Costa Rica for Solo Travelers: Volcanoes, Jungles & Beaches

Fly to Costa Rica and settle in at your hotel in San José. Enjoy a light dinner this evening.

Please note: If you arrive after 9pm, dinner will be served in your hotel room.

Make your way from your hotel to a local farm and discover one of Costa Rica’s finest exports—coffee. Regarded as some of the best in the world thanks to a Goldilocks combination of growing conditions, Costa Rican coffee accounts for close to 8% of the country’s gross domestic product.

• Tour a family-owned estate to learn how coffee cherries yield coffee beans, and how those pips—after a multi-step process of cleaning and roasting—eventually become the flavorful drink in your mug each morning.
• Learn how the estate protects and preserves the biodiversity of the area, and how it employs traditional methods to cultivate its crop.
• Indulge in a tasting of some of the farm’s coffees, then sit down to a welcome lunch and continue getting to know your fellow travelers.

Afterward, continue on to the Toucan Rescue Ranch. Dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of native wildlife, this nonprofit organization looks after toucans, sloths, and other animals. Join a rancher for a guided walk of the grounds, hear the stories of the various creatures in their care, and come to a better understanding of the importance of conservation in Costa Rica.

What better way to get to know authentic Costa Rica than through its traditional food and dance? Kick up your heels with an optional excursion that highlights the local folklore. Or, if you’d prefer, use your free time this evening to explore some of San José’s modern and colonial architecture.

Spend a free day in the San José Region or add an excursion.

Travel to Tárcoles, a quiet town that boasts beautiful vegetation, abundant wildlife, and ocean views. Climb aboard a boat for a guided tour of the Tárcoles River, which is known for the large number of American crocodiles that inhabit its waters.

• Soak in views of lush mangrove forests and jungle scenery.
• Look out for crocodiles, iguanas, lizards, and monkeys, as well as scarlet macaws, kingfishers, and over 50 species of birds.

This afternoon, continue to your hotel along the Central Pacific Coast, where you’ll find tropical rainforests, beautiful beaches, and an impressively diverse ecosystem.

This morning, head to Playa Palo Seco, one of the largest mangrove ecosystems in Central America. There, take part in a mangrove reforestation project, one of Costa Rica’s key efforts to promote environmental sustainability.

• Learn about the importance of the island mangrove forests and how they serve as natural barriers that protect the mainland from storms and high tides.
• Hear about mass deforestation caused by ocean currents, tides, increased flooding from upland rivers, and business development.
• Take part in a hands-on activity, like planting mangroves or seeds in the nursery.

Please note: Travelers should wear clothes they don’t mind getting dirty during today’s activity.

Enjoy a free afternoon on the Central Pacific Coast or add an excursion.

Please note: On some departures, the reforestation project and Rainforest Sky Cable & Ziplining optional excursion will take place on day 6 and the visit to Manuel Antonio National Park will take place on day 5.

Make your way to the small but stunning Manuel Antonio National Park, popular for its breathtaking beaches and scenic hiking trails. Uncover its incredible biodiversity and postcard-worthy beaches on a guided tour.

• Keep an eye out for some of the 109 mammal species and 270 bird species that call the park home, including howler monkeys and yellow-throated toucans.
• Walk to the top of rocky Cathedral Point to view the lush park from across the Pacific.
• Visit Escondido Beach, where a blowhole sends plumes of seawater skyward during high tide.
• Take in views of the saw-like cliff and sea caves at Punta Serrucho, a landmark whose sawtooth appearance is the result of numerous tectonic movements.
• Relax on the beach or take a dip in the Pacific Ocean.

Please note: Manuel Antonio National Park closes on Tuesdays. Depending on the departure, your visit may take place on day 5. In that case, the reforestation project and Rainforest Sky Cable & Ziplining optional excursion will be moved to day 6.

Travel north along a scenic route to the coastal province of Guanacaste, which is known for its unspoiled beaches and biodiverse parkland. Along the way, stop to explore El Jardín, a family project providing a welcoming experience. Take time to explore the beautiful gardens, nursery, and souvenir shop featuring unique items made by local artisans. Then, enjoy an included lunch of authentic dishes prepared in their traditional kitchen.

Settle into your hotel on the Guanacaste coast: a mecca for surfers, hikers, and sunbathers that’s home to some of Costa Rica’s most sought-after beaches and landscapes.

Spend a free day relaxing along the Guanacaste coast or add an excursion.

This evening, celebrate your trip with your fellow travelers at a farewell dinner.

Transfer to the Liberia airport for your flight home or extend your stay in Costa Rica to explore the volcano region.