Iconic Costa Rica

Ziplining, Canyoning, and Rafting the Pacuare River

Trip Details

Costa Rica zip-lining through the rainforest

What’s Included? Everything you need, plus everything you want.

  • Wet & wild: Challenge yourself as you rappel remote, tropical waterfalls through beautiful canyons. This activity is always a highlight of the trip for the entire family! A few days later, you’ll be doused yet again on the world-famous rapids of the Pacuare River.
  • Old Smokey: You’ll visit two stunning and active volcanoes on this journey, both of which have a tendency to huff and puff steam and vapor from their craters.
  • Welcome to the jungle: From your beachside bungalow, you’ll explore one of Earth’s most biologically diverse ecosystems, with the chance to view rare wildlife in the ocean, in the rivers, in the canopy and on the forest floor.

Iconic Costa Rica

Trip Type: Custom-Made Travel

Territory: Central America

Region: Costa Rica

Trip Price: $4,800

Duration: 9 days/8 nights

Trip Begins/Ends: Arenal. Costa Rica / San Jose, Costa Rica

National Parklands: Corcovado NP;Poas Volcano NP

Select Terms & Conditions

All custom travel is tailored to the desires and interests of our traveling clients (see How Custom Travel Works tab). Trip pricing detailed is an estimate of the per person pricing for the sample itinerary detailed and includes all of the lodging, activities, and guided experiences described. Actual pricing for the trip designed expressly for you and others traveling with you will depend on the features and elements developed during the trip planning process. Travel with Off the Beaten Path requires agreement to our standard Terms & Conditions.

Energy Index

Energy Index Spectrum

No Sweat - 1-2 miles of walking or hiking per day, plus easy activities

Nice & Active – 3-6 miles of hiking or walking per day, plus physically active exploration

High Five! – 5-10 miles of hiking per day, plus possible peak bagging or other action-oriented fun

Iconic Costa Rica

Iconic Costa Rica - Energy Index

The Energy Index detailed above relates to the level of exertion associated with the sample trip detailed. This would be modified to fit the style and ability of your group as a part of the custom trip planning process

How custom-made travel works at Off the Beaten Path

We’ve been tailoring custom journeys for clients since our very inception in the mid-1980s! The process is all about connecting the interests of the travelers with the best that a given destination has to offer. To achieve this, we rely upon good ol’ fashioned conversation! Our geographically focused travel designer love to meet new people and learn about their interests for travel. Understanding your goals informs the process immensely and serves as the foundation for the development of a bespoke travel experience for you and yours.

The trip detailed on this web page is a sample of something we’ve done for other clients over the years. In order to start the process of designing your own custom travel experience, just call us at (800) 445-2995 and ask to speak with one of our Travel Advisors. After a bit of time on the phone, you will then have the opportunity to connect with one of our travel designers.

The entire planning process is very personalized and works in an iterative fashion until a final, perfect trip has been created. We then secure all of the lodging, activities, and guided experiences associated with your trip and send along abundant trip materials capturing these details – and much more about your travels!

Itinerary

Days 1-2: Arenal

Arrive in San Jose, meet your local driver, and head straight for the flanks of Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica’s youngest and most active volcano. Upon arrival, head straight for the Arenal Hanging Bridges, acquainting yourselves with the rainforest, and possibilities for spotting wildlife, from monkeys to birds to leafcutter ants! On your full day, enjoy thrills and beauty with a Sky Walk over hanging bridges, a Sky Trek, zip lining through the rainforest, and the Sky Tram, taking you up 3,200 feet over the forest to spectacular views at the top. Arenal offers an array of accommodations to suit your tastes – small inns, activity-rich resorts, and hot springs lodges, with varying locations and volcano views. 

Day 3: Arenal and San Jose

Spend the day in Arenal or make your way to San Jose – your call! Your accommodations are within easy distance from Poas Volcano National Park, and we highly recommend a visit to hike around the craters, through the forest, or to Botos Lake. Spend the night in a villa at Xandari Resort and Spa, set on a 40-acre plantation at 3,900 feet. Enjoy the grounds and exquisite dining.  

Days 4-6: Drake Bay, Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica

Rise and shine and board a flight to Palmar Sur, where you’ll board a boat to follow the Sierpe River to your next destination, Drake Bay. Casa Corcovado Jungle Lodge sits on the shores of the Pacific with the beach out the front door and Corcovado National Park in back. This remote destination offers a plethora of opportunities and activities, from early morning birdwatching walks to a boat cruise to Cano Island Biological Reserve for the area’s best snorkeling, and hiking through the jungles of Corcovado National Park. Casa Corcovado sits on a 170-acre private reserve, and provides private bungalow accommodations, family-style dining, a spring-fed swimming pool, and loads of activities, from horseback riding to sport fishing to kayaking.

Days 7-8: San Jose and the Pacuare River

Return to San Jose on a boat going upstream to the airport and a quick flight. If you didn’t make your way to Poas Volcano National Park during your last stay, then you’ll have another opportunity today. Your full day will be – full! Wake, sip your coffee, then head for Costa Rica’s famed Pacuare River, known for offering one of the best river trips in Latin America! You’ll be outfitted and given a safety talk, then will join expert guides and fellow passengers for a very exciting river trip through the jungle.  

Day 9: Fly Home from San Jose

Today, you bid farewell to the volcanoes, wildlife, ocean, rainforests, and extraordinary people of Costa Rica. Hang on to your “Pura Vida” for as long as possible!  

Start Planning My Trip

Lodging

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