Zip line through the cloud forest

Zip lines offer a bird’s-eye view of the tropical canopy. We hike in the lush forests of Arenal Volcano National Park, then head to Manuel Antonio National Park to explore Costa Rica’s wild Pacific Coast.

Photo by Yadid Levy / ageFotostock

display information about this photo

Costa Rica Adventure

Hike Rainforest Trails, Ride a Zip Line, Sea Kayak on the Blue Pacific

Costa Rica Adventure route-map

Trip Details at-a-Glance

Cost From: $3295   see pricing
Length: 7 days
Arrive: San Jose, Costa Rica
Depart: San Jose, Costa Rica
Lodging: 6 nights hotels describe
Meals: All meals included except 1 dinner
Activity: Wildlife & Natural History, Walking, Sea Kayaking
Trip Level: Easy nature hikes and sea kayaking
2 explain

Highlights

  • Hike through a primary rainforest alive with the calls of birds and monkeys
  • Walk along “hanging bridges” and ride a zip line in the rainforest canopy
  • Sea kayak and snorkel in the blue Pacific, sail by private catamaran
  • Optional whitewater rafting on the Rio Pacuare


We had an excellent trip. Everything was well organized and extremely comfortable.Nancy S.—Cincinnati, OH

Choosing the Right Trip

We work hard to help you choose the right trip for you, paying attention to your individual interests, abilities, and needs. If you have questions about the level of comfort or any of the activities described in this itinerary, please contact us.
Email Area Manager

References

We are proud to have an exceptionally high rate of repeat travelers. For more information, we would be happy to put you in touch with a client who has traveled with us.

Email Area Manager

Departure Notes

Once you have signed up on the trip, we send a complete packing list, relevant health information, and required travel documents.

Resources

Beauty is all around us in the tropics of Costa Rica, from jungle-draped volcanoes to sweeping expanses of wilderness beaches along the azure Pacific. With a delightful mix of adventures that includes hiking, sea kayaking, and wildlife viewing, we explore from the mountains to the sea on this naturalist-led journey. We start with hikes near Arenal Volcano, an active tropical volcano rising from jungled highlands, then explore treetop canopies by way of spectacular hanging bridges and thrilling zip lines. Our grand finale is on the idyllic Pacific Coast, where we sea kayak, snorkel, hike on beaches where monkeys howl and toucans flock, and, at sunset, dolphin watch by catamaran as the tropical sky turns vivid shades of pink and orange.

Itinerary at a Glance

For a more complete description, Download Full Trip Brochure

Days 1-3
San Jose / Arenal Volcano National Park

From the Costa Rican capital, we head to the biological preserve of Nectandra Cloud Forest for walks on nature trails through primary and secondary forest interspersed with tropical gardens—a great introduction to Costa Rica’s natural wonders. In the highlands of Arenal Volcano National Park, the perfect cone of Arenal (5,300') is a dramatic sight. From our lovely lodge overlooking Arenal, we hike to a thundering waterfall, soak in hot springs, and explore the rainforest amid the playful sounds of toucans and howler monkeys. Highlights include a walk across an elaborate network of spectacular hanging bridges that grant us access to the canopy of the park’s primary rainforest, where more than 350 species of birds and a colorful array of butterflies reside. Views of Arenal are striking from these bridges, and with luck, we may see the volcano’s red lava flows at night from our lodge.

Day 4
Zip Line

We visit a private forest reserve to experience Costa Rica’s popular adventure sport—the zip line! Clipping into steel cables rigged among the trees, we “fly” through the canopy for an exhilarating experience of the treetop world. As we zip from one platform to the next, we get a bird’s-eye view of the canopy environment, where 90 percent of the rainforest wildlife lives.

Days 5-7
Manuel Antonio National Park

The Pacific Ocean setting of Manuel Antonio National Park offers gorgeous tropical forests edged by white-sand beaches. We hike trails to the beach through the forests of the park, with its canopy full of monkeys and iguanas. We also explore by sit-on-top kayaks along the coast, the perfect way to view wildlife up close. Sea turtles, flying fish, and birdlife including boobies and frigatebirds share this beautiful environment with the many dolphins that frolic in these tropical waters. At sunset one evening, we head out by private catamaran for a snorkeling excursion and dolphin watching at a magical time of the day. Depart on Day 7 via San Jose, or join our Whitewater Rafting Extension.

For a more complete description, Download Full Trip Brochure

Optional Extensions

If you would like to continue your adventure, we offer the following extension:

What the Trip is Like

The trip is rated 2, or easy to moderate, according to our trip grading system. It is designed for people in reasonably good shape who have a fair amount of physical stamina. No previous experience is necessary for our sea kayaking day tour at Manuel Antonio National Park. In general, we strongly recommend you begin a program of regular physical exercise so you can get the most out of the trip. Please note that on this trip we have a full schedule of activity each day. If you are interested in more leisure time, we recommend that you add a day or two at the beginning or end of the trip. We are happy to assist you in booking extra hotel nights.

Explanation of Trip Levels

 

Departures

Dec 17-23, 2010
Jan 22-28, 2011
Feb 12-18, 2011
Apr 9-15, 2011

Tour Costs

Prices are for 2011
$3295 (11-15 members)
$3695 (5-10 members)
Single supplement: $665
Internal airfare: $110-185 (based on group size)
December surcharge: $200 per person

Extension Costs
One-Day Pacuare River Rafting Extension
   from: $149

more on pricing

Tour Cost Includes:

  • expert leadership of a Wilderness Travel Trip Leader and local guides
  • accommodations in first-class hotels and lodges
  • welcome breakfast and farewell dinner and most meals as specified in the Full Trip Brochure
  • land transportation, airport transfers as noted in the Full Trip Brochure

Tour Cost Does Not Include:

international airfare, one-way flight Quepos/San Jose, any meals not specified after each itinerary day in the Full Trip Brochure, airport departure taxes, optional tipping or gratuities to leaders or staff, additional hotel nights that may be necessitated by airline schedule changes or other factors; pre-trip expenses of medical immunizations (if any), travel insurance, or passports and visas; and other expenses of a personal nature (alcoholic beverages, laundry, etc.).

Trip Payment Schedule

At time of reservation: $500
120 days prior to departure: 20% of tour cost
60 days prior to departure: Balance

Cancellation Fee Schedule

Minimum fee: None
46-90 days prior to departure: 25% of tour cost
45 days or less: 100% of tour cost

Hotel Bougainvillea

Day 1 (1 night), San Jose, Costa Rica

The Hotel Bougainvillea is set among 10 acres of lush tropical gardens in the residential district of San Domingo de Heredia, just 15 minutes from ...
Click here for full description and more photos

Lost Iguana Resort & Spa

Days 2 to 3 (2 nights), Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica

This wonderful resort is like an oasis in the middle of nowhere. While the rooms are not luxurious, they are very comfortable and private, and ...
Click here for full description and more photos

Hotel El Parador

Days 4 to 6 (3 nights), Manuel Antonio National Park, Costa Rica

Set atop a majestic bluff overlooking the Pacific and surrounded by 400 acres of tropical rainforest, the Hotel El Parador is a bit larger than what ...
Click here for full description and more photos

Extension Accommodations

If you would like to view the accommodations offered with our extensions option:

Note: Listed above are our signature accommodations for this trip. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.

Client Comments

We had an excellent trip. Everything was well organized and extremely comfortable. Nancy S., Cincinnati, OH
A very fun trip. We appreciated learning about the ecosystems, the people, and the wildlife as well. A perfect balance, and the size of the group was just right. Phil and Jane P., Portland, OR