Costa Rica: Hike, Bike & Raft





Hike, bike and raft your way through the wilderness of Costa Rica
If you’re looking for a Central American thrill, take on an eight-day active adventure through one of the world's greenest countries. Dive into Costa Rica’s wilderness and cascade down the rapids of Pacuare River in a raft, hike misty jungle trails in the Monteverde Cloud Forest and cycle along the coastline of Puerto Viejo. With plenty of free time to customise your adventure depending on your interests, you might opt to surf the Caribbean waves in palm-fringed beach towns or go stand up paddleboarding on Lake Arenal. Costa Rica is the perfect place for wildlife lovers (how many sloths can you spot?), active adventurers and those seeking a natural paradise.
4.7
71 reviewsStart: San Jose, Costa Rica
End: San Jose, Costa Rica
- Duration
- 8 days
- Group size
- 1 to 12
- Minimum age
- 15 years old
- Style
Basix: Simple accommodation, local transport and lots of free time
Original: Tourist-class hotels, some meals included and a great mix of included activities and free time
Comfort: Comfortable accommodation, with a relaxed pace of travel and many included meals and activities
Premium: Our best accommodation, exclusive inclusions and our most experienced leaders
- Original
- Theme
Our themes categorise trips based on a common interest or activity, while showcasing the highlights of a destination.
- Multi-active
- Physical rating
Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
Why you'll love this trip
- Swap the concrete jungle for the real jungle on a guided nature hike into the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve, home to some of Costa Rica’s exotic animals, like sloths, tropical butterflies and the elusive quetzal bird.
- Raft along the Pacuare River – this area was ranked in the top five rivers of the world for whitewater rafting! You’ll tackle Class 3 and Class 4 rapids through lush green landscapes abundant in wildlife.
- Cycle the quiet palm-fringed roads of Puerto Viejo and drop in at hidden beaches along the Caribbean coast.
- Opt to ride some waves with a surfing expedition at a local beach, go stand up paddleboarding on Lake Arenal or take on some more challenging hikes through forest and coastlines – this trip allows you plenty of free time to take on our favourite adventures!
- Make the most of your full free day in La Fortuna – there are lava-fuelled hot springs, water-based activities on Lake Arenal (like stand up paddleboarding with a volcano backdrop) or you can take a boat tour of Cano Negro Reserve and go wildlife spotting!
View the itinerary for departures between 01 January 2025 - 31 December 2025
Itinerary
Hola! Welcome to Costa Rica. Your adventure begins in San Jose with a welcome meeting at 6 pm. With over half the country's population living within its parameters, San Jose is a city with colourful markets, many museums and a lively atmosphere. If you arrive early, maybe start exploring in the main plaza. Artisan booths are common here and you never know when there will be a spontaneous art fair. Check out the Gold Museum, home to an amazing collection of indigenous gold art. If these cultural gems get you in the mood for a bit of shopping, head to the San Jose Handcraft Market or the Central Market, where you can buy anything from handicrafts to fresh seafood.
- Hotel (1 night)
There are no meals included on this day.
- San Jose - Pre-Colombian Gold Museum (Entrance fee) - USD17
- San Jose - National Museum (entrance fee) (Closed Sunday & Monday) - USD11
It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. If you are going to be late please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.
This morning you’ll travel by private minibus to the incredibly lush Monteverde. Settled by North American Quakers in 1951, this area was initially used as an environmentally conscious agricultural community and is now a biological preserve. Make the most of your free time in lush here and maybe organise a local guide to take you on an evening nature walk. There are also several local communities that operate cooperatives worth visiting. Get a different perspective of the forest by walking through the canopy on suspension bridges or watch butterflies in the Butterfly Garden. More than 2000 species of plants, 320 bird species and 100 different types of mammals call Monteverde home, making it the ideal spot for wildlife spotting. No matter what you choose to do today, be sure to keep an eye out for the resplendent quetzal, one of the most elusive birds in the world.
- Lodge (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Monteverde - Coffee & Chocolate tour - USD47
- Monteverde - Canopy Zip Lining (Entrance, Equipment & Transport) - USD101
- Monteverde - Butterfly Garden and Insects Farm (entrance fee) - USD22
- Monteverde - Suspension bridges tour - USD55
Your travel time today will be approximately 4 hours.
Some of the optional activity prices include an entrance fee only. Transportation will need to be paid in addition to the entrance fee and is subject to change depending on the number of participants.
Monteverde Cloud Forest has near-constant cloud cover, providing consistent rainfall, giving the area an enchanted feeling. Spend the morning in the forest on a leader-led nature hike, looking out for hummingbirds, quetzals and maybe even a lazy sloths hanging among the mist. After your hike, drive to Lake Arenal in La Fortuna – a small but vibrant town with an abundance of hot springs and natural pools to soak in. When you arrive, you have the rest of the day free to explore, swim or get active. Tonight, why not grab a classic local dinner with a few of your fellow travellers? Chifrijo (fried pork, salsa, beans and tortilla chips) always goes down a treat!
- Hotel (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Monteverde - Cloud Forest Entrance
Your travel time today will be approximately 3 hours.
Enjoy a free day to explore La Fortuna as you wish. This region offers lush forest, rare plants and lots of wildlife watching opportunities. There are also plenty of exciting water-based activities available on Lake Arenal. The volcano’s inner workings also mean there are plenty of thermal springs where hot, lava-heated water gushes to the surface. These springs are often surrounded by foliage, making them the ideal place to kick back and relax. Maybe try stand-up paddleboarding on the lake with a backdrop of the volcano and rolling green hills behind you. Animal lovers might want to take a boat tour of Cano Negro Reserve to count sloths, monkeys, crocodiles and the basilisk lizards that skip across the water.
- Hotel (1 night)
There are no meals included on this day.
- La Fortuna- Caño Negro boat tour - USD94
- La Fortuna - La Fortuna Waterfall (Entrance only) - USD25
- La Fortuna - Stand up paddle board - USD75
- La Fortuna - Arenal hanging bridges (inc entrance fee, guide and shared transport) - USD75
- La Fortuna - Arenal 1968 Volcano View and Lava Trails (Entrance fee) - USD25
- La Fortuna - Paradise Hot Springs (entrance fee) - USD47
Some of the optional activity prices include an entrance fee only. Transportation will need to be paid in addition to the entrance fee and is subject to change depending on the number of participants.
This morning, leave the towering volcano behind and drive east to Pacuare River – renowned for its natural beauty. What better way to experience the river in all its glory than an adrenaline-filled white water rafting adventure? While not an overly challenging or technical river, the 29 km (18 mi) one day run includes 52 rapids, guaranteeing you a day of fun on the water. Flanked by green gorge walls, tumbling waterfalls and tropical rainforest, this is Costa Rican nature at its best! Keep an eye out for the abundant wildlife, including the sloth, parrots, toucans, butterflies and frogs. Afterwards continue by vehicle (approximately 4 hours) to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca for a taste of Caribbean seaside – think reggae bars and palm-fringed beaches.
- Hotel (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Pacuare - 4hrs. Pacuare River white water rafting - Class 3 & 4
Your travel time today will be approximately 7 hours.
After breakfast, get to know the area better with a relaxed bike ride along the palm-fringed coastal road of Puerto Viejo, stopping at various beaches and inlets along the way. After your ride you'll be introduced to the local cuisine in the best way – by watching it being made during at a Caribbean cooking demonstration! Experience a mix of African, indigenous and Spanish flavours with a mix of coconut milk, spices, fruits, seafood and curry flavours. Return to Puerto Viejo for the evening, where you can hit the bars or chill out at the beach to end the night.
- Hotel (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Puerto Viejo de Talamanca - Coastal Bicycle ride
- Caribbean cooking demonstration
Your accommodations in Puerto Viejo reflects the local style of this off-the-beaten-track Caribbean town, which is simple and laid back, within walking distance of the beach.
This morning is free for you to explore Puerto Viejo further at your own pace. Maybe rise early and take the public bus to Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge – this area is made up of several rare habitats, including a lowland rainforest, a wetland, a coral reef and a mangrove swamp. Spend around 2 hours exploring and keep your eyes peeled for monkeys, reptiles, toucans and macaws. Otherwise, you can kick back and relax on the Caribbean shores or take to the waves for a beginner’s surf lesson. Around midday you’ll travel back to San Jose. With time to explore the bustling food and artisan markets, you’ll see a more urban Costa Rica, quite different to the past few days of natural habitats and wildlife opportunities. After so much activity in Costa Rica, you may instead be up for a quiet night, so perhaps head out for a group dinner and become acquainted with the city's night scene – your group leader will know a good place to go.
- Hotel (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Manzanillo - Beginner surf lesson or Independent surfboard rental - USD65
- Gandoca Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge (donation for entry) - Free
Your travel time today will be approximately 4.5 hours.
There are no activities planned after breakfast today and your adventure comes to an end. You're free to leave at any time after check out. If you'd like to extend your stay, just get in touch with your booking agent ahead of time to organise additional accommodation. If you are exploring San Jose in more depth, why not book in an Urban Adventures tour like the San Jose Bites & Sights.
- Breakfast
- San Jose - San Jose Bites and Sights Tour - Urban Adventures - USD49
Inclusions and activities
6 breakfasts, 2 lunches
Shared vehicle, Public bus, Raft, Bicycle
Hotel (6 nights), Lodge (1 nights)
- Monteverde - Cloud Forest Entrance
- Pacuare - 4hrs. Pacuare River white water rafting - Class 3 & 4
- Puerto Viejo de Talamanca - Coastal Bicycle ride
- Caribbean cooking demonstration
- San Jose - Pre-Colombian Gold Museum (Entrance fee) - USD17
- San Jose - National Museum (entrance fee) (Closed Sunday & Monday) - USD11
- Monteverde - Coffee & Chocolate tour - USD47
- Monteverde - Canopy Zip Lining (Entrance, Equipment & Transport) - USD101
- Monteverde - Butterfly Garden and Insects Farm (entrance fee) - USD22
- Monteverde - Suspension bridges tour - USD55
- La Fortuna- Caño Negro boat tour - USD94
- La Fortuna - La Fortuna Waterfall (Entrance only) - USD25
- La Fortuna - Stand up paddle board - USD75
- La Fortuna - Arenal hanging bridges (inc entrance fee, guide and shared transport) - USD75
- La Fortuna - Arenal 1968 Volcano View and Lava Trails (Entrance fee) - USD25
- La Fortuna - Paradise Hot Springs (entrance fee) - USD47
- Manzanillo - Beginner surf lesson or Independent surfboard rental - USD65
- Gandoca Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge (donation for entry) - Free
- San Jose - San Jose Bites and Sights Tour - Urban Adventures - USD49
This trip generates 14 kg of CO2-e per person per day
Learn more about our climate commitment.
When you travel with us, The Intrepid Foundation gives you more opportunities to support important causes in destinations you visit.
Before you book you should know
- We've designed this trip with a mix of active adventures and nature activities, plus plenty of free time built in. Some days you might want to join optional activities for more adventure, other days you might prefer to take it easy and recharge. The schedule gives you room to customize your experience based on what feels right for you.
- The included activities on this trip don't require a high level of fitness or skill, but it’s essential to be at least moderately fit if you want to partake in all activities.
- Most of the activities (both included and optional) on this trip take place in the great outdoors. This means you'll need to be prepared to deal with insects and occasionally rustic conditions. It's all part of immersing yourself in this natural paradise.
- Costa Rica is generally hot and humid year-round, and from May to October can be wet too. At nighttime and in locations at higher elevations it can get chilly. Protect yourself from the sun, bring light clothing you can layer and a waterproof jacket, and stay hydrated. Please carefully consider which time of the year you'll feel most comfortable travelling. Although most vehicles do have air conditioning, it has to work pretty hard to keep a full group cool.
- With so much to see and do, Costa Rica can sometimes be expensive. Expect to pay more than you would in other Central American countries for a lot of things.
The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation.
Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available.
Autentico Hotel
Ave 5 and 7 40 st.
East Sabana,
San Jose
10108
COSTA RICA
Phone: +506 22225266
Description
This streamlined modern hotel is a 15-minute walk from Contraloria train station. Unfussy rooms with warm decor offer free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs and coffeemakers, as well as safes and ceiling fans. Breakfast and parking are complimentary. Other amenities include a landscaped garden with an outdoor pool and seating, and an understated restaurant and bar that hosts regular themed buffets.
Instructions
Hotel Autentico
Ave 5 and 7 40 st. | East Sabana, San José 10108, Costa Rica.
Call. +506 22225266
Alternate joining points
Alternate joining point 1
For trips departing on the following dates, use this joining point.
10 Jan 2026 (QVXC260110), 24 Jan 2026 (QVXC260124), 21 Feb 2026 (QVXC260221), 07 Mar 2026 (QVXC260307), 28 Mar 2026 (QVXC260328), 04 Apr 2026 (QVXC260404), 25 Apr 2026 (QVXC260425), 09 May 2026 (QVXC260509), 15 Aug 2026 (QVXC260815), 21 Nov 2026 (QVXC261121), 19 Dec 2026 (QVXC261219)
Hotel Le Bergerac
Av 0 Y 8 Calle 35,
San Jose
10101
COSTA RICA
Phone: +506 22347850
Description
Hotel Le Bergerac is a cozy and intimate hotel built in a small French Inn style and surrounded by beautiful tropical gardens. All rooms feature cable TV, a telephone, a safe and a private bathroom with a hairdryer. Wi-Fi is available and free on common areas. It is situated in Los Yoses, in the old district of San José Embassies and just minutes from all major downtown attractions.
Instructions
Hotel Le Bergerac
Calle35, Av. 8, San José, 1011
Phone: 2234 7850
Alternate joining point 2
For trips departing on the following dates, use this joining point.
28 Feb 2026 (QVXC260228), 21 Mar 2026 (QVXC260321), 23 May 2026 (QVXC260523), 03 Oct 2026 (QVXC261003), 17 Oct 2026 (QVXC261017), 14 Nov 2026 (QVXC261114), 05 Dec 2026 (QVXC261205), 12 Dec 2026 (QVXC261212)
Rincon del Valle Hotel
50m. East and 50 South of the College of Physicians,
Sabana Sur
San Jose
COSTA RICA
Phone: +506 22961001
Description
Intrepid offers a pre-arranged departure transfer service to San Jose International Airport [SJO] at an additional fee. If you require this service, please advise your flight arrival details at least 14 days prior to your trip departure.
If you have pre-booked this service, your transfer driver will collect you from your hotel 3.5 hours before your flight time. If your transfer has not arrived within 15 minutes of the scheduled pickup time please ask the hotel reception to call our Intrepid Emergency number, listed under ‘Problems and emergency contact information’ section of your Essential Trip Information document.
Alternatively, you can travel from the hotel to the airport by taxi. The hotel reception will be able to assist you with a taxi. The drive to the San Jose Airport will take approximately 30 minutes depending on traffic and will cost approximately USD$30.
Instructions
Intrepid offers a pre-arranged arrival transfer service from San Jose International Airport [SJO] at an additional fee. If you have pre-booked this service, please ensure you provide your flight details to your booking agent at least 14 days prior to travel so the transfer can be organized. If you plan to arrive earlier, this transfer can only be offered in conjunction with pre-tour accommodation booked through Intrepid.
If you have pre-booked this service; you will be met after exiting the terminal building to the outside near Malinche Restaurant. Please look for the Intrepid sign with your name on it.
If you have any problems and cannot locate your driver on arrival, please call our Intrepid Emergency number listed under the ‘Problems and emergency contact information’ section of your Essential Trip Information document. If you don’t have a device or mobile coverage, San Jose Airport has a free Wi-Fi connection so you can call that same number via an online application such as Skype. There are also several information desks and tourist information desks around if you require further assistance.
Otherwise, you can travel from the San Jose Airport to the hotel by taxi. We recommend you use either the authorized taxi services organized from inside the terminal, or the authorized orange taxis outside the terminal building. They will charge you approximately USD$30 for a trip to downtown. The drive to where the hotel is located is approximately 35-45 minutes depending on traffic.
Alternate joining point 3
For trips departing on the following dates, use this joining point.
04 Jul 2026 (QVXC260704), 18 Jul 2026 (QVXC260718)
Hotel Colonial San Jose
Calle 11, Avenidas 2 y 6 San José
San Jose
COSTA RICA
Description
11th Street, 2nd and 6th Avenues San Jose, Costa Rica
Instructions
Intrepid offers a pre-arranged arrival transfer service from San Jose International Airport [SJO] at an additional fee. If you have pre-booked this service, please ensure you provide your flight details to your booking agent at least 14 days prior to travel so the transfer can be organized. If you plan to arrive earlier, this transfer can only be offered in conjunction with pre-tour accommodation booked through Intrepid.
If you have pre-booked this service; you will be met after exiting the terminal building to the outside near Malinche Restaurant. Please look for the Intrepid sign with your name on it.
If you have any problems and cannot locate your driver on arrival, please call our Intrepid Emergency number listed under the ‘Problems and emergency contact information’ section of your Essential Trip Information document. If you don’t have a device or mobile coverage, San Jose Airport has a free Wi-Fi connection so you can call that same number via an online application such as Skype. There are also several information desks and tourist information desks around if you require further assistance.
Otherwise, you can travel from the San Jose Airport to the hotel by taxi. We recommend you use either the authorized taxi services organized from inside the terminal, or the authorized orange taxis outside the terminal building. They will charge you approximately USD$30 for a trip to downtown. The drive to where the hotel is located is approximately 35-45 minutes depending on traffic.
Dates and prices
Important notes
1. It is very important that you provide your height at time of booking so we can ensure that you have the appropriate sized bicycle when your trip starts. If you do not provide your height ahead of arrival we cannot guarantee a suitably sized bike for you.
2. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm on Day 1 in San Jose. There are no activities planned for the final day so you may depart at any time.
3. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
4. Please be careful when booking flights to/from San Jose; make sure you fly into/out of Juan Santamaria International Airport [SJO]. Please do not book flights to/from Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport [SJC] as this is located in California, United States.
Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.
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