Costa Rica 12-Day Community & Culture Holiday Itinerary

After a long flight you’ll be pleased to see a representative from our local office waiting for you at the airport. They’ll provide you with an information pack and whisk you away to your modern hotel in central San Jose. All the main sights and buildings are within walking distance from your hotel. You’ll no doubt want to relax after your flight though, so why not sit back and relax on the roof terrace, cocktail in hand, letting your first impressions of Costa Rica sink in?

The amazing landscape of Tortuguero is not accessible by road. Instead you’ll find rivers meandering through the pristine rainforest to the famous nesting ground of countless turtles. You’ll spend a couple of nights in a jungle lodge, with all of your food and boat trips included. Fill your senses with the sounds of the rainforest, listen to howler monkeys in the distance, smell the tropical hibiscus or spot tiny red frogs in the grass.

In Sarapiqui you’ll stopover in a small village between endless pineapple fields in a cosy bungalow with a small porch set in a tropical garden. The next morning, you’ll drive the short distance to visit Don and his family. On their small farm you’ll see how pineapples are grown, fish for your own lunch in the local pond and watch your hosts turn it into a tasty meal.

You’ll spend 2 days living with the Bribri tribe as you really get to know the indigenous people and their culture. Stay in an original Bribri cabaña with palm leaves for a roof, take a bamboo canoe on the Yorkin River and walk through banana plantations. Using your English speaking guide, and all your senses, you’ll find out how to make your own chocolate. Then, the best part: tasting!

After all that travelling you’re probably ready for a long stretch of sandy beach and a tasty Caribbean stew; well, Puerto Viejo is the place for both. The distinctly Caribbean feel means that you’re never too far from an intoxicating reggae beat or a tropical cocktail. You’ll also get your nature fix, visiting nearby Cahuita National Park to explore the colourful world both above and below the water.