Costa Rica Ultimate Adventure
December 6-16, 2012

Pura Vida! Join us on this amazing 11-day journey where we'll be traveling from the Central Highlands to the Pacific coastline.

Our trip begins with a visit to Arenal Volcano National Park, named after the majestic Arenal Volcano, one of the world's ten most active volcanoes. We'll get to enjoy the floating safari in the Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge, where you can see three species of monkeys, tons of migratory and resident birds, sloths, caimans, turtles and plenty other species. If you like hiking, you'll be in heaven. There are several great hikes to chose from. If you are seeking some extreme sports, the whitewater rafting and canyoneering are terrific. In the evening, we'll get to relax and recharge ourselves in the natural thermal hot springs.

The next trip segment takes us high into the cloud forest of Monteverde, famous for its zip lines and long suspension bridges. There are many other activities, including the Serpentarium with many varieties of snakes, or the Frog Pond with exhibits of many amphibian species like the poison dart frog. Also coffee plantation tours, night tours, the new Bat exhibit with live bats, the Insect exhibit, the Butterfly Garden, the Monteverde Cheese Factory tour, horseback riding or souvenir hunting. Before you leave this region, you'll have a deeper appreciation for nature.

Our final destination will be Costa Rica's premier national park, Manuel Antonio, on the Pacific Coast. We'll spend our days kayaking, exploring the park, viewing local wildlife (such as the endangered squirrel monkey) and relaxing on the white sand beaches.

We are sorry, but this trip is currently sold out.

HighlightsGeneral ItineraryCancellation PolicyFAQsTrip Photo

Arenal Volcano
The volcano measures about 5358 ft high. It was dormant for hundreds of years until 1968, when it erupted unexpectedly, destroying the small town of Tabacón. Due to the eruption three more craters were created on the western flanks but only one of them still exists today. Since October 2010, Arenal's volcanic activity appears to be decreasing and explosions have become rare. There is no complete trip to Arenal without taking the Volcano Hike. This is the best way to look at the volcano lava flowing from a safe point and the best panoramic view of the volcano!. You will be submerge in a primary Tropical rain forest, where you will spend about 1½ hour exploring the Silencio Trail, which is located in a private primary forest, facing the majestic Arenal Volcano.

Caño Negro Wildlife
Set near the Nicaraguan border in a marshy, jungle-like area, the Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge is one of the most difficult places to independently visit in Costa Rica. It is set in a remote area of the country and is often submerged in water from flooded rivers. The boat tour operate along the Río Frío (Cold River), a slow-flowing river that winds through canyons on its way to the Caño Negro Lake. Along the shores of the river and in the trees that bend over its waters, visitors will be able to spot birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians. There are howler, spider and white-faced monkeys, three-toed sloth, caimans, turtles, and even Jesus Christ Lizards. Keep your eyes on the river, too – there’s the chance of spotting the fin of a freshwater shark as it slices above the water’s surface.

White Water Rafting (optional)
White water rafting is one of the 'must do' activities in Arenal Costa Rica if you are an adventure lover. It is hardly surprising it is a popular activity given the warm water, great rapids and the chance of seeing the adundant flora and fauna in Costa Rica. Arenal Volcano is the second most visited location in Costa Rica, afterall who can resist visiting one of the most activie volcanoes in the world, combined with the many activities in the area? Once in Arenal many people take advantage of the white water rafting in the area, the convenience and the beautiful rivers make it a good choice. And who is rafting suitable for? For those with a great sense of adventure and wanting to see Costa Rica from a fun and different prospective...white water rafting Arenal Costa Rica is a must!

Canyoneering (optional)
Canyoneering (or canyoning) in in the Lost Canyon, Arenal Costa Rica is a wonderful experience. Imagine yourself in surrounded by lush rainforest atop a magical canyon waiting to rappel down some jungle waterfalls! Start off by doing a fun 4x4 off-road adventure as you climb about 15 minutes up into a quiet mountainside community. Prepare to get wet! Your guides will give you a thorough safety talk to explain important rappelling and down-climbing techniques. You will be provided high-quality technical climbing gear such as a harness, helmet & gloves. Prepare to get wet as the guides aassist you as you make your way down amazing rappels! Take a deep breath! You’ll rappel down 150-ft waterfalls for the thrill of a lifetime! Make your way along the river bed by down-climbing and rappelling a series of six waterfalls that get gradually bigger and… BIGGER! Save the best for last! The biggest and most-exciting waterfall is your last descent… you’ll finish with a 200ft-guided-rappel at the end!

Baldi Hot Springs
Baldi Hot Springs is located 4km from the town of La Fortuna in Arenal Costa Rica and is a popular hot springs set in 4.5 acres of gorgeous tropical gardens. It has 16 different hot springs baths of varying temperature, averaging around 40°C. Baldi Hot Springs has restaurants, swim-up bars, spa service, changing facilities and tropical gardens. The pools are spread around the grounds and sculpted with stones and framed by lush plants. Many types of treatments and massages are available from the spa, which take advantage of the thermal waters, minerals and other volcanic properties. There is a restaurant with an international menu (and relatively high prices) and a bar which serves cheaper snacks of: hamburgers, pizza and fries. On a good night, you can sit in a pool, drink in hand, watching the lava flow down the volcano!

Horseback Transfer (optional)
85 miles (136 km) of road separate the town of La Fortuna – which lays at the base of the Arenal Volcano – and Monteverde. Due to the mountainous terrain separating these two locations (and some 3,700 feet in elevation), there is no direct route, as the road is forced to detour by the town of Tilarán. You will travel from La Fortuna to the Arenal Dam. A motorboat will take you to the other side of the Lake Arenal to El Castillo, a town where the horses will be ready for you. You will ride for three and a half hours, crossing rivers, grasslands, typical farms and forests. Then you climb up over 3,300 feet until you reach the cloud forest. This is probably the most spectacular trip you will find in Costa Rica. This trip gives you the opportunity to see some of the most stunning scenery in the world as you ride nearby the Childrens Rainforest Reserve and the Monteverde Cloud Forest.

Zipline (optional)
You will ride an open-air gondola from the ground to the heights where you'll be dropped off at an observation area for fantastic views of the gulf and cloud forest. From this area, choose to return to the ground below by riding the gondola back down or opt for a faster trip by riding down on a zip line stretching across canyons and between treetops, the exhilarating adventure of zip lining down the mountainside begins, ultimately returning you to the starting point at the main building. There are currently ten zip line cables and they range in height from 40 meters to 100 meters and in length from 100 meters to 750 meters.

Monteverde National Park
Monteverde was originally founded in 1951. Founded by a group of U.S. Quakers, who were pacifists seeking refuge from the draft, relocated there because of Costa Rica’s political neutrality. These Quakers made every effort to preserve and maintain the integrity and natural beauty of their new home land. To sustain themselves, the Quakers began making cheese from milk brought to their primitive processing plant each morning by Tico dairy farmers. Today the Quakers produce tons of cheese daily. Consequently, they achieved their goal as well as seeing their community thrive. The Monteverde Cloud Forest is known around the world for its conservation efforts and has been much praised for its forward-thinking ecological preservation efforts enacted within it. Monteverde is truly a biological and ecological treasure in Costa Rica’s already rich landscape. Scientists have come from all over in order to study and examine Monteverde’s rich ecological and biological qualities. The reserve is not really a national park; it is instead run by the Tropical Science Center, an organization that runs numerous projects in order to maintain and preserve this ecological treasure.

Mangrove Kayak
Paddle through the smooth inland waterways of the Damas Island Estuary, one of the most unusual types of vegetation on the planet, and learn the importance of this delicate ecosystem. Mangroves thrive where the salt waters of the ocean meet the fresh waters of tropical rivers creating a periodically submerged forest of interlacing aerial roots. You will be given paddling instructions at the beginning of the tour. Your bilingual guide will show you the wealth of animal and bird life that lives in this unique habitat, such as mangrove wrens, swallows and an abundance of shore birds. On the banks of the estuary, you'll see the main protagonists of the mangrove ecosystem; the Sally light foot crab, as well as boa constrictors tangled in the aerial roots, silky ant eaters and monkeys in the upper branches and crocodiles slipping in and out of the water.

Manuel Antonio National Park
This park is just south of Quepos on the Pacific Coast, 132 km from San José. Perhaps It is so popular because of its expensive white sand beaches backed by an evergreen forest that grows right up to the high tide line. The principal habitants are primary forest, secondary forest, mangrove swamps, lagoons and beach vegetation. There is quite a varied fauna with 109 species of mammals and 184 of birds. The park includes 12 little isles just off the coast; these are a number of dolphins and, at times, migrating whales can be observed.

Make Reservation
Land package: $1,095
Round-trip airfare: $585
Departing from Los Angeles, CA
Trip Includes
Double occupancy accommodations; group transfers provided by private a/c coach bus; all breakfasts and two group dinners; entrance to Manuel Antonio National Park; scenic boat tour in Caño Negro Reserve; entrance to Baldi Hot Springs; cloud forest guided tour; kayaking through mangrove swamp; comprehensive trip insurance.
Have a Question?
Send an e-mail to the organizers.
John Corcoran
Main Coordinator
Ron Domash
Assistant Coordinator
Trent Nguyen
Assistant Coordinator