Costa Rica: Hike, Bike & Raft
Costa Rica: Hike, Bike & Raft
$1964
Costa Rica: Hike, Bike & Raft
8 Days Starting and ending in San Jose, Costa Rica
Visiting: San Jose, Gold Museum, National Museum, Monteverde, La Fortuna, Lake Arenal, Arenal Volcano, Cano Negro Reserve, La Fortuna Waterfall, Arenal Hanging Bridges, Paradise Hot Springs, Pacuare River, Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge
Tour operator:
Tour code:
QVXC
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
1 - 12
Age range:
15-99
Trip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Embark on an exhilarating adventure through Costa Rica with the "Hike, Bike & Raft" tour. This journey takes you from the bustling streets of San Jose to the lush Monteverde Cloud Forest, where you'll encounter exotic wildlife like sloths and quetzals. Experience the thrill of whitewater rafting on the renowned Pacuare River, and cycle along the serene, palm-lined roads of Puerto Viejo, discovering hidden Caribbean beaches. Enjoy a surfing expedition or stand-up paddleboarding with a stunning volcano backdrop at Lake Arenal. Explore La Fortuna's hot springs and wildlife-rich Cano Negro Reserve. Delight in a Caribbean cooking demonstration, blending African, indigenous, and Spanish flavors. With diverse transportation modes and flexible accommodation, this tour promises an unforgettable exploration of Costa Rica's natural beauty and vibrant culture.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: San Jose
Location: San Jose, Gold Museum, National Museum
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: hotel
Hola! Welcome to Costa Rica. Your adventure begins in San Jose with a welcome meeting at 6 pm. With over half the country's population living within its parameters, San Jose is a city with colourful markets, many museums and a lively atmosphere. If you arrive early, maybe start exploring in the main plaza. Artisan booths are common here and you never know when there will be a spontaneous art fair. Check out the Gold Museum, home to an amazing collection of indigenous gold art. If these cultural gems get you in the mood for a bit of shopping, head to the San Jose Handcraft Market or the Central Market, where you can buy anything from handicrafts to fresh seafood. Optional Activities:-San Jose - Pre-Colombian Gold Museum (Entrance fee)-San Jose - National Museum (entrance fee) (Closed Sunday & Monday)
Day 2: Monteverde
Location: Monteverde
Accommodation: Lodge
Accommodation Name: hotel
This morning you’ll travel by bus to the incredibly lush Monteverde. Settled by North American Quakers in 1951, this area was initially used as an environmentally conscious agricultural community and is now a biological preserve. Make the most of your free time in lush here and maybe organise a local guide to take you on an evening nature walk. There are also several local communities that operate cooperatives worth visiting. Get a different perspective of the forest by walking through the canopy on suspension bridges or watch butterflies in the Butterfly Garden. More than 2000 species of plants, 320 bird species and 100 different types of mammals call Monteverde home, making it the ideal spot for wildlife spotting. No matter what you choose to do today, be sure to keep an eye out for the resplendent quetzal, one of the most elusive birds in the world.
Optional Activities:
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Day 3: Monteverde Cloud Forest hike & La Fortuna
Location: Monteverde, La Fortuna
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: hotel
Monteverde Cloud Forest has near-constant cloud cover, providing consistent rainfall, giving the area an enchanted feeling. Spend the morning in the forest on a leader-led nature hike, looking out for hummingbirds, quetzals and maybe even a lazy sloths hanging among the mist. After your hike, drive to Lake Arenal in La Fortuna – a small but vibrant town with an abundance of hot springs and natural pools to soak in. When you arrive, you have the rest of the day free to explore, swim or get active. Tonight, why not grab a classic local dinner with a few of your fellow travellers? Chifrijo (fried pork, salsa, beans and tortilla chips) always goes down a treat!
Included Activities:
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Day 4: La Fortuna
Location: La Fortuna, Lake Arenal, Arenal Volcano, Cano Negro Reserve, La Fortuna Waterfall, Arenal Hanging Bridges, Paradise Hot Springs
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: hotel
Enjoy a free day to explore La Fortuna as you wish. This region offers lush forest, rare plants and lots of wildlife watching opportunities. There are also plenty of exciting water-based activities available on Lake Arenal. The volcano’s inner workings also mean there are plenty of thermal springs where hot, lava-heated water gushes to the surface. These springs are often surrounded by foliage, making them the ideal place to kick back and relax. Maybe try stand-up paddleboarding on the lake with a backdrop of the volcano and rolling green hills behind you. Animal lovers might want to take a boat tour of Cano Negro Reserve to count sloths, monkeys, crocodiles and the basilisk lizards that skip across the water. Optional Activities:-La Fortuna- Caño Negro boat tour-La Fortuna - La Fortuna Waterfall (Entrance only)-La Fortuna - Stand up paddle board-La Fortuna - Arenal hanging bridges (inc entrance fee, guide and shared transport)-La Fortuna - Arenal 1968 Volcano View and Lava Trails (Entrance fee)-La Fortuna - Paradise Hot Springs (entrance fee)
Day 5: Pacuare River white water rafting & Puerto Viejo
Location: Pacuare River, Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: hotel
Meals Included: Lunch
This morning, leave the towering volcano behind and drive east to Pacuare River – renowned for its natural beauty. What better way to experience the river in all its glory than an adrenaline-filled white water rafting adventure? While not an overly challenging or technical river, the 29 km (18 mi) one day run includes 52 rapids, guaranteeing you a day of fun on the water. Flanked by green gorge walls, tumbling waterfalls and tropical rainforest, this is Costa Rican nature at its best! Keep an eye out for the abundant wildlife, including the sloth, parrots, toucans, butterflies and frogs. Afterwards continue by vehicle (approximately 4 hours) to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca for a taste of Caribbean seaside – think reggae bars and palm-fringed beaches.
Included Activities:
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Day 6: Puerto Viejo de Talamanca Cycling
Location: Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: hotel
Meals Included: Lunch
After breakfast, get to know the area better with a relaxed bike ride along the palm-fringed coastal road of Puerto Viejo, stopping at various beaches and inlets along the way. Stop at a local restaurant for lunch and be introduced to the local cuisine in the best way – by watching it being made during at a Caribbean cooking demonstration! Experience a mix of African, indigenous and Spanish flavours with a mix of coconut milk, spices, fruits, seafood and curry flavours. Return to Puerto Viejo for the evening, where you can hit the bars or chill out at the beach to end the night.
Included Activities:
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Day 7: Puerto Viejo de Talamanca & San Jose
Location: Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge, San Jose
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: hotel
This morning is free for you to explore Puerto Viejo further at your own pace. Maybe rise early and take the public bus to Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge – this area is made up of several rare habitats, including a lowland rainforest, a wetland, a coral reef and a mangrove swamp. Spend around 2 hours exploring and keep your eyes peeled for monkeys, reptiles, toucans and macaws. Otherwise, you can kick back and relax on the Caribbean shores or take to the waves for a beginner’s surf lesson. Around midday you’ll take the bus back to San Jose. With time to explore the bustling food and artisan markets, you’ll see a more urban Costa Rica, quite different to the past few days of natural habitats and wildlife opportunities.
Around midday take the bus back to San Jose (approximately 5-6 hours). With time to explore the historic buildings and bustling food and artisan markets, you’ll see a more urban Costa Rica, quite different to the past few days of travel. After so much activity in Costa Rica, you may instead be up for a quiet night, so perhaps head out for a group dinner and become acquainted with the city's night scene – your group leader will know a good place to go.
Optional Activities:
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Day 8: San Jose
Location: San Jose
There are no activities planned after breakfast today and your adventure comes to an end. You're free to leave at any time after check out. If you'd like to extend your stay, just get in touch with your booking agent ahead of time to organise additional accommodation. If you are exploring San Jose in more depth, why not book in an Urban Adventures tour like the San Jose Bites & Sights.
Optional Activities:
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What's Included
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Accommodation
Hotel (6 nights), Lodge (1 nights) -
Meals
6 breakfasts, 2 lunches -
Monteverde - Cloud Forest Entrance
Entrance to the Monteverde Cloud Forest is included.
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Pacuare - 4hrs. Pacuare River white water rafting - Class 3 & 4
Experience 4 hours of white water rafting on the Pacuare River, tackling Class 3 and 4 rapids.
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Puerto Viejo de Talamanca - Coastal Bicycle ride
Enjoy a coastal bicycle ride in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca.
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Caribbean cooking demonstration
Participate in a Caribbean cooking demonstration.
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Transportation
Transportation includes shared vehicles, public buses, rafts, and bicycles, providing a diverse and adventurous travel experience throughout the tour.
What's Not Included
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Optional Activities
Optional activities such as the San Jose - Pre-Colombian Gold Museum entrance fee, Monteverde - Coffee & Chocolate tour, and La Fortuna - Stand up paddle board are not included.
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Personal Expenses
Personal expenses such as shopping, additional meals, and tips are not included.
Transport
- Shared vehicle , Public bus , Raft , Bicycle
Accommodation
- The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation.
- Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available.
Important Information
- 1. It is very important that you provide your height at time of booking so we can ensure that you have the appropriate sized bicycle when your trip starts. If you do not provide your height ahead of arrival we cannot guarantee a suitably sized bike for you.
- 2. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm on Day 1 in San Jose. There are no activities planned for the final day so you may depart at any time.
- 3. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
- 4. Please be careful when booking flights to/from San Jose; make sure you fly into/out of Juan Santamaria International Airport [SJO]. Please do not book flights to/from Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport [SJC] as this is located in California, United States.
Mode of Transport
Transportation includes shared vehicles, public buses, rafts, and bicycles, providing a diverse and adventurous travel experience throughout the tour.
Accommodation
Accommodation throughout the tour may vary, with alternative arrangements made if preferred options are unavailable. Rooms are prepared for early arrivals when possible, but luggage storage and shared day rooms are available until check-in.
Check out our Q&As
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What kind of transportation is used during the tour?
The tour includes transportation via shared vehicles, public buses, rafts, and bicycles, offering a diverse and adventurous travel experience.
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What activities are included in the Monteverde Cloud Forest visit?
The visit to Monteverde Cloud Forest includes a leader-led nature hike where you can look out for hummingbirds, quetzals, and possibly sloths.
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What can I expect during the white water rafting on the Pacuare River?
The white water rafting on the Pacuare River is a 4-hour adventure tackling Class 3 and Class 4 rapids, surrounded by lush landscapes and abundant wildlife.
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What is included in the Puerto Viejo de Talamanca cycling activity?
The cycling activity in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca involves a relaxed bike ride along the palm-fringed coastal road, stopping at various beaches and inlets.
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What is the Caribbean cooking demonstration like?
The Caribbean cooking demonstration in Puerto Viejo introduces you to local cuisine, blending African, indigenous, and Spanish flavors with ingredients like coconut milk, spices, fruits, seafood, and curry.
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Are there any optional activities available during the tour?
Yes, optional activities include the San Jose Pre-Colombian Gold Museum, Monteverde Coffee & Chocolate tour, La Fortuna stand-up paddleboarding, and more.
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Intrepid Travel has been taking travellers around the world for over 30 years
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Since 2002, The Intrepid Foundation has supported over 130 organisations across the world. We’re creating positive impact through the joy of travel, community and connection.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Over 50% of traveller travel solo with Intrepid. You can choose to share a room with another solo travelle of the same sex for no additional charge, or choose to pay a single supplement if you’d like your own room. Please request this when booking, and we will secure you a single supplement wherever possible. Please note, if you are booking a last-minute trip, it may be harder for us to secure a single room
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Book with Confidence
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Free Date Changes
Intrepid Travel allows you to make 10 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 56 days before the start of the tour.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Intrepid Travel allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform intrepid travel, 56 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Intrepid Travel requires a minimum deposit of 400 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 56 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of intrepid travel charges.
Up to 56 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 55 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.
At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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Terms and Conditions