Self-Launched Wellness Costa Rica: Yoga, Volcanoes & Pacific Surf (DIY version of G Adventures' Wellness Costa Rica)

Land at Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) and take an official orange Airport Taxi or a shared shuttle into the city centre (~£20–25, roughly 30–45 mins) rather than a pre-booked private transfer. Check into a hostel or guesthouse in the Barrio Amón / Barrio Escalante area, which is walkable and has good cafés. In the late afternoon, find a drop-in yoga or meditation class near your hostel (most San José studios offer single classes around £8–12) to mirror the group's 'set your intention' welcome evening, then eat at a local soda (small family restaurant) — a casado plate with rice, beans, plantain and protein costs £4–6.

🚌Official airport taxi from SJO ~£20–25; walking in the city centre

🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Barrio Amón / Barrio Escalante (private double ~£22–30, dorm ~£10–14)

• →Airport taxi / shared shuttle to city centre
• →Optional evening drop-in yoga class at a San José studio (book via Google Maps or ClassPass)
• →Self-guided stroll around Barrio Amón and Barrio Escalante

Instead of a private vehicle, take the morning public bus from San José's Terminal 7-10 toward Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí (~£4, 3 hrs) and stop at San Miguel de Sarapiquí. Book the Mi Cafecito coffee cooperative tour directly with the cooperative (around £15–20 for the tour and tasting) — the same community-run project G Adventures supports, where you'll see shade-grown coffee, learn about harvesting, husking and roasting, and drink a fresh cup. Afterwards, continue by local bus or a shared tourist shuttle to La Fortuna (~£8–12, 2.5–3 hrs). Check into a hostel or cabina guesthouse, then join an evening drop-in yoga class at one of La Fortuna's local studios — several hold rooftop sessions with Arenal Volcano views (~£10–12).

🚌Public bus San José–Sarapiquí ~£4; bus or shared tourist shuttle Sarapiquí–La Fortuna ~£8–12

🛏Hostel or cabina guesthouse in La Fortuna (~£14–20 per person)

• →Mi Cafecito coffee cooperative tour and tasting (book direct ~£15–20)
• →Local bus through the Sarapiquí rainforest corridor
• →Drop-in yoga class in La Fortuna with Arenal views (~£10–12)

Book a standalone stand-up paddleboard (SUP) session on Lake Arenal directly with a local operator (~£35–45, often 2–2.5 hrs including board and instruction) — the same morning activity the group does. Spend the afternoon on your own: hike the free or low-cost trails around the base of Arenal (El Silencio trail ~£10–12), take a £15–20 shuttle to La Fortuna Waterfall for a swim, or opt for the Lost Canyon Adventures canyoning excursion (~£55–70 direct). In the evening, take a shared shuttle or taxi to the public-access hot springs — several La Fortuna venues offer day passes for £15–25, or use the riverside hot pools near Tabacón for free.

🚌Shared taxi/shuttle to Lake Arenal ~£8–10; return shuttle to hot springs ~£6–8

🛏Hostel or cabina guesthouse in La Fortuna (~£14–20 per person)

• →Stand-up paddleboard session on Lake Arenal (book direct ~£35–45)
• →Optional Lost Canyon Adventures canyoning direct booking (~£55–70)
• →Optional El Silencio or Arenal 1968 volcano trail hike (~£10–12)
• →Hot springs soak at a local thermal venue (~£15–25)

Take a public bus or shared tourist shuttle toward Liberia in Guanacaste (~£12–16, 3–4 hrs) with a change, then a local bus or taxi up to the Rincón de la Vieja National Park area (~£5–8). Stay at a budget eco-lodge or rural cabina near the park entrance — this is the one place where a mid-range lodge is worth it, since budget options are thin (~£20–30 per person). Settle in with a self-practice session or a hosted yoga class at your lodge (many run one or two classes a week, ~£8–10), then walk a short trail to catch the forest at dusk.

🚌Bus/shuttle La Fortuna–Liberia ~£12–16; local bus or taxi to the park ~£5–8

🛏Budget eco-lodge or rural cabina near Rincón de la Vieja (~£20–30 per person)

• →Local bus travel across Guanacaste
• →Optional lodge yoga session or self-practice (~£8–10)
• →Evening short forest trail walk

Pay the park entrance fee (~£10–12) and hike independently to the volcanic mud pools and fumaroles along the Las Pailas loop (about 3 km, easy). Apply the mineral-rich mud, let it dry as you walk on, then rinse off in the nearby thermal streams and pools — the exact 'rejuvenation' moment the tour includes, but on your own timetable. In the afternoon, either take a second trail to the park's waterfall, book a canyon canopy tour with a local operator (~£40–50), or simply rest at the lodge with a book. Bring plenty of water, closed shoes and a towel.

🚌Walking / local taxi to the park entrance ~£4–6

🛏Budget eco-lodge or rural cabina near Rincón de la Vieja (~£20–30 per person)

• →Self-guided Las Pailas loop hike with volcanic mud bath (~£10–12 park entry)
• →Optional canyon canopy / zipline tour (~£40–50 direct)
• →Waterfall trail hike

This is a long travel day: take the early bus or shared shuttle from Liberia down the Nicoya Peninsula to Sámara (~£10–14, 2.5–3 hrs), then a short local taxi or shuttle to quiet Playa Carrillo (~£5). Carrillo is exactly as described — a palm-backed beach with almost no buildings, hotels or restaurants on the sand itself, so stay in nearby Puerto Carrillo village in a hostel or cabina guesthouse (~£15–22 per person). Book a sunset beach yoga session directly with a Sámara or Carrillo instructor (many advertise on Instagram or at local surf shops, ~£10–12) or simply do your own practice as the sun drops.

🚌Bus Liberia–Sámara ~£10–14; taxi Sámara–Carrillo ~£5

🛏Hostel or cabina guesthouse in Puerto Carrillo (~£15–22 per person)

• →Local bus across the Nicoya Peninsula
• →Sunset beach yoga class near Playa Carrillo (~£10–12)
• →Swim and beach walk

Take a group surf lesson with one of the local surf schools in Sámara or Carrillo (~£30–40 for 2 hrs including board and instructor) — the same 'learn to hang 10' session the tour includes, at a fraction of a group-tour markup. Carrillo's gentle beach break is ideal for beginners. Spend the afternoon reading, swimming or hiking the small headland viewpoint for a panorama of the bay. Finish the day with a last sunset yoga session on the sand or a meditation on the beach, then eat fresh fish at one of the village's sodas (£6–9).

🚌Walking; short local taxi to surf school if needed ~£3–5

🛏Hostel or cabina guesthouse in Puerto Carrillo (~£15–22 per person)

• →Group surf lesson with a local surf school (~£30–40)
• →Headland viewpoint walk
• →Sunset yoga or beach meditation

Catch the early bus or shuttle from Sámara back to San José (~£12–18, 4–5 hrs, direct coaches run via the Nicoya ferry route or the Interamericana) and allow a generous buffer before any evening flight — G Adventures schedules the group to arrive at SJO by mid-afternoon, and you should plan the same. If you're staying on, extend in Sámara for a few extra beach days or continue to Monteverde. Budget roughly £25–30 for departure-day transport and meals.

🚌Intercity bus/shuttle Sámara–San José ~£12–18; airport taxi ~£20–25

🛏None included (departure day) — book a hostel night in San José if your flight is next day (~£12–20)

• →Long-distance bus/shuttle back to San José
• →Optional final San José coffee stop before the airport