From the high mountain ranges to the lowlands

First breakfast with the group and your guide, then head to the slopes of the Poás volcano for a complete coffee plantation tour: fields, factory, roasting, and, of course, tasting. After a typical lunch, stop in Grecia and Sarchí, artisan villages famous for their painted carts, before the scenic drive up the Tilarán mountain range—your guide will take the opportunity to tell you about the country's tumultuous geology. Check into your eco-lodge in Monteverde, on the edge of the cloud forest.

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

Morning guided exploration in one of the great reserves Monteverde (Curi-Cancha, Santa Elena, or Monteverde depending on conditions): Over 400 bird species, 100 mammal species, hundreds of orchids—and perhaps the quetzal. In the afternoon, gain elevation on the hanging bridges of a private reserve, at canopy level, for a spectacular perspective on the cloud forest. At the end of the day, stop at a hummingbird garden where dozens of individuals flit around feeders.

For the more adventurous: optional ziplines over the canopy (fees payable on site).

Beautiful bucolic drive through the Tilarán Cordillera and along Lake Arenal, punctuated by breaks — coffee on a promontory overlooking the lake, craft stalls, and impromptu stops whenever monkeys, coatis, or toucans appear by the roadside. In the early afternoon, check into a charming hotel at the foot of the volcano. Arenal ; relax by the pool or take a guided nature walk through the gardens.

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 the trails wind over ancient lava flows, between secondary forests and viewpoints facing the cone — an opportunity for your guide to explain why the colossus, long the most active in the country, has been dormant since 2010. Costa Rican lunch at a small farm on the other side, followed by a visit to its plantations and biomass digester — sustainable Costa Rica in action. Free afternoon: swimming pool, gardens, or a trip to La Fortuna.

Very early departure for the Caribbean lowlands—the altitude contrast is striking. Hearty breakfast in Guápiles, then boarding at the La Pavona dock: the boat speeds between rivers and canals to your lodge in Tortuguero, a region without roads that can only be reached by water or air. In the afternoon, visit the village, perched on a sandbar between canals and the Caribbean Sea, and return on foot along the beach.

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

Full day in the National Park of Tortuguero, one of the most well-watered—and most vibrant—regions in the country: guided boat and walking tours to spot caimans, howler monkeys, sloths, and some of Costa Rica’s richest birdlife. Between excursions, enjoy the lodge: walking trails, a swimming pool, and a frog garden. A new canal excursion in the late afternoon, when the light is at its most beautiful.

In the green season (July-October), nighttime observation of turtle nesting remains possible as an option (fees payable on-site).

Boat to La Pavona, then drive to San Jose through the immense forest of Braulio Carrillo National Park, with a buffet lunch en route in Guápiles. Arrival around 4 PM - 5 PM, check-in at the hotel, dinner with the group, and a quiet evening in the lounge or by the pool — tomorrow, we head back up in altitude.

Early morning departure for Irazú Volcano, the country's highest peak at 3,432 m: five craters, fumaroles, and a lake with sulfurous green waters—on a clear day, you can see both oceans. Typical lunch, followed by crossing the highest passes of the Talamanca mountain range before descending into the Savegre Valley: giant bamboos and moss-covered trees herald San Gerardo de Dota, at 2,200 m. Eco-lodge installation by the river, short guided hike in the cloud forest, and dinner by the fireplace.

At dawn, hummingbirds set the tone around the lodge's feeders. You then set off, binoculars in hand, on the trail of the resplendent quetzal: the valley of San Gerardo de Dota It is one of the best places in Central America to spot it, and your guide follows the latest reported nesting sites. In the afternoon, hike along the Savegre River to its waterfall. Farewell buffet dinner in the cool mountains.

Breakfast at the lodge, then transfer to the international airport San Jose (schedule a flight departing after 2 p.m.) — or head to the Pacific coast to extend your trip with a tailor-made beach stay by Toucan.