Ecology Tour of Costa Rica

Fly to San José, Costa Rica.

¡Bienvenidos a Costa Rica! Upon arrival, you will be greeted by your local Forum Tour Manager who will be by your side, dedicated to your group while on tour.

Enjoy a welcome dinner at your hotel.

After breakfast, visit Poás Volcano National Park. Considered the largest active crater in the world, Poás is one mile wide and 1,050 feet deep and experiences frequent, geyser-like eruptions. At the end of one trail, Lake Botos fills an extinct volcanic crater and is home to many cloud forest birds like the tanager and the quetzal.

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, visit La Paz waterfall. See its five spectacular waterfalls hidden in the rainforest, then stop by the hummingbird garden, serpentarium, and frog exhibit.

Return to your hotel for dinner.

After breakfast, participate in a local reforestation program and learn why Costa Rica is considered to be a leader in environmental sustainability.

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, engage in hands-on research at Tirimbina Rainforest Reserve. Compare primary and secondary forests by measuring air temperature, soil composition, and biodiversity. Work in teams as identifiers, surveyors, and collectors to analyze key ecosystem differences.

Return to your hotel for dinner.

After breakfast at your hotel, visit La Selva Biological Station, one of the most important sites for research on tropical rainforests. Participate in workshops on bird watching and rainforest research.

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.

After lunch, visit Danaus Ecocenter, where you will learn about the life cycle of butterflies in the butterfly garden, explore the lush botanical garden, and learn about medicinal plants used by indigenous cultures.

Return to your hotel for dinner.

This morning after breakfast, discover the wealth of geologic and biological complexity in Arenal National Park, including Arenal Volcano, which was dormant for more than 400 years until an eruption in 1968.

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.

After lunch, learn about the chocolate production process. First, take a guided hike that will introduce you to the natural and cultural history of the cacao tree. Then, taste different kinds of chocolates prepared traditionally on site!

Return to your hotel for dinner.

This morning, enjoy an educational Sloth Tour, which will bring you up close and personal with one of Costa Rica’s most adorable species.

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.

Board your private bus and transfer to Monteverde, a lush green mountain town nestled in the northern region of the Tilarán Mountains and considered one of the top ecotourism destinations in the world.

Enjoy a group dinner at your hotel.

After breakfast, visit Monteverde Cloud Forest. Known for its wide variety of biodiversity, important conservation contributions, and scientific research projects. It is arguably the most well-known cloud forest in the world!

Participate in a volunteer service activity at the Cloud Forest Reserve.

Enjoy lunch with your group at a local restaurant before transferring to your hotel in Alajuela.

Enjoy a final breakfast at your hotel before transferring to the airport for your return flight home.