Day 1 Depart the US – Arrive San José

• Greet your fellow travelers in your departure city before departing for Juan Santamaria International Airport, San José, Costa Rica. Upon your arrival be greeted by your local guide and hosted at a welcome dinner to prepare you for your Costa Rican adventure.

Overnight: San José

Day 2 Aviarios del Caribe – Gandoca Manzanillo

• Have a guided orientation of Aviarios del Caribe, the only reserve with a unique rehabilitation center for sloths. Learn about the ecology, behaviour and population status of this really unique creature; as well as the reserve’s other inhabitants – monkeys, iguanas and 255 species of tropical birds.
• During a nature walk into the rainforest, learn about medicinal plants. Imagine discovering new fragrances, new flavors and the origins of some that you have already experienced, but have not known much about -and doing this in the middle of the exuberant rainforest, surrounded by an intense array of wild leaves and flowers. Imagine learning about an almost unbelievable diversity of plants, and tasting exotic fruits that you didn't even know existed.
• Explore Gandoca Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge and learn about their conservations efforts. The refuge protects many species of animals that are either endangered such as the crocodile and the tapir, or whose population has been reduced dramatically like the cayman, pacas, keel-billed toucans, and ornate hawk-eagles.
• Meet and dine with a local family while you wait for night to fall before venturing down to the beach.
• Learn about ongoing research on the leatherback turtle, also known as the Baula turtle, before seeing first-hand the ritual of leatherback turtles laying their eggs on a moonlit beach.

Overnight: Limon

Day 3 Yorkín

• Paddle in a traditional dugout canoe to Yorkín, a small village located in the Talamanca-Bribri indigenous territory, by the spectacular Yorkin River.
• After an indigenous style lunch, participate in making chocolate, then dipping organic bananas in the freshly made chocolate sauce with materials from the local organic plantations for cocoa and bananas.
• Learn about the indigenous Bribri culture in this natural paradise including the resources the forest provides them in the form of medicinal plants, building materials (for their huts’ woven roofs) and natural crops that provide for the community.

Overnight: Limon

Day 4 Gandoca Manzanillo – Tirimbina Reserve

• Load up your snorkeling gear and kayak to the Gandoca Manzanillo wildlife refuge with its 10,000 acres of beach and five square kilometres of protected coral reef. Your guide will guide you to the best spots along the reef to observe corals such as brain coral, fire coral and boulder coral. Also present here are sea rods, sea fans, parrot fish, angel fish, groupers, lobster and crabs.
• Discover a completely different perspective of the rainforest as you take a walk by the light of the moon at the Tirimbina Reserve and see such nocturnal species as sloths, kinkajous, porcupines, opossums and frogs.

Overnight: Puerto Viejo

Day 5 Arenal Reserve

• Witness the spectacle of one of the ten most active volcanoes in the world, Arenal Volcano. Arenal Volcano is a nearly perfect example of a cone volcano with fairly constant moderate explosions of sound, gas and ash.
• Give Back by taking part in a half-day reforestation project, a clear environmental need in the rainforest. This activity provides an important lesson about grassroots forestry, community awareness and the impact humans have on conservation and the environment.
• Challenge: Board the Sky Tram that will take you up over the rainforest where you will test your resolve by strapping into the Sky Trek. Sky Trek is a system of zip lines taking you high above the rainforest and down through the trees – choose your level of adrenalin by choosing which track to follow.

Overnight: Cabins at the foot of Arenal Volcano

Day 6 Juanilama Reserve – Ecotermales Hot Springs

• Interact with a local family in Juanilama de Poco Sol, a town of friendly people, who will share with you their way of living.
• Participate in the process of cheese-making, from cow to curing, from local farmers
• Learn how to plant such crops as cassava, ñampi and ginger and their importance to the community.
• Trek through the rainforest to enjoy a dip in a waterfall pool, a tropical paradise which is an ideal place to observe amphibians, particularly the blue jeans poison dart frog and the black and green poison dart frog. Watch the tree tops for howler monkeys!
• Journey to Ecotermales Hot Springs to enjoy the curative mineral waters there which are heated by the active volcano, Arenal.

Overnight: Cabins at the foot of Arenal Volcano

Day 7 Canyoneering

• Take 4x4 vehicles to the start point for your hike through the enchanting natural beauty of rainforest to some of the most spectacular waterfalls in Costa Rica.
• Challenge yourself by rappelling down the waterfalls to the beautiful and pristine canyon below. Four rappelling points are available alongside the waterfalls or directly in them, and one rappelling point on dry rock face is available for those who would prefer.

Overnight: San José

Day 8 Depart for the US

• After breakfast, say adios to Costa Rica and depart for home.