Costa Rica
Go Solo: A Taste of Costa Rica
Program No. 25139RJ
Explore the magic of Costa Rica with other solo travelers as you hike cloud forests, explore volcanic trails and savor the art of coffee-making and good conversation.
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9 days
8 nights
22 meals
8B 6L 8D
4
River Boat Nature Safari, Local Plantation, Arrive Arenal
Arenal Volcano
5
Hanging Bridges, Local Farm,Traditional Dinner
Arenal Volcano
8
Bat Jungle, Farewell to Costa Rica
San José
At a Glance
Among the rain and cloud forests of Costa Rica lie delicate ecosystems rich with biodiversity. Study these amazing displays of nature exclusively alongside other solo travelers on this special journey through Costa Rica. Meet residents in local communities for an intimate experience of this peaceful nation. Explore volcanic terrain and tropical gardens, as well as culture and history, all the while discussing your discoveries with other solo explorers who love to learn as much as you do. You’ll fall in love with the beauty of Costa Rica and experience firsthand why going solo with Road Scholar doesn’t mean going alone!
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Walking up to 1.5 hours a day over uneven trails in hot and humid conditions. Elevations up to 6,000 feet.
Best of all, you’ll…
- Hike through the mystical cloud forest at Monteverde and go whitewater rafting at Sarapiquí exclusively with other solo travelers.
- Discover scenic views of Arenal Volcano from up in the rainforest canopy during a walk on a combination of nature trails and hanging bridges.
- Enjoy an interactive presentation that introduces you to an important gourmet coffee roaster in Costa Rica.
General Notes
Note: This is a special solo only learning adventure.
Suggested Reading List
(20 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Go Solo: A Taste of Costa Rica
Program Number: 25139
Costa Rica, A Journey Through Nature
Dividing the book by ecosystem and geographic area, BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year Hepworth's color photographs showcase the diversity of Costa Rica's wildlife and habitats.
Costa Rica Butterflies & Moths
A handy, laminated fold-up card with color illustrations of Costa Rica’s more visible species of butterflies and moths. Includes the distinguishing markings or behaviors of each species.
The Wildlife of Costa Rica, A Field Guide
This guide includes 450 of the most common, interesting and charismatic mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and arthropods that you are likely to encounter. Each has exquisite full-color illustrations.
The World Atlas of Coffee, From Beans to Brewing
A global history of the addictive brown bean organized by country, with a look at regional techniques and traits, fair trade efforts and the role of colonialism. Includes colorful maps and photos.
Culture Smart! Costa Rica
A guide to local customs, etiquette and culture.
Tropical Nature
A lively, lucid portrait of the tropics as seen by two uncommonly observant and thoughtful field biologists. Its 17 marvelous essays introduce the habitats, ecology, plants and animals of the Central and South American rainforest
The Ticos
This insightful, fact-filled portrait of the Costa Rican people accessibly explores their culture, history and society.
Costa Rican Spanish
A pocket guide to understanding idioms, slang and Spanish as it is spoken by the Ticos.
Aroma of the World: A Journey into the Mysteries and Delights of Coffee
A beautiful book for the coffee lover, this heavily illustrated compendium is equal parts history and travel journal, detailing the passage of the coffee bean from origination to current status as an icon of modern living.
Costa Rica, A Traveler's Literary Companion
A wonderful introduction to the character of the people, culture and land, this anthology brings together 26 stories by Costa Rican writers.
Costa Rica Adventure Map
A double-sided map at a scale of 1:500,000.
Costa Rica, The Complete Guide
From pristine beaches and jungle waterfalls to high-altitude coffee plantations, award-winning author and photographer Kaiser shows readers the best of Costa Rica, including the country's stunning collection of national parks.
The Birds of Costa Rica
Built for the field, this great guide includes multiple illustrations for 820 species of birds.
Volcanoes, Crucibles of Change
A complete primer for the volcano lover, this heavily illustrated book covers types of volcanoes and eruptions, worldwide distribution and the physics of their formation.
Costa Rica Birds
A handy, laminated fold-up card with full-color illustrations of birds commonly found in Costa Rica. Great for kids, too.
Costa Rican Wildlife
Put it in your pocket! This handy, fold-up card includes color illustrations of dozens of typical birds, mammals and reptiles.
Wild Costa Rica
This beautiful, informative survey of the habitats, wildlife and protected areas of Costa Rica features 200 color photographs and chapters on natural history and conservation.
National Geographic Costa Rica
This stylish, informative and up-to-date travel resource features 200 photographs, many maps and good information on the country's history, nature and culture.
Nature of the Rainforest, Costa Rica and Beyond
Our favorite biologist-writer returns to the Neotropics in this beautifully illustrated, oversized overview of the rainforest. With chapters on Monteverde and Guanacaste, plants, frogs and snakes, birds, monkeys and jaguars, the sloth, peculiar insects and biodioversity; A marvelous, anecdotal introduction to ecology, evolution and conservation.
Costa Rica Reader: History, Culture, Politics
A lively, literate sourcebook on the politics, economy and society of Costa Rica
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
9 days
8 nights
What's Included
22 meals (
8B, 6L, 8D
)
5 expert-led lectures
11 expert-led field trips
2 hands-on experiences
1 performance
An experienced Group Leader
8 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
Day
1
Arrive San José, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Location:
San José
Meals:
D
Stay:
Hotel Balmoral
Activity Note
Hotel check-in from 3:00 p.m. See your program’s “Getting There” information regarding transfers. Remember to bring your nametag (sent previously).
Afternoon:
Orientation: 6:00 p.m. at the hotel. The Group Leader will greet everyone with a warm welcome and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule and any changes, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer any questions you may have. Meals on our program feature local cuisine. Unless otherwise specified, transportation during your program will be provided by air-conditioned bus. Our buses do not include onboard toilets, so we have scheduled stops during drives for bathroom breaks. Free time is reserved for your personal independent exploration. Please note that program activities, schedules, and personnel may need to change due to local circumstances. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.
Dinner:
Welcome dinner at the hotel.
Evening:
Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.
Day
2
Central Market, Sarapiqui, Rainforest Introduction
Location:
Sarapiqui
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Selva Verde Lodge
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus with several steps up/down; driving about 56 miles, approximately 2 hours riding time. Walking and standing, approximately 1.5 hours; about 1 mile, mostly flat terrain.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will be joined at the hotel by a local expert who will give us an overview of Costa Rica. After check out procedures, we’ll join our Group Leader in a walking field trip through downtown San José. Our half-mile walk from the hotel to the Central Market will take us past the Grand Hotel of Costa Rica, interesting shops, restaurants, and the Teatro Nacional de Costa Rica (National Theater of Costa Rica). The imposing national theater was built during Costa Rica’s coffee boom in the late 1800s. We’ll take a moment to admire the architecture and discuss the historical significance of coffee production in the country, then continue our walk to the Central Market. Inside the market we’ll explore its passageways crowded with stalls selling everything from cut flowers and fresh produce, to medicinal herbs and small diner-style restaurants serving "comida typica." The bustling market was founded in 1880 and is an important cultural site of Costa Rica. Concluding our walk, we’ll board the bus at the Central Park and begin our transfer to Sarapiqui, in Costa Rica’s Caribbean lowlands.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant en route.
Afternoon:
We’ll continue our journey to Sarapiquí. This is one of the richest sites for birds in Middle America with more than 400 species recorded. The nearby La Selva Protection Zone and the Braulio Carrillo National Park form the only significant corridor of forest on the Caribbean slope linking the highlands with the lowlands — a corridor crucial to birds and animals that undertake seasonal altitudinal migrations. Arriving at the lodge, we’ll check-in with some time to freshen up. We’ll then regroup for a presentation by a local expert that will give us an introduction to the rainforest.
Dinner:
At the lodge.
Evening:
At leisure. You might like to spend time with new Road Scholar friends on the porch, enjoy a nightcap while relaxing to the sounds of the rainforest, or turn in for a good night’s rest before tomorrow’s activities.
Day
3
Birding, Cultural Interaction, River Rafting, Latin Dance
Location:
Sarapiqui
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Selva Verde Lodge
Activity Note
Early morning (pre-breakfast) birding walk with Group Leader around lodge grounds. Getting on/off a bus, on/off a river raft. Rafting involves an upper body workout and the likelihood of getting wet; wear bathing suit and water shoes/sport sandals; apply sunscreen well before water activity. Class I & II rapids: easy/moderate conditions including waves, rocks, sand banks, and light riffles. River conditions monitored daily; activity can be cancelled/rescheduled if conditions aren’t optimal.
Breakfast:
At the lodge.
Morning:
We’ll join our Group Leader for some early morning birding on and around lodge grounds, then walk back to the lodge for breakfast. Our next field trip will commence with a short ride into the Sarapiquí community, where a local resident will invite us into her home, talk about their daily life and show us on how to prepare some typical Tico dishes. We’ll be accompanied by a member of the Sarapiquí Conservation Learning Center (SCLC), who will give us an overview of their mission and talk to us about their work together with the community. Founded by Giovanna Holbrook in the mid-1990s, the SCLC is a registered non-profit organization whose mission is to link communities and conservation through education and ecotourism in the Sarapiqui region. Programs include environmental education, ecotourism activities, English classes, an ecology club, community outreach, a women's group and many others. Note: Many participants in previous Road Scholar programs have brought a few basic school supplies such as pencils, erasers, pens, colored markers, children’s books in Spanish, etc., to donate during the visit. This is completely voluntary and is not required. Concluding our activities we'll return to the lodge.
Lunch:
At the lodge.
Afternoon:
We’ll have some “down” time before our next activity. This is a good opportunity to enjoy a walk around the lodge grounds, cool off in the pool or perhaps practice your photography skills. Next, we’ll board the bus and drive to a nearby drop-off site along the shores of the Sarapiquí River in preparation for our rafting field trip. A rafting expert will conduct a safety orientation and go over rafting procedures and equipment before giving us the go-ahead to don our gear and board the rafts. A rafting expert will sit at the back of each boat and navigate, and we’ll help by paddling at various stretches along the river. At the end of the field trip, we’ll take the bus back to the lodge and change into dry clothes. Before dinner we’ll enjoy some Latin dance! We'll have some lessons with local people to learn three styles of Latin dance: Merengue, Salsa, and Cumbia.The dancers will demonstrate the different styles, then lead us through the dances step by step. We’ll end the session dancing with partners.
Dinner:
At the lodge.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.
Day
4
River Boat Nature Safari, Local Plantation, Arrive Arenal
Location:
Arenal Volcano
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Arenal Paraiso Hotel Resort & Spa
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus; driving about 61 miles, 2.5 to 3 hours riding time including stops. Getting on/off a motorized riverboat with covered top and open sides; no restroom on board, riding about 1 hour. Descend/ascend 3 flights of stairs with handrail to/from boat dock.
Breakfast:
At the lodge.
Morning:
After checking out of the hotel, we’ll ride to the Puerto Viejo dock and board a river boat that will take us on a study cruise along the Sarapiquí River. The boat captain and our Group Leader will put their expert spotting skills to use by pointing out riverine wildlife along the way. Some of the animals we might see include caimans, turtles, iguanas, bats, monkeys, sloths, kingfishers, and Anhinga water birds. After disembarkation, we’ll get on our bus and ride to a local plantation to learn about some of the environmental and economic impacts of agriculture in Costa Rica. A farm representative will lead us through various sections of the plantation and explain how the crops are grown and processed for shipping. We’ll reboard the bus and be on our way to Arenal, once Costa Rica’s most active volcano. It has been a main draw to the town of La Fortuna and Arenal Volcano National Park.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant en route.
Afternoon:
Once at the hotel, we’ll check in with some time to freshen up and relax. We’ll reconvene before dinner for an expert-led presentation on the forces of nature and how they help shape life here.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
Time at leisure.
Day
5
Hanging Bridges, Local Farm,Traditional Dinner
Location:
Arenal Volcano
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Arenal Paraiso Hotel Resort & Spa
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus; driving about 30 miles, approximately 1.5 hours riding throughout the day. Walking up to 2 miles on forest trails and hanging bridges; approximately 2.5 hours. Comfortable clothing, closed walking shoes, and binoculars suggested for this activity.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
For our next field trip, we’ll drive to Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges and explore some of its many trails and scenic bridges. The private nature reserve has more than 600 acres of tropical rainforest that can be explored through a network of trails, hanging bridges and standing bridges. We’ll then return to the hotel.
Lunch:
At the hotel.
Afternoon:
We’ll board a bus and drive to a local farm to learn about its history and some of the agricultural traditions in this fertile region. Although tourism surpassed agriculture as the main source of revenue in the area, many local plantations still produce important amounts of papaya, sugar cane, tapioca, and ornamental plants. At the farm, we’ll work-up an appetite while learning to make tortillas and cooking them on a traditional wood stove. We’ll also enjoy a presentation by a local dance group, that will perform folkloric dances wearing traditional costumes.
Dinner:
At the farm, we’ll have a traditional dinner hosted by the family.
Evening:
Returning to the hotel, the remainder of the evening is at leisure. Prepare for check out and transfer in the morning.
Day
6
Crossing Arenal Lake, Coffee Plantation, The Quaker Story
Location:
Monteverde
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Hotel Montaña Monteverde
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus; driving about 21 miles, approximately 1.5 to 2 hours riding time with stops. Boat ride across Arenal Lake approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour. Bus will travel separately with luggage. Pack any needed items in daypack.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
The bus will carry our luggage to the next hotel. Take what you need in a day pack as we won’t have access to our luggage until late afternoon at Monteverde. After checking out, we’ll drive to a local boat dock on the shores of Arenal Lake. A small covered boat will ferry us across the scenic lake. Upon reaching the other shore, we’ll board a bus and ride uphill along scenic back roads to Monteverde.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
We'll then ride to a local coffee plantation. During our field trip, we’ll learn about the harvesting and processing of coffee as well as the history of this crop from its beginning in the Arabic countries and Ethiopia. We’ll also gain insights into the importance of the golden bean — grano de oro — and its impact on Costa Rica’s social, cultural, and economic development. Moving on to the hotel, we’ll check in with some time to freshen up. Next, we'll learn about the history of Monteverde's Quaker community during a home visit with a longtime resident. In 1951 a group of American Quakers, fearful of their nation’s growing militarism, fled the United States. The Quakers found Costa Rica, a country without a military, to be the most inviting option for their pacifist beliefs. This group settled Monteverde and intended to transform the area into profitable farmland. The Quakers developed a fairly successful cheese industry but they also recognized the delicate nature of the land and helped establish the area's first wildlife sanctuary.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
7
Cloud Forest Reserve, Free Time, Monteverde Conservation
Location:
Monteverde
Meals:
B,D
Stay:
Hotel Montaña Monteverde
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus; driving about 3 miles. Walking up to 3 miles; forest trails and irregular terrain; potentially muddy conditions. Wear closed toe/heel walking shoes with lug soles and consider bringing a lightweight rain poncho.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We'll board the bus and ride to a cloud forest reserve at Monteverde for an expert led exploration. While walking on forest trails, we’ll learn about the characteristics of a cloud forest and stop along the way to study its flora and fauna. The edges of this rich forest system, often cloaked in clouds and blowing mist, are home to more than 350 avian species and a myriad of other creatures and critters. The Monteverde area is perhaps most famous for breeding Resplendent Quetzals, Three-wattled Bellbirds, and Bare-necked Umbrellabirds. While these charismatic species can be elusive, a host of other cloud forest birds and amphibians are found in the area.
Lunch:
On your own.
Afternoon:
This afternoon we will have free time for self-exploration in Monteverde. The Group Leaders will be happy to offer suggestions. We’ll ride back to the hotel in the late afternoon with a bit of downtime to freshen up and relax. Before our lecture, there will be an opportunity to watch the sunset! We’ll regroup for a presentation by a local expert on climate change and conservation efforts in the Monteverde area.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check out and transfer tomorrow.
Day
8
Bat Jungle, Farewell to Costa Rica
Location:
San José
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Wyndham San José Herradura Hotel & Convention Center
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus; driving about 90 miles to San José, approximately 3.5 hours riding time.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We’ll take a field trip to the Bat Jungle, an educational space designed and managed by noted U.S. bat biologist Dr. Richard LaVal. Informative displays help to explain about bat biology, bat diversity, and their crucial role in nature as pollinators. The Bat Jungle also has more than 90 bats, representing 8 different species, housed in a recreated nighttime cloud forest environment. Glass windows give visitors the rare opportunity to look inside the forest enclosure and observe bats feeding, flying, and socializing. Special microphones capture the high pitched bat vocalizations and broadcast them through loudspeakers in the bat viewing area. We’ll begin our transfer to San José after the field trip.
Lunch:
En route.
Afternoon:
Arriving in San José, we’ll check in to our hotel with time to freshen up and relax before dinner.
Dinner:
At the hotel. Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.
Evening:
At leisure. Enjoy our last evening together in Costa Rica, then prepare for check out and departure in the morning.
Day
9
Program Concludes, In Transit From Program
Location:
In Flight
Meals:
B
Activity Note
Hotel check out by 11:00 a.m. See your program’s "Getting There" details regarding transfers.
Breakfast:
At the hotel (dependent on flight schedules). This concludes our program.
Morning:
If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
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MEALS
22 Meals
8 Breakfasts
6 Lunches
8 Dinners
LODGING
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- Mar 23, 2026 - Mar 31, 2026
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- Mar 23, 2026 - Mar 31, 2026
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