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.

Spend the morning in Poás Volcano National Park. Its namesake volcano is the largest open volcano in the world—and a powerful symbol of the geothermal forces that formed Costa Rica. After a short walk to a viewing platform, peer into the massive crater and the bubbling, sulfuric, green lake inside it. Be sure to scan the caldera’s walls for damage caused by previous eruptions.

Travel tip: Poás is nearly 9,000 feet tall, and it gets chilly at altitude, so we recommend packing warm layers. Also, please note that while views of the crater are typically clearest in the early morning, we can’t guarantee visibility.

Sit down for a welcome lunch, then continue on to visit a coffee plantation to discover how the country produces some of the world’s best coffee beans.

• Tour the family-owned estate, hearing how coffee seeds grow into beans and, eventually, become the flavorful drink in your cup
• Learn how the estate protects and preserves the area’s biodiversity
• See how estate workers use traditional methods of cultivation, and sample a few varieties of coffee

Enjoy a free evening or add an excursion.

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 tour a wildlife sanctuary.

• Learn about the sanctuary’s mission to provide refuge and protection for wildlife who have been victimized by hunting, deforestation, and other human actions
• Walk through the sanctuary’s grounds and see jaguars, ocelots, monkeys, tapirs, white-tailed deer, and macaws
• Hear about the various physical and behavioral problems faced by the animals as a result of their harrowing past traumas

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.