Day 1

Meet your Backroads Trip Leaders (the folks wearing Backroads T-shirts) at 8:30 a.m. at the Costa Rica Marriott Hotel, outside San José. Please arrive dressed in layers for walking (including a jacket) as temperatures vary widely with elevation, and have your rain gear handy!

Shuttle to Naranjo 45 Minutes
Espíritu Santo Coffee Estate Hike 3 Miles
Shuttle to Villa Blanca 45 Minutes
Villa Blanca Country Roads Walk 3.1 Miles (500-foot elevation gain)

Bienvenidos a Costa Rica! Leaving bustling San José, we shuttle to the edge of the Central Valley where rich volcanic soil and steep slopes produce some of the world’s best coffee. Along the way you’ll get incredible views of the Poás, Irazú and Barva volcanoes, weather permitting.

If you’re feeling bleary-eyed from this morning’s early start, our hike on the grounds of the Espíritu Santo Coffee Estate is sure to pep you up. You’ll witness the entire coffee-making process, from planting, selecting, processing, storing and roasting the beans, to finally tasting the brew! Your introduction to Costa Rica continues with a gourmet picnic spread overlooking the plantation.

Following lunch, enjoy the shuttle ride through small towns and into the agriculturally rich Los Angeles Cloud Forest, where we start our walk toward tonight’s hotel. During our amble along country roads, don’t be surprised to see farmers herding their cows and oxen pulling carts of local goods. Soon we arrive at the serene Villa Blanca Cloud Forest Hotel & Spa, which combines all the comforts of a full-service hotel with a serious dedication to conservation. In fact, Villa Blanca holds the distinction of being the first hotel in eight years to achieve the Costa Rica Certification Board of Sustainable Tourism’s highest rating.

After checking in you can wind down by the fireplace or slip deeper into vacation mode with a spa treatment. (Please note that spa services are not included in the trip price; see ―During Your Trip‖ for details on booking.)

This evening we get better acquainted over dinner at the hotel’s restaurant, where the chefs incorporate locally grown vegetables—some produced right on the property—into their regional and international dishes.

Lodging: Villa Blanca Cloud Forest Hotel & Spa

Day 2

Cloud Forest & Hummingbird Hike 2.2 Miles (100-foot elevation gain)
Shuttle to Santa Clara 1½ Hours
La Fortuna Biking Route 22 Miles with Shuttle (500-foot elevation gain)
Shorter Option: La Perla 11 Miles with Shuttle (450-foot elevation gain)
Longer Option: Hotel Mountain Paradise 27 Miles (1,000-foot elevation gain)

Step outside your casita this morning and you’ll find yourself amid 3,000 private acres of unspoiled cloud forest and dairy pastures. On this morning’s walk we visit the chapel on the property, continue through the cloud forest and finish at a hummingbird gallery, where you can spend some time feeding these amazing creatures. Afterward we shuttle to the small pueblo of Santa Clara and our lunch spot, Lomas del Mapache.

The restaurant offers incredible views of the surrounding Caribbean lowlands and serves up delicious portions of patacones (fried plantains), rice, beans, vegetables, and plates of fresh fish, chicken and fruit, along with plenty of tropical drinks to wash it all down.

After lunch your Backroads leaders fit your bike and give a brief talk on biking techniques and safety. Then set out on rolling paved and dirt roads, flanked by plantations of papaya, sugarcane and yucca. On a clear day Arenal Volcano, one of the world’s ten most active volcanoes, can be seen looming in the distance. When you reach the town of La Fortuna, kick back at an open-air restaurant with un batido, a delicious local fruit drink containing mango, pineapple, papaya and guanábana—a great end to the ride! From here you can shuttle to tonight’s peaceful retreat or make your way by bike, pedaling along the base of the volcano. Upon arriving at Hotel Mountain Paradise, note the open design that blends seamlessly with the natural surroundings. You may even see and hear signs of life from Arenal, including thunderous belches of smoke and ash.

This evening we drive a short distance to Ecotermales, a family-run hot springs hidden in a forest oasis. Unwind in one of four pools filled with geothermal water and soak beneath the steaming waterfall. Fully relaxed, we’re treated to a home-cooked dinner of Costa Rican specialties before returning to our hotel.

Lodging: Hotel Mountain Paradise

Day 3

Lake Arenal Biking Route 17 Miles (490-foot elevation gain)
Shorter Option: La Mansion 10 Miles with Shuttle (300-foot elevation gain)
Boat Ride on Lake Arenal 30 Minutes

Gear up after breakfast for a favorite Backroads ride, a picturesque route providing wonderful views of a densely forested volcanic ridgeline and Lake Arenal, a popular destination for windsurfers and anglers. The ride ends with lunch, followed by a cruise on the lake.

You’re free to spend the afternoon around La Fortuna as you please. If you’re up for some excitement, fly through the treetops on a zip-line to see the jungle from a toucan’s point of view, skirt the flanks of Arenal Volcano on horseback, kayak on Lake Arenal or hike across hanging bridges suspended in the rain forest canopy. (Note: these options are not included in the trip price.) If you’re in the mood for a little less exertion, head back to the hotel and relax poolside. Tonight we have dinner at a wonderful open-air restaurant.

Lodging: Hotel Mountain Paradise

Day 4

La Ceiba Hike 3 Miles (100-foot elevation gain)
Shorter Option: Lava Field 2 Miles (100-foot elevation gain)
Shuttle to La Fortuna Airstrip 30 Minutes
Flight to Quepos 40 Minutes
Big Orange Biking Route 16 Miles (330-foot elevation gain)
Shorter Option: Naranjito 9 miles with Shuttle

On this morning’s walk we get an up-close look at the process of forest succession and see the ―pioneer‖ plants’ efforts to restore the jungle wiped out by Arenal Volcano’s 1968 eruption. As you trek across a barren lava field, take in exceptional vistas of Lake Arenal. If it’s clear, chances are good that you’ll see fresh clouds of steam billowing from the volcano and hear its low rumbling. After the hike we shuttle to the airstrip for our scenic flight to Quepos, celebrating our arrival on the Pacific coast with a delicious Tex-Mex-style lunch at a restaurant in town.

This afternoon’s bike ride is sure to get your heart pumping. Pedal along trails of hard-packed dirt and gravel, and tackle a few challenging hills as you head into the countryside, passing through small villages and a landscape of lush forest, mountains and rivers. The route ends in downtown Quepos, where you can shop for souvenirs, rejuvenate with a cup of coffee, or scope out restaurants for dinner.

Our home for the next two nights is The Falls, a stone’s throw from Manuel Antonio National Park. After settling into your room, enjoy the hotel’s tropical setting on a walk through gardens teeming with squirrel monkeys, hummingbirds, parrots and basilisk lizards. You can also relax at the bar with a cool drink or take a dip in the swimming pool. Tonight you can choose among the many fantastic restaurants in the Manuel Antonio for dinner on your own.

Lodging: The Falls

Day 5

Perezoso Walk 2 Miles with Shuttle
Longer Option: 3 Miles with Shuttle
Optional Activities in Manuel Antonio

After breakfast we’re off to nearby Manuel Antonio National Park, where a local naturalist joins us for a morning of exploration. Established in 1972, Manuel Antonio National Park is named for a Spaniard who died during a skirmish with the Quepoa tribe in the 1500s. Home to more than 100 mammal species and 180 bird species, it is one of Costa Rica’s most beloved parks.

Our guide leads the way past black cedar, monkey comb and balsa trees festooned with epiphytes and bromeliads. Bright purple and orange land crabs scurry into sandy holes as you approach, and agoutis (a relative of the guinea pig) rustle through the underbrush. Iguanas slither up tree trunks, while carablancas, or white-faced monkeys, make a noisy messy (look out below!) meal of wild plantains in the branches above. Also overhead, look for green kingfishers, golden masked tanagers and Baird’s trogons. Now that you’ve worked up an appetite, seek out the perfect beachside restaurant for lunch on your own. Then you’re free to while away the afternoon soaking up the sun and splashing in the waves of the Pacific.

If you’d like to stay active, options abound. Hit the waves with a surf lesson, take in a mangrove estuary tour (depending on the tides), visit the local butterfly garden or go horseback riding. (These activities are not included in the trip price.)

Tonight we regroup at Kapi Kapi for a tasty farewell dinner of international cuisine prepared with Costa Rican flair.

Lodging: The Falls

Day 6

Kayaking 2 Hours
Shuttle to San José 4 Hours

For a final hurrah we grab paddles for a kayaking excursion in the relatively calm deep-blue waters around Quepos. After shuttling to the harbor, you’ll be fitted with gear and given instruction on kayaking and water safety. Then make your way to a beautiful secluded beach on the other side of the bay. Here the rain forest descends to the ocean and volcanic cliffs surround pristine beaches. Take a walk or go for a swim before enjoying our farewell lunch overlooking the Pacific.

Our trip ends with a shuttle through the mountains to San José.