Day 1: Arrive San José
Learn the secrets of Pura Vida - Costa Rica's inimitable zest for life that will linger throughout your effortlessly delivered encounter with a land that boasts no artificial ingredients. This evening, join your Travel Director and fellow expeditioners for a Welcome Reception.
Included Meals - Welcome Reception | Hotel: Sheraton San Jose
Discover the natural beauty of Tortuguero National Park
Journey to San Isidro de Heredia, where we’ll Dive into Culture with master chocolatiers, Julio Fernandez and George Soriano, to learn about the history of chocolate and how it is produced at this small workshop. Then, it’s on to Siquirres where we’ll embark on a river journey with a Local Specialist through protected wetlands to secluded Tortuguero. Enjoy a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience in the heart of Tortuguero with a visit to the Sea Turtle Conservancy Tortuguero Visitor Center. Later, we enjoy dinner at our hotel this evening accompanied by the enchanting sounds of resident cicadas and tree frogs.
Included Meals - Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Hotel: Laguna Lodge Tortuguero
Day 3: Visit the wildlife of Tortuguero National Park
Explore Tortuguero's lush waterways, keeping a keen eye out for howler monkeys, toucans and sloths amidst the dense rainforest canopy. If you're lucky enough to be visiting during nesting season, choose to join an optional walk to witness some of the world's largest turtles laying their eggs on the Caribbean shores.
Included Meals - Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4: Sample heart of palm in Sarapiquí
Bid adiós to Tortuguero and head back to the mainland where we’ll enjoy lunch before meeting the Tico family for a Connect With Locals experience at their palm plantation. There you'll learn about and sample the delicate heart of palm. Tonight you'll enjoy a Be My Guest with the owners of your hotel, providing a Connect With Locals experience, as they prepare a special BBQ meal just for you.
Included Meals - Breakfast, Lunch, Be My Guest | Hotel La Quinta Sarapiqui Lodge
Day 5: Mingle with Locals in Saripiqui
Rise with the sun to get up close and personal with Costa Rica's exquisite nature during a leisurely hike. Keep a lookout for the endangered great green macaw and connect with your beautiful natural surroundings. Embark on an optional rafting trip^ later this morning. We Connect With Locals this afternoon, enjoying a Be My Guest lunch at an eco-friendly hacienda built by the Quintana family as a retirement project. Today, it is home to an organic farm and related eco-adventures. Learn how your MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience contributes to the local community. Our journey continues to Arenal Volcano, on whose slopes we spend the afternoon relaxing in our resort's beautifully landscaped thermal pools.
Included Meals - Breakfast, Be My Guest | Hotel: Arenal Paraiso Resort and Spa
Day 6: Immerse in the stories of Monteverde Cloud Forest
Our soul-stirring encounter with Costa Rica’s natural wonders continues after a morning at leisure. Straddle the Continental Divide and touch the sky in Monteverde Cloud Forest, where you’ll have an opportunity to explore this biodiverse sanctuary, renowned for its collection of orchid species – more than in any other single place. Tonight, you will Connect With Locals as you meet a native Quaker, and Local Specialist, who will share stories of Old Town Monteverde and delve into the history of the American Quakers who settled in the area in the 1950s. This evening, relish some of the best views as you enjoy dinner.
Included Meals - Breakfast, Dinner | Hotel: El Establo Mountain Hotel
Day 7: Wander the Monteverde Cloud Forest
This morning, join your guide for an excursion through the lush rainforests of Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. We ascend to the treetops high above the jungle floor below, treading lightly along the Sky Walk^ suspension bridges amongst the wildlife that find sanctuary in the boughs of the surrounding canopy. As our epic eco-adventure nears its end, we share stories with newfound friends at a Farewell Dinner.
Included Meals - Breakfast, Farewell Dinner
Day 8: Depart San José
Transfer to San José International Airport.
Included Meals - Breakfast
