The journey
Beyond the Standard Routes
Discover the real Costa Rica on a 6-day journey beyond the standard tourist routes. It connects the cool high-altitude cloud forests of San Gerardo de Rivas with the beaches of the Pacific — your choice of Manuel Antonio or Uvita and Isla del Caño.
- 6 days · 5 nights
- 2 nights at Chirripó Art Hotel · 2 on the coast · 1 in San José
- Private transfers & local guides
Experiences operated byDel Valle Adventures
Tours, guides and transportation are operated by our featuring partner Del Valle Adventures, a local tour operator in Pérez Zeledón. Quotes and bookings for this journey are handled directly by their team.
Highlights
What You'll Experience
Biological connectivity & conservation
Dr. Alexander Skutch's historic Los Cusingos Bird Refuge and its natural and archaeological petroglyph trails.
Sensory & artisan immersion
Hands-on sugarcane processing at a trapiche with fresh panela bites, then bean-to-bar chocolate at Finca Capicacoa.
Nauyaca Waterfalls
Descend from the mountain forests to the iconic cascading falls of Nauyaca Nature Park on the way to the coast.
Two nights on the Pacific
Coastal eco-boutique accommodation with a guided tour of Manuel Antonio National Park or Isla del Caño.
Day by day
Your Itinerary
- Day 1
San José to the Clouds
- Private transfer from SJO airport up to San Gerardo de Rivas.
- Check in to Chirripó Art Hotel for 2 nights.
- Day 2
Natural Heritage & Farm Traditions
- Guided tour of Los Cusingos Bird Refuge: the former home and museum of Dr. Alexander Skutch, with Naturalist, Birds and Petroglyph trails.
- Sugarcane farm tour and trapiche milling with a homemade farm lunch.
- Mr. Cacao bean-to-bar chocolate tour at Finca Capicacoa.
- Day 3
Nauyaca Waterfalls & the Coast
- Scenic descent to the Pacific coast with a guided visit to Nauyaca Nature Park waterfalls.
- Check in for 2 nights at an eco-boutique hotel on the coast.
- Day 4
The Pacific
- Manuel Antonio: fully guided tour of Manuel Antonio National Park.
- Or Uvita: tour to Isla del Caño.
- Day 5
Return to San José
- Transfer back to San José and your final night at The Victorian Hotel.
- Day 6
Departure
- Private transfer from The Victorian Hotel to SJO airport.
Choose your coast
Manuel Antonio
Guided tour of Manuel Antonio National Park; shared shuttle back to San José.
Uvita & Isla del Caño
Boat tour to Isla del Caño; private transfer back to San José.
Photos: Del Valle Adventures
What's included
Everything Taken Care Of
Rates depend on travel dates, group size and room type. Request a personalized quote — there's no commitment.
Accommodation
2 nights at Chirripó Art Hotel with daily breakfast, 2 nights at an eco-boutique hotel on the Pacific coast and 1 night at The Victorian Hotel in San José.
Transportation
Private transfer from San José to San Gerardo de Rivas, private transfer to the coast with a stop at Nauyaca, return to San José and private transfer to the airport.
Guided tours & entrance fees
Combo tour (Los Cusingos Bird Refuge, family sugarcane farm, chocolate and coffee tour), Nauyaca Nature Park and Manuel Antonio National Park or Isla del Caño.
Culinary experiences
Sugarcane juice tasting, panela bites, chocolate tasting and farm lunch.