Pure nature, authentic Costa Rica
Experience the real Costa Rica off the beaten track
On this 7-day tour through adventurous Costa Rica you will experience people who represent the real Costa Rica.
Farm holidays “a la Tica”. We don't work with professionals here, but with normal people who want to own a mini-accommodation and bring their country closer to visitors. And they do it brilliantly.
Experience the real Costa Rica on the 7 day/6 night Eco Tour North Costa Rica. This is a very unusual & individual tour.
Here you get to know the authentic, the real Costa Rica from the inside. A non-commercial organization that has been active for 21 years and helps to offer young people in rural areas a perspective is helping us to organize this extraordinary trip. The whole thing is based on eco-tourism, a well-worn word, but one that is rightly used here. With the help of the authentic owners and their families, you can experience a very personal holiday and reach areas that the “ normal tourist ” cannot reach.
We support this laudable project and are happy to put together very individual packages. The mini tour presented here is just a well-combined suggestion. We can offer this tour in any other combination and also in conjunction with other of our tours. If desired, you can travel by rental car or, as presented here, with transfers, sometimes combined with public buses.
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Day 1 + 2: San José (Santa Ana, Central Valley) – Sarapiquí - Braulio Carrillo National Park (B, L, D)
Transfer from San José, from Guápiles or our Posada Nena in Santa Ana to San Miguel near Sarapiquí.
Albergue el Socorro is a typical Costa Rican accommodation where you can truly experience family hospitality. Just a few kilometers on foot from Braulio Carrillo National Park and connected to it through primary and secondary forests, you can experience authentic Costa Rica in el Socorro.
Here you will be lovingly welcomed and cared for by José and his family. The lodge consists of 5 simple, detached bungalows located on a green hill surrounded by rainforest. An ideal place to relax, watch birds and other animals and enjoy real nature undisturbed.
All meals here are of excellent quality, as well as very individual tours into the adventurous neighborhood.
If you wish, José will go on an extremely adventurous hike to a nearby waterfall - his own paradise! If you don't like it that intense, there are many other tours and hikes in the program - it never gets boring. Young people can help out on the farm, and some of the tours lead to spectacular viewpoints and untouched jungles. Here nature is still 100% nature.
Day 3: El Socorro - San José de la Montaña (B, L, D)
After a hearty breakfast comes another exciting tour in el Socorro. Animals, nature and waterfalls - the area has endless things to offer! Exciting and natural.
In the afternoon we continue with a private transfer. The destination is the mountain landscape at the Juan Castro Blanco National Park and the Albergue Pozo Verde, Monterreal.
Beautifully located in pure nature, you can enjoy the fantastic landscape on a hike with a member of the Vargas family in the nearby area.
Overnight stay and dinner in Albergue Pozo Verde, San José de la Montaña
Day 4: Juan Castro Blanco National Park - Green Lagoon - Rio Celeste (Pozo Verde) - (B, L, D)
The Juan Castro Blanco National Park is part of the Arenal – Huetar Nord protected area and is located largely in the southeast of the canton of San Carlos.
During the hike through the colorful and mountainous national park, a variety of plant and bird species can be observed, such as the famous quetzal (especially between March and April).
The destination is a fifteen meter deep lagoon of volcanic origin with emerald green waters, where you can enjoy the singing of birds and the beauty of this place.
After the hike, the Vargas family serves a delicious local lunch in their restaurant.
In the afternoon the transfer to the Rio Celeste takes place.
Overnight stay and dinner in Posada Rural Rio Celeste
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Day 5: Hike to Rio Celeste:
The Tenorio Volcano National Park is located between the cantons of Guatuso and Upala de Alajuela, Bagaces and Tilarán de Guanacaste. The national park is located within the Guanacastes volcanic mountain range.
This area is divided into eight different life zones in which a variety of ecosystems, natural environments and species exist.
The 3.5 kilometer long, quite demanding hike through the Tenorio Volcano National Park leads to the following attractions:
• The Rio Celeste waterfall with a height of 30 meters.
• A viewpoint with panoramic views over the Tenorio volcano massif and Montezuma
• The Blue Lagoon
• The “ Teñideros ”, where, weather permitting, you can observe the exciting phenomenon of the blue coloring of the water. The delicious lunch is included in the tour.
Overnight stay and dinner in Posada Rural Rio Celeste
Day 6: Rio Celeste - La Fortuna (B, -, -)
Breakfast at the Tenorio volcano, transfer to Guatuso, bus to la Fortuna (you have to buy the ticket yourself), walk to the hotel.
The afternoon is free - there are endless possibilities for things to do in la Fortuna.
Overnight stay in a bungalow at the Arenal Oasis Eco Lodge
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Day 7: La Fortuna (B, -, -)
After breakfast, the animal-rich tour to the Rio Peñas Blancas starts from the lodge.
It goes along a calmly flowing river through the rainforest, with constant opportunities to observe interesting animals. The guide's trained eye helps, because the sloth, for example, adapts very well to its surroundings and moves so slowly that we normally simply don't notice such an animal.
Caimans, crocodiles, turtles, lizards, many species of birds and 3 different types of monkeys will most likely be seen. The nature is absolutely impressive. During a stop at a farm in the middle of the jungle, you can experience life in Costa Rica over 70 years ago - a small snack is served here.
Our eco-tour program ends around midday. We are happy to book additional days at the lodge; The area around la Fortuna offers many more adventures. Of course there are many ways to continue the tour. we will be happy to take care of transfers and other accommodations.
We can offer this tour in 2 different combinations. As a self-driver in a rental car - you save a lot on transfers - or conveniently, with private transfers organized by us and a ride on the public bus (Guatusola Fortuna).
The eco-tour described here is just a suggestion - start in Guápiles after the tour to Tortuguero or in the central valley, end in la Fortuna. We can adapt this tour as desired, use parts of it or add to it!
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