13 days Costa Rica
Tag 1: Arrival and transfer to Rincon de la Vieja volcano
Arrival in San José and transfer to the Guanacaste Volcanic Range, where we will stay 3 nights about 5 km away from Rincon de la Vieja Volcano.
Tag 2: Rincon de la Vieja volcano
Full day to explore some of the geological features of the volcano and its recent activity with a volcanologist. Sampling of volcanic hot springs.
Tag 3: Discover the tropical rainforest aroung Rincon de la Vieja
After a 30 minutes drive we will explore the hot and humid rain forest at the base of the
volcano, trying to observe toucans, snakes, tapirs, many birds as well.
Tag 4: Tenorio Volcano National Park
Drive to Tenorio Volcano National Park. Visit Rio Celeste, a turquoise-colored river that amazes with its blue lagoon, the "Borbollones" and its waterfall.
Night in Tenorio Volcano National Park.
Tag 5-6: Arenal volcano
After breakfast we will drive to the Arenal volcano area, the youngest volcano of Costa Rica.
We spend two full days to explore Arenal Volcano National Park, rich in biodiversity and volcanic features. If no clouds, we can enjoy majestic views of Arenal volcano from the best viewpoints.
Two nights in charming La Fortuna town at the feet of the volcano.
Tag 7: Poás volcano
Travel to Poas Volcano area, one of the most active volcanoes of the Central Mountain Range with vast coffee plantations around its base.
Explore Poas Volcano National Park with its particular cloud forest and the hyperacid hot crater lake "Laguna Caliente" at the summit of the volcano (depending on weather and volcanic activity).
Tag 8: Turrialba and Irazu volcanoes
Early start and transfer to the area of neighboring Irazu and Turrialba volcanoes. Conditions permitting, we can ascend to the crater of Turrialba along a new trail to discover the dead area affected by its most recent eruption.
Tag 9: Pacuare river rafting
Travel to the Pacuare Outdoor Center. We will reach the lodge by rafting on the Pacuare river, formed by the erosion of ancient lava flows. Discover hot springs and good variety of wildlife.
Tag 10: Costa Rica's Caribbean coast
Raft the second portion of Pacuare river and continue to Puerto Viejo on the Caribbean coast where we will spend two nights to explore the area with its scenic coast, its rich flora and fauna.
See the island where Christopher Colombus arrived to Costa Rica and the reef platform that emerged by the large magnitude 7.7 Earthquake of 1991.
Two nights in beautiful Puerto Viejo town.
Tag 11: Discover colorful flora and fauna in Gandoca and Cahuita National Parks
Be ready to see many beautiful colored flowers also monkeys, sloths and enjoy it a particular and tasty caribbean food!
We will wake up early to explore the Caribbean side of Costa Rica. We explore Gandoca Manzanillo and Cahuita National Parks, known for their high biodiversity.
Tag 12: Free morning, transfer to San José
Free morning to explore Puerto Viejo, go to the beach, buy souvenirs etc.
Travel to San Jose in the afternoon and farewell dinner in the city center.
Tag 13: Transfer to airport or own extension
Anreise:
The tour starts and ends in San Jose, Costa Rica's lively capital. A domestic flight back to San Jose is included at the end of the tour, in order to save 5 hours transfer along a busy highway.
Reiseleitung
The tour is accompanied by an experienced English-speaking local volcanologist / geologist from Costa Rica's "Volcanes Sin Fronteras" NGO. You can learn more about their activity, in particular the program "Volcanologist for a day", on their
YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/c/VolcanesSinFronterasVSF/
If the group size reaches at least 8 people, one of the volcanologists from our own team will also accompany the group.