Costa Rica Sloth Paradise

Welcome to your private tour in the tropical paradise Costa Rica! At the airport exit, one of our staff members will be waiting for you. Together you will go to the first hotel of the trip in the west of the capital San Jose to La Sabana. Depending on the time of arrival you might get a first impression of the hustle and bustle of the capital. After checking in you can relax and look forward to tomorrow.

On the way to Samara we will take a shortcut to visit Río Tárcoles and see the giant crocodiles that live in the river. During the afternoon you will have time to be at the beach with your family or friends. For the night, you can have dinner together with your guide in a nice restaurant of your choice (not included)

There are several optional activities that you can enjoy at Samara Beach, as it is one of the best places in CostaRica for surfing, maybe you would like to go to surf lessons or snorkeling, whale watching, dolphin tour, etc. 

Right after breakfast we start towards la Fortuna, because we are on the road for at least four hours. For the afternoon programm you can choose between two tours: A hike over the cooled lava fields of the Arenal Volcano or a visit to the La Fortuna waterfall, which is about 70m high, with the possibility of swimming. We can decide relatively spontaneously in consultation with the tour guide. Afterwards we check in at the hotel and can jump into the refreshing pool. If you like, you can optionally end the evening in one of the hot spring facilities of the area.

Ready for another highlight? Today we hope for sun, because then we can best perceive the natural spectacle at the Río Celeste, the sky-blue river. After one and a half hour drive we reach the entrance and the first bumpy path leads us through the rainforest, over some steps to the waterfall. After enjoying this spectacle we continue past bubbling springs and end up at the dyer's place, where the fascinating color is created - in contrast with the evergreen nature one of the most spectacular and beautiful photos of Costa Rica. With a little luck we will also meet a tapir and coatis here. Jumping into the river is not allowed within the national park, but we offer an optional floating or tubing tour at the same river close to the park.

In the natural paradise of Costa Rica there are several ways to hike in the rainforest. We are heading today to Mistico Park near the Arenal Volcano. We will cross a total of 16 bridges, being some of them hanging bridges. Maybe we will witness how the monkeys use the ropes of the bridges to get from A to B, but also otherwise our guide will be able to tell us something about the peculiarities of the local flora and fauna. In the afternoon we will take a closer look at the national animal of Costa Rica, because our trip is not called sloth tour for nothing. On a 1,5km long path we search together with a local guide for the cute animals, which conquer almost every heart. How many will there be today?

Note: The entrance fee to the suspension bridge park has to be paid directly on site (approx. 27 US$). Alternatively, your guide will be happy to plan another tour with you.

Travel can do a lot of good - with this motto in mind, our journey today takes us to the la Tigra rainforest project, about an hour away. Where 30 years ago only cow pastures were to be found, today we find dense forest. Arrived at the rainforest lodge "La Tigra", we enjoy our welcome drink and move into our extraordinary glamping bungalows.

Today we make our own contribution to a living rainforest. After a typical campesino breakfast with rice, beans and egg, we will head to the reforestation area of the "Bosque La Tigra". Our guide and a local Spanish speaking guide will lead us to our assigned area. We learn first hand how the project works, the benefits of the new forest corridor for the animals and how it will continue with our own protégé after planting. For the afternoon, our guide advises us on optional activities, such as a small cooking class or a visit to a local farmer. In the evening we sit down again together for dinner in the restaurant, listen to the frogs and look forward to our last night in the jungle.

After about three hours of driving we reach our next destination - the jungle paradise Boca Tapada. The about 18km gravel road shake us well, but we are rewarded with a dreamlike environment at the San Carlos River - a unique nature and animal paradise. After checking-in we stroll around the garden in search for coatis and some of the more than 300 sighted bird species. Toucans, but also the Red Macaw as well as the rare Great Green Macaw can be observed here. A hike through the rainforest gives us an even deeper insight into this remote natural treasure. It can get muddy here, but that is part of the rainforest. Our guide will explain to us how the ecosystem works and how primary and secondary rainforest differ from each other.

What do we feel like doing today? We recommend an optional boat trip on the San Carlos River, which takes us to the border village of Boca San Carlos. How does it feel to live here so deep in the rainforest? On the way we also stop at a small finca and can press fresh sugar cane juice ourselves. For those who want to be more active, kayak tours and other hikes on adventurous rainforest trails are also offered.

Today we change the jungle for Caribbean flair. With about six hours driving time we sit quite long in our private tour vehicle, but we take some breaks on the route to enjoy the different landscapes. We pass pineapple and banana plantations before we reach the Atlantic Ocean with its hypnotizing waves after four and a half hours. Not far from the border with Panama we finally reach Puerto Viejo de Talamanca - a colorful little town where time runs a little slower. We sit down with our guide once again to get the last tips before we say goodbye. Of course we are well prepared and the local agency is still at our disposal for any concerns. Then it's time to relax! If you want, you can end the evening in a typical Reggea bar or a Caribbean restaurant and enjoy the delicious Rice&Beans (made with coconut milk).

Currently we are on the east coast of the country and like everywhere else the sun rises in the east. There is no fixed program for today, but the very different beaches from the center of town to Manzanillo are best explored by rental bike. In the nature reserve Gandoca-Manzanillo you can walk over jungle paths and observe sloths among other animals. In good weather, Playa Grande near Manzanillo, but also Punta Uva resemble a tropical bathtub - but do not forget sunscreen. If you are more interested in the culture of the locals, you can visit the indigenous group of the Bribri to learn more about their knowledge and traditions.

Another day for leisure in paradise. If you don't want to just relax, you can visit the Cahuita National Park, which is about 30 minutes away. This park impresses with its white to golden, palm-fringed beaches, but also the very good animal observation possibilities. Monkeys, armadillos, sloths, anteaters, toucans and crabs can often be seen here. But also the underwater world has a lot to offer with clear visibility! Now it's time to get the last souvenirs and sip another fresh coconut.

We say goodbye to the beautiful beaches of the Caribbean. In less than five hours the shuttle takes us back to the capital San José. On the way we can review the last two weeks. What was our most beautiful moment in nature? Which destination impressed us the most, which animal encounter touched us the most?

It's time for the last Gallo Pinto and fresh tropical fruits today before we are heading to the airport. Those who fly in the evening can leave their luggage at the reception and jump into the pool one last time or go on an optional half-day excursion.