Day 1 : Arrival in Costa Rica

‍
Afternoon

• Arrive at Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) a get ready to begin your adventure at 3:00 PM.
• Your Trip Leader will be waiting for you at the airport welcoming you to Costa Rica.
• After meeting your new friends, take included transportation to the Caribbean Coast (~4.5-hour drive) with some stops along the way for snacks and dinner.

Evening

• Settle into your beautiful beach hotel.
• Try your first traditional Costa Rican meal, a casado, with your new friends at a local restaurant.

Day 2: Relax in Puerto Viejo

‍
Morning

• Wake up for a delicious Costa Rican breakfast at your hotel.
• Visit the Cahuita National Park, well known for its part in preserving the coral reef on Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast 

Afternoon 

• Spend your afternoon swimming and relaxing in the crystalline water of Puerto Viejo.
• As an optional activity, you can rent a bike and explore the local town.

Evening

• Call it an early night after a fun day in the sun or keep the night going and go dance to Caribbean soca music with your new friends.

Day 3: Explore Manzanillo National Refuge

Morning

• Wake up for a delicious Costa Rican breakfast while you keep a look out for some sloths and monkeys.
• After breakfast, visit the Gandoca - Manzanillo National Refuge. This refuge is a beautiful combination of several different ecosystems and environments made up of just over 5,000 hectares protecting almost 70 percent of the southern Caribbean Coast.

Afternoon 

• Spend the afternoon exploring Puerto Viejo with an optional  bike ride, surf lessons, or visiting the Jaguar Rescue Center.

Evening

• On your last night in town, practice your dance moves and enjoy some gallo pinto, a traditional Costa Rican dish of rice and beans.

Tonight you’ll need to pack an overnight bag that you’ll bring with you for the next two days of rafting. The rest of your luggage will remain in the hotel which we’ll return to at the end of day 5.

Day 4: Rafting the World Famous Pacuare River

Morning

• Fuel up at our lodge with a hearty breakfast before traveling down to the Pacuare River where our rafting adventure begins.
• Meet your rafting guides, learn the basics and safety protocols, and begin day 1 of your 2-day journey.
• Today is about learning the ropes as you whitewater raft through Class II and Class III rapids.

Afternoon

• Arrive at your remote eco-lodge located right on the river and check into your bungalow.
• Opt for a walk along the property exploring the many hikes and swimming holes nearby, or relax in a hammock with a book and a view.

Evening

• In the evening, join your rafting guides for happy hour cocktails or coffee in the jungle.
• Enjoy an open-air dinner and get to know your local raft guides over drinks and card games.

Day 5: Continue Rafting through the Rainforest

Morning

• Wake up to the sounds of the rainforest and head down to breakfast with your group.
• Enjoy your last moments in the lodge before heading back out on the river by walking over to the hanging bridge, or hiking to the natural waterslides.
• Continue rafting down the river as the rapids become more powerful and fun with Class III and IV rapids.
• Feel the refreshing river hit your smiling face as you paddle hard through the big waves.
• End your rafting adventure at the headquarters with a shower and a tasty meal.

Afternoon

• Drive to the beautiful town of Turrialba.
• Spend your free afternoon relaxing at the hotel with a fresh cup of coffee.

Evening

• Opt for drinks at the hotel bar or relax on a hammock

Day 6: Rappelling, Canyoning, & Coffee

Morning

• This morning is all adrenaline! Start your day rappelling down stunning waterfalls hidden in the rainforest.
• Trek across hanging bridges as your guide spots toucans, poison dart frogs, and other wildlife native to Costa Rica.
• Next, zip line through the jungle on multiple canopy lines and admire the beautiful greenery surrounding you.

Afternoon

• For lunch, enjoy an included traditional meal provided by your adventure guides.
• Spend the afternoon learning how people live off the land on the outskirts of Turrialba. 
• Learn about what it means to be sustainable in Costa Rica and take an interactive tour through a local coffee plantation.

Evening

• Enjoy one final dinner with your new friends and reminisce on the epic adventure you just had.

Day 7: Relaxation and Departure

Morning

• Enjoy one final breakfast in paradise with your group of friends before departing to the airport to catch your flight back home.
• Take included transportation back to Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) where you will arrive by 11:30 am and your trip will, sadly, come to an end.
• We look forward to welcoming you into our close-knit Travel Community.

*Select dates can be extended to our Costa Rica adventure if you’d like to see the Pacific side of the country.