100% customisable travel idea
Road Trip for Discerning Travellers Away From the Crowds, the Wilder Side of Costa Rica
Costa Rica - San José - Turrialba - Caño Negro - Playa Naranjo - Dominical - Pluriscal
100% customisable travel idea
Costa Rica - San José - Turrialba - Caño Negro - Playa Naranjo - Dominical - Pluriscal
100% customisable for you
Upon arrival, private transfer and check-in for the night in the heart of the capital. Your hotel catches the eye with its large, brightly coloured mural. Inside, there is less exuberance, but a distinctly graphic touch with beautiful parquet floors, plenty of light, and works of art here and there. The rooms combine modern design with generous comfort. In the evening, the charming tree-lined terrace is the perfect place to enjoy the mild air.
Scheduled - the Gold Museum - you already have your tickets. The permanent collections of this archaeological museum showcase nearly 1,600 pre-Columbian pieces - some in excellent condition - making it one of the three most important museums in Latin America dedicated to objects from that era. A real gem.
Pick up your rental car and drive to the Turrialba Valley.
Optional, along the way - Meet the founder of a sustainable, farm-to-table finca project.
Settle in for two nights at a beautiful hacienda, more than a hundred years old, surrounded by a lush two-hectare (five-acre) estate. The building, which has kept some lovely original features, houses a handful of softly coloured rooms and a cosy lounge where a generous breakfast is served each morning.
Located between San José and the Caribbean coast, the Turrialba Valley offers fabulous landscapes of coffee, sugar cane and tobacco plantations, threaded by lively rivers like the Pacuare and the Reventazón.
Scheduled: a day in the country spent discovering coffee growing. You begin the day on horseback, admiring the local flora and fauna from your unique vantage point. Dismount to reach a beautiful waterfall and enjoy a pleasant swim. For lunch, head to a traditional restaurant where the local cuisine is served with authentic warmth. In, the afternoon explore Costa Rica’s black gold: at a hacienda, learning about the different stages of coffee production, from growing to roasting. During the harvest, you can even watch the pickers at work. As for the tasting, it's an absolute must.
Drive to Sarapiquí, where you stop for a few hours. The reason? An encounter with nature.
Scheduled - A walk with a guide through the heart of the forest, home to many species of colourful birds, mammals and amphibians. You also visit a cocoa plantation before heading to the ranch, where the cocoa beans are transformed into chocolate using traditional methods. You have the opportunity to taste real Amerindian chocolate, just as it was made over 2,000 years ago by the people who lived here.
Continue your journey to Caño Negro and settle in for two nights at a glamping camp set around a waterhole. Your “tent” measures at least 50 square metres! It's large enough to accommodate an XXL bed framed by beautiful lighting, a sofa, and a bathroom with double stone sinks. Outside, for your exclusive use, you'll also find a bathtub, a shower and a hammock promising delightful naps. With all this, venturing out may seem unnecessary. It would be a shame to miss the common areas: the restaurant, open to nature, serves locally inspired cuisine prepared with ingredients sourced nearby. And in the evening, you can head to the lounge for a cocktail or to the fire pits to unwind by the fire.
Caño Negro is a national wildlife refuge created to preserve the Río Frío and its wetland ecosystem. The region, far from the usual tourist routes, is a true sanctuary for wildlife and plants, and a haven for many migratory birds. As your camp is set in the heart of nature, the rhythm of the day is set by the natural world itself. Enjoy birdwatching walks, a boat trip on the Río Frío, horse riding, cooking classes, and more.
Drive to Playa Naranjo on the Pacific coast, and settle in for the night at a small hotel where the rooms, filled with rustic tropical charm, are discreetly tucked away among the trees. Cosy nooks invite relaxation, a refreshing pool offers peaceful swimming, while kayaks and paddleboards are available for the more adventurous guests. Its restaurant celebrates the delights of Costa Rican cuisine.
Scheduled in the evening: a night-time kayak outing to observe the bioluminescent plankton. . Bioluminescence is a fascinating natural phenomenon particularly found in the Gulf of Nicoya, where certain micro-organisms in the phytoplankton react with oxygen in the sea currents to produce an extraordinary glow. It's a truly magical experience where the ocean itself seems to shimmer with light.
Ferry crossing to Puntarenas and drive to Dominical, where you will unpack your bags for two nights. This time, you have at your disposal a villa with a very contemporary bohemian décor - natural materials and neutral tones prevail - surrounded by 12,000 m² (3 acres) of gardens. From the top of the observatory, you can watch whales and dolphins dancing in season, while being spied on by a curious toucan. You hear the howler monkeys long before you see them! The (shared) swimming pool promises refreshing moments, as does the property’s waterfall, tucked between the rocks.
The best waves in Costa Rica, a beach stretching for four kilometres (2.5 miles)… Dominical is a real paradise for lovers of surfing and nature. The mountains of the hinterland hold many treasures, including abundant wildlife and flora. The jagged coastline, with its many bays, promises breathtaking views and a striking contrast between the deep green of the rainforest and the intense blue of the Pacific Ocean. .
Drive to the Pluriscal region and settle in for two nights deep within the forest, at a hacienda specialising in vanilla farming. Enjoy this stunning setting where toucans, aracaris and macaws, among others, thrive. There, a building with colonial architecture conceals a few simple but comfortable rooms. Outside, the terracotta terrace and swimming pool create an ideal setting for leisurely breaks, unless you would rather swim at the foot of the waterfalls that surround the property. Hiking enthusiasts will be delighted, as will lovers of Latin traditions: the bar is set up in the style of a pulpería, a typical shop found in the Costa Rican countryside.
Nestled in the heart of lush green mountains, the Pluriscal region is a true ode to Costa Rica’s prolific and strikingly beautiful nature. Everything here invites a return to basics and a genuine, lasting connection with the natural surroundings. Lulled by the sounds of the forest, you can enjoy peaceful days here, far from tourists yet close to rural communities with their inspiring ways of life, farms where cacao and vanilla are produced, wonderful waterfalls - such as Las Gemelas - and fascinating wildlife.
Scheduled: a private tour of a vanilla plantation. With a guide, you explore several vanilla plantations in the heart of the forest. Discover how young plants are nurtured in greenhouses before being transplanted in the forest, and the different species grown - planifolia, pompona, tahitiensis. And, in the right season (from February to May), you can even witness the pollination of the plants, which are unique as they bloom for only one day. A true testament to craftsmanship, entirely done by hand.
Drive to San José airport, return the vehicle and take your international flight home. Night on board, arrival the next day.
This suggested itinerary can be customisable down to the smallest detail, including duration, stops and content. An à la carte menu of experiences is also available to create a journey that reflects who you are.
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