Think you know Costa Rica? Trade in the same old settings for the real deal. Trek into the heart of the jungle to live with three families in a remote village. Discover the emerald core of a diverse land amid the beauty of the jungle. Learn about the medicinal plants native to these parts and how to make sugarcane candy. This is a spectacular country with opportunities for hiking, surfing, and whitewater rafting. This is what adventure is all about.
Travel Style
Active
Service Level
Basic
Physical Grading
4 - Demanding
What's Included
Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group
Your Foodie Moment: Bread Making, Piedras Blancas
Your Foodie Moment: Chocolate Making, Piedras Blancas. Hiking excursion to Piedras Blancas (4 days). Whitewater rafting on the Savegre River. Trapiche demonstration. Ballena Marine National Park visit. Manuel Antonio National Park Entrance. Free time in Esquipulas and Uvita. All transport between destinations and to/from included activities.
What are the main highlights of this trip?
Trek into a remote community to live with the locals, Explore the Costa Rican jungle, Make your own sugarcane candy, Whitewater raft on the Savegre River
How large will the group be?
Max 16, avg 10.
What meals are included in this trip?
6 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 5 dinners
What are the modes of transportation on my trip?
Local bus, pickup truck, private vehicle, raft, hiking.
Is there an extra cost for travelling solo?
We believe solo travellers should not have to pay more to travel so our group trips are designed for shared accommodation and do not involve a single supplement. Single travellers joining group trips are paired in twin or multi-share accommodation with someone of the same sex for the duration of the trip. Some of our Independent trips are designed differently and solo travellers on these itineraries must pay the single trip price.
Where will we stay during the trip?
Hotels (5 nts), Jungle Homestay (3 nts), Camping (3 nts).
Itinerary
San José
Arrive at any time. There are no planned activities during the day, so check into the hotel and explore the city. As it is located in the central highlands, San José enjoys a moderate climate.
Amid the hustle and bustle, San José has beautiful parks, museums and the ornate Costa Rica National Theatre downtown. Enjoy the view of the surrounding mountains from the downtown streets.
The central plaza is a good place to people-watch. A mime, juggler, marimba band, magician, or storyteller may be performing for whatever is collected when the hat is passed. Artisan booths are common, creating a regular arts and crafts fair atmosphere.
San José/San Isidro
Travel by local bus over the highest mountain pass in the country. Arrive in the valley of San Isidro de El General and take a walk in the main plaza. Spend the day visiting some shops and stock up before the next day's trek into the jungle. Located near three rivers and Costa Rica's highest mountain, Mt Chirripó, this region is well-known but few travelers stay to find out why.
San Isidro/Piedras Blancas
Embark on a three-day, three-night excursion with a locally owned and operated adventure company to the community of Piedras Blancas, found in the heart of the Zona de los Santos region. The journey is always half the fun! Travel in the back of a pickup truck through lush green landscapes and end in the small town of Brujo. Enjoy a 4-hour hike to a jungle homestay while spotting tropical fauna and plenty of wildlife along the way.
Piedras Blancas
Experience life in a remote community in and around a local family farm. Wake up with the sun today and get ready for loads of activities. Enjoy a delicious traditional Costa Rican breakfast to start the day off right. In small groups, make 'dulce' (candy) at the family's traditional 'trapiche' (sugar cane mill). Cool off in the river that flows right by the house while the sugar simmers over the fire and lunch is being prepared.
Hike one hour to another household and stay the night. While there, local guides and members of the family will explain how to make fresh cheese and breads, play card games and enjoy tasty traditional Tico cooking. Once the evening winds down, head to bed for a well-deserved rest.
Piedras Blancas
Travel across the Savegre River to the next homestay with an included medicinal plant walk. Start the day with a delicious home-cooked breakfast and fortify for the two-hour hike through the rainforest to tonight's home stay retreat. Enjoy the sights and sounds of the rushing waterfall directly in front of the dining area. Watch wildlife and hummingbirds up close. Reward yourself homemade chocolate made from cocoa beans collected right from the garden.
Piedras Blancas/Esquipulas
Walk through the jungle from the homestay and raft the Savegre River. Then, relax at the end of the day at camp and enjoy an included dinner. Today is a full, action-packed day. Set your alarm for an early morning start and a two-hour hike back to Brujo where we jump into rafts and head off on the Savegre River.
Paddle toward the Pacific coast, then take a van to Esquipulas. Spend the rest of the day relaxing at camp before an included dinner.
Manuel Antonio
Enjoy a day trip to explore beautiful Manuel Antonio Park. In the afternoon the group will transfer back to Esquipulas for a relaxing evening and included dinner.
Quepos
Enjoy a free day in the area for optional activities. Be as active or relaxed as you'd like. A free day for exploring the area, there are a number of activities to choose from depending on the group’s interest and energy levels.
Esquipulas/Uvita
Enjoy a morning at your leisure before travelling to beautiful seaside Uvita. Opt to surf, whale-watch, horseback-ride or kick back and relax. After a slow morning, hop in a private van and enjoy the ride to Uvita, a small beach town on the southwestern Pacific coast.
Take some much deserved time to rest and relax.
Uvita
Spend the morning swimming, relaxing, and watching humpback whales off the coast of Ballena Marine National Park, before enjoying free time in Uvita. This is a perfect day for some quality hammock time. Still need to move? There's lots to do. Take a surf lesson, horseback ride, snorkel, SCUBA dive or take a trip to nearby Caño Island.
Uvita/San José
Transfer back to the capital for a final evening with the group.
San José
Depart at any time. Depart from San José at any time.
Is travel insurance required for my trip?
Travel insurance is compulsory in order to participate on any of our trips. When travelling on a group trip, you will not be permitted to join the group until evidence of travel insurance has been sighted by your leader, who will take note of your insurance details. When selecting a travel insurance policy we require that at a minimum you are covered for medical expenses including emergency evacuation and repatriation. A minimum coverage of USD200,000 is required. We strongly recommend that the policy also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage and personal effects. Some tours include adventure activities that require extra coverage (e.g. crampon use); please review your itinerary and make sure that you are covered for all included activities. If you have credit card insurance we require proof of purchase of the trip (a receipt of credit card statement) with a credit card in your name. Contact your bank for details of their participating insurer, the level of coverage and emergency contact telephone number.
Terms, conditions and restrictions apply; pricing, availability, and other details subject to change and/ or apply to US or Canadian residents. Please confirm details and booking information with your travel advisor.
