The Ultimate Adventure Through Costa Rica — Self-Launched

Land at Juan Santamaría (SJO) and take a taxi or Uber to the Gran Terminal del Caribe in downtown San José (~£8-12), or straight to the Terminal de Buses Atlántico area for your onward bus. Catch a direct bus to Turrialba (roughly 2.5-3 hrs, ~£3-4) — they run several times a day, so if your flight lands late, sleep one night near the airport or in San José (Hostel Casa del Parque, ~£12-15 dorm) and travel out the next morning. In Turrialba, check into a guesthouse in the valley with views up to the active Turrialba Volcano. Evening: eat at a local sodá (typical Costa Rican set meal, ~£4-6).

🚌Airport taxi ~£10, then public bus San José–Turrialba ~£3-4

🛏Turrialba guesthouse or hostel, private twin or dorm (~£14-20 pp)

• →Settle in and orient yourself in Turrialba
• →Cheap dinner at a local sodá

Book the same style of guided canyoneering trip direct with a Turrialba operator (e.g. a five-waterfall rappel descent in the rainforest, ~4 hrs). Operators pick you up from town, provide all ropes and safety gear, and often include a wood-stove lunch. No experience needed — guides set the ropes at every drop. Expect to get soaked: quick-dry clothing, secure shoes and a dry bag are essential. Costs are typically £55-75 pp when booked direct or via GetYourGuide.

🚌Operator pickup from your accommodation (included in activity)

🛏Turrialba guesthouse or hostel (~£14-20 pp)

• →Guided canyoneering / waterfall rappelling (5 waterfalls)
• →Rainforest wildlife spotting — sloths, toucans, monkeys

Take an early shared shuttle or bus to the Pacuare put-in (most rafting companies include transfer from Turrialba/San José in the package). Raft ~4 miles of Class III whitewater with an expert river guide, stopping mid-river to hike to hidden waterfalls. Finish at a remote riverside eco-lodge and settle in for the night — most 1-night raft-and-stay packages include all meals, raft gear and lodging. Book direct with a Pacuare operator (e.g. via their website or GetYourGuide); one-night packages run roughly £130-170 pp all-in.

🚌Shared shuttle transfer to Pacuare put-in (usually included in the rafting package)

🛏Riverside jungle eco-lodge, twin share (included in rafting package)

• →Class III whitewater rafting on the Pacuare (4 miles)
• →Riverbank jungle hike to secluded waterfalls
• →Evening at a remote rainforest eco-lodge

Morning zip-lining on the canopy course near the lodge — nine lines including the longest on the Pacuare, plus the 295 ft Tarzan Swing (book as an add-on to your rafting package or direct with the canopy operator, ~£35-50). Afterwards, make the long trip south to the Caribbean coast. The simplest route is a pre-booked shared shuttle (Pacuare/Siquirres area to Puerto Viejo, ~4-5 hrs, ~£35-50). Cheaper but slower: bus to Siquirres, then Bribri/Puerto Viejo via Limón (~4-6 hrs, ~£6-9). Stay in Punta Cocles, a short walk or cheap bus/tuk-tuk hop from Playa Cocles.

🚌Shared shuttle Pacuare→Puerto Viejo ~£35-50 (or public buses via Siquirres/Limón ~£7)

🛏Punta Cocles hostel or cabina, dorm or private (~£12-18 pp)

• →Canopy zip-lining (9 lines)
• →Tarzan Swing
• →Sunset walk on Playa Cocles

Rent a bike or take the local bus/tuk-tuk to Punta Uva (golden sand, turquoise water, palm-fringed). Rent a kayak or join a small guided paddle up the river mouth (~£15-25 for a few hours) and watch for sloths and howler monkeys in the trees. Lunch at a beachfront spot (~£5-8), then hike independently into the Gandoca-Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge — coastal trails through dense rainforest with natural pools to cool off in, and views back over the Caribbean. Turtle nesting beaches here are best visited with a licensed local guide in season.

🚌Local bus/bike/tuk-tuk from Punta Cocles to Punta Uva and Manzanillo (~£1-4)

🛏Punta Cocles hostel or cabina (~£12-18 pp)

• →Kayaking the Punta Uva river mouth
• →Hike in Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge
• →Wildlife spotting — sloths, toucans, spider monkeys

Head north to Cahuita National Park (~30-40 mins by local bus, ~£2). The park is free-entry by donation on the land side; snorkelling the reef normally requires a licensed boat operator (book on the beach or in town, ~£20-30) — look for the largest coral reef system in Costa Rica, with tropical fish, rays and the odd harmless reef shark. Then walk the flat coastal forest trail at Punta Cahuita watching for sloths and capuchin monkeys. Afternoon: cross the country to Sarapiquí. Fastest is a pre-booked shared shuttle (~3-4 hrs, ~£40-55); public transport via Limón–San José–Puerto Viejo is possible but long — better to take a shuttle or split the journey with a night en route.

🚌Local bus to Cahuita ~£2; shared shuttle Cahuita→Sarapiquí ~£40-55

🛏Family-run rainforest lodge near the Sarapiquí River, twin share (~£20-30 pp)

• →Reef snorkelling at Cahuita National Park
• →Coastal forest hike at Punta Cahuita
• →Wildlife watching — monkeys, sloths, reptiles

Morning cacao tour with the lodge's neighbours — the classic Sarapiquí experience: fruit in the trees, fermentation, drying, roasting, grinding and plenty of tasting (book direct with your lodge, ~£15-25). Easy afternoon around the lodge — a private rainforest reserve on the Sarapiquí River with excellent birdlife (hummingbirds, toucans, maybe a great green macaw). After dark, join a guided night hike with flashlights, looking for glowing insects, tree frogs, kinkajous and snakes (~£15-25 with a local naturalist guide).

🚌Walking (all activities at or adjacent to the lodge)

🛏Family-run rainforest lodge near the Sarapiquí River, twin share (~£20-30 pp)

• →Cacao plantation tour and chocolate-making
• →Guided night hike in the rainforest

Long travel-and-hike day. Book a local guide or join a small-group hike to the Bajos del Toro waterfalls — El Tepezquintle, Las Gemelas (twin falls), La Celestial, La Turquesa, La Pintada and the mighty Catarata del Toro, a 260 ft+ cascade dropping into an extinct volcanic crater. Guided hikes here run ~£30-50 pp and are strongly recommended; trails are muddy, unsigned and land can be private. Then continue south to the Pacific coast. Public buses via San José are slow (6+ hrs with a change); a pre-booked shared shuttle to Uvita is around £45-65 and saves a whole day. Evening: relaxed dinner in Uvita.

🚌Local bus/transfer to Bajos del Toro; shared shuttle to Uvita ~£45-65

🛏Uvita hostel or budget hotel, twin or dorm (~£15-25 pp)

• →Guided hike to Bajos del Toro waterfalls (Las Gemelas, La Turquesa, La Pintada)
• →Catarata del Toro viewpoint

Note: Carara sits back near the central Pacific, so the cleanest version of this day is to visit it en route between Sarapiquí/Bajos del Toro and Uvita (or as a day trip from San José/Jaco at either end of the trip). Entry to Carara is ~£8-10; a guided walk or a self-guided 3-mile loop takes 2 hrs and is excellent for scarlet macaws, monkeys and primary rainforest. If you'd rather not backtrack, swap it for a guided wildlife walk in Marino Ballena National Park from Uvita (~£20-30) or a mangroves and dolphins boat tour (~£35-50). Then relax in Uvita — surf-friendly beach, laid-back town, cheap seafood.

🚌Public bus or shared transfer; Carara entry ~£8-10

🛏Uvita hostel or budget hotel (~£15-25 pp)

• →Carara National Park 3-mile rainforest loop (scarlet macaws, monkeys)
• →Uvita town evening — beach and seafood

Full-day guided trip to the Diamante Waterfalls — ten cascades hidden in primary jungle. Hike 2-3 hrs up steep, rocky trails to the top, where an open-air cave set behind twin waterfalls has a kitchen, benches and toilets. Lunch (vegetarian, from an on-site organic garden) is prepared by your guides, then you rappel 82 ft down the falls with full safety gear and instruction. A short hike brings you to a viewpoint and a big natural swimming hole. Book direct with the local operator (~£65-90 pp including guiding, gear, lunch and transport from Uvita). Back at the hotel, use the pool and sun terrace.

🚌Operator 4x4 transfer from Uvita (included in activity price)

🛏Uvita hostel or budget hotel (~£15-25 pp)

• →Hike to the Diamante waterfalls
• →Cave lunch behind the twin falls
• →82 ft waterfall rappel
• →Swim in the natural rock pool

Sleep in. Walk 15 minutes to Uvita Beach and see the famous whale-tail sandbar at low tide, or take a local bus/taxi south to Playa Ballena in Marino Ballena National Marine Park — quieter, clear water, jungle behind the sand, and a chance of dolphins or turtles. Afternoon: take the direct public bus Uvita–San José (~3.5-4 hrs, ~£7-10; several daily departures) or a pre-booked shuttle (~£45-60) and check into a hostel near the centre or airport. Farewell dinner at a sodá or market food court (~£6-10).

🚌Public bus Uvita–San José ~£7-10 (or shuttle ~£45-60)

🛏San José hostel or budget hotel near centre/airport (~£15-25 pp)

• →Uvita Beach and the whale-tail sandbar at low tide
• →Playa Ballena / Marino Ballena National Park
• →Farewell dinner in San José

Breakfast at your hostel or a nearby café, then take an airport bus (~£1-2) or taxi/Uber (~£10-15) to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) for your flight home. If your flight is late, you can leave bags at the hostel and spend a few hours in central San José — the Mercado Central and Barrio Escalante's cafés are good low-cost options.

🚌Airport bus ~£1-2 or taxi/Uber ~£10-15

🛏—

• →Departure transfer to SJO