Costa Rica Itineraries
Manuel Antonio
7 nights in Costa Rica’s adventure hot spot
Greatest Hits
6 nights highlighting Costa Rica’s diverse landscapes
Itinerary 1 | 7 Nights
Manuel Antonio
Where the rainforest meets the sea, and adventure abounds. A luxury home-based experience.
Days 1-2
Welcome to Pura Vida
Day 1:
Make our way from San Jose to the Pacific Coastal town of Manuel Antonio. Get situated in our luxury home, enjoy a fresh fruit elixir while viewing an incredible sunset overlooking the dramatic coastline. In the evening a fun and interactive cooking class highlighting the freshness of Costa Rican cuisine. Each morning count on waking up overlooking the Pacific Ocean and start your day with yoga, a beach stroll or just relaxing in bed. Then a healthy breakfast to start the day.
Day 2:
Time for a dip in the warm and healing Pacific waters and then some sea kayaking or SUP (stand up paddle board) to glimpse marine life and take in the rugged and wild Manuel Antonio coastline. Next enjoy a light and fresh picnic lunch in the shade on one of our favorite local beaches. After some swimming, we will head out on a local favorite single track hike that undulates through the tropical rainforest always hugging the coast for some excellent wildlife opportunities– think monkeys, sloths, toucans, scarlet macaws and more. Wrapping up the day with a delicious dinner at one of our favorite local spots.
Days 3-4
Adventure Begins
Day 3:
Head away from the ocean and into the lush green mountains that provide the backdrop to our coastal abode. Get our adrenaline pumping with white water rafting on the Naranjo River, with incredible bird viewing opportunities such as the White Ibis, Ringed Kingfisher and a variety of herons. We will have worked up a healthy appetite and will visit another of our local favorite spots for a unique local lunch experience in the African palm plantation where there is no menu and you order your food by the kilo. This afternoon, head out on a private catamaran to look for dolphins, sea turtles and whales and watch the sunset drop down below the water while enjoying a fresh dinner with the calm sounds of the ocean.
Day 4:
Rise and shine nice and early today (early bird gets the worm, trust us!) and head out on a 4x4 adventure into the Talamancan mountains for a visit to a unique cooperative community and support their efforts in sustainable eco-tourism. Cross one of the highest and longest hanging bridges in the country that awards a birds-eye view of the Savegre Valley and enjoy a refreshing dip in a 120 foot waterfall that is deeply hidden in the primary rainforest. We will visit one of our long time friends and have an authentic home cooked meal in her garden and learn how to cook the Tico’s (Costa Rican’s) favorite foods. This evening we have scrumptious dinner and mixology classes prepared by a knowledgeable local chef and bartender.
Days 5-6
Relax & Enjoy
Day 5:
If you have ever dreamed of learning to surf, Costa Rica is the place to do it! This morning, learn to ride the waves with a surf lesson or simply relax or take a walk on one of our favorite stretches of palm tree lined secluded beach. This afternoon we will head south out of town for an adventure to one of our favorite breweries. Fun coastal stops en route to an extraordinary dining experience in the southern coastal community of Ojochal.
Day 6:
Wind down today and have some free time to relax, have a massage, stroll to the beach, read a book, or go on a parasailing or zip-lining adventure. Afternoon with our eccentric and most charismatic friend Mama Cacao. She will teach us (and feed us!) interesting facts about one of our favorite treats - Chocolate! Dine under the stars with a private beach BBQ and Cara’s spicy passion fruit margaritas, followed by a beach bonfire with the backdrop of breaking waves.
Days 7-8
Discover Yourself
Day 7:
Today we are off the beaten path with a full day of waterfall exploring. Time to cool off with dipping and jumping in and out of some of our favorite waterfalls. We saved the best for last as we dine at one of Manuel Antonio’s finest restaurants. It is time to raise a glass and toast to our incredible week of adventure, laughter, and pura vida.
Day 8:
For our final morning we will enjoy a tropical breakfast and then say our sweet farewells. In Costa Rica we never say good-bye but rather, hasta pronto, which means we will see one another again soon!
Arriving early? Staying longer? We can help you with accommodations, activities or transportation before or after your Luna Vida adventure retreat.
Itinerary 2 | 6 Nights
Greatest Hits of Costa Rica
Rainforest, Volcanoes and the Pacific Ocean. A luxury hotel based experience.
Days 1-2
Magic of the Pacuare River: A Tropical Paradise
Day 1:
From San Jose we will drive through the lush foothills of the Irazu and Turrialba Volcanoes on our way to the Pacuare River. This quintessential tropical river is known for its stunning beauty and world class rapids. Imagine granite gorges, blue morpho butterflies, jewel-toned birds and tangled green vegetation. The Pacuare Lodge, a National Geographic Unique Lodge of the World, is our home base for two nights. There are no roads to this incredible, secluded spot in the rainforest so we arrive and depart from the lodge using the river.
Day 2:
Wake up with the cacophony of tropical birds and other forest life alongside the sound of the flowing river. Enjoy a leisurely breakfast and then use your day as you please. Waterfall hiking, zip-lining, a visit to an indigenous community, or get a well deserved massage at the spa. There is nothing quite like a layover day on the river to sink deep into vacation mode.
Days 3-4
Arenal-Carribean Rainforest & Healing Thermal Springs
Day 3:
We will catch the morning sun and raft out of the lodge traveling Northwest to Arenal, where we’ll find ourselves beneath the picturesque Arenal Volcano and surrounded by enchanting hot springs. For the next two nights we will enjoy pampering and luxury at Nayara Springs Hotel, which is consistently rated as one of top hotels in the world.
Day 4:
Rise with an incredible view of the Volcano, a freshly brewed cup of the best Costa Rican coffee, and head to a transformative yoga class surrounded by lush tropical forest. After some breakfast, we take a 4x4 adventure into the mountain for some canyoning and waterfall rappelling combining both adventure and beautiful scenery with a unique view into the “Campesino” (country side) lifestyle. In the afternoon, slow down the tempo with soothing hot springs and relaxation. To close out our stay in the Fortuna area, we will attend a private and highly entertaining cooking class with one of our long time friends from the area. A night to remember!
Days 5-6
Osa Peninsula: “The most biologically intense place on earth”
Day 5:
Depart from Fortuna by air toward the Osa Peninsula, home to Corcovado National Park. Known for its raw and rugged terrain, abundance of wildlife, and beautiful secluded beaches, this is one of the world’s most biodiverse regions and the national park protects the endangered tropical ecosystems within it. Our home for the next two nights is Lapa Rios, a National Geographic Unique Lodge of the World. This afternoon, take a walk to learn all about the uses of medicinal plants and seeds through primary rainforest.
Day 6:
Rise and shine bright and early and depart for Corcovado National Park for a full day of exploring and wildlife viewing. With 2.5% of the world’s diversity and covering less than one thousandth of the earth surface, this place is truly a hotspot of biological diversity. Keep your eyes peeled for tapirs, jungle cats, and countless species of tropical birds.
Day 7:
On our final morning we will have breakfast and then say our sweet farewells. In Costa Rica we never say good-bye but rather, hasta pronto, which means we will see one another again soon! After breakfast we will have a scenic flight from the southernmost peninsula of Costa Rica returning to San Jose.