Day notes
You are met on arrival in San Jose and transferred to the Hotel Grano de Oro. A 20-minute drive from the San Jose International Airport.
Founded in 1738 and declared Costa Rica's capital in 1823, San José is a friendly, cosmopolitan city nestled in the Central Valley and surrounded by lush mountains and tall volcanoes - some active! It's the nation's cultural and political hub. Nearly half of the country's population call it, and the suburbs around it, home. Known locally as ''Chepe'', San José started as a small village with fertile soils; the introduction of coffee transformed it into a prominent urban center. So much so it was the third city in the world to use electric energy, after New York and Paris. Most visitors to San José head downtown to explore the pedestrian-only Avenida Central and Plaza de la Cultura, a perfect people-watching spot home to cafés, flower shops, and the National Theater. The city boasts a nice assortment of restaurants, bars, and vibrant nightlife.
Transfer from Juan Santamaria International Airport [SJO] to Hotel Grano De Oro
Transfer
Juan Santamaria International Airport [SJO]
Hotel Grano De Oro
Check-in to Hotel Grano De Oro
Day notes
Costa Rica's natural wonders are on full display today on a day of discovery. Begin at the Irazu Volcano set in the Irazu Volcano National Park, close to Costa Rica's city of Cartago. This active volcano stands tall at an altitude of 11,260 feet and features a greenish crater lake, the Diego de la Haya crater, and several flowing lavas. It is surrounded by a densely forested mountain, home to various exotic flora and fauna species. The volcano has a walkway that provides opportunities to get outstanding panoramic views of this lovely attraction.
The day brings the first of the journey's Evolved Experiences with a visit to the Aquiares Estate. The largest continuous coffee farm in Costa Rica, it has been Rainforest Alliance Certified since 2003 and Carbon Neutral since 2016. Family-owned since its founding, the farm is known for the quality of the high-altitude, shade-grown Arabica coffee it produces. Along with its distinctive coffee, a century of history has helped shape the farm into an ecological sustainability model & social responsibility model. Aquiares is also a thriving community of 2,000 people who live harmoniously alongside coffee. Experience all sides of this unique and engaging "coffee community" during your visit.
Continue to the Osori Valley to enjoy a relaxing afternoon. Surrounded by rainforest and lush vegetation at La Hacienda, Orosi has been blessed by mother earth with nascent hypothermal mineral water. These rich springs of mineral hypothermal “telluric” waters (non-magmatic or volcanic ) are filtered between the layers of the earth and spring in the middle of the rainforest at more than 65 degrees Celsius. They are perfect for a warm, relaxing dip.
Return to San Jose late this afternoon and have the remainder of the evening at leisure.
Included:
Breakfast and lunch
Excluded:
Dinner
Day notes
After breakfast, set out for a half-day San Jose City tour. Your guide will discuss the local history, culture, and architecture of the downtown area. Begin with The Pre-Colombian Gold Museum, a famous collection located in a subterranean building beneath the Plaza de la Cultura. The museum has a huge collection of more than 1600 artifacts of Pre-Columbian gold, some of which date back to 500 AD. The most iconic building of San José is the beautiful National Theater of Costa Rica, located on the Plaza de la Cultura. The building was built at the end of the 19th century and fully financed by the coffee tax. Statues flank the special neoclassical façade by Ludwig van Beethoven and the Spanish playwright Pedro Calderón de la Barca.
At the conclusion of the city tour, depart for the airport to board a private helicopter for a 35-minute scenic journey over San Jose, the Costa Rican rainforests, and the Pacuare River as make your way to the Pacuare Lodge.
The Pacuare Lodge – One of National Geographic’s “Unique Lodges of the World,” with its teak floors, exotic tropical flowers, and wood furniture crafted by local artisans, the Pacuare Lodge is an exceptional jungle hideaway located within a tropical rainforest on the banks of the Pacuare River. At night the lodge is illuminated by hundreds of candles and lanterns. The palm-thatched lodge and the jungle-chic bungalows have been constructed out of native wood and perfectly designed to merge into the natural environment. There is a total of 19-spacious, private accommodations featuring plush beds, sitting areas, and breathtaking vistas of the tropical vegetation. Food and drinks at the Pacuare Lodge are great; everything on the table is always fresh! The cuisine is inspired by its Costa Rican roots and influenced by other countries and cultures. Meals are served in the main building, a tall, open wooden hut right by the river´s edge.
Check-out from Hotel Grano De Oro
Charter Flight from Hotel Grano De Oro to Pacuare Lodge
Charter Flight
Hotel Grano De Oro
Pacuare Lodge
Check-in to Pacuare Lodge
Included:
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Excluded:
Lunch
Day notes
The day is free to enjoy the activities offered at the Pacuare Lodge, which include
- Pacuare Canopy Adventure
- Canyoning Tesorito Creek Experience
- Bird watching experience
- Ancient Trail & Hidden Waterfall Hike
- Cabecar Indigenous Hike
- Rural Experience
- Sustainable tour
- The Loop
Be sure to leave time for a relaxing spa appointment too.
Included:
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day notes
A hearty breakfast is in order as the day begins with an exhilarating morning of whitewater rafting on the Pacuare River. Sure to be one of the highlights of the journey, the rafting is approximately 3½ hours over class III-IV rapids through scenery that is nothing short of stunning.
This stretch of the Pacuare River flows through canyons and past waterfalls and virgin rainforest. You’re likely to catch glimpses of a variety of birds and other wildlife during the quiet stretches along the river.
A delicious, deli-style lunch will be served on the riverbank en route, and there will be time to change into dry clothes at our private facilities by the river take-out before the drive to the local Airstrip for your charter flight to Arenal. Upon arrival in Arenal, you will be met and transferred to the luxury Nayara Tented Camp.
The Nayara Tented Camp is located in the Arenal Volcano National Park. Accommodation at the campsite features luxury air-conditioned tents. All are equipped with an outdoor shower, wooden floors, a four-poster bed with a canopy, and a spacious bathroom with an oversized tub. The campsite also features a welcoming tent, swim-up bar, large family-friendly pool, and a gourmet restaurant with an expansive terrace to fully enjoy the Costa Rican rainforest.
The Arenal Volcano is considered one of the most beautiful volcanoes in the world. It has a perfect cone shape, and clouds commonly roll in at the volcano’s peak. It is the epitome of Costa Rica's natural beauty.
Check-out from Pacuare Lodge
Cruise from Pacuare Lodge to Siquirres
Cruise
Pacuare Lodge
Siquirres
Charter Flight from Siquirres to La Fortuna Arenal Airport [FON]
Charter Flight
Siquirres
La Fortuna Arenal Airport [FON]
Transfer from La Fortuna Arenal Airport [FON] to Nayara Tented Camp
Transfer
La Fortuna Arenal Airport [FON]
Nayara Tented Camp
Check-in to Nayara Tented Camp
Included:
Breakfast and lunch
TENT AMENITIES
- FOUR POSTER KING BED WITH MOSQUITO NET
- TWO TWIN-SIZE DAY-BEDS
- SIZE 157.9 SQM/ 1,700SQ.FT.
- PLUNGE POOL FED BY NATURAL MINERAL HOT SPRINGS
- TERRACE DAYBED, TABLE, AND CHAIRS FOR AL FRESCO DINING
- COMPLIMENTARY LAUNDRY
- MINI-BAR SELECTION INCLUDED, EXCEPT WINE AND LIQUOR
- TWICE DAILY MAID SERVICE
- AIR CONDITIONING
- ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY TOP-OF-THE-LINE BATH AMENITIES
- HAIRDRYER AND SAFE DEPOSIT BOX
- BREAKFAST IN THE TERRACE
- DAILY REPLENISHMENT OF COFFEE AND TEA
- FRESH FRUIT AND WELCOME COCKTAIL UPON ARRIVAL
- WI-FI IN THE ROOM AND THROUGHOUT THE PROPERTY
- FREE INTERNATIONAL CALLS
Excluded:
Dinner
Day notes
Sheer fun is in-store today with canyoning, zip-ling, waterfall rappelling, and ATV riding all in the day's line up!
Depart after breakfast for a 20-minute ride to begin the adventure. Arriving in the rainforest, transfer to 4×4 trucks for a short drive to the ranch house to gear up. Then, it is off for a morning of exciting and exhilarating waterfall rappelling, canyoning, the thrilling Monkey Drop (a zip line & rappelling), and rock climbing, all in the spectacular surroundings of canyons within the Costa Rican rainforest.
Take time to catch your breath, enjoy the tropical gardens, and have a light lunch at the base because the adventure is not over! Now it's time for some off-roading! Climb aboard an ATV for a 100% off-road experience that is wet, muddy, and exciting! You will cross streams, ride through the rainforest, swim in a river, all with sweeping views of open pasture land and rainforest. This is adventure travel at its best!
After this all-out thrill-ride, head back to enjoy your luxury accommodations and some time to relax. Now will be the perfect time to squeeze in a spa appointment too!
Dinner will be on your own this evening.
Included:
Breakfast and lunch
Excluded:
Dinner
Day notes
After some days of adrenaline & adventure, it is now time to head to the Pacific Coast and spend some time at the beautiful Andaz Papagayo.
Depart Nayara for the Arenal airport and a charter flight to Liberia, where you will be met and have private transfers to your hotel. The remainder of the day is yours to enjoy independently.
The Papagayo Gulf is untamed and beautiful. If you want to get away from people and experience the nature of Costa Rica at its fullest, this is the place.
Rest and relaxation always go hand in hand in the Gulf of Papagayo, with mesmerizing ocean views and intimate settings and activities, as well as lush tropical greenery at every turn. The Andaz Resort is the ideal setting to relax, reconnect, recharge, and stimulate your senses. Offering three beaches, world-class golf, an extensive activity program, and distinctive dining experiences within a pristine 1,400-acre private peninsula — a memorable stay awaits.
Check-out from Nayara Tented Camp
Transfer from Nayara Tented Camp to La Fortuna Arenal Airport [FON]
Transfer
Nayara Tented Camp
La Fortuna Arenal Airport [FON]
Charter Flight from La Fortuna Arenal Airport [FON] to Guanacaste Airport [LIR]
Charter Flight
La Fortuna Arenal Airport [FON]
Guanacaste Airport [LIR]
Transfer from Guanacaste Airport [LIR] to Andaz Costa Rica Resort at Peninsula Papagayo
Transfer
Guanacaste Airport [LIR]
Andaz Costa Rica Resort at Peninsula Papagayo
Check-in to Andaz Costa Rica Resort at Peninsula Papagayo
Included:
Breakfast
Day notes
The day brings an opportunity to authentically engage with Costa Ricans on the second of your journey's Evolved Experiences.
Evolved Experiences are a core and unique component to all our journeys that provide you, our Evolved Traveler, with experiences that far exceed the par-for-the-course of luxury travel. Evolved Experiences allow our guests the opportunity to make a lasting impression on the communities they visit, extend their hand in a gesture of global community, and create memories that can be cherished for years to come, not only for themselves but for those they visit.
Your Evolved Experience is a visit to Costa Rica Vida Campesina, which lets you experience life in the Costa Rican countryside with a visit to a farming family that grows typical crops and practice newer sustainable agricultural techniques. This unique experience begins with a demonstration of chocolate production and a walk through the whole process of chocolate from seed to sweets. Then, continue into the farm's cultivated sections to learn about common Costa Rican crops such as coffee, bananas, plantains, and sugar cane. While on the farm, you will also enjoy the various animals, whose organic waste is converted to biogas and organic foliar fertilizer. At the end of the tour, spend time with the family over a traditional lunch with freshly harvested vegetables.
Return to your hotel at the end of the day and have the evening at leisure.
Included:
Breakfast and lunch
Excluded:
Dinner
Day notes
The day is free for you to enjoy and explore on your own. You may choose some of the water sports or activities offered by your resort, or, we will be happy to provide you with additional private options as well.
Included:
Breakfast
Excluded:
Lunch and dinner
Day notes
Time to bid Costa Rica "adios." Your 10-day journey has given you the best of the countries mantra, Pura Vida!
After breakfast, you will have a private transfer to the Liberia airport for your return flight home.
Check-out from Andaz Costa Rica Resort at Peninsula Papagayo
Transfer from Andaz Costa Rica Resort at Peninsula Papagayo to Guanacaste Airport [LIR]
Transfer
Andaz Costa Rica Resort at Peninsula Papagayo
Guanacaste Airport [LIR]
Included:
Breakfast