This multisport and bike tour features tropical rides around some of Costa Rica's most beautiful countryside. Begin your week travelling from San José to Bajo Rodriguez, where you’ll embark on a thrilling whitewater rafting trip down the Rio Balsa. You’ll then enjoy a rainforest chocolate tour and boat cruise across Lake Arenal before hiking and ziplining through Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. Finally, spend a couple of days of bike riding, swimming and surfing at Playa Carrillo and Playa Sámara, before heading back to San José for your departure home.

Key information

Destinations Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, Arenal Volcano National Park, San Jose, Playa Carrillo
Activity Adventure, Hiking & Trekking, Active, Nature & Wildlife
Physical Level Moderate
Season Season January - December

Suggested itinerary

Experience whitewater rafting on the Rio Balsa

Experience whitewater rafting on the Rio Balsa

Day 1 in San Jose

San José head one and a half hours to Bajo Rodriguez for a day of rafting on Class II and Class II rapids. Surrounded by tropical wilderness, this river is fed by water flowing from Poás Volcano.

Don't miss

Explore the slopes of Poás volcano

Explore the slopes of Poás volcano

The most popular of Costa Rica’s five active volcanoes, Poás volcano is within easy-driving distance of San José and is the largest open volcano in the world. Its crater is over a mile across and 1,050ft deep, with two small lakes at the bottom. Arrive early to beat the crowds and clouds.

Take a boat cruise across Lake Arenal

Take a boat cruise across Lake Arenal

Day 2 in Arenal Volcano National Park

For several decades, the Cerro Arenal Volcano was the most active in Costa Rica, spewing molten lava and red hot boulders into the surrounding darkness. Since 2010, activity has been limited to puffs of smoke and the occasional rumble, but that hasn’t stopped visitors exploring the adjacent Arenal Volcano National Park.

Go hiking and zip-lining in Monteverde

Go hiking and zip-lining in Monteverde

Day 3 in Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve

Boasting an incredible ecosystem and home to approximately 5% of the planet’s total bird species, 130 mammal species and more than 3,000 plants, the cloud forests of Monteverde are a nature lover’s dream. Visitors can explore an array of trails which wind through 13km of forest and enjoy bird’s-eye views from the many skywalks, hanging bridges and zip lines throughout the reserve.

Enjoy beautiful bike rides in Playa Carillo and Playa Sámara

Enjoy beautiful bike rides in Playa Carillo and Playa Sámara

Day 4–5 in Playa Carrillo

Bike ride from the cloud forests of Monteverde into the Province of Guanacaste. After lunch head towards Playa Carillo — a beautiful palm tree-lined beach with a fantastic bike track to the nearby town of Sámara, across the Rio Buena Vista and out to the coast at Playa Barco Quebrado (known as Broken Boat Beach).

Don't miss

Volunteer with with a sea turtle conservation project

Volunteer with with a sea turtle conservation project

Costa Rica is a sea turtle paradise, with turtle hatching occurring on various beaches on both the Caribbean and Pacific coasts throughout the year. There are dozens of small conservation projects and protected areas set up, with many containing a nursery where volunteers can help. Do your research and always be respectful of these beautiful and endangered animals.

Return to San José and depart

Return to San José and depart

Day 6 in San Jose

Head back to San José for your onward departure.

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