Costa Rica NatGeo Journey
🦜Volcanoes, Cloud Forests & Coastline!
Home to lush rainforests, pristine beaches, and an extraordinary range of wildlife, Costa Rica leads the world in conservation and sustainable tourism.
This unforgettable journey led by G Adventures—developed in partnership with National Geographic—invites you to explore the best of this biodiverse paradise.
From the base of an active volcano to mist-shrouded cloud forests and the sparkling Pacific coast, you'll engage with local communities, explore vibrant ecosystems, and enjoy the perfect balance of adventure, learning, and relaxation.
☕ From Bean to Brew in San Miguel de Sarapiquí, kick off your adventure with a visit to the G Adventures–supported Mi Cafecito Coffee Cooperative.
Meet the farmers, walk through shade-grown plantations, and follow the coffee-making process from harvest to roast—before savoring a fresh cup. Enjoy a delicious traditional lunch, knowing your visit directly supports over 200 local families.
🫓 Homestyle Hospitality in La Fortuna. In the shadow of the Arenal Volcano, step into the home of Doña Mara for a hands-on tortilla-making class. Grind corn, shape your own tortillas, and cook them over a wood-burning stove before sitting down to enjoy a home-cooked Costa Rican "casado" meal. It’s a heartfelt introduction to the warmth of rural Costa Rican life.
🌋 Explore Arenal at Your Pace. Spend a full day enjoying the natural and adventurous offerings of La Fortuna. Whether you prefer a tranquil soak in thermal springs, a wildlife boat tour of the Caño Negro wetlands, or adrenaline-fueled activities like whitewater rafting or paddleboarding on Lake Arenal, your day is yours to design.
🌿 Into the Cloud Forests of Monteverde Journey into the legendary cloud forests of Monteverde, where biodiversity thrives in the mist. Embark on a guided hike through Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve, watching for exotic orchids, bellbirds, and—if you're lucky—the elusive resplendent quetzal. Learn about local conservation work at the Monteverde Institute, a National Geographic–supported hub of ecological research and reforestation.
🌊 Surf, Swim & Unwind on the Pacific Coast Travel to the relaxed coastal village of Manuel Antonio, where rainforest meets the sea. Unwind at the beach, take an optional surf lesson, or set sail on the Pacific. With free time to explore, you can choose the pace of your coastal adventure.
🐒 Wildlife Encounters in Manuel Antonio National Park Discover why Manuel Antonio National Park is a favorite among nature lovers. Hike trails that weave through dense jungle and along coastal cliffs, keeping your eyes peeled for sloths, monkeys, iguanas, and over 350 bird species. Cool off with a swim in tidal pools or sunbathe on white-sand beaches.
When: March 12, 2026 - March 20, 2026
✨Includes: Fully escorted, all transportation (within Costa Rica), lodging, guides, activities, most meals
Cost: $2,799 per person
Deposit: $350 per person
Space is limited.
Group size 8-16.
Pricing is subject to availability.
⚠️Pricing does not include international airfare. Please inquire if you would like this priced with your package.
🌟Deposit due by 9/10/2025.
🌟Final payment due by10/29/2025.
Day 1: San José
San José
Arrive at any time. Arrival transfer is included.
If you arrive early enough, you'll have time to head into the city to visit a museum, shop, or visit the main plaza in the city center.
The plaza is a good place to people-watch. A mime, juggler, marimba band, magician, or storyteller may be performing for whatever is collected when the hat is passed. Artisan booths are common, creating a regular arts and crafts fair atmosphere.
Arrival Day and Welcome Meeting
The adventure begins tonight. Feel free to explore before your welcome meeting, but make sure you’re back in time to meet the group. Check for the meeting time on the welcome note at the hotel. After introductions, your CEO will review the details of your tour. Please note that normal check-in times apply at our start hotels, but you can usually store your luggage for the day if you arrive early.
Day 2 : San José/La Fortuna
Awake in the Costa Rican capital and take a tour of a G Adventures–supported coffee cooperative. Meet local farmers, observe shade-grown coffee plants, and gain insight into the process of coffee production, from bean to cup. After a typical lunch—accompanied by an aromatic cup of coffee—continue to the town of La Fortuna, situated at the foot of the majestic Arenal Volcano. This evening, we’ll visit a local home to learn how to make tortillas. Chat with your welcoming hosts and dig into a traditional Costa Rican meal of black beans, plantains, and your own handmade tortillas.
Your G for Good Moment: Mi Cafecito Coffee Cooperative Tour
Find out where your cup of java comes from. Visit the Mi Cafecito coffee cooperative in San Miguel de Sarapiqui, see shade-grown coffee plants, learn about everything from harvesting, to husking, drying, and roasting the beans before enjoying the best part – a fresh cup! Enjoy a typical lunch of plantains, beans, and freshly caught tilapia fish. Feel good about all this eating and drinking knowing that you are supporting a G Adventures for Good project that helps 200 farmers and their families.
Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Tortilla Making and Home Dinner
Learn the art of tortilla making from Doña Mara in her family home. Grind the corn, mix the “masa” (dough) into balls, flatten into circles, and then cook them up on a wood-burning stove. Relax with a fresh tropical fruit juice, get to know the family, and hear about the history of tortillas. Afterwards, dig into a tasty “casado” – a typical Costa Rican dish including black beans and plantains – complete with your own hand-made tortillas
Day 3: La Fortuna
Spend the day on your own, exploring La Fortuna and its surrounding areas. In 1968, the Arenal Volcano erupted after centuries of laying dormant, converting this quiet agricultural town into a hot spot for adventure travel. Choose to go stand-up paddleboarding on the tranquil waters of Lake Arenal; relax in the shadow of Arenal Volcano at a naturally heated outdoor spa; take a boat tour of Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge, one of the world’s most important wetlands; and more.
Your Discover Moment
There's plenty to see and do in La Fortuna, and we wanted to make sure that you had some time to take it all in. Feel free to relax or try optional activities like canyoneering, whitewater rafting, and paddleboarding. Your CEO has more ideas if you need them. Just ask!
Day 4: La Fortuna/Monteverde
Travel from La Fortuna to the leafy cloud forests of Monteverde—a nature lover’s paradise. This afternoon, choose to discover Monteverde’s breathtaking wilderness on a zip-lining adventure in the birthplace of the canopy tour, gliding high above the treetops or zooming through the misty foliage at exhilarating speed. Did I mention the naturally heated outdoor spa in the shadow of Arenal Volcano?! Bliss.
Day 5: Monteverde
Set out on a hike in the stunning Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve, treading past giant ferns and vibrant orchids. If you’re lucky, you might catch a glimpse of the resplendent quetzal—a sacred bird in Maya and Aztec cultures. Afterward, visit the Monteverde Institute, a research and educational organization supported by National Geographic. Hear from a researcher about some of the institute's conservation initiatives, including a successful reforestation project.
Santa Elena Cloud Forest Guided Tour
Pull on your poncho and boots. It’s time to head into the cloud-covered forest, past over-sized ferns and exotic orchids. Harness your inner Tarzan and Jane as you imagine swinging from the giant vines. Walk along 2 to 3km (about 1.5 mi) of trails at a leisurely pace, watch for wildlife, and trek to the top of the observation tower. Be sure to stop and listen, too. Hear the haunting call of the bellbird and perhaps catch sight of the brilliant green and red resplendent quetzal. Feel good about protecting the forest and sustaining the quality of local schools through payment of your park fees.
Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Monteverde Institute Lecture
Visit the Monteverde Institute which has served as the base for numerous National Geographic-funded explorers and researchers studying the famed canopy of the Monteverde Cloud Forest. Enjoy a lecture by one of the researchers outlining the various projects National Geographic has sponsored including new discoveries, insect and bird studies, and the reforestation of tropical regions.
Day 6: Monteverde/Manuel Antonio
Leaving the cloud forest behind, head to Costa Rica’s sweeping Pacific coast and settle into your hotel in the seaside village of Manuel Antonio. Soak up the laid-back atmosphere of the area, and opt to go surfing, or sailing. You can also spend the rest of the day relaxing on the beach.
Optional Surf Lesson!
Slather on the sunscreen, strap on a leash, pull on a rash guard, and get ready to hit the waves. Experience the surf at the beaches near Quepos and Manuel Antonio with their left, right, and well-shaped beach breaks. Take a lesson, learn tips and techniques, then hang ten like a local.
Day 7: Manuel Antonio
Discover the lush tropical forests and white-sand beaches of Manuel Antonio National Park. Costa Rica’s smallest national park—yet one of the most spectacular—boasts an abundance of wildlife, including monkeys, armadillos, sloths, iguanas, and countless species of birds. Hike through the dense forest, climb up to rocky outcrops for views of the dazzling Pacific Ocean, and go swimming in the park’s lovely lagoons and tidal pools. Opt to take a surfing lesson, go horseback riding, or kayak through the mangroves.
The park has fabulous beaches, abundant wildlife, and a great trail system for those who want to spend the day hiking. Look for monkeys, armadillos, coatimundis, sloths, and some 350 species of birds that are present in the park.
Manuel Antonio National Park Visit
Pack your sunscreen, snack, and beach shoes and prepare for a great day in Costa Rica’s smallest, yet no less stunning, national park. Manual Antonio offers four white-sand beaches separated by jagged rock outcrops and tidal pools where you can swim, snorkel, and sunbathe. When you’re all beached out, head to the shade of the nearby hiking trails to search for sloths, monkeys, and armadillos. Climb to the lookout to capture views of the pristine Pacific Ocean and the area’s off-shore islands.
Day 8: Manuel Antonio/San José
Return to San José. Tonight, choose to join the group for a farewell dinner at a popular local restaurant.
Day 8: Breakfast in San José
Your Journey ends here. Depart Peru any time.