“Coast to Coast” 13-day Itinerary |
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 Arrive at San Jose International Airport (SJO) where you’ll be picked up by our driver who will be waiting outside holding a sign with your names on it. He will make sure you have everything you need and will take you to Puerto Viejo to meet your guide and wonderful host family. Our driver has your flight information and will track your flights just in case of any delays or problems. |
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Chocolate Tour
Wake and, enjoy your breakfast and prepare to be picked up by our friend and driver Luis. He will be at your host family’s house at 7:15 am. Our destination is to see Petronila at 800 am. Petronila is an indigenous woman who makes organic chocolate based on her family’s indigenous traditions. She is quite a charismatic and animated woman who will tell you funny and interesting stories as she shows you how she makes her chocolate by hand. This is truly a unique experience! Try free samples of over 10 flavors of chocolate and, of course, you’ll have an opportunity to buy some chocolate at the end of the tour.
After this amazing and delicious experience, you’ll go with your guide for a bicycle ride south of Puerto Viejo, stopping along the way to visit some of our incredibly beautiful beaches. If you’re up for a long ride, 9-miles down at the end of the road you’ll reach the charming area of Gandoca-Manzanillo where you can re-fuel at the famous Maxi Restaurant and take in the spectacular views before heading back home. |
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 Another fun day begins at about 8 a.m. with a trip to the Iguana Refuge on the Kekoldi Indigenous Reservation where we meet Gloria and Juanita, two beautiful women who have been caring for iguanas here on the reservation for 18 years. We’ll hear them tell their amazing story and pitch in to help them with their chores, such as gathering food (flowers and leaves) for the iguanas to eat and cleaning cages.
 After lunch back in town, we’ll head out for our afternoon Kayak Tour. You’ll have the opportunity to be in direct contact with nature while taking part in a peaceful river trip. You’ll see iguanas, different kinds of sloth, many birds, turtles and other incredible wildlife. The river you’ll be navigating is located in Punta Uva, one of the most spectacular beaches on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica. The entire tour takes about 3 hours, including some time to relax on the beach after the tour is finished. Or at the end you may feel brave enough to do a little kayaking in the ocean before heading back. |
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 Our short, but incredible visit to Puerto Viejo is over. Time to say, “See you later” to your loving hosts. We try never to say “Goodbye,” as we always hope to see you again! Now at 6:30 am we begin our journey to the tropical Talamanca Indigenous Reservation! We’ll pass through the town of Bribri, which is the main gathering point and shopping area for the indigenous that live in the Talamanca Region. About 45 minutes after we pass through Bribri we’ll arrive at the home of our next host, Danilo Gabb. Danilo lives in Bambu at the Bambu Cultural Center. Danilo is an incredibly warm and generous man. He will be your main host and will help you with everything while you are here. |
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The amazing Bambu Cultural Center was designed and built using ancient traditional Bribri methods, and the architecture itself is stunning. Once you are inside the house you’ll experience a strange, peaceful feeling which will make you want to stay forever. It’s truly a tropical paradise! It’s here you’ll be staying for the next couple of nights while you get to know your host, the surrounding area, have a chance to meet other children and families, be able to give away some of the donations you have brought with you and enjoy your tours. The tours you will be enjoying while in Bambu are:
Panama Waterfall Tour:
You’ll be taken by boat for about one-and-a-half hours up the river and will cross through the border into Panama. Throughout the entire trip you’ll be surrounded by nature at its finest: rain forests, all types of wild animals and flowers, tropical birds and lots of fish. Between the sights and the sounds, you’ll have the sensation of being in the middle of a magical dream.
Danilo will be making a stop for you to visit an indigenous house and family on the Panama side. Strangely enough, “borders” don’t exist for these people. Even though they are from different tribes and countries, they get along well together and help each other on many different levels. Just having the opportunity to experience that kind bond between cultures will inspire you to want to do the same.
 After this quick stop, the trip continues on to the waterfall. Beneath the waterfall is an amazing “pool” that has been formed between rocks and earth. The water is so calm and inviting that you won’t want to leave! But by then, you’ll most certainly be hungry. Don’t worry, after enjoying the waterfall we’ll provide you with snacks before heading back to Costa Rica. Upon arrival back at the Bribri Cultural House, you’ll also be served up a delicious, traditional indigenous lunch before saying goodbye to your new friends.
Indigenous Organic Banana Farm and Fishing Tour:
The owner of this farm is a hard-working woman who manages almost every aspect of the farm alone, because her husband left her for another woman (which is very typical in this culture). At this farm there are three different types of bananas plant crops, and all of them bear fruit at different times of the year. What this means is this woman’s growing season – and her work – never end.
There are very few organic farms in Central America. Organic growers here earn less than traditional farmers in contrast to many other places in the world. So it’s really nice to encounter farmers who are willing to make the sacrifice in income because of their commitment to the environment, and to the ultimate health benefit of the consumer.
After a walk through the tropical plantation, Danilo will take you on a ride in a boat along the Yorkin River, where you can do some fishing, and where you will see lots of wildlife and beautiful, tropical flowers.
One of the other places you’ll visit while in Bambu is the retirement home where you’ll visit with the residents and deliver any gifts you may have brought with you.
 Bambu Retirement Home:
The Bambu retirement home is located just a short, 10-minute walk away from where you’ll be staying at the Cultural Center and hosts a total of 20 people: 5 women and 15 men. A couple of the residents speak English, but most of them speak Spanish as their second language. Here we will spend some time visiting with the residents, playing games with them and learning about their life here. The folks who live here love to have visitors and you’re sure to have a great time meeting everyone! |
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 This morning you’ll be picked up at 7:30 a.m. by Luis and will head back to Puerto Viejo. You’ll be dropped off at the Banana Azul Guest House where you’ll be met by your shuttle bus at 10:15 a.m. and will be taken the Arenal Area. The ride will take approximately 6 and 1/2 hours and will bring you to the luxurious Arenal Manoa Hotel in La Fortuna. Here begins the “pampering” part of your trip. Relax by the pool; enjoy the Jacuzzi and feast in the El Dorado Restaurant, all while you enjoy the view of the flow of lava from the nearby Arenal Volcano. |
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Sleep in, enjoy your breakfast and enjoy the pool. Your tour today begins in the afternoon.
 Arenal Volcano Hike and Baldi Hot Springs Tour
(Pick-up approx 3:30pm at the hotel)
Hike through lush rainforest with a naturalist guide close to the base of the Arenal Volcano where we wait for sunset at the observation point. As it starts to get dark, on clear nights you can see the amazing lava flow of Central America’s most-active volcano. Duration: 2.5-3 hours Includes: guide, transportation, entrance to private reserve and volcano viewpoint.
Later, take a relaxing dip in the Baldi Natural Hot Springs and enjoy the area’s specialty tropical drinks at the swim-up bar (not included). Remember to bring bathing suits and towels. Approx at 9:30 pm they will transfer you to your hotel, where you can enjoy the rest of your evening. |
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 Hanging Bridges Tour
Pick-up: 7:45 a.m.
The Arenal Hanging Bridges tour takes place on a 600-acre reserve filled with lush vegetation and a variety of birds and animals which your experienced guide will help you spot. The trail itself is 1.9 miles (3.1 km) in length, crossing nine fixed bridges and 6 suspension bridges and is laid out at a maximum grade of 7 degrees so that anyone can walk it. After your tour, you’ll be transported back to your hotel for lunch.
 Canopy Tour
Be ready at the hotel to be picked up at 2:30 pm for your exiting Canopy (Zip-Line) tour.
Sky Trek runs the best canopy tour in the country. Your adventure starts with a tour in the Sky Tram to reach the top of the Arenal Reserve. There you begin your adrenaline-filled tour above the treetops, consisting of a system of zip lines. They allow you to observe the rainforest and its landscape from a different perspective, safely in an innovative and different system.
The tour includes 8 cross-sectional cables that together have a total length of 1.7 miles with distances from 100 to 2460 feet, and with a maximum height of 660 feet, which exceed the treetops providing a panoramic view of the Arenal volcano and lake.
They will take you back to your hotel so you can rest up for tomorrow. |
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 Diria Hotel
Please be ready at 8:15 am in the hotel lobby where your driver will meet you to take you to Costa Rica’s most famous beach, Playa Tamarindo. You’ll be staying at the luxurious Diria Hotel. Enjoy the rest of your vacation by the beach.
Surrounded by exotic and beautifully maintained lush tropical gardens, you will sense the natural beauty Costa Rica has to offer. There are plenty of activities, shopping and restaurants in the local area to keep you busy — or just relax by the pool and swim in the ocean! Many families ask us to schedule some surfing lessons for them while they are there. We are happy to customize this itinerary for you in any way we can to suit your needs. |
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 Depending on what time your flight departs Costa Rica, you’ll likely have to return to the San Jose Area today so you’ll be on time for your flight the next morning.
We use a great hotel near the airport called La Rosa de America. It’s run by a great couple from the US. It’s a great place to unwind and relax before heading back home. |
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 This is your last day in Costa Rica. You’ll want to be at the airport 2 hours early because of the airlines polices. Your hosts at the hotel will feed you a breakfast and call you a taxi. |
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We’d be honored to provide you with custom pricing on this package, or any other. Please contact us with your estimated dates of arrival and departure, along with the number of people traveling with you, along with their ages.
Please be aware that you have the opportunity to customize this itinerary (or any of our others) to suit your personal needs. For instance, you may want to fly from Tamarindo to San Jose instead of taking ground transportation. Anything is possible! Please contact us with your estimated dates of arrival and departure, along with the number of people traveling with and their ages. Availability of these projects varies. Hotels during certain times of the year, such as Easter Week and the Holiday Season are often sold out over a year in advance, require minimum stay periods and raise their rates. Please check with us for availability. |
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