Gallo pinto
Costa Rica’s rice-and-beans breakfast, the foundation of every day in the countryside.
Costa Rica · Central America
Costa Rica
Pura Vida between Jungle and Ocean
Duration
8 days / 7 nights
Region
Costa Rica · Central America
Trip investment
Paying in one instalment$3,781.00 US dollarsYou save $329.00 US dollars (8%).per person
Making deferred payments: total $4,110.00 US dollars · deposit $1,000.00 US dollars + up to 10 deferred payments of approximately $311.00 US dollars each
Book today and pay in up to 10 deferred payments. The sooner you book, the lighter your payments.
May 1–8, 2027 · 5 left
Plan with context
Trip essentials
- Start & finish
- Starts in San José · Ends in San José
- Local currency
- Costa Rican colón (CRC); USD widely accepted
- Cards & cash
- Good acceptance in tourist areas; carry $100–150 US dollars equivalent for rural areas and tips. You can bring US dollars in cash to exchange for local currency at banks or authorized exchange offices on arrival, before visiting remote areas. Bring notes in good condition and check exchange opening hours and requirements.
- Physical demand
- Medium–High — rafting, rainforest, heat and humidity
- Coffee reference
- San José: approx. CRC 1,982 · $3.8–4.35 US dollars
Practical references checked on Sep 16, 2026. Prices and exchange rates may change.
Information verified in October 2026
Visas and entry requirements
For this trip, prior formalities are needed for: Nicaragua, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador.
Check: Peru, Bolivia.
Reference information; requirements may change. Confirm on the official site before you travel.
01 — THE TRIP
Rafting on the Pacuare River, Monteverde cloud forest, Arenal, and Manuel Antonio on an 8-day adventure.
01Pacuare River
02Arenal
03Monteverde
04Manuel Antonio
02 — WHAT'S COVERED
Included
- 7 nights of accommodation with breakfast (plus 1 lodge night in Pacuare, included in the rafting package)
- Place-to-place ground transfers
- Wandernow guide
- Class III-IV rafting on the Pacuare River (2 days/1 night, with meals)
- Hot springs at Tabacón Thermal Resort & Spa
- Hanging bridges and canopy/zipline in Monteverde
Luggage: Due to vehicle capacity, each traveler may bring only one suitcase of up to 15 kg and one backpack. Any additional luggage is the traveler's responsibility and must be handled on their own, for example by leaving it at the base hotel, subject to the hotel's availability.
Not included
- International flights
- Meals not listed
- Travel insurance
- Tips
Groups of maximum 16 travelers, ages 6 to 100. Every trip has different physical requirements, so if a minor joins, they should be an independent kid who enjoys being outdoors — not one glued to an iPad all day. Solo travelers are welcome: we pair men with men and women with women in double or triple occupancy.
International flights are not included unless expressly stated on the trip page.
International community
You travel with people from all over the world
On any given departure you may share the route with travelers from Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Spain and other countries. We don't sell tours: we offer guided adventure trips, run in Spanish, in small groups of maximum 16 people.
- International groups: depending on the date, travelers from different Spanish-speaking countries may join
- A Spanish-speaking Wandernow guide throughout, plus local guides (in English, sometimes Spanish) who add the local perspective
- We don't sell tours: we offer guided adventure trips, in Spanish, in small groups of maximum 16 people.
Why travel with us?
No more than 16 travelers—never a tour bus.
A Wandernow guide with you throughout the journey.
International groups—you meet people from other countries along the way.
We don't sell tours ruled by a fixed schedule: the best part of a journey is often what wasn't planned. If you know how to let go and flow, this trip is for you.
03 — ROUTE
Route
Itinerary day by day
- Day 1
Arrival in San José · Welcome at 2:00 PM and room check-in at 3:00 PM
We arrive in San José and settle into the lodge. An orientation walk opens our shared journey.
- Day 2
San José · Pacuare River · Transfer and class III-IV rafting on the Pacuare River…
We travel to the Pacuare River for class III–IV rafting together. We spend the night at a riverside lodge.
- Day 3
Pacuare River · Arenal · Transfer
We continue to Arenal and visit the hot springs at Tabacón Thermal Resort & Spa. We settle in La Fortuna at the end of the day.
- Day 4
Arenal · Hanging bridges and a walk with volcano views
We cross hanging bridges and walk with views of the volcano. We share the day on foot before another night in Arenal.
- Day 5
Arenal · Monteverde · Jeep-boat-jeep transfer across Lake Arenal
We travel to Monteverde by jeep, boat and jeep across Lake Arenal. Afterwards we explore the cloud forest's hanging bridges.
- Day 6
Monteverde · Canopy and zipline through the forest canopy
We explore the forest canopy by zip line. We continue with a guided walk in search of quetzals.
- Day 7
Monteverde · Manuel Antonio · Transfer
We travel from Monteverde to Manuel Antonio. We have a free afternoon at the beach before our final day.
- Day 8
Manuel Antonio · San José · End of the Adventure · Return transfer
We return to San José and check out. We end our shared journey through rivers, forests and the beach.
The itinerary describes the route and the places you will visit. A place, museum, or activity being mentioned here does not mean its admission or cost is included — only what appears under ‘Included’ is covered. Review that section to see exactly what your trip includes.
*Wandernow reserves the right to modify the itinerary without prior notice to ensure the safety of the group and the smooth operation of the trip.
GUSTO
Flavours of Costa Rica
Casado
The midday plate: protein, rice, beans, plantain and salad, “married” on one dish.
High-altitude Tarrazú coffee
Grown in the central mountains, among Central America’s finest.
“Pura vida” is not just a greeting but a way of eating: unhurried, with what the land gives that day. A casado in a village soda overlooking the rainforest explains better than any brochure why Costa Rica chose to protect over 25% of its territory rather than exploit it.
Territory
Map of the route
Meeting point: San José · Costa Rica · Centroamérica
Wandernow Studio
Day 1 · 1 May · San José
Arrival in San José
Welcome at 2:00 PM and room check-in at 3:00 PM. Orientation walk. Stay: lodge in San José.
Lodge · San José
Tap a pin to see the day
04 — BOOKING
Transparent pricing
One payment
$3,781.00 US dollars
You save $329.00 US dollars (8%).
per person
Pay in full and your place is released immediately, with access to the app.wandernow.com QR code.
Instalments
$4,110.00 US dollarstotal
deposit $1,000.00 US dollars + up to 10 deferred payments
Hold your place with a deposit and pay from your portal. When the last instalment clears, your app QR code appears automatically.
We accept credit or debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express), Apple Pay and Google Pay, all through WeTravel.
Prices are per person in double occupancy. Both plans are processed securely through WeTravel and remain visible in your account statement.
Solo travelers share a room with someone of the same sex: men with men and women with women. Couples stay together.
SOCIAL PROOF
5.0 across verified reviews
Travelers who already went
“It has been the best experience of my life.”
“Everything was fun and beautiful, well organised and well chosen. There was not always room for everyone, but it always worked out and in good conditions.”
Upcoming departures
May 1 – May 8, 2027
First seat releaseSeats available3/8 booked(8 seats released of 16)
Registration openRegistration closes: 92 days until closing
We release the group in waves: once this one fills, we open the next if the local team allows it.
from$3,781.00 US dollars
Verified live availability · No fine print
Fact sheet
- Destination
- Costa Rica · Costa Rica · Central America
- Trip type
- Adventure Culture in a small group
- Duration
- 8 days / 7 nights
- Group size
- Maximum 16 travelers (ages 6 to 100)
- Single-payment price
- $3,781.00 US dollars per person
- Deferred-plan price
- $4,110.00 US dollars per person · deposit $1,000.00 US dollars + 10 max
- Published currency
- Dollars
- Payment methods
- Credit or debit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express), Apple Pay and Google Pay, via WeTravel
- International flights
- Not included in the price
- Guide
- Spanish-speaking Wandernow guide throughout the trip
- Solo travelers
- Welcome; shared accommodation by gender (man with man, woman with woman) at no extra cost
- Occupancy
- Couples in double occupancy; solo travelers share a room with someone of the same gender
- Departure dates
- May 1–8, 2027
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Costa Rica trip with Wandernow cost?
$3,781.00 US dollars per person paying in a single payment. On the deferred plan the total is $4,110.00 US dollars per person: a $1,000.00 US dollars deposit to hold your spot and up to 10 deferred payments (the last one 60 days before departure). Prices are per person in double occupancy. Solo travelers share a room with someone of the same sex; couples stay together.
How many days is the Costa Rica trip?
8 days / 7 nights. Rafting on the Pacuare River, Monteverde cloud forest, Arenal, and Manuel Antonio on an 8-day adventure.
What departure dates are there for Costa Rica?
Confirmed departures: May 1–8, 2027. Each departure runs with a maximum of 16 travelers.
What is and isn't included in the Costa Rica trip?
Includes: 7 nights of accommodation with breakfast (plus 1 lodge night in Pacuare, included in the rafting package); Place-to-place ground transfers; Wandernow guide; Class III-IV rafting on the Pacuare River (2 days/1 night, with meals); Hot springs at Tabacón Thermal Resort & Spa; Hanging bridges and canopy/zipline in Monteverde. Not included: International flights; Meals not listed; Travel insurance; Tips. International flights are not included unless the trip page expressly says otherwise.
Can I travel solo to Costa Rica?
Yes. Solo travelers are welcome and are given shared accommodation by gender (man with man, woman with woman) at no extra single-room cost. Couples stay together in double occupancy. Groups have a maximum of 16 people (ages 6 to 100), and travelers from different Spanish-speaking countries may join the same departure.
How can I pay for my Costa Rica trip?
Credit or debit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express), Apple Pay and Google Pay, via WeTravel. You can pay in full or reserve with a $1,000.00 US dollars deposit and settle the rest in up to 10 deferred payments (the last one 60 days before departure).
What fitness level is needed for Costa Rica?
It is an active adventure trip: some days involve several hours of walking and there are long transfers. No technical experience is required, but you need basic fitness and the health to walk on uneven ground. Each trip page states the required level so you can judge whether the trip is for you.
How far in advance should I book Costa Rica?
The next departure starts on May 1, 2027 and has 13 spots available at the time this page was published. Departures fill up in order of deposit.
Take the trip with you
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Itinerary, prices and live availability. Perfect to share with your travel partner.
Travel insurance
Travel covered
Travel insurance is not included and is mandatory for several of our destinations. If you don't have one yet, our recommendation is IATI Mochilero: the best value for adventure travel, covering medical assistance, rescue and outdoor activities.
IATI Mochilero
Get IATI MochileroYou purchase it directly with IATI Seguros. Wandernow is not the insurer and charges travelers no commission.
Voices of the trip
Testimonials from Costa Rica
Stories filmed by Wandernow travelers during the trip.
Video coming soon
Video coming soon
05 — KEEP EXPLORING
Paying in one instalment$3,781.00 US dollars
$4,110.00 US dollarsMaking deferred payments
deposit$1,000.00 US dollars+ up to 10 deferred payments of$311.00 US dollars