Nature and cultures, heading for the Caribbean

You meet your guide and fellow travelers over breakfast, then head to the slopes of the Poás volcano. A coffee plantation opens its doors to you, from picking the red cherries to roasting them, with a tasting included. After a typical lunch, stop at Grecia and Sarchí, home of the famous painted carts. The road then climbs into the Tilarán mountain range—your guide takes the opportunity to tell you about the country's eventful geology—until you reach your eco-lodge. Monteverde, at the edge of a cloud forest.

Optional tonight: guided outing to discover nocturnal wildlife, flashlight provided (fee on-site).

Morning of exploration in one of the great reserves Monteverde — Curi-Cancha, Santa Elena, or Monteverde, depending on the day's conditions. Under the mosses and orchids live over 400 species of birds, including the mythical resplendent quetzal that your naturalist guide knows how to find. In the afternoon, gain altitude on the hanging bridges of a private reserve, with your gaze at canopy level. At the end of the day, stop at a hummingbird garden where dozens of individuals flit around the feeders.

For the most adventurous: zip lines over the forest (optional, fees on-site).

A beautiful day's drive through the bucolic landscapes of the mountain range, along Lake Arenal: a coffee break on a promontory overlooking the lake, craft stalls, and impromptu stops whenever a monkey, coati, or toucan appeared by the roadside. In the mid-afternoon, we settled into a charming hotel at the foot of the volcano. Arenal — pool, gardens, and the cone in the background. Dinner on site.

Tonight's optional activity: volcano-heated thermal baths (included in some hotels on the tour, otherwise a fee applies on site).

Morning in the national volcano park sector Arenal Paths traced on lava flows from past eruptions, viewpoints facing the sleeping colossus, and a full-scale volcanology lesson. You then cross to the other side for a Costa Rican lunch at a small farm, followed by a visit to its plantations—medicinal plants, a nursery, and a biomass digester, sustainable Costa Rica in action. Free late afternoon: pool, birdwatching in the gardens, or a trip to La Fortuna with the guide.

Departure at dawn and hearty breakfast in Guápiles, before boarding at the La Pavona dock: one hour of navigation between rivers and canals to reach your lodge Tortuguero — Here, there are no roads or cars; you can only arrive by water or air. Buffet lunch, followed by a visit to the village, perched on a sandbar between the canals and the Caribbean Sea, and a walk back along the beach, keeping your eyes open: wildlife is never far away.

From July to October, optional: night excursion to observe sea turtle nesting (fees payable on site).

Full Day in Costa Rica's Little Amazon: Guided Boat and Walking Tours in National Park Tortuguero, while on the lookout for caimans, howler monkeys, sloths, and some of the richest birdlife in the country. Between excursions, enjoy the lodge: swimming pool, forest trails, frog garden. Another excursion on the canals in the late afternoon, when the light turns golden.

During the green season (July-October), optional: night observation of turtle nesting (fees payable locally).

Boat ride back to La Pavona, buffet lunch in Guápiles, then the road speeds southeast and the atmosphere changes: reggae, colorful wooden houses, coconut trees. Welcome to Puerto Viejo. You'll be settling in for three nights at a charming hotel nestled just a stone's throw from the superb Cocles beach. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy between the pool, the sand, and your first snorkeling spots. Dinner is on your own - there's no shortage of great restaurants in the area.

The most impactful day of the trip. From Bambú, you'll take a canoe up the Sixaola and then the Yorkin rivers to the Bribri village of Yorkín, on the border of Panama. A walk through forest and cocoa plantations leads to the community, where you'll be welcomed to share their skills: cocoa cultivation, hut building, archery, and crafts. Enjoy a traditional lunch at the community center, then return on foot, by canoe, and by road to your hotel. Puerto Viejo. End of the day, beach or pool, dinner at your leisure.

Morning exploration in the Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge, a little-known gem of the southern Caribbean coast coastal trails, mangroves, sea turtle nesting beaches, and one of the country's last coral reefs, at Punta Uva. Over 350 species of birds have been recorded here—and, with luck, tapir or manatee. Snorkeling enthusiasts can explore the reef waters (equipment rental extra). Return late morning, with the afternoon free on the sand. Lunch and dinner are on your own.

Breakfast overlooking the Caribbean, then the drive back to San Jose. Transfer to the airport for your international flight (allow for a departure after 6 PM) — or extend your trip with a Toucan-signed extension.