Embark on an unforgettable 15-day adventure through Costa Rica, a country brimming with natural beauty, vibrant wildlife, and rich cultural experiences. This tour is designed for adventurous women who would like to create meaningful connections with nature, local communities, and their fellow travellers. From the lush rainforests of Tortuguero to the stunning Rio Celeste, from relaxing hot springs in La Fortuna to the magical cloud forests of Monteverde, this journey offers the perfect balance of adventure, relaxation, and camaraderie.
Key Details
- Tour Dates: November 2025
- Start Location: San Jose, Costa Rica
- End Location: San Jose, Costa Rica
- Airport: Fly into and out of Juan Santamaria International Airport [SJO].
- Arrival: Arrive in San Jose in time to attend the welcome meeting at 6pm.
- Departure: The tour concludes in San Jose after breakfast.
Location
Please note map locations and route are approximate only Highlights
● San Jose - Explore Costa Rica’s cultural heart and meet your travel companions.
● Tortuguero National Park - Experience the tranquillity of the rainforest and spot incredible wildlife, including monkeys, sloths, and turtles.
● Santa Rosa de Pocosol Homestay - Enjoy a unique cultural exchange through homestays, cooking lessons, and a chance to learn basic Spanish.
● Rio Celeste - Marvel at the striking light-blue waters of this natural wonder and visit the indigenous Maleku community.
● La Fortuna and Arenal Volcano - Soak in natural hot springs, hike to waterfalls, and enjoy a free day of adventure or relaxation.
● Monteverde Cloud Forest - Walk through the mystical cloud forest, spotting hummingbirds, sloths, and the elusive quetzal.
● Manuel Antonio National Park - Hike through lush landscapes, relax on pristine beaches, and enjoy a cooking class with a local family.
● Tamarindo - Explore beautiful beaches, take a guided kayak tour through mangrove forests, and enjoy a sunset sail along the coast.
● Cultural Immersion - Meet local families, engage in traditional activities, and learn the history and customs of indigenous communities.
Itinerary
Hola and welcome to Costa Rica! Your adventure begins in San Jose, where our group of adventurers meet the AW Tour Leader and local guide at a welcome meeting in the evening. Arriving early? Spend some time exploring San Jose’s rich cultural history - visit the National Museum or the Pre-Colombian Gold Museum to dive into the country’s indigenous heritage.
We will head out for our first dinner together and then get a good nights sleep in preparation for the adventure ahead.
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Autentico Hotel or similar
After breakfast, we’ll descend to the Caribbean lowlands by van/bus and terminate at the port of La Pavona. This rustic port is our entry point to Tortuguero National Park. A scenic boat ride will take us deep into the heart of Costa Rica’s wilderness, where we’ll be surrounded by the lush rainforest and freshwater lagoons that many animals call home. Tonight, fall asleep to the soothing sounds of nature.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Miss Junie’s Lodge or similar
Today, the day is yours to discover Tortuguero at your own pace. Take an optional sunrise canoe trip through the canals, or hike the park’s trails. With over 300 bird species and 13 of Costa Rica’s 16 endangered mammals, including manatees, ocelots and jaguars, this biodiverse park offers endless exploration through its maze-like canals. In the evening, you can opt for a turtle watching tour (with part of the cost supporting a program aimed to patrol the beach for poachers) and spot other animals that are mostly active at night.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Miss Junie’s Lodge or similar
Today, we leave the rainforest behind, travelling approximately 4 hours to Santa Rosa de Pocosol for a special homestay experience. Your host family doesn’t speak much English, so your local guide will give you an informal Spanish lesson en route. In the afternoon, choose between a soap-making workshop or a guided hike to a nearby waterfall. End the day with a cooking lesson, helping to prepare dishes for tonight’s home cooked meal with your hosts.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Juanilama Homestay or similar (you’ll be sleeping in guest rooms attached to family homes)
After breakfast, we travel approximately 2 hours to Tenorio Volcano National Park, where you’ll witness the striking light blue waters of Rio Celeste. On the way, we’ll stop by the Indigenous Maleku Community, where we’ll enjoy a traditional meal and hear stories of their history, culture and the challenges they face as the smallest tribe in modern Costa Rica, with only 650 people left. The community and the country share a common goal in conservation efforts, with both working to regenerate forests and plant fruit trees, which encourages animals back to their natural habitats.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Catarata Rio Celeste Hotel or similar
Today is yours to explore or relax. With plenty of optional activities available, you won’t be short of things to do. How about a guided tubing excursion on Rio Celeste with your newfound friends on the tour - it’s usually off-limits to travellers but you have the privilege of floating along the water and lazing along the river. If you prefer a nature tour, take the 3 hour safari cruise along the Rio Tenorio, where your guide will help you spot river otters, howler monkeys, crocodiles and tropical birds. Whatever you choose, the day is sure to be filled with adventure and natural beauty.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Catarata Rio Celeste Hotel or similar
Today we travel approximately 2 hours to the sleepy town of La Fortuna, home to the immense Arenal Volcano. The day is yours to explore - hike to La Fortuna Waterfall and enjoy a cooling swim, soak in the area’s famous hot springs, or simply wander through town and sample some fresh produce. In the evening, gather with your travel buddies to sample local cuisine and share stories of the day’s adventures.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: La Pradera del Arenal Hotel or similar
Enjoy a free day to continue exploring La Fortuna. Try stand-up paddleboarding on Lake Arenal, with its spectacular backdrop of the volcano amongst rolling green hills, or take a boat tour of Cano Negro Reserve to spot wildlife like sloths, monkeys, crocodiles and basilisk lizards. For a more relaxing day, soak in the natural thermal springs surrounded by lush jungle.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: La Pradera del Arenal Hotel or similar
Today we travel approximately 3 hours to Monteverde, a stunning cloud forest settled by North American Quakers in 1951. In the afternoon, enjoy a guided nature walk through the mystical forest, keeping an eye out for hummingbirds, sloths, and the elusive quetzal. If you like, return after dusk to encounter other animals that are mostly nocturnal.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Bosque Verde Lodge Hotel or similar
Today, explore Monteverde as you wish. Take a walk through the forest canopy on suspension bridges, visit the Butterfly Garden, or join a local guide for a nature walk. The forest is home to over 2000 plant species, 320 bird species, and 100 mammals, making it a paradise for wildlife enthusiasts.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Bosque Verde Lodge Hotel or similar
Travel to the laid back town of Manuel Antonio, stopping in Quepos for a cooking class and traditional lunch with three generations of a local family. Learn the secrets of Costa Rican cuisine while you get to know the whole family, then arrive at your hotel in time for some relaxation, or take a sunset walk along Espadilla Beach.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Karahe Hotel or similar
Today, step into the heart of the national park on a guided nature hike, where the soft crunch of leaves beneath your feet is the soundtrack to an unforgettable adventure. As we walk, be sure to take in the stunning scenery while keeping your eyes peeled for the park’s incredible wildlife. Monkeys, armadillos, sloths and vibrant birds all call this place home.
After the hike, take some time to relax on the beautiful beaches surrounding the park. For those craving a bit more adventure, why not rent a surfboard and ride the waves at Playa El Rey? If you’re looking to combine wildlife spotting with a little exercise, consider joining a guided kayak tour through the mangrove forest. It’s not uncommon for curious monkeys to climb right onto the boat and say hello, and you’re likely to spot everything from crocodiles and snakes to a wide array of bird species.
In the evening, you may like to take a sunset sail along the coast. As the sky transforms from blue to fiery shades of orange and pink, you’ll have the perfect moment to reflect on a day full of adventure, nature, and connection with the amazing women sharing this journey by your side.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Karahe Hotel or similar
Today is yours to spend however you like. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can head back to Manuel Antonio National Park and search for the mischievous capuchin monkeys hiding among the trees. Or, if a more relaxed day calls to you, kick off your shoes and sink your toes into the soft sands of Manuel Antonio Beach. The calm, inviting coastline is perfect for a full day of relaxation, with the towering green trees offering shade and serenity. It’s the ideal spot to unwind with a good book, maybe even enjoy a refreshing guaro sour, and simply soak in the peaceful atmosphere.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Karahe Hotel or similar
This morning, we bid farewell to the coast and travel back to San Jose on a private bus, which will take approximately 6 hours. We gather in the evening for a farewell dinner, reflecting on the amazing journey that we have shared.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Autentico Hotel or similar
After breakfast, it’s time to say goodbye to Costa Rica and your new friends with whom you’ve shared this incredible experience with. Make your own way to the airport or continue your travels in Costa Rica.
Meals: Breakfast
Includes
Adventurous Women Tour Leader
Local Guide
13 nights accommodation
5 breakfasts
2 lunches
1 dinner
Air-conditioned vehicle transfers
Boat ride to Tortuguero
Tortuguero National Park entrance
Informal Spanish lesson
Cooking lesson
Maleku community experience
Monteverde cloud forest entrance
Manuel Antonio cooking class
Manuel Antonio National Park entrance and tour with a naturalist guide
5 Dinners
14 Breakfasts
4 Lunches
Excludes
International flights
Arrival and departure transfers
Any visas required
Services not mentioned in the itinerary
Late check out at hotels
Meals and drinks not mentioned in the itinerary
Drinks with included lunches and dinners
Tips for leaders, guide and driver
Expenditure of a personal nature
Personal insurance
Optional activities
Accommodation
We'll be staying in hotels, lodges and a homestay with a local family.
The single supplement excludes Days 5 & 6 (Rio Celeste) where you will be in shared accommodation and is subject to availability.
What To Bring/Wear
- - Detailed Trip Notes will be provided well in advance of your departure, to help you plan & prepare.
Notice of cancellation must be in writing, with an email as an acceptable form of communication, directly to Adventurous Women with the following conditions:
75 days + prior to trip departure - Loss of deposit - Partial voucher available*
74 days or less from the start date of the tour - Loss of all monies paid No refund is available after departure of a tour has commenced.
*Where you cancel a multi-day tour booking more than 75 days prior to departure and have paid a deposit, we will issue a $250 voucher for use on a future tour with an 18 month validity date from the start date of the original tour. This voucher can be used towards the deposit on a future tour, or it can be used towards your final payment on a tour. If you are using one of these vouchers to pay for a deposit and if you subsequently cancel that tour, no voucher is available.
No refund is available after departure of a tour has commenced.
We highly recommend taking trip cancellation cover through your travel insurer to cover you for unforeseen circumstances that may lead you to have to cancel your participation in the tour.
