Costa Rica: Culture, Nature & a little bit of Luxury
January 12-21, 2024
Rain Forests. Beaches. Waterfalls. Bridges. Volcanoes. That's Costa Rica!
And what a beautiful country it is! We will be visiting the Northern part of the country, flying into San Jose, heading up to La Fortuna, and over to the Pacific coast in Playa Hermosa. As with all KWT trips, we will be staying in houses so that we can live like the locals as much as possible and not just as tourists. We aim to provide a unique travel experience that brings together women with similar values, in an atmosphere of openness and respect. We will be staying in 3 different luxury homes where we can relax, be ourselves and get to know each other.
Sustainable Tourism in Costa Rica
As stated on Costa Rica's visitors home page, "Sustainability is not a practice in Costa Rica; it is a way of life!" Costa Rica is one of the most ecological countries on earth. The are committed to encouraging sustainable tourism while still protecting the biodiversity of the country. To that end, no more that 7% of natural parks are open to the public. They keep most of the green areas protected, in their natural state. Costa Rica received the Champions of the Earth award, the United Nation's highest environmental award, for its role in protecting nature and its commitment to combating climate change.
Initial Itinerary
Our itinerary allows you to take some time for yourself to either relax by the pool or beach, or go off on a different activity that might not appeal to the whole group. It provides the perfect combination of relaxing vacation, sight-seeing tours and cultural experiences. (KWT reserves the right to make changes to the itinerary if needed.)
Activity level for this trip: Moderate - you must be able to carry your own luggage, climb stairs, get in and out of a vans & boats, and walk through the rain forest including crossing hanging bridges. (Women with mobility issues would probably have difficulty with this trip and should consult their physicians.)
SATURDAY, JANUARY 13th
This morning we will visit a small, family-run organic coffee plantation for an educational tour. No big factories, just a family who wants to show us how they work with nature instead of against it. After the tour, the family's Aunty will welcome us to her small restaurant for an authentic Costa Rican lunch. We'll return to the house to enjoy the surroundings before heading out for dinner.
(Meals: B, L, D)
MONDAY, JANUARY 15th
We'll have a relaxing morning at the house or head out to explore the area. After having lunch in town, we'll head out for a 3.5 hour float down the Peñas Blancas river by raft and paddle. The mellow waters, which is surrounded by a rich ecosystem, gives us the perfect opportunity to see monkeys, sloths, birds, iguanas, and more. (Meals: B,L,D)
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17th
Another exciting day as we do a four-hour tour of Costa Rica's famous hanging bridges in the Arenal Volcano region! Our professional guide will navigate as we walk through the rainforest and cross several hanging bridges. With the beautiful Arenal Volcano right in front of us, we'll see a variety of wildlife and enjoy nature to the fullest. We'll have some down time when we return before going out to dinner.
(Meals: B)
FRIDAY, JANUARY 19th
Today we'll enjoy an afternoon out on the water! We'll have a private boat tour, including snorkeling, beach hopping, and enjoying endemic wildlife while viewing sights only available by boat. We'll end the tour with a sunset cruise around the bay.
(Meals: B, L)
SUNDAY, JANUARY 21st
Our trip ends today as we fly out of Liberia Airport. We'll leave with fond memories and new friends!
FRIDAY, JANUARY 12th
SUNDAY, JANUARY 14th
TUESDAY, JANUARY 16th
Today will be a free day (up until 4:00 that is) to do whatever you (or we) want to do....you can go off on your own, with another traveler, or we can stay together as a group. Entrance/tour fees and lunch are not included in the cost of the trip, but the options are endless...zip lining, hiking, bird watching, hot springs, etc., etc. At 4:00 we will participate in a private cooking class at the home of a Costa Rican family! This includes a tour of their organic garden, learning about different crops and aromatic plants. We will then pick some of the ingredients for our authentic Costa Rican dinner.
(Meals: B, D)
THURSDAY, JANUARY 18th
Today we go west! We'll end our trip with 3 nights on the beautiful western coast of northern Costa Rica. We'll be staying in a gorgeous home in Playa Hermosa, with a view to end all views. The house is very large, with 6 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms, and a private pool overlooking the ocean. Click here for more pictures.
(Meals: B,L,D)
SATURDAY, JANUARY 20th
Today will be a free day to do whatever you think we missed during the past 9 days. Entrance/tour fees and lunch are not included, but the options are endless...zip lining, hiking, bird watching, hot springs, etc....or we could just relax at the beach. It's up to you! We'll then enjoy a private chef cooking dinner for us to end our trip in style.
(Meals: B, D)
