OVERVIEW
Costa Rica has no army. Hasn’t since 1948, when it scrapped the military budget and put the money into national parks instead. A quarter of the country is now protected land, which is a good strange amount of jungle for somewhere this size, and it’s the reason the wildlife here outnumbers the tourists by a fair margin.
Sloths move so slowly that algae actually grows on their fur. Howler monkeys sound like something much bigger is coming, right up until you spot the culprit sitting quietly in a tree looking unbothered. Scarlet macaws are the one thing in this country louder than the monkeys.
This trip runs through jungle river valleys, an active volcano, and a stretch of Pacific coast most visitors never reach.
Let Costa Rica surprise you.
ITINERARY AT A GLANCE
- DAY 1: Arrive in San José. Private airport transfer and welcome dinner in Barrio Escalante.
- DAY 2: Raft into the jungle to a remote riverside lodge, accessible only by water.
- DAY 3: Zip through the rainforest canopy, hike or tube along a jungle creek, and set out after dark on a guided night hike through the reserve.
- DAY 4: Raft back out of the jungle and travel on to La Fortuna, at the foot of Arenal Volcano.
- DAY 5: Hike the trails of Arenal Volcano National Park, then unwind in a natural hot spring as the sun goes down.
- DAY 6: Visit a wildlife rescue centre to meet rehabilitated sloths, monkeys and macaws, before travelling on to the Pacific coast and the low-key surf town of Samara.
- DAY 7: Kayak out to the pink sands of Isla Chora and snorkel its reef, a private slice of coastline just off the coast.
- DAY 8: A free day to surf, explore Samara’s streets, or simply do nothing at all, followed by a farewell dinner on the beach.
- DAY 9: Private airport transfer from Liberia. Until next time, Offbeaters!
FULL ITINERARY
DAY 1: BIENVENIDOS A COSTA RICA
Welcome to Costa Rica!
We’ll be waiting for you at the airport to take you to your hotel in San José. Settle in, rest if you need it, then join the group tonight for a welcome dinner and your first introductions before the adventure starts properly tomorrow.
Meals Included: Dinner
DAY 2: INTO THE JUNGLE
Today you leave the road behind. A raft carries you deep into the rainforest to a lodge with no other way in, and no main luggage either, just a small bag for the days ahead. Explore the grounds and take in the sights and sounds. Then after dark, a guided night hike through a jungle that only gets louder once the sun goes down.
Meals Included: Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
DAY 3: DEEP IN THE RAINFOREST
A full day at the lodge, nowhere else to be. Zip through the canopy, hike or tube along the creek, then head out after lunch for a second hike, further into the reserve this time.
Meals Included: Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
DAY 4: BACK DOWN THE RIVER
Raft back out the way you came in, reunited with your main luggage at the other end. From there, on to La Fortuna, at the foot of Arenal Volcano.
Meals Included: Breakfast | Lunch
DAY 5: ARENAL
Hike the trails of Arenal Volcano National Park, still active, still shaping the ground around it. In the evening, a natural hot spring, no resort crowd, just the warm water and the sky.
Meals Included: Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
DAY 6: SLOTHS, MACAWS AND THE OPEN ROAD
Start the morning at a wildlife rescue centre, home to rehabilitated sloths, monkeys and macaws, each with their own story. Then a longer drive west, the rainforest giving way to dry forest and finally the Pacific, arriving in the low-key surf town of Samara by evening.
Meals Included: Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
DAY 7: ISLA CHORA
Kayak or paddleboard out to Isla Chora, a small island just offshore with pink-tinged sand and a reef worth diving into. Snorkel, explore the shoreline, then paddle back for lunch.
Meals Included: Breakfast | Lunch
DAY 8: SAMARA, YOUR WAY
A free day, no plans unless you want them. Try your hand at surfing, wander Samara’s streets, or do nothing at all. In the evening, a farewell dinner on the beach to close out the trip together.
Meals Included: Breakfast | Dinner
DAY 9: HASTA LUEGO
In nine days you’ve rafted into the jungle, hiked an active volcano, met rescued wildlife, and stood on a beach most visitors never reach. Thank you for letting us show you this side of Costa Rica. Transfer to Liberia for your onward flight, until next time, Offbeater.
Meals Included: Breakfast
ACCOMMODATION
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
International Flights
We will make recommendations on flights based on trip start date. We strongly recommend that before booking any flights in relation to this trip that you first check with us that this trip has been guaranteed; the trip is not guaranteed to run until we reach the minimum number of reservations.
We also recommend that you book flights that are flexible and ideally refundable. For more information please refer to our booking terms and conditions.
Contact us if you wish to have an early discussion on flight options.
Key Information
How it works
- Determine if the trip is right for you in consultation with us. We are also able to set-up a video call to discuss.
- Inform us if you are interested in having a private room throughout the trip and require the cost of the single supplement
- We will make you aware of recommended flights
- Reserve your space by paying deposit of £200 through our booking page. This is not applicable if you are booking within 60 days of the trip departure date, in this case you will be sent a payment link to make full payment.
- The trip is not guaranteed until the minimum numbers have been reached. Do not book international flights until you have been notified by e-mail that the trip status has changed to guaranteed.
- Once the trip has been guaranteed, book your international flights and obtain your mandatory travel insurance (if you don’t already have cover).
- We will request passport information, travel insurance evidence, dietary requirements and other applicable information.
- Full and final payment will be requested by e-mail at least 60 days prior to trip departure date.
- You must make payment by the deadline otherwise you could lose your space on the trip
- At least 30 days ahead of the trip start date, you will be sent an Offbeater’s Guide for Colombia Transformed which will include useful information such as a packing list.
- At least 2 weeks ahead of the trip start date, a WhatsApp group will be set-up with the Offbeaters on the tour and a video call will be arranged for a meet & greet, talk through the excitement to come and answer any last minute questions.
- We will await your arrival!
Is an Offbeat Horizons trip for me?
Offbeat Horizons trips are not for everyone. Please check the day by day full itinerary carefully and then decide if this trip is suitable for you. Contact us if you wish to discuss or have concerns about not being able to participate in certain aspects of the trip.
Trip pace
Anyone with a reasonable fitness level, a sense of discovery, thirst for learning and broadening their horizons would be a great fit on this trip. The trip will move at a relatively fast pace; be prepared to be active and engaged everyday. Contact us if you have any questions or concerns.
Travelling offbeat
Travelling offbeat can throw up the occasional bumps in the road. We will endeavour to follow the stated itinerary as closely as possible, however, from time to time we may have to make some changes to our stated itinerary or the services we are able to offer. One of the exciting and often rewarding aspects of travelling offbeat is its unpredictability. This can lead to unexpected highlights and experiences that are the essence of travelling offbeat. This is also what makes it so addictive, the thirst for more of the unexpected really can enhance your experience.
We hope the trip will be a good fit but if you have any concerns over the occasional unpredictable nature of offbeat travel then consider if this type of trip is right for you. Contact us to discuss if you have specific concerns.
Solo travellers and hotel single supplement
The majority of offbeaters will be solo travellers so you will have plenty of people to connect and enjoy new experiences with.
All of our prices are based on twin-share accommodation to support fast friendships inspired by hostel experiences in dorm rooms but making it more comfortable and upmarket for the professional. We will never put more than two people in a room. If you are happy with twin-share accommodation we will pair you with a member of the same sex for the duration of the trip.
We appreciate that a minority of travellers will want full privacy and there will be the option of paying a single supplement for a single room throughout the trip, subject to availability. On this trip the single supplement covers all nights of accommodation as per the itinerary. Please be aware that the single supplement entitles you to a single occupancy room. In many cases this will be the same size as a double room/twin room but on occasion the room may be smaller.
Travel insurance
Travel insurance that covers you for emergency repatriation in mandatory on all of our trips. We strongly recommended that you purchase a travel insurance policy that covers you for all of the activities stated in the itinerary of this trip. For more details on our mandatory requirements for travel insurance please visit the Safety and Security Hub.
General Information
Trip price
All of our trips are priced on a tour only basis, not including international flights. This gives you the flexibility to decide how you get to and depart from this trip and attain best possible flight rates.
Deposit
A special introductory deposit of £200 is required to book your space on this trip. This is non-refundable due to costs we incur from when a trip is booked. You will be provided with a full refund of the deposit if we cancel the trip.
What’s not included
We want to be completely up front about our pricing. There are no hidden charges, no hidden fees and we have described inclusions and exclusions in detail throughout the trip page. If in doubt, contact us to discuss. See below for what we don’t include in the trip price:
International flights: Please ask us for advice on the flights from your location.
Visas and mandatory travel insurance: Visas is country/nationality dependent but travel insurance is always mandatory. We will ask you for evidence of travel insurance ahead of the trip departure date.
Airport transfers: We will provide complimentary transfers for arrival and departure on the suggested flights. This does not cover arrival and departure at different times or dates.
Drinks, snacks and items of a personal nature: This is not provided unless explicitly stated as included in the full itinerary.
Why Offbeat Horizons?
To understand what makes us unique as a tour provider. Visit our Why Offbeat Horizons page to get to know us a little bit better.
Entry Requirements
For some destinations we travel to visas may be required.
UK Passport holders are strongly recommended to check Government Travel Advice for up to date entry requirements.
For non-UK passport holders and non-UK residents we strongly recommend you check with your relevant embassies for visa requirements.
Government Travel Advice
Many governments issue advice which highlights potential hazards their citizens might experience when travelling abroad. We strongly suggest you refer to your country’s travel advisory site before booking and contact us if you have any queries or concerns. Click to follow links to the advice of the British Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) or the US State Department.
Non-UK citizens should consult the travel advice of their respective governments.
Trip Extensions
If you wish to arrive early or extend your trip, we can provide advice on other popular locations and activities.