EXPEDITION ROYALE

Day 1: Arrive in Costa Rica and stay one night in San Jose city

Once you arrive your personal guide will pick you up at the airport. Depending on arrival time you might be ready to immerse yourself in our culinary cuisine, lunch? We will head on over to your hotel so that you can check in, freshen up and maybe take a nap. Once you are ready we’ll take you for a city tour of San Jose. A rather small capital city with many hidden secrets.

Day 2: Costa Rica rafting on the Pacuare River

It’s an epic river rafting expedition down one of earth’s most spectacular whitewater canyons; Rio Pacuare. The rapids are classified as level 3-4 difficulty and no previous  experience is necessary. As you travel down challenging rapids you will witness jaw-dropping river-jungle scenery. What makes Serendipity so different from commercial rafting is our attention to individuals and our elevated safety standards.
We’ll have time to relax, swim, jump off of rocks, do side hikes, surf the river’s waves, and fish too! Enjoy a lazy lunch, then take a nap next to the river. Everything a true rafting experience should be, and surrounded by exuberant rainforest, and its curious inhabitants…

Day 3: Cloud forest Hike and relaxation at the hot springs.

Today we’re headed towards the Arenal volcano area, but we’ll make an interesting stop along the way. We’ve discovered a private nature reserve that protects 1000 acres of untouched cloud forest, a rare type of tropical forest known for its ultra-rich biological diversity.

This family-operated preserve is strongly focused on conservation and education, and visitation is strictly limited to small groups (ideal!).

Cool weather and soft winds are typical of these bizarre forests, which exist only in the clouds in the mountains of Central and South America and southeast Asia.

After hiking the cloud forest we’ll continue down into the plains of San Carlos, where the landscape is dominated by the cone-shaped Arenal volcano. Our hotel is situated at the foot of the mountain, along the banks of the Tabacon River, naturally heated by the volcano and charged with the volcano’s curative properties.

Day 4: Horseback riding and hiking at the foot of the Volcano.

We will travel by horseback through pastures and rivers, with plenty of chance to run, to explore what it means to really ride a fine horse. Our horses are magnificent and well trained, so even beginners quickly get comfortable with their mounts.
After horseback riding, we’ll visit the Arenal National Park. In 1992 the volcano ejected lava that burned through the virgin rainforest on its western flank. Since then a National Park has been established to protect the remaining rainforest and to control the curious visitors that come to see the volcano up close. We’ll walk along the trails that lead to the old lava blaze.

Day 5: Costa Rica nature from our private small boats – floating with the animals

A unique moment to spot wildlife. On our stealth boats, made of inflatable kayaks tied together in pairs and equipped with a silent electrical motor, make it easier for us to approach creatures without disturbing them, you will be able to watch howler monkeys resting on the top of the trees, caimans getting their daily sunbath and aquatic birds galore.

Day 6: Rio Celeste hike

We’re headed towards the North Pacific coastline, but we’ll first travel north, to the neighboring Tenorio Volcano, for a morning rainforest hike to witness a rare occurrence in nature, the famed Celeste River

The objective is to reach the Teñideros, where the river color is tinted a brilliant turquoise. It is a natural phenomenon that’s certainly worth the drive and the hike to get here. As a bonus, we can walk downstream to the thundering waterfall, and admire its splendid ‘blue lagoon’ that forms below.

At the end of the afternoon, we’ll reach our hotel to rest and be ready for tomorrow surfing lessons.

Day 7:  The Beach beckons!

You’ve covered the best of the interior of Costa Rica. Now we have time to relax and play on the beach. Your guide will stay with you, to explore the area and different beaches. Today we’ve planned to include surfing lessons (or a boat tour if you so prefer).

Day 8

Today is the last day with your guide so you should take advantage of the 4×4 capabilities, and explore hidden areas! Sea kayaking is also an option for today. This remote coastal area offers playful waves perfect for swimming and boogie boarding. The sunsets are mesmerizing.

This North Pacific coastal area is regarded as Costa Rica’s top destination for *snorkeling and *diving due to its good visibility and abundance of marine biodiversity. Other fun things to do include exploring nearby beaches and coves, *ATV riding or maybe you’d prefer to embark on a *deep-sea fishing adventure.

Day 9 – Departure

Your guide will drive you to the airport in time for check-in. Hopefully, you have booked flights departing Liberia (LIR) that serves the North Pacific beach area very well. If you are departing from San Jose, your guide will drive you there and the transfer time will be 4 -5 hours.

This (SAMPLE) itinerary includes:

This is your trip with your departure date, your private activities. We do not add you to a set itinerary, combine you with other people, or suggest that other people join your trip.

The sample pricing of our Top of the Line Trips reflects lodging in higher-end hotels (all located within reasonable distance of the adventures). However, we’ll design your travels with you, so if you have a special hotel request or want to opt for a mid-range level of lodging to reduce costs, we’ll be happy to adjust the itinerary accordingly.

We include all meals, snacks, and interesting things we encounter en route – fruits you pick from trees, fish you catch, homemade candies or homemade beer. We are expert with dietary requirements like Kosher or vegan — and the opposite extreme as well.

Serendipity’s strong 4×4 adventure vehicle — no rigid schedules, no cramped bus. Our vehicles give you access to places closed to tourists.

Completely private adventures in places you sometimes simply can’t reach without our 4×4’s or our amazing guides – from a remote river on horseback or camping on a riverbank to treetop lunch, or finding turtles on a deserted beach, or a frog farm on a dirt road. Even popular tours like canopy zip lines are operated in private mode for Serendipity guests

Serendipity’s amazing support, before and during your travels – paddle jackets to keep you warm, helmets with sun visors on the river, well equipped first aid kits, communication equipment, comfort items like clean towels, sunscreen lotion and bug spray for your convenience. Just arrive here with your essentials – we have all the extras.

The key to your enjoyment is your Serendipity leader, who is with you throughout the expedition, always pushing you to try something new, challenge you physically, or mentally, or both.

To better understand the logistics of “group size” and to give you a rough idea of what a custom private vacation with Serendipity will cost, here’s SAMPLE PRICING what the 9-day Expedition Royale could cost per person for the following size groups and room sharing, in peak and non-peak seasons. We accommodate larger groups by adding guides and vehicles and equipment as needed, which gives you great flexibility in designing a trip with different levels of action for different people in your group. The important thing to remember is that everything we do, from rafting to horseback to canopy zip lines — is private for you. No lines, no buses, no compromising how hard you want to push, or how softly.

IMPORTANT: This is sample pricing including high-end lodging, but the final cost will be presented with your personalized and detailed itinerary. Prices listed above are a starting point, and your final price depends on the hotel selection and on how many people will be in your self-formed group, your preferences for action, and the specific dates of travel.

Not included:  alcoholic beverages, and (optional) tips for the guides.

The first step to enjoying a Serendipity adventure is to contact us.