Experience the best of Costa Rica's rainforest, wildlife and culture with this 8-day program.

All meals, transportation, airfare, activities and accommodations included.

Book now and say "hola" to Costa Rica with a "Pura Vida"!

Day 1 | Welcome to Costa Rica!

Arrive in San José, Costa Rica. Upon your arrival, your local staff will greet you at the airport. Enjoy your first glimpses of this spectacular country. Costa Rica is one of the most beautiful nations in Central America. Home to some of the most biodiverse swaths of land and sea on the planet, Costa Rica is famed for its natural environment – and its commitment to that environment! Costa Ricans – or Ticos, as they’re called here – are intensely proud and protective of their lands, and have put their country on the map as the world pioneers in ecotourism and environmental protection.

Lodging: Hotel in San Jose

Day 2 | Coffee tour & Transfer to La Fortuna

You’ll have an early breakfast today, make sure you’re ready with your luggage, because after breakfast we are starting our journey to the Fortuna area. First, you will make a stop at the Doka Hacienda. The tour begins in the seedbed, where expert guides will speak about the varieties and growing habits of coffee plants, as well as the local history and geography of coffee production. The next stop is the antic processing plant. Here you’ll observe the process of de-pulping, fermenting and peeling of the grains and then exported or roasted in the country. Finally, you will visit the roasting plant Café Tres Generaciones and learn about the various roasts that are offered before finishing at the gift shop with the option of sampling the eight different blends made at Doka Estate.

After the tour, you'll head to La Fortuna and settle into your home for the next few days. Later your host village will share a cultural presentation including local music, dance, and some stories about the community you are collaborating with. This is a beautiful activity of sharing and learning, and will give you lots of inspiration for your next few days in town.

Lodging: Fortuna Base house

Day 3 | Community Service in a Biological Corridor and Sloth tour

Get ready for a full day of community service! Today you will have the opportunity to work on an environmental project with an NGO called Amigos de un millón de árboles. The main purpose of the NGO is to create and maintain a biological corridor. So wildlife can move freely from one area to another. This project has different tasks which can go from collecting seeds and planting trees and the whole process in between. Also, you will participate in a Sloth tour within the same organization. At night you can participate in a Karaoke night with your friends!

Lodging: Fortuna Base house

Day 4 | Lake Kayaking in the Rainforest & Community collaboration

Explore the inspiring beauty and tranquility as you glide across the mystic waters of the Arenal Lake. Paddling these calm waters will give you the opportunity to enjoy the wildlife that surround the lake as monkeys, iguanas and birds. In the afternoon, we will visit one of our local community partners to take part in some meaningful initiatives as we collaborate with them doing some community projects. We will stop by in town on the way back to our base house to explore coffee shops, the park and souvenir shops.

Lodging: Fortuna Base house

Day 5 | Community Service at a Elementary School and hot spring waters

Your second day on a service project: You will work on the maintenance of a local elementary school and participate in a cultural exchange activity with the local students and then work on maintenance projects related to infrastructure or painting. You will work for a few hours in the morning, have lunch and work for a few more hours in the afternoon. There will be plenty of time for water breaks, stretching and warm ups. Work can vary from painting to mixing concrete or even work in the school garden depending on the school need at the time.

La Fortuna is famous for its volcano but also for its thermal water resulting from the subterrain volcanic activity! At the end of the day, you will have time to relax and enjoy the thermal water pools.

Lodging: Fortuna Base house

Day 6 | Get to know Maleku Culture and Rio Celeste Waterfall

Today, you will drive for about 1 hour and a half to visit an aboriginal reserve called Maleku territory. You will learn about their culture, medicinal practices and have a traditional lunch with them. Learn about the ancestral way of life of the indigenous tribe Maleku, they will take you on the way of their ancestors through a traditional ceremony as well as a walk in the forest nearby where they will explain about the medicinal plants they have been using for the past centuries. After Maleku, we will visit Rio Celeste river for a hike to a turquoise waterfall.

Lodging: Fortuna Base house

Day 7 | Hanging Bridges hike

On your last day in La Fortuna, we will say goodbye to the enchanting tropical rainforest on our last hiking tour. Our main 2 miles (3.2 km) trail features a non-slip surface with no steps, making it perfect for a safe and comfortable walk. Along the way, you'll cross six impressive hanging bridges and ten fixed bridges, allowing you to admire the lush flora and fauna from unique perspectives, and the amazing Arenal Volcano view form our highest bridge “Vista Arenal Hanging Bridge” During the tour, you'll enjoy the charming Rufous Hummingbird Garden and the beautiful Blue Morpho waterfall.

After lunch, we will drive to San Jose for our last dinner in Costa Rica.

Lodging: Hotel in San José

Day 8 | Pura Vida Costa Rica!

After some final group photographs and goodbyes with the Tico team, you’ll head through

immigration and board your flight home. We trust you’ve had an incredible time in Costa Rica and hope to see you again soon. Pura Vida!

Four Points by Sheraton and Arenal Backpakers

• 7 nights of accommodation

• All meals all days

• All transportation

• Offbeat Travel full-time local guides/leaders

• All activities as detailed in your itinerary

• Single point of contact from Offbeat Travel for support leading up to the program

• Offbeat Travel 24-hour emergency support throughout program

• All airport taxes and departure fees

• All fees, community service donations, and guide tips

• International airfare from SFO to SJO round trip

Total Costs: $3.000 including flights

Payment Plan:

• $500 Deposit by Dec 2nd (refundable until January 6th)

• $500 due January 6th, 2025 (for a total of $1.000 for airline- nonrefundable)

• $2.000 final payment by Feb. 3rd, 2025.

All payments will be invoiced via email.