Client Testimonials

”I loved our time at Selva Verde. Having the jungle all around us, hearing the insects and frogs all night, the birds and monkeys waking us up every morning, practically stepping on hopping poison dart frogs ... It all was other-worldly—as was the night-time rumbling of Arenal volcano! I never expected to see so many different birds and animals, like the toucans, sloth, and macaws.
- Ann, Portland, OR

”Of course I also just plain had fun (!!!), and you really organized the trip well so that we were comfortable, learned about the country and the people, and saw and did a lot. Thanks for all your hard work and for finding the right balance between directing, organizing, and showing us things, on one hand, and letting us explore and experience for ourselves, on the other. Great job!”
- Ann, Pórtland, OR

”My favorite things were the Monteverde cloud forest (the Cloud Forest Inn was a wonderful place to stay, and the nature walk guides were the best), Playa Hermosa (the Hotel Velero was great, and so was the beach), and La Paz Waterfall Gardens (outstanding displays and collections and scenery). And of course Terri is my favorite tour guide!”
- Rob, Portland, OR

“I am so amazed at how many things grow on the things that grow on the things that grow on the trees.”
- Susan, Portland, OR

”Monteverde also was fantastic. We saw a lot of animals there, but maybe more importantly we learned from our guides how the cloud forest “works”--how the lives of all the different plants and animals interrelate. On that same theme, I was really struck on the trip at how connected these different parts of the world are—how some of the birds we saw in Costa Rica are the same ones that visit my own yard here in Portland, how my choice to drive a car or ride a bike could affect golden toads in Monteverde, how banana plantation workers are affected by the pesticides used to cultivate the bananas I eat for lunch.”

Costa Rica - An Adventure in Nature
13 Days, 12 Nights

This trip is an excellent introduction to Costa Rica, the gem of Central America and is an incredible value for the time and activities included. This tour includes a variety of destinations designed to introduce the traveler to the diversity and biodiversity of Costa Rica. We experience the rainforest, white-water rafting, birding, waterfalls, Salsa dancing, wildlife viewing, an active volcano, the cloud forest in Monteverde, canopy tours, a night hike, interaction with the local ‘Ticos,’ and relaxation on a tranquil Pacific beach. Each fabulous destination tops the previous one.

Pizotes Adventure Tours’ Package Price $1,850 pp
Single supplement: $350

Description of Itinerary
B – Breakfast L – Lunch D – Dinner

Day 1 Arrival – San José
Bienvenidos! Your flight will arrive at Juan Santamaria International Airport and be met by your trip planner and leader, Terri Peterson. Overnight at the quaint Hotel Don Carlos in downtown San José.

Day 2 San José - Selva Verde
After enjoying the complimentary buffet breakfast, we’ll meet our bus and driver for the trip and set off to the La Paz (Peace) Waterfall Gardens to experience the exquisite park in the mountainous rainforest on Costa Rica’s east side. A bi-lingual guide will lead the group through exhibits with wildlife displays of native butterflies, snakes, frogs, orchids, and hummingbirds. An optional 3.5 kilometer walking trail leads to three spectacular waterfalls that cascade through a mountain gorge. We’ll have a delicious buffet lunch at La Paz and then board the bus for the 2 hour ride to Selva Verde Lodge, an eco-lodge nestled on the banks of the Sarapiquí River near Puerto Viejo in the Caribbean lowlands. Settle into your jungle lodge room then enjoy a quick swim, a tropical cocktail on the bank of the river, and a lavish dinner buffet. After dinner, we’ll have a private presentation by a local resident who’ll share stories of their life.
Accommodations at Selva Verde Lodge. B,L,D

Day 3 Selva Verde
Awake in your jungle bungalow to birds and monkeys just outside your door. After an early breakfast buffet, we’ll head to the world famous La Selva Biological Station run by the Organization of Tropical Studies. We’ll learn about the research taking place here and then set-out on a hike into the forest with an experienced guide. Bird-watching is spectacular inside the station grounds and we’ll have an excellent chance to see other resident flora and fauna. We’ll have lunch at the station, visit an existing field research project, drop into the gift shop and then return to our lodge to enjoy the pool or take a walk around the lodge grounds. We’ll dine at the lodge’s buffet, followed by private Salsa Dancing lessons for our group. Get into the spirit of Costa Rican’s favorite pastime - Dancing!
Accommodations at Selva Verde Lodge. B,L,D

Day 4 Selva Verde
Enjoy an early morning bird-watching hike with a lodge guide and return in time for breakfast. Then our group will set-off to volunteer for our community service project, selected and organized especially with the group’s interest and abilities in mind. Enjoy this opportunity to make a difference in a small local community and leave a positive mark of your visit. After lunch at our lodge, we’ll travel up river and embark on our exciting rafting trip on the Sarapiquí River (class II and III rapids). Finish the afternoon with an activity of your choice and enjoy dinner in the lodge dining hall.
Accommodations at Selva Verde Lodge. B,L,D

Day 5 Selva Verde - La Fortuna
Sleep in or take a guided or individual hike in the early morning, followed by breakfast. We’ll board our bus for the 1 ½ hour trip to La Fortuna, the town at the base of Arenal Volcano. Along the way we’ll visit Muelle and see the hundreds of huge iguanas that have made this little roadside stop their home. Lunch will be on your own in La Fortuna after which we’ll check into our hotel, Montaña de Fuego. Enjoy the spectacular views of the volcano (weather and clouds permitting), the pool, or one of the many fabulous services offered by their spa. Our group will gather in the late afternoon for a trip to a nearby volcano observation deck for a guided sunset volcano viewing. Watch and hear the rumbling of the rocks cascading from the crater. Dinner will be on your own at the hotel restaurant (excellent food) or take a taxi into La Fortuna.
Accommodations at Montaña de Fuego. B

Day 6 La Fortuna
After enjoying the lavish breakfast provided by the hotel’s restaurant (with a full view of the volcano), prepare yourself for your adventurous Sky Tram ride or Sky Trek. Take the trip of your choice and enjoy a thrilling view of the valley and volcano or a flight through the sky on cable zip lines. Both are safe and professionally run, but definitely not for anyone afraid of heights. We’ll head to La Fortuna for lunch (on your own), some time for shopping, then return to the hotel for a relaxing afternoon. Dinner on own.
Accommodations at Montaña de Fuego. B

Day 7 La Fortuna - Monteverde
After an early breakfast, we’ll depart for our beautiful and sometimes bumpy 5 hour bus trip to the Monteverde Cloud Forest. We’ll lunch in Monteverde and check into the comfortable and peaceful Hotel Belmar. An eco-lodge with a level 4 (out of 5) Tourism Sustainability Certification from the Costarican Tourism Institute, Hotel Belmar is well located near many of the Monteverde attractions. In the late afternoon, we’ll tour the excellent exhibits and visit the live bat display of the new Bat Jungle educational museum, opened by world-renowned bat researcher, Richard La Val. Afterwards we’ll dine in their Argentine Café restaurant.
Accommodations at Hotel Belmar. B,L,D

Day 8 Monteverde
After an early breakfast at our hotel, we’ll travel by bus to the famous Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve for our guided wildlife viewing hike in hopes of seeing the famed Resplendent Quetzal. Monteverde is one of the best locations to view this illusive but spectacular bird. In addition, we’ll visit the nearby hummingbird gallery, where the flying jewels zip around you in very close proximity. Lunch will be at Pizzeria Tramonti in Monteverde (included) with the remaining afternoon left for your own exploring. Monteverde has numerous art galleries, a cheese factory tour, adventure parks, and excellent wildlife museums to choose from. Dinner will be on your own (suggestions provided). Relax after your long day in the beautiful Jacuzzi at the hotel.
Accommodations at Hotel Belmar. B,L

Day 9 Monteverde
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and then you’re on your own until 5:00. Visit any of the attractions you missed yesterday, but be back at the hotel at 4:30 pm. for our guided night walk in the Ecological Sanctuary. This is a remarkable opportunity to get a glimpse of the jungle world at night where we’ll have a chance to see nocturnal birds, reptiles, and insects. Dinner will be with the group at the popular Johnny’s Pizzeria.
Accommodations at Hotel Belmar. B,D

Day 10 Monteverde - Playa Hermosa
After our breakfast we’ll bid the cool cloud forest adios and bus to the Pacific coast; destination Playa Hermosa. We’ll stop for lunch along the way. Our hotel, El Velero, is excellently located on a calm, clean, and sandy beach. It has a small pool, an outdoor bar and comfortable lounge chairs positioned for a good view of the ocean. Here, the ocean has waves, generally small, and no rip tides. Expect to see more Ticos than tourists as it is a popular place for families to come. Small shops, water toy rentals, and restaurants can be found just a short beach walk in either direction. Walking along the shore should be a daily activity here. Dinner will be on your own so investigate the many nearby restaurants or others just a short taxi ride away.
Accommodations at Hotel El Velero. B,L

Day 11 Playa Hermosa
Today is a free day for whatever activity or relaxation you want to enjoy. Breakfast at your leisure and spend the day as you wish. Rent kayaks, hire a boat for snorkeling, take a sailboat cruise, walk the beach again, play in the waves, enjoy a beachside massage, lay in a hammock, or go shopping in Playa Coco (a 30 minute taxi ride). There are many nice restaurants with tasty seafood dishes in Playa Coco. Ask what’s really fresh (caught that day). Lunch and dinner are on your own. Enjoy sipping your favorite tropical drink while watching the setting sun.
Accommodations at Hotel El Velero. B

Day 12 Playa Hermosa
Today is another free day for you to plan and your last full day in Costa Rica to enjoy. Breakfast is once again included but lunch is on your own. Meet the group at the hotel’s restaurant/bar in the evening for a final group dinner, a beachside BBQ. Share your stories of the trip and what you enjoyed the most.
Accommodations at Hotel El Velero. B,D

Day 13 Playa Hermosa - Home
After breakfast, be ready to transfer to the Liberia Airport for your safe flight home. Hasta luego amigos! B

Minimum number of paid travelers:   18
Maximum number of paid travelers: 24

Trip Includes:

One complementary trip (Costa Rican itinerary as described) included with minimum number of paid travelers
Group accompanied by guide and Costa Rican resident, Terri Peterson, from arrival to departure
Four distinct destinations that represent the incredible diversity of Costa Rica
3 nights immersed in a rich rainforest on the Caribbean slope
2 nights at the base of the most active volcano in Costa Rica
3 nights in wildlife and conservation-rich Monteverde
3 nights on a tranquil sandy beach
All amenities of hotels and lodges
Adventurous, fun, and educational tours that include rafting, Salsa lessons, local presentations, canopy and/or tram adventure, guided wildlife hikes, volcano tour, night hike, visit to bat museum, bird watching, and more
Local, expert bi-lingual guides
A chance to see remarkable Costa Rican wildlife from butterflies to quetzals, dolphins to poison dart frogs
Participation in a service project in a rural and poor community
In-country bus transport by comfortable motor coach
24 meals 12 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 6 dinners
Most tips

Costa Rica - An Adventure in Nature 13 Days, 12 Nights

Pizotes Adventure Tours’ Package Price $1,850 pp Single supplement: $350

Costa Rica - An Adventure in Nature
13 Days, 12 Nights

Pizotes Adventure Tours’ Package Price $1,850 pp
Single supplement: $350