After flying into the capital of San Jose we drove 3 hours north to the Arenal Volcano area with our Travel Pioneers guide, Abelardo, who made it super-interesting with stops along the way. At a coffee plantation we learned about Costa Rica's economy, and the hard work of picking beans in the hot sun. A quick hike to a waterfall brought us a first glimpse of the natural beauty of the country. And we loved our lunch of empanadas at a roadside "Soda" restaurant with incredible bird-watching - we spotted toucans and hummingbirds up close. At a wildlife rescue we learned about the various species of wildlife found in the country - a perfect primer for the week to come.
EXTRA CREDIT: For longer transfers,Travel Pioneers puts guests with bilingual driver-guides who share the history and culture of Costa Rica.
In the Fortuna area, we got adventurous. Our safari-float guide taught us about the active volcano steaming before our eyes - and broke out his telescope so we could see it up close.
On the river, we spotted monkeys, lizards and all manner of birds, learning about the environment and how Costa Ricans are serious about protecting it.
During the hanging bridges tour our naturalist guide spotted venomous snakes(!) and a variety of other wildlife, teaching us about their habits and habitats.
The area is also known for hot springs and we were able to relax each evening in the beautiful natural hot springs running through our hotel's property.
EXTRA CREDIT: In 1950 Costa Rica started protecting its environment (tourism started in 1980). Today 30% of the country is protected wild land.
After a few packed days in Arenal, we flew down to the remote Osa Peninsula. Given the popularity of Costa Rica, I was pleasantly surprised to find it still so remote and wild. We drove an hour on dirt roads to our safari-style lodge deep in the jungle! Each day we ventured on a safari drive or hike to discover wildlife, including sloths which was #1 on my son's bucket list, so he was thrilled. The lodge was rustic-luxe with delicious food and a lovely pool to enjoy after our excursions. The Travel Pioneers team surprised us with a private surf lesson and beach picnic, which was tons of fun and a refreshing complement to our safari trekking.
EXTRA CREDIT: We were welcomed in each destination by a sweet note from Travel Pioneers, such a nice touch that let us know how thoroughly they'd crafted our itinerary.
The Travel Pioneers team worked in special experiences along the way, like a private dinner with a local Chef and a tour of his garden where he grows his ingredients. It was truly delicious – and my son even tried the blackberry sauce drizzled over his sous vide steak – a miracle for the non-fruit-eating kid!
After our rafting trip we were treated to a private picnic lunch on a local farm with Champagne (for mom), fresh coconut milk, hibiscus lemonade and snacks while turkeys and chickens roamed around the farm.
Costa Rica is a country of small hotels and Travel Pioneers picked really fantastic ones for our trip, particularly when we least expected it - on our first and last days when we arrived late and left early from San Jose. Rather than those being wasted nights, we had really special experiences on a coffee plantation and in a former home turned boutique hotel in the wealthy part of town. We never would have found these experiences on our own.
EXTRA CREDIT: Travel Pioneers has a collection of villas for those looking for more privacy.
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