DAY 1 • SAN JOSE

Welcome to Costa Rica! Arrive today any time to the San Jose International Airport. Upon arrival at the San Jose International Airport and after passing through immigrations and customs, you’ll need to proceed to the airport exit to locate the Barcelo San Jose Palacio Hotel shuttle bus.

This short 15 minute shuttle will bring you to the Barcelo San Jose Palacio Hotel. Check in for overnight.

DAY 2 • TORTUGUERO NATIONAL PARK

This morning your trip to Tortuguero National Park on the Atlantic Coast will begin. Check out and early 6:00 AM departure to Limon crossing Costa Rica from west to east, descending into the lowlands of the Caribbean coast.

You will be stopping for breakfast along the way, before continuing through several large banana plantations to arrive at Caño Blanco. Here, you will board a covered boat that will take you to Mawamba Lodge. During the two hour trip, you will be able to observe small mammals, birds and wide vegetation.

Arrive at the Lodge in time for a hearty lunch. Check-in, afternoon tour to the town of Tortuguero, dinner and overnight. Meals: B, L, D

DAY 3 • TORTUGUERO NATIONAL PARK

Optional tours available at 6:15 a.m. to admire the awakening of the wildlife of Tortuguero. Return for breakfast, then another tour to explore the Tortuguero National Park .

Return to the hotel for lunch and leisure time. There is an optional afternoon tour to the canals.

Because of the turtle nesting season (July to September) there is a good chance we might witness the hatching! Meals: B, L, D

DAY 4 • PACUARE RIVER

After an early breakfast, we board our boats back on the waterways to reach Caño Blanco. And head off for our Pacuare River Adventure.

The Pacuare River is rated one of the top rivers in the world for a host of reasons. You’ll get to explore the intimate nature of the rainforest from the river perspective. The warm water, cascading waterfalls, and opulently lush rainforest with its brilliantly colored plants, animals, and birds create a unique landscape.

Once at San Martin, your professional guides will load your gear into dry bags, prepare all the rafting equipment, give you complete safety and paddle instruction. The first day's Class III rapids welcome you to the Pacuare gorge's charm as you raft deep in the heart of primary rainforest.

This first day provides an amazing welcome to the Pacuare gorge, its rapids and beauty. We will weave through sections with names like "Rock n' Roll" and "Watch Out". Our run this afternoon ends in a hard rapid that will give you a taste of the Class IV water waiting for our raft out. We will arrive at our lodge and pull out point located right on the banks of the Pacuare.

The lodge "Cabecar Indian Style offers premium rooms the best views of the river, balconies, beautiful dark native wood furniture of beds and small bedside tables, ample screened in windows with roll-up bamboo shades, and native slate-lined showers. Artwork, furniture, rugs, and linens were, of course, all brought into the lodge via raft, as with everything at this lodge.

You’ll get the chance to settle into your rooms, than come on down to the open air dining area, where guides prepare fresh appetizers and guest-acclaimed “famous jungle punch”. As the sun dips behind the hills and the twilight fades, you will be treated to a delicious freshly prepared dinner with candlelight and wine. Ahhh, this is adventure vacationing at it’s best! Happy hour and dinner leaves most ready to turn in early

DAY 5 • PACUARE RIVER

Today you will traverse the zip line course! Four distinctive platforms blend in seamlessly with the natural surroundings, giving you an amazing perspective of life in the roof of the jungle.

In addition to the canopy tour, you can choose a variety of hikes - a 4-5 hour hike high into the Pacuare Reserve; a 2-3 hour hike to nearby waterfalls and pools, or short walks near the lodge.

The property offers limitless places to get away from it all and just relax and enjoy nature. Just a short walk from the dining area, you’ll find a sheltered hammock area that makes for the perfect spot to catch up on your reading, sip a cocktail, or just relax and take in the stunning beauty of this amazing retreat. Meals: B, L, D

DAY 6 • Whitewater Action! Class IV Rafting on Lower Pacuare / Arenal Volcano Inn

After yet another serving of Costa Rica's tastiest coffee and a hearty breakfast, we will pack up and load the rafts in preparation for paddling down the Pacuare gorge past gushing waterfalls, serene pools and pounding rapids. A snack stop by the riverside lets you explore more waterfalls and natural waterslides. An adrenaline-packed afternoon running rapids like Upper and Lower Huacas, Cimarron, Dos Montanas and many more, will have you cheering ecstatically.

We will have transportation waiting for us at the take-out in the town of Siquirres, and off to the Operations Center just a few miles up the road. A hearty hot lunch will be waiting for us upon arrival. Showers, changing rooms, cold and hot drinks, snacks, a bar, and souvenirs are all available to prepare us for our departure to our next destination.

After lunch we depart for our private 2 hour transfer to Arenal Volcano Inn. A favorite stop along the way to Arenal is the roadside “Pulperias”. Look for signs saying “Queso Palmito” which is sold at these little establishments. This is a fresh cheese braided into a ball, some have a creamy consistency much like fresh mozzarella and other varieties have a saltier taste and firmer texture.

Upon arrival at Arenal we will check in, enjoy a welcome cocktail, an authentic Costa Rican dinner and overnight in the lush tropical rainforest.

in the area is generally hot and humid. A sweater at night is important as well as a flashlight, good insect repellant and sturdy closed shoes. Meals: B, L, D

DAY 7 • Arenal Volcano Inn

Arenal Volcano Inn is a 25 room hotel surrounded by exotic nature that can be admired from the tranquility of your room or by taking a small walk around the hotel gardens. Every guest may enjoy the view of the Arenal Volcano from its own terrace. Come visit us and make Arenal Volcano Inn your home while vacationing in Costa Rica.

Meals: B, L, D

DAY 8 •Arenal Volcano Inn/San Jose International Airport

After breakfast our bus departs for the 2 ½ hour drive back to the San Jose International Airport for check in to your International flight back to the U.S. Meals: B

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