Your tailor-made holiday will be as unique as you are. These itineraries are just a starting point – a bit of inspiration to show what’s possible. Your own trip all starts with a conversation with one of our Costa Rica experts, who’ll take the time to understand what matters most to you and design the perfect Costa Rica holiday to match.
This is one for the adventurers. Costa Rica’s volcanoes, cloud forests and dramatic river valleys lend themselves to outdoor exploration and adrenaline-seeking. So, we’ve designed this itinerary for those who like to be as active as possible on their holidays – no endless lazy beach days here. It could be the perfect family holiday to keep even the most fidgety teenagers entertained.
First up, three nights are spent in the Turrialba region – the perfect base for sampling some of the best white water rafting in the country, as well as a superb canyoning tour that’ll have you abseiling down waterfalls. You’ll continue on to Sarapiqui for horse riding, zip lining and rappelling in the heart of the tropical forests before reaching Costa Rica’s activity hub, Arenal. We’ve suggested filling your days with paddle-boarding on the lake, mountain biking and a challenging hike to the beautiful Rio Celeste Waterfall, but there are endless active activities on offer here. In Monteverde, you’ll find some of the best zip lining in the country, before your journey comes to an end in Manuel Antonio. Here you can completely relax on the jungle-lined beaches (if you’re adventured out), or head off on a kayaking adventure, try your hand at fishing, or hop on a catamaran cruise, pop on a snorkel and explore beneath the waves.
Here's a summary of what you might get up to day-to-day on this Costa Rica holiday. As always, this is just an idea. Every single day of your holiday will be tailored to suit you.
Your adventurous-packed Costa Rica holiday begins with a flight to San José today. San José is Costa Rica’s capital, an expansive city surrounded by jagged mountains and volcanoes. You’ll be welcomed with a smile on arrival and driven to your hotel in the city for the night. There’s not a huge amount to do in the city, but we can recommend a food tour or some great restaurants to enjoy this evening once you’ve recovered from the long flight.
Your first full day in Costa Rica starts with a journey to the lush, off-the-beaten track region of Turrialba. You’ll spend an adventure-packed few days here exploring the wild landscapes. There are mountainous landscapes, pristine tropical forests, thundering rivers and wildlife-packed valleys to uncover, so you won’t be short on memory-making here.
Today we’ll turn the adventure dial up a notch. You’ll head off on a canyoning and zip lining tour through a pristine valley nestled right on the edge of Turrialba. Prepare to rappel down several waterfalls and zip across a pristine rainforest river canyon in this fun-filled, adrenaline-fused adventure. This is such a beautiful area to explore and, if you ask us, there’s no better way to do it than by scaling the rock faces of the waterfalls, walking in air on the hanging bridges and zipping through the trees like a wild monkey!
The adventures take a rapid turn today, with a chance to enjoy some of the very best whitewater rafting in Costa Rica, flying down the powerful and challenging rapids of the Pacuare River. This world-class river is not only known for its brilliant rafting, but also for its stunning natural surroundings. You’ll paddle furiously past high-faced rock canyons, mixed and through thick tropical jungle, keeping half an eye out for wildlife as you go. At times, there will be moments of calm where you’ll have the chance to soak up the scenery and atmosphere around you, before getting whisked away down the next set of rapids with a grin from ear to ear.
Leave Turrialba behind today as you head to the lush tropical forests of Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui, home to some of Costa Rica’s best-preserved areas of primary rainforest still accessible to visitors. If bird watching is your thing, you’ll be in your element here. The renowned biological station at La Selva is one of the best places to spot the 489 species of birds recorded in the region’s forests, so you'll want your binoculars handy!
This morning, you’ll set out for an exciting multi-activity tour in Sarapiqui. You’ll be horse-riding, zip-lining and rappelling through these Pura Vida surroundings. Jump on your trusty steed and ride through the rolling meadow scenery and tropical forest. Next up, take to the skies with an exhilarating canopy zip line experience across the Sarapiquí River below. Finally, brave an abseiling descent down a 90-foot canyon wall, all whilst holding your nerve and taking in the wonderful view over the Sarapiqui and Pozo Azul rivers. Beautiful and adrenaline-fuelled in equal measure.
Next up is a spot we couldn’t leave out of an active Costa Rica itinerary – Costa Rica’s capital of adventure, Arenal. You’ll head straight to your hotel, nestled at the base of the impressive conical volcano, before spending the rest of the afternoon however you fancy. Take some time to relax, or perhaps lace up your hiking boots and head off to the volcano national park to explore the lava fields and the region’s eruptive past. You can’t visit Arenal without taking some time to soak your limbs in the soothing natural hot springs, surrounded by lush greenery and the sounds of nature.
You’ll set out for a scenic kayaking excursion on Lake Arenal today, one of the largest lakes in Latin America – and all set against the backdrop of Arenal’s iconic volcano. This activity is suitable for complete beginners, so take it easy and enjoy the views of the surrounding forests. If kayaking isn’t your bag, there are plenty of other options on offer here. Explore the hanging bridges, floating above the tropical forests, fly above the trees on canopy zip lines, explore more of the endless hiking trails or head off on a horse ride to hidden, tumbling waterfalls.
Dig those hiking boots out again today for a challenging, full day hike around the Tenorio Volcano National Park. Every step will get you further from the usual tourist trail, and closer to the azure waters of Rio Celeste and its impressive waterfall. Rio Celeste’s waters are such an amazingly bright shade of celestial turquoise, all due to a chemical reaction of minerals from the Tenorio Volcano. The river winds its way around the thick rainforest of the Tenorio Volcano National Park before plummeting over the rocks and forming what is arguably one of Costa Rica's most beautiful waterfalls.
You’ll leave your Arenal adventures behind today and travel to Costa Rica's best-known cloudforest, Monteverde. Perched at an elevation of 1400 metres, Monteverde is Costa Rica’s most famous cloud forest. It’s popular, but for good reason. Not only is it home to a rich variety of flora and fauna, but it also offers a wide range of activities to help you experience the cloud forest in different ways. Perfect for adventure enthusiasts of any age! There are some wonderful accommodation options nestled in the cloud forest, so chat to us about whether you’d like something rustic and tucked away with the wildlife, or perhaps a boutique stay that’s a little more swanky.
It’s time for a superb cloud forest adventure today, as you’ll head off to the region’s activity centre to explore the canopy walkways suspended high in the treetops. Next up, you’ll have the chance for some more zip-lining. First up is the cable car ride up to the top, where the view gets more and more staggering every moment. The ziplining is brilliant here, with the guides taking full control of when you stop, leaving you free to enjoy the ride. There’s an extra little challenge included here, a free-fall jump at the end. Will you brave it?
You’ll journey from the clouds to the beaches of Manuel Antonio today and your beautiful hotel overlooking the central Pacific coastline. With golden-sand beaches fringed by emerald jungle and plenty of easy-to-navigate jungle trails – there are plenty of opportunities for lazy R&R hours and adventures in equal measure here. The national park here is a real haven for wildlife, but there’s a huge chance you’ll spot a lot of Costa Rica’s wild residents from the comfort of your hotel. Sloths can often be spotted dozing in the treetops, scarlet macaws flying overhead, capuchin monkeys leaping between the palms, enormous lizards scuttling along the beach and occasionally even a passing troop of endangered squirrel monkeys.
Another scenic adventure awaits you today with a kayaking excursion out to the lush mangroves of Damas Island. You’ll paddle along, exploring the tranquillity of the Paquita River with its gentle currents and a thick forest canopy. This is your chance to explore and learn about yet another of the country’s crucial ecosystems, one which attracts plenty of colourful birds and lively capuchin monkeys. Your brilliant guide will explain the unique ecosystems in the brackish waters and mangroves as you glide along by kayak, taking it all in.
It’s the last day of your active Costa Rica holiday today, and it’s entirely up to you how to spend it. You might wish to spend the day recovering from all of the adventures, relaxing by the pool or on Manuel Antonio’s unbeatable beaches. Or, perhaps you’ve still got some energy left for some more exploring. Either way, just chat to us about how you’d like to spend your last day – we’ll make sure it’s a memorable one.
Today it’s time to head back to San Jose in time for your flight back to the UK. After a holiday packed full of activities, adventures and Pura Vida, you might just be pleased of a sit down. Until next time, Costa Rica!
We offer tailor-made holidays to suit a wide range of tastes. Our experts Dawn and Louise are dedicated to all things Costa Rica and are here to help you plan your perfect trip.
Costa Rica’s wildlife, landscapes and sense of adventure are what keep Dawn coming back. With a conservation-focused background and years of hands-on travel experience, she’s packed with ideas for making every trip feel special.
Our Lou’s been exploring Latin America for nearly 20 years, and Costa Rica is a firm favourite. She’s drawn to its wildlife, volcanoes and cloud forests – and knows how to shape a trip full of adventure that takes in all the best bits.
Speak to one of our travel specialists today.
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