Costa Rica vacation: 10 day Eclectic Voyager SAMPLE itinerary
Costa Rica Eclectic Voyager: When you want ALL the adventures and All the country
Serendipity's Costa Rica family vacation for active and fit explorers.
The interior of Costa Rica is where the intrigue lies — roaring crystalline rivers, rain forests and cloud forests, misty mountains, waterfalls, jungle. Serendipity wants to share our glory spots with you, before leaving you on the beach to relax and remember the pure joy of stretching your spirit.
This Costa Rica family vacation itinerary was designed for a family of six: mom and dad with 2 adult children and their spouses. Everyone is fit, and very well traveled. They want physical challenges, but really want to avoid mass tour mentality. They want to see the whole country, and meet people outside of tourism.
What are they in for? Everything the connoisseur traveler wants when taking on Costa Rica. High quality hotels and some luxury of course, but also — mountain biking, rafting, nature observation, tree climbing, hiking, horseback riding, canopy zip lines, canyoning (that is rappelling down waterfalls), white water kayaks , 4x4 exploration. Where? All over the heart of Costa Rica — with volcanic eruptions and natural hot springs, cloud forest, rain forest, beach, misty mountains, crystalline rivers, waterfalls, classic jungle, and best of all, Costa Rica's remarkable people and private places. Also available as an option: hot air ballooning.
Trip Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Costa Rica - and ascend to private cloud forest
Ascending inside Joseph, a ficus (strangler fig) older than Christopher Columbus.
Your Serendipity guide will meet you at the San José airport, and whisk you away with one of Serendipity's go-everywhere 4x4 vehicles. You'll ascend to our friend's private cloud forest - as remote from city life and bustling airports as you can imagine. The lodge is peaceful, surrounded by benign nature. We'll hike on trails to waterfalls and through forest with plant forms indistinguishable from fauna from the age of dinosaurs.
Day 2: Costa Rica cloud forest hiking, then tree climbing
After morning hiking (and seeing the hummingbirds, and cloud forest mammals, eating in the lush valley below your room), we descend to the San Carlos plains, to hike in a primary rainforest and climb one or two interesting trees. We'll ascend Abraham to a secure platform 110 feet above the jungle floor, hanging in the lowest branch for "afternoon tea". Stay as long as you wish, enjoying the noisy top of the forest. Descend Abraham, and hike to Joseph, an ancient ficus, already a venerable old tree when Columbus first arrived in Costa Rica. If you still feel like climbing, you can ascend Joseph — scale the roots structure on the inside of the tree, then descend 50 feet by rappelling the exterior.
Costa Rica nature watching when floating silently with Serendipity Adventures in the northern zone's largest nature preserve, the Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge.
Day 3: Costa Rica nature from our private small boats - floating with the animals
We leave for intense nature watching in the Northern part of Costa Rica, on the Rio Frio. Serendipity's "boat" is quite different. Propelled by an electric motor and sitting at water level, it has stealth capabilities. You can silently approach everything from Jesus Christ lizards and Cayman to monkeys, and glide silently right next to giant herons and under nesting trogons.
Day 4: Amazing horseback, magnificent scenery
Serendipity's horses — for beginners who want to become experts, for experts who want to give wings to their spirit
Serendipity's horses provide a remarkable way to see Costa Rica and immerse in local society. Costa Ricans still use horses for transportation and for work. Serendipity's horses are lovingly cared for and expertly trained. No matter if you are expert with horses, or a novice, Serendipity's horseback experience will reunite you with humankind's once indispensable ally. The route we ride is your choice, based on your experience and your goals.
After horseback, the hot springs beneath belching Arenal volcano beckon. When the visibility is good, the lava flow will mesmerize you, even as you soak in the natural warmth of its springs.
Day 5: Hiking Arenal Volcano, or Celeste River, or Cerro Chatto
Your choice of hikes today: some serious climbing up unimproved trails to the top of Cerro Chatto (and a remarkable view of Arenal volcano's peak, 500 yards away), or a very gentle hike at the base of Arenal volcano, or a moderate hike, with changes for swimming in the turquoise waters of the Celeste river.
Day 6: Costa Rica Canopy Tour - zip lines in the jungle
En route to the Pacuare river area (about 4 hours by car) we're stopping for the famous Costa Rica canopy (zip line) tour. Zipping between platforms is a pure adrenaline experience. Serendipity's guests have the privilege of a private experience. Serendipity has worked with this canopy operator for years, and we have confidence in the canopy design, the suspending equipment, the duplicated cables, the braking system and the training of the canopy guides.
Day 7: Costa Rica White Water Kayaking
Before running the famous Pacuare we'd like to introduce you to a milder river (the Upper Pacuare or the Pejibaye) with Duckies. It is seriously fun.
White water duckies increase the adrenaline while controlling the risk. Serendipity guides go with you. If you have some white water experience and a brave heart, you can take the river solo.
Each 2-person Ducky seats one guide and one of you, with 2 paddles, to descend almost continuous Class III rapids.
After a "training" run, we start the same river all over again — this time YOU are the guide, and the GUIDE is the passenger (and also there to yell instructions, and occasionally make a stroke to save your boat).
Day 8: Costa Rica Mountain Biking
The Turrialba area is home to the premiere mountain biking trails of Costa Rica. The selection is up to you. There's a Serendipity guide for each four bikers, so you can go different routes, try different bikes. The less experienced bikers can ride part of the way, and hop in the 4x4 support vehicle for part of the way.
Serendipity introduced canyoning to Costa Rica. The perfect combination of clear water, smooth rocks and well-trained guides makes this an unforgettable experience.
Day 9: Costa Rica canyoning — waterfalls, harnesses, ropes, and TRUST!
Canyoning is descending in harnesses with ropes and rocks and waterfalls and deep crevasses.
This real adventure trip makes the "canopy tour" overrated. The adrenaline rush is high and the natural jungle setting is breathtaking — enough to convince you Romancing the Stone was someone else's bridge party.
Day 10: White Water Rafting the magnificent Pacuare River
The payoff for the hard pushing in the canyon and in the Duckies is the magnificent Pacuare River — 18 miles of roaring Class IV white water. Named by National Geographic as one of the 10 most beautiful rivers of the world, the Pacuare with Serendipity brings you to life -- teamwork, adrenaline, a slightly terrifying experience to share with your own select team of friends or family. Serendipity approaches white water differently from day-trip tour companies - it is a team, not a tour. You'll remember your guides, you'll remember the lunch, you'll remember the thrill of taking on amazing challenge. And a very good way to complete your Costa Rica adventure experience.
Day 11 through — eternity? The Beach beckons!
Departure. Really? You've covered the best of the interior of Costa Rica. Now we have time to relax, on the beach (leaving your Serendipity guide and vehicle behind?). The hard part is deciding what is your perfect beach:
Serendipity knows where to find quiet, uncrowded, clean beaches — for scuba? snorkel? sailing? surfing? horseback riding? skinny dipping?
- White sands, beautiful sunsets (these you find everywhere)
- Plenty of beach toys, and exuberant night life? (Tamarindo, Jaco, Manuel Antonio)
- Secluded beaches, luxury hotel, all-inclusive meals? (Guanacaste, Nicoya Peninsula)
- Laid back and simple, walk round barefoot, diverse restaurants? (Puerto Viejo, Dominical)
- World-class surfing? (Tamarindo, Jaco, Dominical, Puerto Viejo)
- Or deep sea fishing? (Quepos, Osa)
- Or scuba diving? (Osa, Guanacaste)
- Nature retreat — for wildlife (Osa, Tortuguero, Cahuita)
- Whale and dolphin watching (south and central Pacific)
- or turtle nesting? (north and south Caribbean, north Pacific)
- or pristine nature and isolation from mass tourism (the Osa Peninsula)
You can see, there are too many choices. Each area has its distinct advantage, and distinct season. And some areas have surprising combinations for variety. Some places are easy to move around using taxis, or ideal for simply staying in one place and recovering from earlier activities. Other places, the isolated, pristine places we dream about, require some Spanish fluency and a strong 4x4.
So talk with us! We know what, and where, and when you'll find the best. The next step is to call Serendipity and tell us your dream Costa Rica vacation.
Prices
For information on how much this trip would cost you, please see our Costa Rica Vacation: Eclectic Voyager pricing.
Detailed TERMS, DIRE WARNING! - please READ this before making a reservation.
The first step to enjoying a Serendipity adventure is to contact us.
