Off the beaten track

When you arrive at the airport, we'll meet you and take you to your hotel. We suggest you spend your first night in Santa Ana, a quiet town close to the airport. A gentle arrival to allow you to rest before setting off the next morning on an adventure of original expeditions.

Meet an indigenous Bribri community from the southern Caribbean region. You'll learn more about their culture, and enjoy the Caribbean scenery. During this immersion in the community, you'll share a meal with the Bribris, take part in a ritual, and hear traditional stories.

Your immersion in the heart of the Bribri community continues. You'll go on a chocolate tour. You'll discover their plantation and their work with cocoa, which is very traditional. From the bean to the chocolate bar you're familiar with, you'll discover the entire manufacturing process.

The Sarapiqui River is bordered by lush vegetation, making it a popular destination for biologists and other explorers. The region is in fact a biological corridor through which millions of migratory birds pass every year, and where over 180 animal species have been recorded.

You'll discover an organic pineapple farm. A member of the family will take you on a tour of this superb organic farm. You'll discover pineapple, pepper, vanilla, cocoa and sugar cane crops. You'll learn about reforestation and respect for the environment. You'll also observe the wildlife (toucans, parrots, frogs, sloths...) that inhabit the property.

Located in the north of the country, in the biological corridor between Tortuguero and Nicaragua's Indio Maiz Park, the Boca Tapada region has preserved an intact natural environment incredibly rich in biodiversity, providing a sanctuary for numerous species. A natural and authentic stop-off off the beaten track..

We propose a Boat Safari on the San Carlos River: sail on the San Carlos River with a guide who will show you the wealth of wild flora and fauna.

For your second day in Boca Tapada, we recommend several activities. First, the Maquenque National Reserve. Created in 2005, the Maquenque National Wilderness Reserve covers some 51,861 hectares in northeastern Costa Rica. Located on the border with Nicaragua, this area aims to protect the different types of ecosystems in the region. There are plans to transform the refuge into a national park extending right up to the border. In this region, you'll discover the rural spirit of Costa Rica, untouched by mass tourism.

We also recommend excursions along the San Carlos River. Aboard small boats, you can cruise the San Carlos River accompanied by a guide who will show you the flora and fauna of the Maquenque Reserve. An ideal activity for the whole family! For the more adventurous, you can also rent kayaks to navigate the San Carlos River. This alternative allows you to venture into the reserve in the same way, while taking the time to listen to the melody of the birds and the sound of the wind blowing through the tropical foliage.

Imagine waking up to the sound of birdsong, only to find yourself face to face with one of Costa Rica's most majestic volcanoes... It's a dream come true, isn't it? Hiking in the park and around the lake, observing the surrounding flora and fauna, strolling on suspension bridges among century-old trees... The region is bursting with activity. At the end of the day, relax in the hot thermal springs emerging straight from the volcanic rocks. A moment of pure relaxation.

Take an excursion over suspension bridges to observe the rich flora and fauna of the canopy. You'll be accompanied by an English-speaking guide specializing in the region, who will explain everything he knows about the surrounding flora and fauna.

For your second day in Arenal, we recommend you visit the Arenal natura ecological park. Here you'll discover all the diversity of flora and fauna concentrated in this pretty little private reserve facing the volcano. You'll be able to observe the famous green frog and other amphibian species, reptiles, crocodiles, birds and many other animals that inhabit this tropical forest.

You can also discover Lake Arenal by paddle or kayak. The lake is the largest in Costa Rica, and this excursion promises a superb view of the volcano.

A true adventure playground, Rincon de la Vieja is one of Costa Rica's volcanoes that is still active today. It has 9 eruptive centers, including 2 smoking craters. Believe us, it's pretty impressive! After a short stroll, you'll have the pleasure of bathing in the volcano's natural hot-water pools, as well as taking a little volcanic mud bath. A real life-size spa! What's more, the volcano boasts a number of rivers where you can enjoy activities such as tubing or canyoning. It's a relaxing and sporty way to discover the volcano.

If you love water activities, try tubing! Increasingly popular in Costa Rica, tubing involves descending a river's rapids not on a kayak or raft, but on a giant buoy! In the region, two rivers lend themselves well to the exercise: the Rio Negro and the Rio Blanco. Pure relaxation and fun!

If you're a keen hiker, head for Rincon de la Vieja National Park. It is divided into 2 sectors: Las Pallas and Santa Maria (also known as La Casona), each of which offers different hiking itineraries in the heart of the park, allowing you to discover small mud geysers, waterfalls and, of course, the characteristic flora and fauna of the region.

Immerse yourself in the heart of Monteverde's cloud forest and enchanting mountains. Accessible only by trail, the Monteverde reserve has to be earned. But what a sight it is! You may be lucky enough to spot the famous resplendent Quetzal while sipping a good cup of locally-grown coffee. As an added bonus, you'll be able to take part in a zip-line course that's unique in the world. With your head in the clouds, you'll take to the skies on a series of ziplines, all with a breathtaking view of the entire canopy. From up here, you can even see the Pacific Ocean in the distance!

Uvita (and the small neighboring village of Dominical) offer a rugged natural setting, with magnificent waterfalls, forests and long beaches lined with coconut palms. Uvita is also the gateway to the Marino Ballena marine park, with its long beach and tropical mangroves. From August to October, humpback whales and their calves are out and about, enjoying the warm waters of the Pacific. An exceptional sight to behold, just like in the movies! Fun fact: when viewed from above, the shores of Parc Marino Ballena resemble a whale's tail - coincidence?

Parc Marino Ballena is a must-see when you come to Uvita. Inside the park, at low tide you can discover the tómbolo (a sandbank shaped like a whale's tail), stroll along and enjoy an extremely peaceful 13km-long beach, combining golden sands and polished rocks. In short, a beach where you can sunbathe in peace, snorkel above the coral reefs and perhaps contemplate a few specimens of Costa Rican marine fauna.

On this second day in Uvita, we recommend a trip to the waterfalls. Near Dominicalito, you can also discover the Poza Azul waterfall, small, charming and easy to access. This waterfall offers several very pleasant natural pools. Finally, there's the Catarata El Pavon. Here, too, you'll find a number of natural pools to relax in.

If you like boat trips, we suggest a leisurely cruise on the Sierpe River. You'll be able to observe the flora and fauna specific to mangroves. The mangroves of Sierpe are particularly rich in biodiversity.

Located on the shores of the Golfo Dulce, Puerto Jimenez is the last town before Corcovado Park, at the southernmost tip of the Osa Peninsula. It is Costa Rica's green pearl. Pumas, jaguars, tapirs, howler monkeys and caimans are just some of the species present. A veritable zoo, minus the enclosures!

Puerto Jimenez is the ideal place for a night tour of the rainforest: at night, the rainforest comes to life. Amphibians, snakes, nocturnal birds, jaguars and pumas come to life. An extraordinary and unique experience.

If you'd like to visit the mangroves, you can also take a birdwatching boat tour.

We recommend a bioluminescence excursion, a phenomenon observed in many parts of the country, including Puerto Jimenez. At dusk, you'll head out to sea to Puntarenitas beach, where you'll enjoy a superb sunset. Once night falls, it's time to observe a surprising spectacle: thousands of fluorescent bluish spots illuminating the beach. These are, in fact, thousands of bioluminescent plankton that literally glow in the water.

On your last day in Puerto Jimenez, you'll enjoy the beaches. Then it's off to San José to catch your return flight.

Welcome back and see you soon!