Foodie Adventure

The Foodie Adventure - Costa Rica has never been known for its culinary prowess, this is not really the case however, there are culinary adventures waiting for you around every corner! Cacao and the ancient art of chocolate, authentic cooking classes, organic spice farms, and do not forget some of the best coffee in the world! For those who love adventure and have the heart of a foodie, a trip like this might be just what you are looking for. These trips will be tailored to your travel style and budget. Together you and your travel planner will create a culinary adventure you will NEVER forget!

In this example package, we are taking a classic route and hitting some of our favorite areas. You will have culinary delights and adventure in each location. In addition to the tours and experiences, your travel planner will recommend noteworthy eateries and cafes for you to explore in between your tour schedule.

Note: These are SAMPLE packages, we will customize your package to suit your interests, travel style, and budget.

Day 1 – Arrival – San Jose (SJO) or Liberia Airport  (LIR)

• Transfer to Arenal – You have the option of shared or private transfer on arrival. Private transfers offer more freedom and are more informative using our bilingual drivers/guides. Private Transfers are equipped with WiFi and we make stops on the way to your destination. Shared shuttles are best when trying to keep the budget as low as possible, they do not make stops and the trip may take a little longer due to pick up and drop off of other travelers on the transfer.
• Check in Hotel – Depending on your budget, we will choose the best hotel for you. We look at hotels that have exceptional restaurants on a Costa Rica Culinary Adventure package.

Travel Tip: If there are 4 or more in your group, private transfers start to be less expensive per person than many shared shuttle options. Private Transfers give you more freedom to make stops at points of interest and our drivers make the ride fun and informative.

Day 2 – Arenal – (B)

• Balsa River White Water Rafting– The Balsa River runs year round on a timed dam release. The Balsa River is one of the few rivers in Costa Rica that maintains its water levels; many are too low in our driest months. This is a Class 2-3 river, suitable for beginners and still a lot of fun for those who have been rafting before. You will love the white water action as you wind your way through the Costa Rican countryside. Nature abounds on this river adventure, between rapids your guide will point out wildlife with expert precision.

Travel Note: There are several tours available in place of this. Horseback riding, Rio Celeste, Cano Negro boat tour, kayaking, stand up paddle boarding, fishing; we will fine-tune this travel experience to you.  Remember to let your travel planner know about all your trip wishes, if you can dream it, we can make it happen.

Day 3 – Arenal – (B, Coffee & Chocolate Tasting, D)

• La Fortuna Waterfall Hike and Rainforest Chocolate Tour–Combining the La Fortuna Waterfall with the Rainforest Chocolate Tour is a match made in heaven. Foodies will love learning about the history of Cacao in Costa Rica and the world. You will learn how chocolate is made from pod to finished product and create your own chocolate flavor in the process. We love this informative and hands on tour and so will you! After the Chocolate tour, it’s on to the La Fortuna Waterfall. This breathtaking 150-foot waterfall is a great place to hike and swim. Take your time as you explore the area and cool off in the crisp, cool, mountain river.
• Costa Rican Cooking Class – This local farm has opened its doors to interact with visitors - you'll learn about Costa Rica food and local agricultural products such as yucca, tiquisque, mamón chino, sugar cane and other interesting local foods.There is something very special about having an authentic experience while traveling abroad. Cultures identify themselves through their cuisine and Costa Ricans are no different. Often you'll hear that Costa Rican meals are all about the "rice and beans..." But don't underestimate the intricacies of Costa Rican cooking. We invite you to have a meal on a delightful local farm and enjoy what may be your favorite meal in Costa Rica.

Day 4 – Arenal – Monteverde – (B)

• Boat transfer to Monteverde – This is the best and fastest way to reach Monteverde, as the crow flies! After we pick you up from your hotel, we take the 30 minute boat ride across Lake Arenal. From here we board our 4x4’s and head into the cloud forests! The entire trip takes about 3 hours with morning and afternoon departures.
• Check in Hotel / Lodge – There are many lodge options in Monteverde from rustic to more luxury. We will help you to choose the right property for your travel style and budget. There are many lodges we love in the area such as Monteverde Rustic Lodge, Hidden Canopy Treehouses, Arco Iris Lodge, Monteverde Lodge & Gardens; we will help you find the right lodge for your adventure.

Day 5 – Monteverde – (B)

• Day at Selvatura Park – Zipline Canopy Tour, Hanging Bridges, Hummingbird Gardens, Butterfly Gardens - Selvatura Adventure Park's Canopy Tour is one of the safest extreme adventures in Costa Rica! Our Canopy Tour guides start by harnessing you with all the appropriate equipment after which they will lecture you on all the safety procedures to enjoy this amazing adventure with our "Safety First" motto. You will then be flying through 15 cables and 18 platforms with an optional Tarzan Swing at the end of the adventure. Selvatura Park is one of the longest Canopy Tours in Costa Rica. Also it is the only canopy tour located inside the Monteverde Cloud Forest. Selvatura's Tree Top Walkways consist of a 1.9 mile (approximately 3 kilometer) trail that crosses through the Monteverde Cloud Forest. Here visitors will walk on eight different bridges with various lengths ranging between 150 feet ( 50 meters ) up to 510 feet (170 meters) and altitudes ranging between 36 feet ( 12 meters ) up to 180 feet ( 60 meters ). Each bridge has a width of five feet, the widest bridges in Costa Rica, and also a capacity of up to 80 people per bridge making them both the longest and strongest bridge systems in the Monteverde Cloud Forest.Hummingbird Garden - Imagine yourself in a beautiful garden. Now imagine over 100 beautiful hummingbirds flying cheerfully around you! More than 14 species of hummingbirds will amaze you with their incredible aerial maneuvers and bright lively colors. Butterfly Gardens – Venture into exploring a different world. A world in which a controlled climate provides the best temperature (82.4º F or 28º C) for its inhabitants to feel in paradise. Explore a community that gathers more than 20 species of butterflies. Learn about their life cycle, their special abilities and behaviors that have helped them evolve throughout thousands of years. Enjoy a guided walk inside one of the world's largest live butterfly exhibitions with an area of over 29,000 square feet (2,700 square meters). Come and enjoy all the wonders that you may discover in this marvelous World of Butterflies.

Day 6 – Monteverde – Manuel Antonio – (B)

• Transfer to Manuel Antonio –Shared or Private Transfer options available.
• Fruit Stand Stop – On the way to Manuel Antonio, we will make a stop at a roadside fruit stand. We have many varieties you may not be familiar with such as the Jacote or Mangosteen. Learn a little about the yummy side of Costa Rica. Note: This stop is made on Private Transfers Only
• Tarcoles River Scenic Stop – This is the halfway point to Manuel Antonio from Arenal. A good place to not only stretch your legs, but to get some photos of the resident Crocodiles that live around the Tarcoles River Bridge. This is a 15-20 minute stop. You also have a great chance to see Scarlet Macaws that nest in the area. Note: This stop is made on Private Transfers Only
• Lunch Stop – After your Crocodile encounter, it is time to start thinking about lunch. There are several nice restaurant options in the area; we will recommend one based on your travel style. Note: This stop is made on Private Transfers Only.
• Check in Hotel – We will choose the best hotel to match your travel style and budget. We like hotels with interesting restaurants on a Foodie Adventure tour.

Day 7 – Manuel Antonio – (B)

• Manuel Antonio Park with Naturalist Guide–Let our world-class naturalist guides show you the mysteries of the rainforest. There are extensive trails within the park, as well as secluded beaches to explore away from the public beaches outside Manuel Antonio. Learn about the flora and fauna as you meander through the jungle canopy.

Day 8 – Manuel Antonio – (B, Gourmet Chef Tasting)

• Organic Spice Farm Tour & Gourmet Chef Tasting - Villa Vanilla Spice Plantation is a sustainable organic spice farm in Costa Rica.  Certified organic and bio-dynamic and grow a variety of spices and essential oil plants, including vanilla, cocoa, and Ceylon (true) cinnamon. The tour is a gentle walk through the plantation and is very sensory, along  our unique Epiphyte (air plant) and Rock Garden Trail.  The "Flavors of the World" tasting menu features the world's three favorite flavors - vanilla, chocolate and Ceylon cinnamon -, among other spices and seasonal tropical fruits at our Rainforest Viewpoint. There visitors enjoy an assortment of gourmet spice treats all grown on the plantation and prepared by our staff pastry chef, which has added to the uniqueness of the tour.

Day 9 – Manuel Antonio – San Jose - (B)

• Private or Shared Shuttle Transfer to San Jose
  
• Check in Hotel - We will choose the right hotel to match your travel style and budget.
• San Jose Foodie Culinary Tour - Our Farm-To-Table Food Tour in San Jose "Barrio Escalante", will take you into the heart of traditional Costa Rican cuisine, as each dish is prepared with fresh products that are all sourced from ingredients grown within the country. We will explain to you the concept of each local dish, as well as the modern twist they have added to the country's food scene with each of their restaurants. At all restaurants, coffee shops and cocktail rooms, you will be welcomed by the chef, manager or owner (or meet them at the end) as they explain to you what goes into preparing the signature dishes and drinks hand-crafted by each proprietor. Guide will translate when necessary. The restaurants for this tour were chosen due to their farm-to-table concept and innovation with traditional Costa Rican cuisine. You will consume mostly fresh, locally sourced organic greens and vegetables during the tour. The tour has several alcoholic drinks, so please advise if you will be drinking natural juice or non-alcoholic drinks instead. Note: This is a walking tour. Walking time between restaurants take less than 10 min. If you have food allergies please let us know in advance to make adjustments.

Day 10 – Departure – San Jose Airport Preferred - (SJO)

• Transfer to Airport - (approx. 3o minutes)
  

Note: Cost of any of our packages or trips largely depends on the hotels chosen during the planning process. Depending on your trip budget, we will fine-tune the trip so you can afford the travel experience at the price you want. Contact us today and your dedicated Costa Rica travel planner will be in touch within 24 hours. This is just one small example of what a Costa Rica Foodie Adventure can be. Ask about what foodie opportunities are available to you.