Day 1
Arrival in Costa Rica
Arrive in Costa Rica at the Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport in Guanacaste and take the group transfer to your hotel in Liberia.
In the early evening, gather for a welcome lecture from your Chautauqua Travels Expert Dr. Twan Leenders. You’ll get a preview of the activities to come, insight into his own expertise and research in Costa Rica, and get to know your fellow travelers. Afterwards, enjoy a welcome Dinner at El Mangroove Hotel featuring traditional Costa Rican dishes emphasizing farm and ocean-to-table ingredients.
Included Meal: Dinner
Accommodations: El Mangroove Hotel
Day 2
Tubing and Tapir Valley Nature Reserve
Journey out towards Bijagua and Rio Celeste, your home for the next few days. Take in Rio Celeste by water with a tubing tour led by expert guides who will showcase the biodiversity of the area and distinct landscapes. Debrief from your time on the water with a picnic-style lunch. From here, we’ll transfer to the Celeste Mounting Lodge for time to refresh.
In the afternoon, head to Tapir Valley Nature Reserve for an exclusive tour that focuses on amphibious species, including a new species discovered within the reserve. You’ll learn how the reserve was established from private property and what goes into the maintenance of ecologically-friendly spaces of Costa Rica. We’ll have a small reception with the founder of the nature reserve to cap off the visit.
In the evening, you’ll return to the Celest Mountain Lodge to settle in prior to dinner at the hotel.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: Celeste Mountain Lodge
Day 3
Treasures of Tenorio
In the morning, head out for the day’s exploration of the four different habitable zones of Tenorio Volcano National Park, one of the newest national parks in Costa Rica. A combination of walking and biking will showcase the flora, fauna, and wildlife that is protected within the park. Stop for a scenic picnic lunch within the national park, taking in the views of the Rio Celeste and (weather depending) the Tenorio Volcano.
Return to the hotel and sit down with your wildlife photography guide for a workshop on best practices in capturing the perfect shot (even with just your smartphone!) while respecting the plant and wildlife that we’ll encounter throughout the rest of the program. You can walk the trails of the hotel property and put your new photography skills into practice. Afterwards, enjoy dinner at the hotel and the remainder of your evening at leisure.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: Celeste Mountain Lodge
Day 4
Arenal by Water and Tree Tagging in Monteverde
After breakfast, depart from Rio Celeste to Monteverde. Board a boat and cruise on Lake Arenal around the Arenal Volcano, the nation’s most active volcano (don’t worry, it is currently in a resting phase). Weather dependent, we’ll see the eponymous volcano and the formation of the lava rocks from previous eruptions. After disembarking, we’ll continue on to lunch in a local restaurant in Monteverde. In the afternoon, we’ll visit the Monteverde Institute — a nonprofit educational organization dedicated to the mission of sustainable living at the local and global levels. Here you will participate hands-on in their tree tagging and reforestation efforts. We’ll sit down with their avian expert for a discussion on birding, citizen science programming, and the importance of sustainable tourism practices.
Enjoy your dinner and evening at leisure.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodations: Ocotea Boutique Hotel
Day 5
Monteverde: Biological Reserve and the Bat Jungle
Get ready for an active morning. Today, you’ll take a guided walk of the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve. With over 750 species of mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles you are sure to witness the exceptional biodiversity of the reserve. For lovers of flora and fauna, there are more than 3000 species of plants, including 500 varieties of orchids. Fuel up at a local restaurant for lunch and an informal discussion of your in situ observations of the Cloud Forest.
Later in the day, head to Santa Elena for a fascinating tour featuring up to 11 species of live, free-flying tropical bats from the region in the Bat Jungle. This exhibit is the first of its kind in Latin America and serves to demonstrate the importance of bats for ecological balance in Monteverde. Enjoy the second lecture of the tour in a private space at the Bat Jungle with Dr. Twan Leenders.
Your dinner and evening are at leisure in Monteverde.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodations: Ocotea Boutique Hotel
Day 6
Monteverde: The Continental Divide, Coffee and Chocolate
Today, you’ll take in a view of Monteverde by air. You’ll begin with a gondola ride up the Continental Divide, with stops that feature the Cloud Forest, four volcanoes, the Nicoya Gulf and potentially the Guanacaste Plain (weather dependent). Once at the top, you’ll have the chance to continue exploring the treetops on the hanging bridges with a guided tour. We’ll end the experience with a private talk about sustainability and tourism, specifically focused on adventure tourism in Costa Rica, with owner Rodrigo Valverde Montoya.
For lunch we’ll head to an area restaurant featuring traditional dishes. During the meal we’ll be accompanied by Alfredo Echeverria, founder of the Foundation for Costa Rican Gastronomy, about the current efforts in sustainable gastronomy to improve the socioeconomic and cultural wellbeing of the country.
In the afternoon, enjoy a private tour of a small, family-owned business that helped to pioneer coffee production in the region. Learn about coffee production, from planting and harvesting through to brewing the perfect cup. Next you will have the opportunity to explore the parallel process of chocolate production, including making your own chocolate bar.
For the final meal together, head to a local restaurant for a farewell dinner, showcasing sustainable gastronomy and the typical Costa Rican flavors from the earlier lecture in a semi-private space.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: Ocotea Boutique Hotel
Day 7
Departure
After breakfast, take advantage of the group transfer from the hotel to Liberia International airport for individual flights home in the afternoon.
Included Meal: Breakfast