Adventurous Trip Through Costa Rica’s Rainforests and Active Volcano

Since it erupted in 1968 after 400 years of dormancy, Costa Rica’s Arenal Volcano has seemed desperate for attention. Loud, booming mini eruptions happen as often as every hour. The almost-perfectly conical volcano emits columns of ash and spews fiery orange lava nearly every night, a sight that attracts visitors from around the world. Experience the world’s third-most active volcano in action during a four-night, five-day adventure package for two from Costa Rican Descents.

Day 1: Upon arrival at Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO), meet up with a tour guide to escort your party north on a scenic 90-minute drive to the Casa Luna Hotel, located just outside Arenal Volcano National Park. Visitors can spend the night settling into their colonial-style room, sampling local fare at the onsite Luna Grill Restaurant, or relaxing with a body scrub at the spa.

Day 2: Enjoy a full day of guided whitewater rafting and canyoneering on one of Costa Rica’s many rivers, going through both roaring rapids and gentle waters. Though small in stature, Costa Rica boasts an astounding 5% of the world’s biodiversity. This means rafting parties typically spot monkeys, sloths, and some of the 700 bird species living in the country’s rainforests.

Day 3: Since nearly 25% of the Costa Rica’s land consists of protected national parks, no trip is complete without a walk through a nature reserve. On your walk, try to identify some of the forest’s numerous butterflies and birds, including blue morphos, monarchs, swallowtails, and the monocled aristocrow. After a prepared lunch and some shopping time, groups head toward Arenal Volcano on an extended rainforest hike, concluding with a relaxing visit to one of the area’s natural hot springs.

Day 4: A low-key floating safari tour gently drifts down Río Peñas Blancas, and you can scan the treetops for toucans, kingfishers, and four different species of monkey. Your tour guide will perform all the necessary paddling and vessel christening. Later, the trip returns to Arenal, this time on horseback. Horses navigate through the rainforests and past small rivers en route to the ever-spouting volcano.

Day 5: Company chauffeurs deliver guests to the airport for their return flights home.

Read the Fine Print for important info on travel dates and other restrictions.