COSTA RICA'S LIVING ESSENCE

Upon your arrival at Juan Santamaría International Airport, we will greet you and transfer you to your first accommodation, just 20 minutes away. You will spend your first night at the **Parque del Lago Boutique Hotel**, an elegant and contemporary hotel conveniently located in San José, offering easy access to explore the capital.

After your first Costa Rican breakfast, we will pick you up and drive you to the province of Limón, where the adventure truly begins. For a faster and more comfortable arrival, we offer an optional flight with **SANSA**, the national airline, which takes you from San José to Limón in just minutes. Our recommended lodge is located very close to the local airstrip. 

Welcome to **Selva Bananito Experience**, a rustic-luxury eco-lodge that offers tranquility, beauty, and an authentic connection with nature. Here, you will have the opportunity to experience a primary rainforest of unique scenic beauty, a vital water source for over 100,000 inhabitants and the habitat of jaguars, pumas, and other critically endangered species.

One of the highlights of your stay is **Selva Air**, a scenic flight with an environmental mission. This elevated experience allows you to perceive the importance of conservation from a bird's-eye view, flying over the Selva Bananito Reserve. The guided aerial tour includes communication with the pilot, offering colorful Caribbean vistas that will inspire you to discover more. Longer scenic flights are also available upon request.

If you prefer not to fly or weather conditions do not permit it, we offer alternative activities such as birdwatching, natural history hikes, horseback riding, and tree climbing. You can also complement your experience with optional tours like the canopy observation platform with rappel, waterfall rappel, or an adventure horseback tour.

A truly life-changing activity is the **"Following the Footprints of Wildcats"** experience. You will embark on a long hike into the primary, enchanted old-growth forest to a jungle platform, where you will spend the night in a hammock surrounded by the immensity of the forest. With your guide, you will learn about nature, spot incredible wildlife like the Great Jacamar, and help our forest rangers collect data from trail cameras. This firsthand task shows the importance of your support in gathering images of magnificent felines and other endangered species that pass by.

After your rainforest exploration, a private transfer will take you to the Caribbean coast, where you will spend three nights at **Suizo Loco Lodge** in Cahuita. Located three kilometers from town and close to the black beach, this lodge is also a highlight for surfers. Enjoy free time to relax by the pool or on the beach, recharging your personal batteries.

For the more adventurous, we suggest arriving at your next destination via an optional **rafting tour on the Pacuare River** (Class III-IV). This includes lunch and white-water rafting on one of the country's most scenic rivers, where you will also see waterfalls, birds, and wildlife.

You will be close to the famous **Cahuita National Park**, which you can explore on your own or with a guided tour. Here, you are likely to see sloths, monkeys, raccoons, iguanas, snakes, and a variety of coastal vegetation. Additional day tours, such as a visit to the **Bri Bri Indigenous Reserve**, can be booked directly at the lodge.

It is a free day to enjoy the beautiful area of Cahuita at your own pace.



Alternatively, we offer a **3-day, 2-night extension to the Tortuguero Channel area**, highly recommended during turtle nesting season but wonderful year-round. Enjoy a scenic boat ride to Lirio Lodge, patrol a turtle protection project, explore the channels, and visit Pacuare Reserve.

After pickup at the meeting point in Muelle de San Carlos, we will transfer you to **La Tigra Rainforest Lodge**, a unique eco-lodge nestled on the slopes of the mountains near the Children's Eternal Rainforest. This lodge is part of a reforestation and conservation project, where every visitor contributes to restoring native forest and supporting local communities. Surrounded by lush greenery, your stay here is an opportunity to connect deeply with nature.

In the evening, enjoy a guided night walk through the lodge's private trails. Under the soft glow of your flashlight, discover the magical world of the rainforest after dark—colorful frogs, nocturnal insects, and perhaps the glimmering eyes of a mammal hidden in the canopy.

This morning, join your guide for a walk through La Tigra's private reserve, learning about the forest's biodiversity and the inspiring reforestation work taking place here. Hear stories of how native trees are planted to bring wildlife back, from toucans to sloths, and how the project empowers local families.

The afternoon is free to relax and enjoy the peaceful forest atmosphere. You may choose to join a Costa Rican cooking lesson led by local hosts, or simply unwind in the forest-view jacuzzi, surrounded by tropical sounds.

After breakfast, travel toward La Fortuna and the Arenal Volcano area (approximately 45 minutes). This region is known for its stunning volcano views, lush rainforest, and natural hot springs.

At 2:00 PM, embark on a guided hike at **Arenal Volcano National Park**, where you will learn about past eruptions and admire incredible views of the volcano and Arenal Lake. Continue with a boat ride on Arenal Lake, offering a different perspective of this iconic landmark and a chance to spot herons, kingfishers, and other tropical birds.

After the hike, unwind at **Ecotermales Hot Springs**, one of Arenal's most peaceful thermal complexes. Enjoy a soak in the naturally heated pools surrounded by tropical gardens, followed by a delicious Costa Rican dinner on-site.

Today, be part of the local life with the **Campesino Farm Tour** (from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM), an authentic cultural experience in the Arenal countryside. Meet a local farming family, explore their property, and learn about traditional agriculture, medicinal plants, and daily life in rural Costa Rica.

You will get hands-on with farm activities, taste fresh sugarcane juice, and enjoy a home-cooked lunch prepared with ingredients grown right on the farm. This is a meaningful encounter that celebrates Costa Rica's people and traditions.

After breakfast, your journey continues north toward **Tenorio Volcano National Park** (approximately 1.5 hours). Along the way, enjoy the **Río Celeste Hike**, one of Costa Rica's most famous natural wonders. Follow forest trails to discover the turquoise-blue river that seems almost unreal, a result of volcanic minerals refracting sunlight. Visit Los Teñideros, where two clear streams merge to create the river's magical color, and feel the mist of **Río Celeste Waterfall**, surrounded by dense rainforest teeming with wildlife such as monkeys, toucans, and poison dart frogs.

After the hike, enjoy a delicious lunch before continuing to your lodge and settling in. Later at night, join a two-hour guided walk in search of the elusive **Baird's Tapir**, one of Costa Rica's most remarkable mammals and a symbol of rainforest conservation.

After breakfast, travel toward the sunny Pacific coast of Guanacaste Province (approximately 3 hours) until you reach **Samara Beach**, a laid-back coastal village known for its golden sands, calm waters, and friendly local atmosphere. The beach is ideal for swimming, paddleboarding, or simply relaxing under the shade of palm trees.

Enjoy two full days to relax and explore Samara at your own pace. You may visit nearby beaches such as Carrillo, try a kayaking tour to Chora Island, go snorkeling, or simply enjoy the town's cozy cafes and seaside restaurants. Samara's natural beauty and easygoing rhythm make it the perfect place to end your Costa Rican adventure.

Enjoy the peaceful area and some of the optional activities available in the area at your own pace

After breakfast, your driver will take you to **Liberia International Airport (LIR)** for your departing flight (approximately 1.5 hours). If your flight departs from San José (SJO), we will arrange the transfer accordingly for an extra cost.

We invite you to take unforgettable memories of Costa Rica's rainforests, beaches, volcanoes, and wildlife with you. You will remember our conservation-minded hospitality and the regenerative experiences that reflect our love for Costa Rica's living essence. ¡Hasta pronto, amigos!