Individual tours in Costa Rica "Pura vida" - INTI Tours

Upon arrival in Costa Rica, you will be met by our German-speaking airport tour guide, who will hand over your documents and is available to answer any questions you may have. Afterwards you will be driven to your hotel where you will spend the first night.

After breakfast, you will be picked up at the hotel by your guide and driver. Now your "Costa Rican adventure" begins with the drive through the picturesque Braulio Carrillo National Park to the Caribbean coast of the country, to Puerto Viejo de Limón. On the way there, you will make a stop in the Cahuita National Park. This consists of about one hectare of rainforest and the associated, green overgrown coastal strip with wonderfully secluded beaches. On a hike through the park you have a good chance of spotting various animals, such as white-shouldered capuchins, mantled howler monkeys, sloths and coatis. Maybe you will get one or the other animal in front of your camera lens. Afterwards, the journey continues to your hotel. After arrival, why not take a walk along the beach?

You will reach the village of the indigenous Bribri people after a short drive to Bambú in the Talamanca Mountains and from there you will take a dugout canoe across the Yorkin River, the natural border between Costa Rica and Panama. Cocoa and banana plantations dominate the village landscape and the river Skui with its suspension bridge and natural pools invites you for a refreshing swim. After a typical Bribri lunch, you will be initiated into the traditional production of chocolate and taste delicious, freshly prepared chocolate sauce. While the adults enjoy the unique atmosphere, the youngsters have the opportunity to play with the children of the community. Afterwards, your driver will pick you up from Bambú and drive you back to the hotel.

Today at lunch time you will go to an indigenous house where you will participate in an interesting cooking class of Caribbean cuisine. You will be initiated into the secrets of Caribbean cuisine. Together with the family you will enjoy the delicious food. This will be a unique experience! Enjoy the rest of the day on these picture-book beaches and let yourself be seduced by the lightness of the Creole culture and the raggae sounds from the village.

Today you drive towards Sarapiqui, which is known for pineapple cultivation and bird watching - surrounded by many nature reserves. On the way, you will stop at Horquetas and visit a small family farm. Here you will learn all about palmito or palm hearts, visit the plantations and learn all about the production. The visit includes lunch, where you will have the opportunity to taste the palm hearts.

Today, a visit to a local family on their Finca Surá in Chilamate de Sarapiquí is on the programme. After you have fortified yourself with a fresh fruit juice, the farmer proudly leads you to his citrus plants, manioc plants, sugar cane and pineapple plantations. A wide variety of other plants that produce fruit at different times of the year also grow here, and you can even get to know pepper and cinnamon bushes. Everything is grown as naturally as possible, because the tropical animals that are native here, such as the butterflies and the frogs, should not be driven away. But let the family philosophy on this subject explain itself to you... Today, you will also lend a hand yourself and plant some pineapple seedlings before you have another opportunity to ask your questions during a joint lunch. Afterwards, the journey continues and in the afternoon you will reach the Caribbean lowlands and the village of La Fortuna, which lies at the foot of the Arenal volcano.

Today, after a short drive to Mirador 1968, you will take a relaxing walk of about 1.5 hours. You will walk along ash-covered paths and over a cooled lava river, around which a rocky footpath leads. Until a few years ago, small eruptions could be observed regularly at Arenal, evidence of which can still be seen in many places. You can also enjoy the beautiful view of Lake Arenal and the surrounding rolling hills. In the afternoon, spend a few very relaxing hours bathing in the hot springs. The end of this beautiful day is crowned by dinner at the hot springs restaurant before you return to your hotel.

Come into contact with the local population and get to know their everyday life in a village environment. In one of the neighbouring primary schools, a group of pupils in Costa Rican traditional costumes is already waiting for you impatiently and excitedly. The children have rehearsed some traditional dances that they would like to show you. Let yourself be infected and carried away by their cheerfulness. After a tour of the school, you will continue your journey in a tractor with a covered trailer to La Casona, a well-known historic mansion near La Fortuna. La Casona, formerly the country residence of Costa Rican ex-president Rafael Iglesias, is considered one of the most charming and authentic cultural places in the country. During a typical welcome drink, you will learn about the history of the house, its former owners and the way of life at that time. On a walk through the farm you will then learn many interesting facts about organic farming and also visit the medicinal plant garden. Back at the house, you will sample delicious fruits and seasonal produce and even learn how to brew a delicious cup of coffee the old-fashioned way and make a delicious fresh tortilla (corn pancake). While lunch is being prepared, you will visit the "trapiche" - the traditional sugar cane mill, where you will see how sugar cane was processed about a hundred years ago. Finally, you will enjoy the typical lunch prepared on the wood stove and traditionally served on a banana leaf and listen to the typical songs performed by your hosts. You will surely remember this special day full of culture and traditions for a long time. Afterwards, you will continue your journey to Tenorio.

Today you will hike to the sky-blue Rio Celeste river on the north-east side of the volcano. This river is known for its light blue colour, which is caused by the mixing of different minerals in the water. There are also several hot springs, mud holes and fumaroles. If you are lucky, you can still see such rare animals as jaguarundis, pumas or olingos here. The untouched forests extend to the summit of the mighty Tenorio volcano, the sight of which is so overwhelming that you might even think for a brief moment what it would be like to live here...

Your journey takes you to the region around the Rincón de la Vieja volcano. You will drive north-east via Liberia to the Rincón de la Vieja area. The last 20 km are gravel road, but you will arrive safely in Rincón de la Vieja. After check-in at the Hacienda Lodge, you will visit the Rincón de la Vieja National Park with your guide. The hike in the Rincón de la Vieja National Park is an absolute must. On the five-kilometre "Las Pailas" trail you can enjoy the best view of the active volcano Rincón de la Vieja without having to climb all the way up to the crater. You will find a wide range of native trees and plants here, including the national tree "el árbol de Guanacaste". The national park is home to many species of mammals and birds. If you are lucky, you will see raccoons, coatis, armadillos and various species of monkeys. You will also encounter bubbling mud holes, small waterfalls, fumaroles, hot springs and the "vulcancito" - small volcano.

Today you will drive further up into the cloud forest paradise around Monteverde, which is around 1,400 metres above sea level. Due to the altitude, it can also get quite cool in the evening. It can be a bit bumpy on the last stretch to Santa Elena/Monteverde, as the road condition is not exactly in perfect condition. In the afternoon you will visit the cloud forest reserve with your guide. This is one of the main attractions of the Monteverde area. It has a total of 13 kilometres of well-maintained hiking trails amidst lush tropical vegetation. Your guide will introduce you to the diverse flora and fauna of the region - for many Costa Ricans one of their very own seven wonders of the world. Among the more than 300 different bird species that can be observed here is even the majestic quetzal.

This morning you are invited to immerse yourself in the world of coffee. The tour starts with the life cycle of the coffee plant: from the small fruit that becomes a seed and its fascinating development into a coffee bush. The next stage is the harvesting of the coffee crop. You will be informed in detail about the hard and tedious work, as well as about the lifestyle of the coffee pickers. In the afternoon, another attraction is on the programme: you will walk through the treetops of the cloud forest on suspension bridges and get to know the jungle from a completely different perspective. The experienced tour guide on this tour will tell you all about the interesting ecosystems that make life up here possible and worth living.

Today you will continue your journey via Sardinal and Puntarenas. On the way, you will make a stop to visit the Carara National Park, where the forest is extremely rich in species to observe very well animals and birds, such as the red arapapages, which have a permanent nesting place here. Continue to Manuel Antonio. Upon arrival in Manuel Antonio, your guide and driver will bid you farewell. Enjoy the rest of your time on the beach or in the Manuel Antonio National Park, where you are sure to find one or two beautiful motifs to photograph.

Today you can visit the famous Manuel Antonio National Park. (The park is closed on Mondays.) This small but popular Costa Rican national park is located a few kilometres south of Quepos. The park with its pristine rainforest, rich flora and fauna and beautiful tropical beaches attracts many tourists. You can go on wonderful hikes on the beaches or in the cooler rainforest, as the paths are well marked. The animals in the park have become accustomed to people and are not shy. A hike in Manuel Antonio National Park is richly rewarded - butterflies, birds, sloths and various species of monkeys are native to the area. The clear water is teeming with a variety of marine life, which will thrill you when you snorkel. The monkeys are certainly one of the most popular animals in the park. It is almost impossible to walk in the park without making the acquaintance of at least one of the four different species. Furthermore, there are many optional tours to book in the Manuel Antonio area, for example catamaran tours, kayak tours, horseback riding and much more. These excursions can be booked on site.

These days are at your free disposal. Enjoy your last days of holiday in the park or on the beach.

Transfer to the airport in San José and return flight with unforgettable memories of your time in the natural paradise of Costa Rica.