Costa Rica · April 2022
Costa Rica: Volcanoes, Rainforest and Pacific Diving
Costa Rica packs more adventure into a single country than seems fair, and this two-week journey chased nearly all of it. We went from the smoking cone of a volcano to whitewater rivers and jungle waterfalls, from sloth-filled rainforest to easy Pacific dives, finishing on the golden beaches of the northwest coast. Pura vida, indeed.
Day by day
Days 1-3
Waterfalls and the Arenal volcano
We landed and headed straight for the highlands, pausing at lush cascading waterfall gardens before settling beneath the perfect cone of the Arenal volcano, where days were filled with rainforest trails, hanging bridges, and soaks in volcano-warmed thermal water.
Days 4-5
Rivers and rainforest
We got the blood pumping with whitewater rafting through jungle canyons and explored the lively little town at the volcano's feet, all toucans, frogs and impossibly green forest.
Days 6-10
Manuel Antonio: wildlife and reef
We crossed to the central Pacific coast and the famous Manuel Antonio National Park, where sloths and monkeys share the canopy above white-sand beaches. Here we got underwater too, with easy two-tank dives on the local reefs, plus a tandem parasail and a catamaran sail-and-snorkel for good measure.
Days 11-16
The Guanacaste coast
We finished on the sun-baked northwest coast around Papagayo, with sunset sailing, more diving in the warm Pacific, and the laid-back beach rhythm that makes Guanacaste the perfect place to wind down a big adventure.
From the trip
Volcanoes, whitewater, rainforest wildlife, reef dives and golden beaches, all in one pura vida fortnight. Costa Rica is the rare destination that delivers a full-on adventure above and below the waterline.
Want to do this one yourself?
We run trips like this every year. See where we're headed next and grab a spot before the group fills up.