Costa Rica: Adventure!

Today you will be driven to the village of La Fortuna, in the foothills of the beautiful Arenal Volcano.  

But first, enjoy one of the most iconic adventure experiences Costa Rica has to offer: whitewater rafting.    The Rio Balsa  is good for beginners, but still exciting with class II-III rapids and opportunities to spot wildlife like monkeys, sloths, and toucans in the lush riverine greenery along the 10-kilometer (over 6 miles) route.  

Enjoy a swim, tropical fruits, and cold drinks during your break from the action. At the end of the rafting tour, your lunch spot is a tour on its own! A delicious, typical lunch is served at a traditional country estate.

The afternoon is free to enjoy the beautiful Ti-Fakara Lodge. Ti-Fakara, meaning “waterfall” in the indigenous Maleku language, is nestled into a rainforest not far from the La Fortuna waterfall. Relax and enjoy the pool or book an optional activity.

Later today, enjoy a short night tour on the grounds of your lodge. Ti-Fakara  provides sanctuary to many species of frogs, in addition to reptiles, birds, and other animal species. 

Overnight at Tifakara Birding Oasis
Located in La Fortuna de San Carlos in Costa Rica, Tifakara (which means waterfall in Maleku language) is surrounded by luscious greenery and is an ideal option for nature enthusiasts looking for a peace, comfort and harmony.

Get ready for an adventure-packed day!   

Today’s adrenalin-inducing menu will include rappelling down  tropical waterfalls and biking long the shores of Arenal Lake. 

A half-day canyoning tour will take you deep inside a a spectacular rainforest canyon to experience a series of waterfall rappels and activities like rock climbing and the “Monkey Drop” (zipline & rappel) — you will get wet!

After a garden-fresh lunch, the adventure continues with a bike ride through the rainforest and along the shores of Lake Arenal to the small village of El Castillo. The scenic route follows a secluded narrow dirt road surrounded by dense rainforest and rolling pasture lands, punctuated by views of the volcano. Along the ride, you may see howler monkeys, coatis, toucans, and kingfishers.

Overnight at Tifakara Birding Oasis

After breakfast, you’ll explore the surrounding forests of Arenal volcano from a unique perspective.

Begin with a ride on a Sky Tram open-air gondola. The aerial tramway takes you through the forest and above on its mountainous ascent, providing views of flora and fauna that may only be spotted from above.  The reward of the best views from the highest point of the reserve await your arrival at the observation platform.

Then zipline a course to get back down the mountain. Cables stretch from mountain to mountain, reaching incredible lengths and heights, crossing canyons, going into the forests and sometimes in between clouds!

Afterwards, relax and enjoy a scenic drive to Guanacaste, towards your hotel in Tamarindo Beach, on the North Pacific Coast.

Overnight at The Coast Beachfront HotelEvery room at the hotel is within steps of the beach, where safe and fun swimming, boogie-boarding, great surf or a good book in a hammock, can all be enjoyed.

Today’s water-based adventure includes a surf lesson by a local expert, as well as free time to enjoy the beach.  

The sunsets in Tamarindo are spectacular!

Depending on the time of year, you may have the opportunity to see leatherback turtles nesting on the beaches of Las Baulas National Marine Park near Tamarindo. From about October to February, these endangered turtles come ashore at night during high tide to lay their eggs.  Organized tours with restrictions to protect the turtles allow visitors to get an up-close view of their nesting ritual. This is an optional activity at additional cost, and can be pre-booked for you.

Overnight at The Coast Beachfront Hotel

End your trip with a bang!   Enjoy a sailing trip along the beautiful coast of Guanacaste, with drinks, snacks and snorkeling opportunities included.  

The best time of day for seeing marine wildlife in Guanacaste is in the morning. You can sometimes see whales, dolphins, and manta rays, and there’s always beautiful scenery, above and below the water. 

The rest of the day is at your leisure.

Overnight at The Coast Beachfront Hotel

Breakfast and hotel check out.

A private transfer takes you to the Daniel Oduber International Airport in Liberia for your return flight to the US or extend your stay in Costa Rica.

Buen viaje!