Welcome to San José–your arrival transfer to the hotel is included. Check in and get excited to meet your fellow travelers during a welcome meeting this evening where all families can bond before the Journey ahead.
This morning, travel up into the misty cloud forests of Monteverde, where we’ll visit a rural community for a farm-to-table lunch, where our hosts will share insights about the local products and ingredients used in your meal. Enjoy fresh, seasonal, locally-sourced dishes—rice, beans, vegetables, homemade tortillas—and have the opportunity to touch and taste some of these products, giving you a deeper connection to Costa Rica’s local flavors. After lunch, visit the farm where children will enjoy hands-on agricultural activities. Explore tropical crops like coffee and fruits, see sustainable farming practices in action, and even learn how to make sugar cane juice using a traditional "Trapiche" mill—an interactive experience perfect for children and families alike. Later, enjoy some free time to get settled in our hotel. In the evening, follow a naturalist into the forest to seek out the fascinating nocturnal creatures that spring to life after the sun goes down, from red-eyed tree frogs to spiny porcupines.
Visit the Monteverde Institute, a research and educational organization supported by National Geographic. Hear about reforestation projects spearheaded by the institute, then roll up your sleeves and lend a hand in the tree nursery. The rest of the day is free for poolside relaxation or optional excursions in the clouds, including zip-lining, hiking in the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve, or a walk through the forest canopy across hanging bridges.
Today we travel towards Rincón de la Vieja National Park, an otherworldly land of smoking volcanoes, bubbling mud pots, and thermal hot springs—all shrouded in thick tangles of rainforest. This afternoon, channel your inner Tarzan as you swing across zip lines strung through the forest canopy.
Rise early for a full day of adventure in the national park. Get introduced to the park’s creatures on a naturalist-guided wildlife hike and swim beneath a tumbling waterfall. Then saddle up for a horseback-riding excursion as you make your way back to your lodge in time for a delicious lunch. After lunch, visit thermal hot springs and mud baths, where playing in the mud isn’t just allowed, it’s encouraged.
Journey toward the Pacific Ocean and the Gold Coast of Costa Rica. But first, take the morning to enjoy one final slow start to the day before getting on the road. Or, choose to get wet and wild on a tubing adventure on the Rio Negro. In the afternoon, head west to Guanacaste and get settled at your beachside locale.
The day is free to do as much or as little as you like. Relax at the pool or on the beach in this tropical paradise. Feel free to play in the sand and water; or opt to set sail across the bay and around the nearby Islands.
The journey back towards the capitol includes one incredible stop along the way. Embark on a jungle boat cruise through the Cipanci Reserve, part of the Tempisque River Conservation Area. The reserve is a wildlife-lover’s paradise: crocodiles glide beneath the water’s surface, monkeys swing through the surrounding treetops, and numerous winged wonders wade and fly at the river’s edge—including ospreys, wood storks, and roseate spoonbills. Upon arrival into San Jose, celebrate your adventure at a farewell dinner.
