On arrival at San Jose airport you are met and transferred to your hotel located in the heart of the city. In the evening you meet your tour leader and the other members of the group for a pre-tour briefing. This is normally held at 6pm but please check the notice board at reception to confirm the time and place. Please bring your passport and travel insurance documents along with you. Following the briefing there is generally an optional group dinner at a nearby restaurant. Costa Rica’s capital sits in the centre of a lush, wide valley which has a comfortable subtropical climate. The streets of the town are laid out along a grid iron pattern, with avenidas running east to west and callés running north to south. Many of the most interesting buildings are in the region of Avenida Central – the Teatro Nacional is an elaborate confection of marble staircases, statues, frescoes and mirrors. There are a number of interesting museums in the city; the Museo de Oro has a good collection of golden pre-Columbian figurines. The Mercado Central is the main market which dates back to 1881 – there are some good food stalls here as well as countless artefacts for sale. Elsewhere in San Jose there are some good restaurants – you can dine out on Chinese, Indian, Italian or the more traditional variations on the theme of rice and beans.

After breakfast we visit head out to the smoking Poas Volcano, in the heart of the lush tropical rainforest. In the afternoon we return to San Jose. At almost 1.5km across and 300m deep, the crater of Volcan Poas is the second largest in the world, situated at an altitude of 2,708m in the heart of the Parque Nacional Volcan Poas. The volcano is the most visited protected site in Costa Rica and is named after a small yellow flower that grows at the summit. Framed by tropical forests, the still-active crater steams gently. In a long history of eruptions, the worst arrived on January 25th 1910, when Poas spewed 640,000 tons of ash, rocks and lava into the air, bombarding the surrounding area with debris. The surrounding National Park has various landscape types displaying the huge range of biodiversity Costa Rica has to offer, incorporating areas of scarce vegetation, cloud forest and an area of stunted forest, where the growth of the tough ferns and bonsai-type trees is limited by the acid rain emanating from the volcano. Wildlife still thrives here amongst the vegetation and the park is home to the Poas squirrel which, as the name suggests, is not found anywhere else in the world.

Today we travel by bus and boat into the Tortuguero National Park. Travel time is approximately 5 hours. Tortuguero is home to howler monkeys, brightly coloured parrots and a wide variety of other wildlife. This is where green and leatherback turtles come to lay their eggs once a year (June-September). Only accessible by either boat or plane, Parque Nacional Tortuguero encompasses 290km² of Caribbean lowland rainforest and the park plays host to an abundance of extraordinary flora and fauna. Comprised of eleven different types of habitat, the National Park is home to three species of monkey: the spider, howler and white-faced. The lush humidity of the tropical rainforest combines with the natural ecology and geography of Costa Rica resulting in the formation of habitats ideally suited for 300 species of bird. Manatees are sometimes seen in the channels, and other species in the park include jaguar, ocelot, peccary, tapir and sloth. We spend two nights in a lodge in the rainforest. Please note: Maximum luggage allowed for the Tortuguero portion of this tour is 13.5 kg (30 lb) per person, or one piece. Extra luggage can remain at the hotel and be transported on day 5 direct to Puerto Viejo.

Following breakfast we return by boat to the road and head southward to the rustic, charming town of Puerto Viejo, renowned throughout Costa Rica for its beautiful beaches. The famous Salsa Brava beach in Puerto Viejo is an excellent surfing spot (experts only!). The harbour after which Puerto Viejo is named, is calm and peaceful, with beautiful still-blue waters and inviting shores. Several bars and discos are located right on the beach, making this a great spot to hang out at night. Puerto Viejo has managed to maintain its small-town atmosphere and rustic local appeal. The surrounding lands are rich in exotic flora and fauna, and is considered one of the country's prime bird watching regions.

Our visit today to the Bri Bri Indigenous Reserve includes a stop at the Kekoldi Iguana Farm, a hike to an exotic waterfall and a visit to a Cacao House as well as an opportunity to meet with a Bri Bri family. The Bri Bri are an indigenous tribe found near Cahuita. The term “Bri Bri” represents the language, the tribe, the culture and the town. The Kekoldi Iguana Farm was founded to save the Green Iguanas from extinction. The farm is managed and administered by a Kekoldi family; an indigenous tribe related to the Bri Bri’s in the Southern region of Costa Rica. During the tour you will learn about the breeding process and the natural habitat of the Green Iguanas. The hike to the exotic waterfall will take about 25 minutes through primary forest and there's a river to cross on the way. The water springs from the top of the Talamanca Mountain Range, dropping into a naturally formed swimming pool where you will have the opportunity to refresh yourself in the cool water. This part of the excursion presents you with beautiful scenery and the chance of seeing the famous 'Poisonous' Red Frog and the blue butterfly which is sought after for luck and good health. After the waterfall you will stop to enjoy a delicious meal of 'Comida Tipica' and then it’s time for the final destination for dessert. At the Cacao House you will witness firsthand a demonstration of the traditional way of making organic chocolate that has been passed down for over 300 years. Cacao has been used in the Bri Bri lifestyle for healing, purification and medicinal purposes. At the end of the demonstration there will be time for questions and chocolate tasting. Crossing over a hanging bridge we visit the six-generation family of Chief Don Silverio who is believed to be the oldest Costa Rican at 108. You will learn how they farm, cook, and how their pre-Colombian homes were built from organic materials found in the surrounding forested areas. You will have the opportunity to ask questions and take photos with the family. In the late afternoon we return to our hotel in Puerto Viejo.

Today after breakfast, we return by bus to San Jose where there is time to further explore the capitals major highlights.

Your adventure in Costa Rica comes to an end today after breakfast.