Costa Rica

A Taste of Costa Rica

Program No. 8577RJ
Hike cloud forests, explore volcanic trails, learn about biodiversity, study delicate ecosystems and savor the art of coffee-making and good conversation as you discover Costa Rica.

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At a Glance

Low-level clouds drift through the sweet cedar and hanging moss. Even in dim sunlight, the orchid’s flowers brighten your path as you hike. In this interdisciplinary introduction to Costa Rica, learn about the nation’s rain and cloud forests and the inseparable bond between the people and the land. Explore volcanic terrain and tropical gardens, as well as culture and history. Meet residents in local communities for an intimate experience of this peaceful nation.
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.
Small Group
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.

What You'll Learn

  • Hike through the mystical cloud forest at Monteverde and go whitewater rafting at Sarapiquí.
  • 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

This program offers Micro Group options--with 12 or fewer participants--on some departures. Please refer to program date notes.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Profile Image
Ivan Castillo
Ivan Castillo — a Costa Rican naturalist and avid birder — trained as a naturalist at the Organization for Tropical Studies La Selva Biological Research Station. He has a degree in sustainable tourism management from Costa Rica’s state university system. While growing up in the lowland rainforests of Sarapiqui, Costa Rica, Ivan's passion for nature developed early. Neotropical fauna and flora are what he loves and knows best. He has spent more than a decade leading ecotourism travelers and educating them on the region’s ecosystems.

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Profile Image of Ivan Castillo
Ivan Castillo View biography
Ivan Castillo — a Costa Rican naturalist and avid birder — trained as a naturalist at the Organization for Tropical Studies La Selva Biological Research Station. He has a degree in sustainable tourism management from Costa Rica’s state university system. While growing up in the lowland rainforests of Sarapiqui, Costa Rica, Ivan's passion for nature developed early. Neotropical fauna and flora are what he loves and knows best. He has spent more than a decade leading ecotourism travelers and educating them on the region’s ecosystems.
Profile Image of Fabián Salas
Fabián Salas View biography
Fabián Salas was born in Ciudad Quesada and moved to Sarapiquí when he was six days old. He was raised on a black pepper and cattle farm. In high school, he studied ecotourism and worked as a rafting guide on the weekends and during vacations. He graduated college in 2013 with a Bachelor’s degree in Geography. He has been working full time as a group leader in Sarapiquí since 2012, leading rafting and floating trips as well as family trips in Costa Rica.
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Year
2024
  • 2024
  • 2025
Date
Dec 21 - Dec 29
  • May 03 - May 11
  • May 13 - May 21
  • May 25 - Jun 02
  • Jun 02 - Jun 10
  • Jun 06 - Jun 14
  • Jun 13 - Jun 21
  • Jun 20 - Jun 28
  • Jul 03 - Jul 11
  • Jul 08 - Jul 16
  • Jul 24 - Aug 01
  • Aug 10 - Aug 18
  • Aug 16 - Aug 24
  • Sep 07 - Sep 15
  • Sep 20 - Sep 28
  • Oct 03 - Oct 11
  • Oct 08 - Oct 16
  • Oct 21 - Oct 29
  • Nov 02 - Nov 10
  • Nov 08 - Nov 16
  • Nov 26 - Dec 04
  • Dec 02 - Dec 10
  • Dec 09 - Dec 17
  • Dec 11 - Dec 19
  • Dec 21 - Dec 29
Please Note: The program differs on certain dates.
Please Note: The program differs on certain dates.
Select trip year and date
2024
  • 2024
  • 2025
Dec 21 - Dec 29
  • May 03 - May 11
  • May 13 - May 21
  • May 25 - Jun 02
  • Jun 02 - Jun 10
  • Jun 06 - Jun 14
  • Jun 13 - Jun 21
  • Jun 20 - Jun 28
  • Jul 03 - Jul 11
  • Jul 08 - Jul 16
  • Jul 24 - Aug 01
  • Aug 10 - Aug 18
  • Aug 16 - Aug 24
  • Sep 07 - Sep 15
  • Sep 20 - Sep 28
  • Oct 03 - Oct 11
  • Oct 08 - Oct 16
  • Oct 21 - Oct 29
  • Nov 02 - Nov 10
  • Nov 08 - Nov 16
  • Nov 26 - Dec 04
  • Dec 02 - Dec 10
  • Dec 09 - Dec 17
  • Dec 11 - Dec 19
  • Dec 21 - Dec 29
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.
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9 days
8 nights
23 meals
8 B 7 L 8 D
DAY
1
Arrive San José, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
San José
D
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: 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
Sarapiqui
B,L,D
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
Sarapiqui
B,L,D
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. 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.

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. 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. We'll reboard the bus and return to the lodge. 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
Arenal Volcano
B,L,D
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
Arenal Volcano
B,L,D
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
Monteverde
B,L,D
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 a local home.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
7
Cloud Forest Reserve, Bat Jungle, Monteverde Conservation
Monteverde
B,L,D
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: At a local restaurant.

Afternoon: Next, we’ll ride 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 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
Butterfly Garden, Farewell to Costa Rica
San José
B,L,D
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 Monteverde Butterfly Garden and Arthropod Education Center. Jim Wolfe and his wife, Marta Iris, opened the Monteverde Butterfly Garden in 1989. The couple devoted themselves to hand-raising butterflies and gaining more knowledge of their preferences and habits. These fragile creatures require extreme care as they develop and grow. Every species feeds on a different variety of plants. Unlike most butterfly gardens, which buy their butterflies as chrysalids, all the butterflies we will see here were bred and raised on the premises. Though no longer managing the project, Jim and Marta’s dream lives on in the hands of a new generation of dedicated naturalists. 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
In Flight
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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