Day01 – USA - San Jose: Upon arrival in San Jose, you will be met by your private car and guide and driven into the nearby foothills to Santa Barbara de Heredia and the charming eclectic Hotel Finca Rosa Blanca located on a knoll with spectacular views of nearby volcanoes, cloud forests and cascading coffee plantations.

ABOUT FINCA ROSA BLANCA: Family owned and operated, this incredibly charming inn has 8 rooms, each with its own distinctive décor. The restaurant boasts a wonderful menu of local and continental cuisine. There is an infinity swimming pool surrounded by lovely gardens.

Day 02 – San Jose: Today your private car and guide will drive you north to the area between Poas Volcano and Juan Castro National Park (about two hours) to Bosque de Paz. Your guide will walk you through the winding forest trails, pointing out numerous species of plants and flowers, exotic birds and hear the distant sounds of the coyote and howler monkey. A home-cooked typical Costa Rica lunch will be served before your return to San Jose. (B/L)

Day 03 – San Jose - Osa Peninsula: Early this morning your private car and guide will transfer you to the domestic airport at Pavas where you will board the small aircraft (maximum luggage allowance is 25 lbs per person) for the hour flight to Puerto Jimenez. Upon arrival your hosts will transfer you, about 45-minutes, to the lovely ridge-hugging Lapa Rios. (B/L)

ABOUT LAPA RIOS: The Osa Peninsula is one of the few remaining pristine virgin rainforests in the Americas. It is here a Minnesota couple came to settle and build an eco-friendly tourism project. Lapa Rios is a 1000-acre private preserve on the Osa point overlooking the Golfo Dulce and Pacific ocean. At 350 feet above sea level 14-bungalows are scattered on three-ridges connected by walkways. Each bungalow has 2-queen size beds, private bath with solar heating for the shower, private deck with garden shower. The main structure houses the reception area, bar/dinning rooming, observation deck and fresh water pool.

During your stay at Lapa Rios, there will be included three excursions:

• Rain Forest Hike: Guided hiking tour down the hills of Lapa Rios’ primary forest. The excursion is a bit over three hours and is rated medium-difficult.
• The Osa Trail: A 4-KM trail through the reserve’s most remote and pristine forest, guided hiking excursion of 3-4 hours, rated medium-difficult.
• Horseback Riding; This is will a 3-4 hour guided excursion on horseback through forest "roads" of secondary and virgin jungle that finishes on the beach.

Day 04 – Osa Peninsula: At leisure or partake in one of the included excursions (B/L/D)

Day 05 – Osa Peninsula: At leisure or take the included excursions. (B/L/D)

Day 06 – Osa Peninsula – San Jose - Turrialba Area: Early this morning you will be transferred back to the airstrip at Puerto Jimenez for the return small aircraft flight to San Jose, where you will be met and driven some 2-hours to the area of the Turrialba Valley and your hotel, Casa Turire. (B)

ABOUT CASA TURIRE: The Turrialba Valley has been an agricultural center for well over a century. The Rojas family has built a truly antebellum sanctuary in the midst of a 2000-acre coffee, sugar and macadamia plantation. It was here at Hacienda Attiro that the Reventazon white-water rafters first came over a decade ago. There are twelve deluxe rooms and four suites, each with 2-full size beds, private bath, balcony, ceiling fans and cable TV. An excellent kitchen serves traditional and continental cuisine in the Mediterranean-style dining room and bar area which faces the inward courtyard and colorfully landscaped pool area.

Day 07- Turrialba Area: Today your local host will take you on a half-day excursion to visit the only archaeological site of any note in the country, Guayabo National Monument and park. Archaeologists are unclear as to either the history of this site, but it is believed to date back to 1000BC, reached its height at about 800 AD with some 10,000 inhabitants. The archaeological site comprises just 10% of the area with circular mounds, stone causeways, aqueducts, tombs and petroglyphs. The other 90% of the site is pre-montane rainforest. Balance of the day at leisure to enjoy the surroundings of Casa Turire. (B)

Day 08 – Turrialba Area - Arenal Area: Your host will drive you from the agricultural area of this valley to the cool highland area of the Arenal Volcano (this will be about a 4-5 hour drive) and the charming La Mansion-Arenal Inn overlooking Arenal lake. En route, you will stop at the Tabacon Thermal Springs, for a refreshing dip in these hotel springs fed by the activity of the towering Arenal Volcano. Enjoy a la carte dinner in the Hotel Tabacon’s dining room before continuing to the La Mansion  at Arenal (B/D)

ABOUT LA MANSION AT ARENAL: About 20-minutes from Tabacon Hot Springs, this beautifully landscaped Inn overlooking the lake is a jewel. Owned by a Belgium family there are 12 individual cottages and two honeymoon suites, each overlooking the lake with their own terrace, exquisitely decorated by Italian artists, all with private bath, cable TV and semi-private garden. The open-aired dining room serves an excellent menu. There is a spring-fed pool overlooking the lake and the inn has its own stable of horses available for rent.

Day 09 – Arenal Area: Today your local host will take you to the private Ecolodge Forest Reserve where pre-montane forests surround Lake Cotor. Your guide will provide explanations of the diverse flora and fauna found along the 11km trails. The botanical gardens alone contain 80 of the 105 palm species found in Costa Rica. Lunch included. (B/L)

Day 10 – Arenal Area - San Jose Airport: Early this morning your private car and guide will transfer you back (about 3-4 hours) to the international airport in San Jose for your return home. (B)