Beer (craft beer and burgers), El Chivo Cantina (tex mex & live music), La Luna (beachfront fine dining & sunsets) and Beach Dog Cafe (live music, tacos and cocktails) are all great options.
Accommodation: Gilded Iguana
DAY 11: NOSARA – SURFING, MOUNTAIN BIKING, YOGA, LAID-BACK NIGHTLIFE
Enjoy this final day in Nosara.
Accommodation: Gilded Iguana
DAY 12: DRIVE TO MANUEL ANTONIO
It’s a long, 5-hour drive to Manuel Antonio today so we recommend starting early to arrive in good time at the Hotel Si Como No, a smart property set in pretty gardens on a rainforest hillside overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
Accommodation: Hotel Si Como No
DAY 13: VISIT THE MANUEL ANTONIO NATIONAL PARK
The Manuel Antonio National Park is a small and incredibly picturesque National Park with a fantastic density of wildlife that pretty much guarantees sightings of monkeys and sloth bears. The park occupies a superb location around a point fringed on both sides by golden sandy beaches. Its small size, coupled with its huge popularity, means that it does get busy, so it’s best to arrive either early or late in a day to avoid the crowds. Pack a picnic, take a cooling swim in the sea and keep your eyes peeled for sloth bears, toucans, macaws and white-faced monkeys. We recommend a guided hike to provide the best chance of spotting the resident wildlife, but it’s also possible to explore independently on the well-marked trails.
Accommodation: Hotel Si Como No
DAY 14: DRIVE TO THE AIRPORT AND DEPART
Make the 2 to 3-hour drive to San Jose, return the hire car and fly home.
