Costa Rica is a small country with a great richness in nature and biodiversity. The warmth of its people gives visitors from other countries a different experience on their trip. The rural tourism offered in Costa Rica provides simple but authentic experiences. It allows for one or two days to be part of the daily rural life that is lived even in many communities. It allows knowing the essence and identity of the Costa Rican in a perfect combination between nature and culture. You can discover what the Pura Vida of Costa Rica really means, by enjoying and sharing in different environments full of peace, living with customs and traditions, immersed in a splendid natural diversity. That contact with the families that in each place are waiting for us to give a direct attention and pleased to share their knowledge of the rural culture of Costa Rica. Also, you can enjoy the traditional rural gastronomy and the authenticity of the communities in a natural environment, with sustainable practices to continue preserving the beauty and culture of this country. Rural tourism in Costa Rica will leaves a mark, a memory to share. Come and enjoy this different trip through Costa Rica!
Places to visit:
➣ Palmichal de Acosta
➣ Manuel Antonio
➣ Chira Island
➣ Bagaces
➣ Tamarindo
Main attractions:
➣ Lots of wildlife (flora and fauna)
➣ Direct contact with the hosting people and shearing experiences in each rural lodging
➣ Corcovado National Park
➣ Manuel Antonio National Park
➣ Hiking in the active crater of Miravalles Volcano
➣ Tamarindo beach
Price: US $1,235 per person. Could change depending on seasons.
✓ Airport transfer - hotel and assistance
✓ 1 night at San Jose hotel
✓ 2 nights in basic and rural lodging in Palmichal
✓ 2 nights at Manuel Antonio hotel
✓ 1 night in basic and rural lodging in Chira Island
✓ 2 nights in basic and rural lodging in Bagaces
✓ 2 nights at Tamarindo hotel
✓ Daily breakfast
✓ Three daily meals in Palmichal, Chira Island and Hornillas
✓ Rented car 4x4
✓ Included and detailed activities in the rural areas
✓ Service and hotel taxes
✓ Price US $ 1,235 per person. Could change depending on seasons.
➣ Meals and drinks not specified in the itinerary
➣ Optional Tours
➣ Local and international calls
➣ Personal medical expenses
➣ Car rental insurance
➣ Departure taxes (US$29 per person)
➣ Air tickets from and to Costa Rica
DAY 1: ARRIVAL TO COSTA RICA
Reception at the airport and transfer to the hotel in San José. Accommodation.
DAY 2: SAN JOSE – PALMICHAL
Breakfast. Departure to the town of Acosta in San Jose province. We will make a visit in route to the community of Quitirrisi where we will learn a little of their manual artisan activity of indigenous tradition.
The community of Quitirrisí is an indigenous community that is located to the West of San Jose. We will visit a four women family who have dedicated themselves to making baskets using authentic designs and natural materials of many colors of the Huetar indigenous culture. During the last 50 years, their craftsmanship has passed from generation to generation.
Arrival at Palmichal. Accommodation in Rural Lodge.
Nacientes Palmichal is a community rural tourism project that was born with the main goal of protecting the waters and forests of the Nacientes Palmichal Basin formed by the Negro and Tabarcia rivers, to bring to the population habits and customs of protection and conservation in harmony with the natural environment.
DAY 3: ACTIVITIES INCLUDED
Early departure for the full day Tour Rural Experiences in Palmichal. We start towards Casa Campesina Los Toritos, which is an initiative of coffee producing local Family. In the gardens we can observe bromeliads, orchids and tomato sticks. Here you can also see the coffee plantation, an agroforestry crop and fruit trees with beautiful views. The family will share their experience for the management and maintenance of coffee as well as the artisan process to taste it. We will enjoy a typical breakfast with freshly coffee prepared with an artisan way, and delicious tortillas. After breakfast we will start a 45-minute walk, 1.7 km, to a cattle farm with sustainable activities where you can see how cheese is made by hand. The waste management of the animals is carried out through a biodigester producing biogas and bio-fertilizer. We will have the opportunity to feed the goats, sheep, calves, chickens, rabbits and even milk a cow. In this beautiful journey along the river of crystal waters, you will enjoy the great biodiversity and variety of fruits of the area. Then we will go back to Posada Rural Nacientes Palmichal where you will enjoy a delicious lunch, very popular in Costa Rica known as "Olla de Carne", although there are also options for vegetarians and vegans. In the afternoon and at the end of this experience, we will enjoy an artisanal coffee in the typical kitchen of the Posada with a delicious cheese omelette. And if you want to try your skill you can prepare homemade bread in the oven and prepare your own coffee!
DAY 4: PALMICHAL – MANUEL ANTONIO
Breakfast. Departure to Manuel Antonio in the Central Pacific. Accommodation.
DAY 5: MANUEL ANTONIO
Enjoy a day of beach and nature within the Manuel Antonio National Park. It is one of the smallest and most popular national parks in Costa Rica. In Manuel Antonio you can enjoy a relaxing day on one of the four beaches or take a walk through the vibrant green tropical jungle. From natural pools of sea water with crustaceans to species of monkeys in danger of extinction and impressive panoramic views. In addition, you can enjoy other exciting activities such as rafting Tour, Sailboat Tour, boat ride or Kayak in the Isla Damas Estuary, Dolphin Tour, or take a paragliding tour on the beach. Accommodation.
DAY 6: MANUEL ANTONIO – ISLA CHIRA
Breakfast at the hotel. Departure to Costa de Pájaros in Puntarenas to take a boat that will take us to the Chira Island. Arrived at Puerto Bocana and starting a unique journey in the bus of the town that will leave you at the lodge. Accommodation at La Amistad Rural Lodge.
La Amistad Ecotourism Association is made up of brave women who decided to face the fear in order to achieve their dreams of improving the quality of life both their families and throughout Chira Island. They got an empowerment of their own ideas that allowed them to have the freedom to develop so many skills, take a boat management course and be captain of their boats. They had the courage to build La Amistad Rural Lodge and be able to offer the services that the visitors need. Through the tours the ladies of Isla Chira do they watch the mangroves and take care of the ecosystem. Take the first step was the most difficult because they had to convince the other women to form the organization. That women lead the community was not good look in our culture. Nowadays, in addition to the tourist activities of the lodge, this group of women carries out reforestation and fire prevention projects. If at the beginning the project was badly seen by the community, nowadays and thanks to their hard work and good management practices, they have shown that it was possible to bring real benefits to the community thanks to rural and sustainable tourism.
DAY 7: MORNING ACTIVITY IN CHIRA ISLAND
Breakfast at the hostel. Departure in the morning for the Mangrove Tour. Accompanied by a local guide, departure by boat to observe the impressive mangrove forest that hosts five of the seven species found in Costa Rica. We will pass by the Responsible Fishing Marine Area where we can see the fishermen with their ropes doing their daily tasks. During the tour and with a little luck we can see crocodiles and exotic bird species. Return to the lodge for lunch. Departure to the pier to board boat back to Costa de Pájaros.
Departure from Costa de Pájaros to Las Hornillas in Bagaces, Guanacaste. Accommodation.
Las Hormillas is a family project that is a place considered a natural treasure since it has a natural spa, geological attractions and the pailas that are in constant activity by the Miravalles Volcano. In this sector it is possible to observe the active crater of the volcano. The burners are holes that clay mud with temperatures that oscillate 80 ° C - 100 ° C and 200 ° C.
DAY 8: LAS HORNILLAS ACTIVITIES
Breakfast. In the morning departure to make the Tour to the Falls and the Cerro Cabro Muco in tractor or horse. During the tour we will pass through three hanging bridges. One of the bridges of 40 meters in length facing an impressive waterfall, another 100 meters in length with a view of the primary forest that surrounds us. Within the trails that we will walk we can see a variety of animals such as birds and reptiles. We will visit a total of 3 waterfalls where you can enjoy a refreshing swim when you reach the well known as "Poza escondida". Return to the Lodge.
In the afternoon we will have the Tour inside the active crater, observing the burners, the pailas in which temperatures oscillate between 40 to 120 degrees centigrade, hot stones, fumaroles, crystallized sulfur and the heart of the volcano. At the end of the tour we can enjoy mud bath in natural spa, relaxation time in the pools with thermal water volcanic. Accommodation.
DAY 9: LAS HORNILLAS – TAMARINDO
Breakfast. Departure to Tamarindo beach. Accommodation.
DAY 10: TAMARINDO
Enjoy a day of beach and nature in the Tamarindo area. You can enjoy a relaxing day at one of the most beautiful beaches in Costa Rica. In addition, you can enjoy other exciting activities such as Tour in Catamaran, horseback riding on the beach, diving tour in Catalinas Island, Snorkelling Tour among other activities. Accommodation.
DAY 11: RETURN
Breakfast at the hotel. Departure to Juan Santamaria International Airport.