Suggested Itinerary
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Learn about sea turtle conservation on the Osa Peninsula.
- Hike the forested jungle trails in this rugged landscape.
- Enjoy the white-sand beaches and irresistible waters of Manual Antonio’s pristine coast.
- Indulge in true authentic Costa Rican cuisine.
- Count the many different bird species in Manuel Antonio National Park.
- Get your hands dirty at Kids Saving the Rainforest Wildlife Sanctuary.
- Experience up-close encounters with the country’s endless variety of wildlife.
Day 1: Arrive in Costa Rica
Hotel Grano de Oro
Welcome to Costa Rica! Upon your arrival in San Jose, our representative will greet you right outside the terminal and transfer you to your overnight accommodation.
We highly recommend the on site restaurant, popular with locals and guests alike!
Day 2: Transfer to Puerto Jimenez
Bosque del Cabo Rainforest Lodge
After a leisurely breakfast, your driver will collect you from the hotel and transfer you to the airport.
Board your flight to the Osa Peninsula. Your guide will meet you upon arrival, and you will travel together to the Bosque del Cabo Rainforest Lodge.
This wonderful escape is the perfect place to start your Costa Rican adventure! Stay in one of the open-air cabins that are nestled within the rainforest and overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Each room is unique, offering stunning views of the sea, indoor and outdoor showers, gardens buzzing with hummingbirds, and hammocks where you can relax and enjoy your coffee in the morning or a cocktail at sunset.
Day 3: Sea Turtle Volunteering and Rainforest Walk
Osa Verde Bio Lodge
5:00 AM: Rise before the sun to join researchers on a morning sea turtle patrol mission.
Walk across the beach marking vulnerable turtle nests and assisting researchers with their data collection and nest relocation. Learn how to carefully excavate nests and perform vital temperature readings of newly-released turtles.
Return to the research station for a delicious breakfast after a hard morning’s work. Once you’ve eaten your fill, join a staff member on a brief farm tour. Learn about mindful eating, climate-smart strategies, and their locally adapted food production techniques. Wander around the native tree nursery, and check out the botanical garden before heading back to your lodge for lunch.
Take some time after lunch to digest before heading out on a guided tour of Ajo Trail and the Ocelot trail. Bring a naturalist along to teach you all about the rainforest and all of the animal species they are working to protect.
In the afternoon, enjoy the rainforest around you at your leisure, or we can organize a private surfing lesson for you! The wave off the Osa Peninsula are great for beginners and more advanced surfers alike.
Enjoy dinner at the lodge.
Day 4: Transfer to Manuel Antonio
Arenas Del Mar Beachfront & Rainforest Resort
After an early breakfast, your driver will collect you and transfer you to the Arenas Del Mar Beachfront & Rainforest Resort near Manuel Antonio National Park.
The lush mangroves, dense rainforest, and the countless endemic species in this area make Manual Antonio a superb destination for eco-travelers.
Charming towns and thick jungle juxtapose the pristine coastline to give visitors an unparalleled beach experience. Check in to your hotel and spend the rest of the day unwinding at the beach and enjoying the many amenities. Indulge in local cuisine in the idyllic seaside town of Manuel Antonio or recline poolside as you watch the sun set over the horizon.
A staple in Costa Rican luxury, Arenas Del Mar Beachfront & Rainforest Resort is the ideal place to enjoy the beautiful Pacific coastline. The rooms are modern and comfortable and boast stunning views of the blue surf below. Nestled in 11 acres of rainforest, the hotel has dozens of private walking trails, a beautiful infinity pool, and access to two pristine beaches.
Day 5: Manuel Antonio National Park
Arenas Del Mar Beachfront & Rainforest Resort
Be sure to eat a big breakfast this morning as you have a full day of adventure in front of you! Meet up with a local naturalist in the lobby who will guide you through Manuel Antonio National Park.
Keep a sharp eye out for some of the 100 mammal species and over 200 bird species that call this region home. Your expert guide is well versed in the regional ecology as well as local customs, traditions, and stories.
Return to the hotel and take a dip in the cool ocean surf after a hot day out on the trail.
Enjoy dinner on the beach at the hotel, or a local restaurant in town.
Day 6: Volunteer with Kids Saving the Rainforest
Arenas Del Mar Beachfront & Rainforest Resort
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before meeting the Kids Saving the Rainforest staff in the lobby. This nonprofit organization works with the local community to save and protect Costa Rica’s rich ecosystem and some of its most vulnerable species. The organization provides rehabilitation for wildlife, runs reforestation projects, funds scientific research, and trains volunteers to promote conservation along the Pacific coast of Costa Rica.
Spend the day working with the delightful staff at the rehabilitation center where you will have the chance to see many of the country’s endemic species. Enjoy a packed lunch with the team today between the various volunteer projects.
Wrap up at the center in the late afternoon, and transfer back to your hotel in time to relax and enjoy the sunset before dinner.
Day 7: Departure
Your driver will meet you at the hotel this morning for your private transfer to Juan Santamaria Airport for your flight home.
Interested in booking this itinerary or customizing a trip to Costa Rica? Get in touch with a private travel designer!
