The Best of Costa Rica: Exploring Natural Wonders

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.

At the hotel, welcome dinner

At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.

At the hotel.

We’ll be joined by a local expert for a presentation that will provide insights into Costa Rica’s famed biodiversity. We’ll then board our bus and ride to the Museo del Oro Precolombino — Pre-Columbian Gold Museum. Led by an expert, we’ll explore and see some of the splendid display of artifacts from multiple indigenous Latin American civilizations. The total weight of the 2,000-piece collection is than 20,000 troy ounces, making it one of the richest spots in the nation. Next, we will return to our bus and ride to a local coffee farm in the Central Valley.

At the coffee farm.

Costa Rica has been producing some of the world’s best coffee for more than a century. For most of that time, the country’s gourmet coffee was exported, leaving lower-quality beans for domestic consumption. An expert will take us on an interactive walk through the coffee farm to see how their coffee is grown, harvested, and processed for consumption. We’ll learn from a “cupper” — a professional coffee taster — the proper way to taste coffee in order to identify the quality of the brew. Returning to the hotel, the remainder of the afternoon is free.

This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

We’ll re-group at the hotel for an overview of tomorrow’s activities. Prepare for hotel-check out and early morning transfer.

After early morning hotel check-out, we will ride to a local restaurant.

We will ride to a local dock and board a riverboat to Tortuguero National Park on the Caribbean coast, south of Nicaragua and 50 miles north of the principal port of Limón. The park comprises Caribbean beaches, swamp forest, lowland rainforest, and a network of picturesque natural waterways. There is an incredible diversity of plant and animal life including more than 100 reptile species, 60 mammal species, and hundreds of bird species. Tortuguero gets its name from the large sea turtles that come ashore each year from July through October to nest on the 27-mile long black sand beach. We will disembark at the lodge where we will be staying and check in with some time to freshen up and relax before lunch.

At the lodge.

Next, we’ll take a quick boat ride to the local village where our Group Leader will accompany us on a walking exploration of the community to see how folks live. While here we’ll learn from a local resident about coconut processing. Our local resident will also share some history of the town and his family, as well as give a demonstration on how coconuts are processed for oil, milk, and raw coconut in order to make candy. We’ll then walk from the village to the Sea Turtle Conservancy field station and see a video/slide show presentation to learn about their mission and to find out why Tortuguero Beach is so important for the survival of endangered green turtles. Reboarding the boat, we’ll return to the lodge and then attend a presentation by a long-time resident on the history of Tortuguero.

At the lodge.

After a review of tomorrow’s activities, the remainder of the evening is at leisure.

At the lodge after our early morning boat ride.

We will have an early morning (pre-breakfast) canal safari in Tortuguero National Park. The park is located in one of the rainiest regions of Costa Rica, and this abundance of water plays a vital role in supporting Tortuguero’s thriving forests, canals, and wildlife. It is also an area of incredible biological diversity, with at least eleven identified habitats. A scenic natural channel and navigable river mouths form the park from the southwest to the northeast. These riverways and swamps are the habitat of black turtles, which can be seen sunning themselves on drifting logs or in the floating islands formed by vegetation. The canals also provide shelter to a variety of species in danger of extinction and are excellent locations to observe different species of aquatic birds such as Green and Great Blue Herons, Amazon Kingfishers, Sungrebes, Northern Jacanas and Anhingas. We’ll return to lodge for breakfast. After breakfast, we’ll set out with our Group Leader on a walk along the lodge trails to learn about riparian vegetation and resident wildlife. Our walk will take us along secondary forest trails that are part of the same ecosystem as the national park. Concluding our walk, we'll have some time to freshen up before lunch.

At the lodge.

We’ll have some “down” time before our afternoon field trip. You might like to have a refreshing dip in the pool, take a stroll around the lodge, or just settle into a comfortable chair with a great book. Mid-afternoon, we’ll walk to the lodge boat dock and embark on a boat safari on local canals. As we navigate these waterways, we’ll look for resident and migrant birds as well as howler monkeys, caimans, bats, turtles, and more. Although wildlife observation tends to attract the most attention during these activities, the unique flora of this lush region including trees and plants such as the kativo, almendro, sangrillo, and pachira. We’ll return to the lodge at the end of our field trip.

At the lodge.

After an overview of tomorrow’s activities, our Group Leader will take us on a walk around the lodge grounds to look for nocturnal species. Then prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

At the lodge.

After checkout, we’ll set out on a boat and land transfer to our lodge in Sarapiquí, in Costa Rica’s Caribbean lowlands. Sarapiquí is one of the richest sites for birds in Middle America with well over 400 species recorded. Nearby, the 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.

At a restaurant en route.

Arriving at the lodge, we’ll check in with some time to freshen up before our next activity. Later in the afternoon, we’ll go on a rainforest walk in the lodge’s private reserve with our Group Leader who will point out native flora and fauna. This private rainforest sanctuary is home to 120 mammal species, more than 330 species of trees, and an astounding 1,500 species of orchids. A well-known location on the birding circuit, the reserve boasts more than 300 recorded bird species including the endangered Great Green Macaw. We’ll return to the lodge for a presentation by a local expert who will provide us with an overview of Chilamate and discuss sustainable growth issues in the area.

At the lodge.

After an overview of tomorrow’s activities, the remainder of the evening is at leisure to enjoy the lodge amenities.

At the lodge after our early morning activity.

We will have an early morning (pre-breakfast) birding walk. Next, we’ll ride to a local farm to learn about cacao production and the secrets of making chocolate. We’ll accompany a local expert on a brief walking exploration on the farm as we learn how cacao is grown, harvested, processed, and turned into chocolate. An added treat: We will have an opportunity to sample different kinds of chocolate! We’ll return to the lodge after our field trip.

At the lodge.

We will ride to a nearby drop-off point along the Sarapiquí River. Then begin an exhilarating river rafting field trip where we’ll participate in paddling. Each raft will have its own rafting expert who will sit at the back to navigate and direct participants on how and when to paddle. We’ll return to the lodge to freshen-up and change clothes.

At the lodge.

After an overview of the activities for tomorrow, including check-out and transfer to Arenal, the remainder of the evening is at leisure. This is a great time to listen for the rainforest’s nocturnal inhabitants. Relaxing in a hammock, try to distinguish one call from another. Frogs, owls, bats, tepezquintles (pacas), moths, and various other creatures of the night come out as most of us get ready for bed.

At the lodge.

We will check out of the lodge and begin our transfer to Arenal. En route, we’ll ride a short distance into the Sarapiquí community, where a local resident will invite us into her home, talk about daily life, and show us on how to prepare some typical Tico dishes. During this field trip, 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. Next, we will stop at the picturesque town of La Fortuna for a chance to take pictures and walk along its streets.

At a restaurant en route.

Next is a field trip to explore Arenal National Park, where we’ll set out on a walking field trip with our Group Leader. We will observe up close views of the volcano and witness the regeneration process of the vegetation that was once affected by past volcanic activity. There are also excellent views of the Arenal Lake and surrounding areas during our walk. The National Park is situated right in the vicinity of Arenal Volcano. Although clouds often obscure the peak of the volcano, during clear days it is possible to see gases and steam rising from the cone. We will learn how periodic lava flows have contributed to the erratic growth of vegetation in the areas around the volcano. We’ll then ride to our hotel and check in with some time to freshen up. We’ll reconvene before dinner for an expert-led presentation on the forces of nature and how they help shape life.

At the hotel.

At leisure.

At the hotel.

We’ll board our bus for a field trip to Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges in Fortuna de San Carlos. This private nature reserve features a network of standing bridges, hanging bridges, and trails that crisscross more than 600 acres of tropical rainforest. The park’s mission is to provide natural history education in a responsible and sustainable way. We will view the rainforest from different angles and heights, from ground level to canopy level, learning firsthand about this fascinating and biologically diverse environment. We'll return to the hotel after our field trip.

At the hotel.

We’ll reboard the bus and ride to a nearby farm where we’ll learn about the history of the estate and the agricultural practices of this fertile region. We’ll also work-up an appetite while learning to make tortillas and cooking them on a traditional wood stove.

At the farm, we’ll have a traditional meal hosted by the family.

Returning to the hotel, the remainder of the evening is at leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

At the hotel.

After check out, we’ll begin our transfer to the Central Pacific coast. The area has become a popular vacation spot with Costa Rican families, with white sand beaches on one side and tropical rainforest on the other. On our way to the coast, we’ll make a stop at a local finca to learn about a conservation project aimed at cloud forest conservation and restoration. We’ll attend an expert presentation on cloud forest ecology and a history of the area. We’ll then accompany our Group Leader on an exploratory walk through the cloud forest before returning to the main house for lunch.

At the finca we’ll enjoy a family-hosted meal.

After arriving at our hotel, we’ll check in and settle into our rooms. Then we’ll join our Group Leader for an introduction to the hotel.

At the hotel.

At leisure. Get a good night’s rest in preparation for early morning activities tomorrow.

At the hotel, after returning from our early morning activity.

We will have an early morning (pre-breakfast) birding walk on hotel grounds. We’ll board the bus for a short ride to Carara National Park. Once there, we will accompany our Group Leader on a walking exploration of the park trails in order to learn about the flora and fauna of this unique transition zone. Carara, 60 miles southwest of San José, lies at the northern limit of the Pacific lowland rainforest and the southern limit of the dry, deciduous forest. Its unique location within a transition zone means that plant and animal species from both habitats coexist in the reserve. In addition to conserving primary and secondary growth forests, Carara National Park also protects the Rio Grande de Tarcoles river basin and its rich wildlife. The park is a favored birding destination, with more than 350 recorded bird species including a sizable population of endangered Scarlet Macaws. If we’re lucky, we might see some of these birds that mate for life. We’ll return to the hotel after our field trip.

At the hotel.

Free time. This period of time has been set aside for your personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Please note that the period scheduled for free time is subject to change depending on local circumstances and opportunities for independent exploration. You might like to go out independently to enjoy the beaches, the hotel amenities, or just relax.

At the hotel.

After an overview of the activities for tomorrow, including check-out and transfer to San José, the remainder of the evening is at leisure.

At the hotel.

We’ll check out and begin our transfer to San José. En route, we’ll stop for a crocodile safari boat ride on the Tárcoles River. As we navigate up the river, our Group Leader will provide background information on the resident crocodiles. The Tárcoles River Basin is one of the most important in the Pacific coastal region, virtually draining the entire western side of the Central Valley. Tárcoles hosts an amazing diversity of wildlife along its banks and in the extensive mangrove ecosystem. Perhaps the most famous of all the river’s inhabitants are its enormous crocodiles. These crocodiles have been studied by numerous local and foreign specialists and featured in TV series and specials.

En route.

We’ll continue our ride to San José. Upon arrival, we’ll check in to the hotel with time to freshen up and relax a bit before dinner.

At the hotel. Share favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.

At leisure. Enjoy our last evening together as a group in Costa Rica. Finish packing and get a good night’s rest in preparation for check-out and departure in the morning.

At the hotel (dependent on flights). This concludes our program.

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!