Days 1&2
UK – San José

Our adventure begins at the airport in London, where we meet as a group and catch our flight to Costa Rica. Touching down in San José on Day 2, we’ll meet our awesome local Challenge Leader and transfer to our hotel.

The rest of the day is free to spend as you wish, kicking back at the hotel or taking a stroll in the local area.

In the evening, we reunite at the hotel and our Challenge Leader gives us an exciting briefing on the trek ahead. Then, we tuck into our first group dinner of delicious local cuisine.

Day 3
San José – Turrialba Volcano National Park | approx. 8km (+170m)

Rising to a fresh breakfast at the hotel, we have an approx. two-hour transfer in our comfortable private coach, to the slopes of the magnificent Turrialba Volcano National Park. Our short but tough trek undulates through a variety of local farms and gives us a feel for the Costa Rican culture.

Rich, fertile soil gives life to lush fields with expansive views of the 3,328m volcano looming ahead. Hiking on steep terrain off the beaten tourist track, we stop for a tasty, packed lunch along the way.

We finish our trek at a beautiful waterfall, deep in a river-carved canyon. Having no doubt worked up a sweat from our trek, you can cool off with a refreshing dip in the fresh water and make the most of the photo opportunity. Then, we meet our coach and transfer down the volcano to our accommodation. Once checked in, you have time to freshen up and relax before our group dinner this evening.

Day 4
Turrialba Volcano National Park – Santubal – San Joaquin - Turrialba Volcano National Park | approx. 10km (+350m)

After breakfast at the hotel, we begin our day with an approx. one-hour transfer to the sleepy, farming community of Santubal. Then, we set off along a 4x4 track, which quickly turns into a slow-going trail through the rainforest.

Although our trek is tough, the spectacular rainforest flora and impressive views of the Pacuare River Valley below are well worth the ache. We also share the trail with the Cabécar indigenous people travelling between settlements, so it’s an excellent chance to gain insight into their harmonious lifestyle.

Looking out for wildlife as we go, we can hear and spot all sorts of animals and insects, including toucans, poison-arrow frogs, and tarantulas! We stop for a picnic lunch in the rainforest and finally, reach a sturdy swing bridge over the Pacuare River.

Meeting our coach on the other side, we transfer to our accommodation and settle down with a group dinner and a great night’s rest.

Day 5
Providencia – San Gerardo | approx. 12km (+650m)

Wrapping up in warmer clothes this morning, we transfer after an early breakfast to a new location, high in the Talamanca Mountain Range. We’ll soon be glad for the cooler climate zone here as we embark on a challenging climb up the mountain.

From the secluded community of Providencia, we trek along quiet county roads that get smaller and wilder as they turn into trails through the cloud forest. Roaming deeper into the forest, we hear the rush of a river and cross a swing bridge over one of the raging torrents.

This leads to a gentle 600m ascent on more picturesque forest tracks that take us all the way to our accommodation in the small village of San Gerardo.

After another rewarding day’s hike, we satisfy our appetites with dinner before retiring for the night.

Day 6
San Gerardo – Cerro Frio – South Pacific Coast | approx. 10km (+1,330m)

Prepare for our toughest day’s trek! Fuelling up with a fresh breakfast at our hotel, we climb from the valley as the cool sun rises overhead. Before long, we enter the cloud forest, which bursts with tropical. Along with toucans, snakes, frogs and butterflies, we may glimpse brightly coloured hummingbirds and quetzals.

Already a fair way up the mountain, today’s hike will take us to the summit of Cerro Frio at a whopping 3,440m, one of the highest peaks in the area. We ascend on steep trails through the rainforest and take plenty of breaks to rehydrate.

As we draw closer to the top, the cloud forest shrinks and gives way to the much smaller vegetation and open spaces of the Costa Rican paramo. Also known as the Talamanca paramo, this vast region of grassland and shrubland can only be found above 3,000m–3100m and with fewer trees around us, we’re treated to spectacular panoramas across the mountain range and the forested valleys below. On a clear day, we can see the Pacific Ocean.

At such a high altitude, it can be quite windy and cold here, so after taking some triumphant pictures, we give our legs a well-deserved rest on an approx. two-hour transfer to the coast. We end the day in much warmer temperatures with a well-deserved group dinner and a night at our accommodation on the Pacific Coast, as we settle in for a sunset dinner at the beautiful Cuna del Angel hotel.

Day 7
South Pacific Coast – Nauyaca Waterfalls – The Whale’s Tale

After yesterday’s climb, you’ll be pleased to know that our final day is much gentler, with two shorter treks at the balmy South Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. Rising to a fresh breakfast, we set off on a trek to the Nauyaca Waterfalls.

Nestled in a well-preserved Nature Park owned by the Don Lulo family, the area also gives us fantastic wildlife-spotting opportunities. Watch out for sloths and monkeys! We walk along sweet-smelling trails lined with mango and guava trees and enjoy the warm air of the South Pacific.

Soon, we can hear the roar of three waterfalls, and we visit the most spectacular of the three, boasting deep swimming holes and plenty of space to sit and admire the view. After a picnic lunch, we head to the beach for our final walk along the white-sand, palm-lined beaches of the Pacific. Sparkling sea views accompany us as we make our way through the Marino Ballena National Park, home to mangroves, rainforest and an area called the Whale’s Tail, our finishing point.

The Whale’s Tail, also known as the Punta Uvita Tombolo, is famous not only for its formation of rocks and sand, which at low tide, resembles a whale’s tail but also for its humpback whale-spotting opportunities. We stop here and keep our eyes peeled for whales as we celebrate our completion of this incredible Costa Rican challenge. This evening, we toast our achievement over a fantastic celebration dinner.

Day 8
South Pacific Coast – Free Day

Today is free for you to spend as you please, relaxing at the hotel and/or exploring the local area and its many palm-lined beaches.

Alternatively, you can jump on one of the awesome optional activities and excursions we’re arranging for a small additional price. We will send you all the exciting details closer to the challenge.

To give you maximum flexibility on your fee day, only breakfast is included, so please take lunch and dinner as chances to try out the wonderful local restaurants.

Days 9 & 10
South Pacific Coast – San José – London

This morning is yours to lie in and relax at the hotel or on the beach before we transfer to the San José airport this afternoon. Here, we bid goodbye to our local challenge leader and catch our overnight flight back to the UK.

Touching down in London on Day 10, we part ways at the airport and you make your own way home.