Suggested Itinerary
HIGHLIGHTS
- Splash down a jungle river on a rafting excursion.
- Have tasty food encounters at farmers market.
- Spend time and plant trees with the Jauuri farm community.
- Hang out with animals at a wildlife rescue center.
- Go on adventures or just laze about at Islita Beach.
Day 1: Arrive to Costa Rica
Xandari Resort & Spa
Arrive Juan Santamaría International Airport in San Jose (SJO) where you will be met by your guide/driver and transferred to your hotel.
Day 2: En Route to Arenal Volcano
Nayara Hotel Spa & Gardens
After breakfast, you’ll drive to the North towards the Arenal Volcano area. En route, stop at a farmers’ market where you will learn about local fruits and vegetables. Then, enjoy a half day adventure on the Class 2-3 Balsa River. After two hours of white water action on this beautiful tropical river, have a swim and a snack before enjoying a hearty Costa Rican lunch at a local farm. Continue on to your final destination and prepare yourself for some beautiful views!
Nayara Hotel is set in wood-and-timber buildings amidst tropical forest is a 2-minute walk from the Arenal Natura Ecological Park. Elegant, rustic Casita Deluxe rooms feature terraces with forest views and whirlpool tubs.
Day 3 Arenal Vida Campesina: Cultural Day
Nayara Hotel Spa & Gardens
Full day to share and enjoy a true cultural experience in Arenal Vida Campesina. Here you will have the opportunity to learn about organic, environmentally friendly cultivation, cooking typical Costa Rican food, handling and caring for cows, goats, sheep, chickens and quail. Acquaint yourself with the customs and traditions that make up the Costa Rican lifestyle.
You will also have the chance to engage with the Jauuri community, comprised of 42 rural families that are characterized by their kindness, humility, and traditional systems of food production. Finish the day with a tree planting at Vida Campesina or in the community garden.
Day 4: Volunteer Day at the Wildlife Rescue Center
Nayara Hotel Spa & Gardens
After an early breakfast, visit the Wildlife Rescue Center, an organization dedicated to wildlife protection, environmental conservation, and fostering positive cultural exchanges through education and service. The Center strives to give the animals the care and respect that they deserve while rehabilitating them.
Start with a tour by a naturalist guide and an introduction to Proyecto Asis, then follow the trails around the reserve, stopping in front of each animal’s enclosure to learn about them and where they are from, while also performing simple volunteer tasks, such as preparing food for the animals, cleaning the enclosures or helping to make toys for the animals.
After the activity, enjoy lunch en route back to your hotel. Today you will have the afternoon free to enjoy the facilities or other activities of the area.
Day 5: Transfer to Guanacaste
Hotel Punta Islita
Early this morning you will leave the mountains and travel to the Península de Nicoya Coast. En route, enjoy a boat trip on the Bebedero River, which will take you around the borders of Palo Verde National Park. After a nice lunch, head out to Hotel Punta Islita at Islita Beach.
Set on a hilltop overlooking a secluded beach cove, Punta Islita offers Ocean View Villas perfect for families. Accommodations feature upscale, colonial-tropical décor and private outdoor spaces; some also boast king-sized canopy beds, gardens, and plunge pools. Around the 121-hectare (300-acre) grounds, guests will find an infinity-edge pool with a swim-up bar and great views, two restaurants (expect classic Costa Rican fare, plenty of fresh seafood, and tropical cocktails), a spa with a comprehensive range of treatments, a nine-hole golf course, tennis courts, and an ocean-side family beach club with a pool. The hotel’s tiered layout provides commanding ocean views.
Days 6-8: Islita Beach
Hotel Punta Islita
Enjoy these free days to relax and enjoy the beach or take optional tours.
Day 9: Departure
Today transfer via private vehicle to the Daniel Oduber Airport in Liberia for your international flight. This takes two and a half hours and you must be at the counter at least 3 hours before your departure time.
Interested in booking this itinerary or customizing a trip to Costa Rica? Get in touch with a private travel designer!
