Matriarchs, Magma and Monkeys

1. 1

   Day 1

   Arrive San Jose

   Meals included: lunch and dinner

   On arrival in San Jose, we will meet our Trip Leader at the airport and transfer to our hotel in San Jose.

2. 2

   Day 2

   Walking City Tour and San Jose Central Market

   All meals included

   Our first morning in Costa Rica will be spent on a fascinating walking tour of the city’s main historical landmarks including the National Theatre and the Metropolitan Cathedral. After lunch, we will visit the San Jose Central Market, a maze of narrow alleys with over 200 shops, stalls and cheap restaurants known as ’sodas’. Here we will have the opportunity to meet local Costa Rican women who work in the markets selling a vast array of products from snakeskin boots to fruit and veg and herbal remedies.

3. 3

   Day 3

   Rafting to El Nido del Tigre Camp

   All meals included

   This morning we transfer to the rafting gateway of the raging Pucare River where we embark on our white water rafting adventure. The journey takes us through pristine rainforest spotted with waterfalls to the El Nido del Tigre Camp, where we spend the night nestled in the sounds of the rainforest.

4. 4

   Day 4

   Visit to the Cabecar Indigenous Community

   All meals included

   Despite being the largest indigenous community in Costa Rica, the Cabecar community is the most isolated. Luckily, our rainforest camp means we enjoy a three hour trek through the spectacular flora and fauna to reach their reserve. Here we meet with local women to learn about the traditions of their matrilineal culture. Later, we return to our riverside camp for another night in the wild.

5. 5

   Day 5

   Rafting and Transfer to Cahuita Beach

   All meals included

   Today we say goodbye to our home in the rainforest as we embark on another white water rafting journey, stopping en-route to hike to some of the area’s stunning waterfalls and enjoy a well deserved lunch ashore. We then transfer to the breath taking Cahuita Beach where we stay overnight in cabins.

6. 6

   Day 6

   Visit to the Bribri Indigenous Community and Sloth Sanctuary Visit

   All meals included

   This morning we meet an indigenous family from the Bribri Community to learn about women’s roles in this matrilineal society. We also learn about the properties of local plants and the processes involved in making chocolate, something which only the women are allowed to do! This is incredibly important to the Bribri culture where chocolate is used in purification rituals, food and medicine. Afterwards, we visit the Sloth Sanctuary to learn about these beautiful animals and the work in rehabilitation and research which the sanctuary undertakes.

7. 7

   Day 7

   Transfer to Gandoca Manzanillo and Cookery Lessons

   All meals included

   Today we transfer to Gandoca Manzanillo, a wildlife refugee and rustic town where we will spend the next few days. The community here live off of turtle protection, tourism, volunteer coordination, construction and banana farming and many local women also receive tourists as a source of income. We will be staying at Maria’s property: Cabinas Rinconcito. This afternoon we receive a cookery lesson from Maria herself who will show us how to make the traditional Rondon Dish.

8. 8

   Day 8

   Coconut Oil Making

   All meals included

   This morning we learn from Maria, along with a few other women of the Gandoca Community, how to make coconut oil from scratch. It only requires a few simple tools but a lot of patience! There may be free time in the afternoon to explore the area or relax.

9. 9

   Day 9

   The Ancient Art of Cocoa Cake

   All meals included

   Having already learnt a little about the importance of cocoa in Costa Rican culture, we expand our knowledge today as we learn how to make cocoa from scratch and how the Gandoca people make the dried, natural cocoa into a cake mix—we predict a Great Costa Rican Bake Off ahead! After feasting on our efforts we return to Cahuita to spend another night in the cabins.

10. 10–11

    Days 10–11

    Tirimbina Research Station and Hike

    All meals included

    An initial familiarisation hike around this exciting centre, followed by a full day to taking part in the activities on offer at Tirimbina. This could include reviewing their frog or bat programmes, learning about forest composition or discovering the wonders of ecology and diversity in the rainforest.

11. 12

    Day 12

    Safari Float Tour

    All meals included

    Today we explore the river in a more relaxed manner, floating downstream to see the abundance of wildlife the rainforest has to offer. We will stop en-route at the Finca de Don Pedro, a local farm where Don Pedro and his wife will teach us about the Costa Rican way of life 70 years ago and how to make Costa Rican tortillas, a much needed snack!

12. 13

    Day 13

    Arenal Volcano Hike and Hot Spring Visit

    All meals included

    Our hike will take us to Arenal Volcano where a naturalist guide will lead us on a gentle rainforest hike. We will have the opportunity to spot some diverse flora and fauna including monkeys, toucans and sloths. We then reach natural hot springs where we can relax in the soothing water and soak away our aching muscles. In the afternoon we transfer to San Jose ready for our flights the following day.

13. 14–15

    Days 14–15

    Depart Costa Rica and Return to UK

    Meal included: breakfast

    It is now time to wave goodbye to Costa Rica and our Trip Leader as we fly back to the UK.

Itineraries can change with the seasons, local conditions and your group's needs. Ask us and we'll tailor it.