Super Sales
Up to 65%off

Trek Hidden Costa Rica

4.8Based on
12 daysDuration
Small Group TourUsually 8-12 participants, maximum 18 travelers
16 peopleMaximum group size
12 - 100 yearsAge range for participants
EnglishGuide language
Challenging
Demands good physical fitness and stamina for more intense or extended activities.

Highlights

Trek into a remote community to live with the locals.

Explore the Costa Rican jungle.

Make your own sugarcane candy.

Whitewater raft on the Savegre River

Itinerary

Think Costa Rica is all about beaches and resorts? Think again. The "Trek Hidden Costa Rica" tour is your ticket to authentic adventure, plunging young adults and intrepid travelers into the emerald heart of this wild country over 12 unforgettable days. This challenging itinerary is designed for those seeking more than just a holiday—it’s for explorers hungry for real connection, adrenaline, and discovery.

Venture on foot through dense jungles, where you’ll stay with local families in a remote village, learning their traditions and savoring home-cooked meals. Sleep behind a thundering waterfall in a secret cave, and let the sounds of nature lull you to sleep. Your trek will introduce you to medicinal plants, the craft of making sugarcane candy, and the pulse of true Costa Rican life far from the crowds.

This trip isn’t just about trekking—it’s about pushing boundaries. Rappel down waterfalls, try your hand at surfing, or tackle the rapids with whitewater rafting. Every day offers new challenges and rewards, and the camaraderie forged with fellow travelers and locals alike is unmatched.

The unique selling point? A rare chance to live, learn, and adventure in places most only dream of, guided by those who call these jungles home. For those ready to trade the ordinary for the extraordinary, this is the tour package that delivers the real Costa Rica.

day 1 - San José

Arrive at any time.
There are no planned activities during the day, so check into the hotel and explore the city. As it is located in the central highlands, San José enjoys a moderate climate.

Amid the hustle and bustle, San José has beautiful parks, museums and the ornate Costa Rica National Theatre downtown. Enjoy the view of the surrounding mountains from the downtown streets.

The central plaza is a good place to people-watch. A mime, juggler, marimba band, magician, or storyteller may be performing for whatever is collected when the hat is passed. Artisan booths are common, creating a regular arts and crafts fair atmosphere.

Accomodation:Boutique Hotel Casa Las Orquideas (or similar)
Included Activity:Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group Duration : 1.0 hr

day 2 - San José/San Isidro

Travel by local bus over the highest mountain pass in the country. Arrive in the valley of San Isidro de El General and take a walk in the main plaza.
Spend the day visiting some shops and stock up before the next day's trek into the jungle. Located near three rivers and Costa Rica's highest mountain, Mt Chirripó, this region is well-known but few travelers stay to find out why.

Accomodation:San Isidro Hotel (or similar)
Transport:Local Bus Duration : 3.0 hr - 4.0 hr

day 3 - San Isidro/Piedras Blancas

Embark on a three-day, three-night excursion with a locally owned and operated adventure company to the community of Piedras Blancas, found in the heart of the Zona de los Santos region.
The journey is always half the fun! Travel in the back of a pickup truck through lush green landscapes and end in the small town of Brujo. Enjoy a 4-hour hike to a jungle homestay while spotting tropical fauna and plenty of wildlife along the way.

Meal:Lunch and Dinner
Accomodation:Lopez Homestay (or similar)
Transport:Pickup Truck Duration : 2.0 hr
Included Activity:Jungle Trekking to Piedras Blancas Duration : 6.0 hr

day 4 - Piedras Blancas

Experience life in a remote community in and around a local family farm.
Wake up with the sun today and get ready for loads of activities. Enjoy a delicious traditional Costa Rican breakfast to start the day off right. In small groups, make 'dulce' (candy) at the family's traditional 'trapiche' (sugar cane mill). Cool off in the river that flows right by the house while the sugar simmers over the fire and lunch is being prepared.

Hike one hour to another household and stay the night. While there, local guides and members of the family will explain how to make fresh cheese and breads, play card games and enjoy tasty traditional Tico cooking. Once the evening winds down, head to bed for a well-deserved rest.

Meal:Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accomodation:Granados Homestay (or similar)
Included Activities:Sugarcane Candy Making, Bread Making
Optional Activities:Swimming Harness your inner Tarzan and Jane and plunge into the river with lush forest all around.

day 5 - Piedras Blancas

Travel across the Savegre River to the next homestay with an included medicinal plant walk.
Start the day with a delicious home-cooked breakfast and fortify for the two-hour hike through the rainforest to tonight's home stay retreat. Enjoy the sights and sounds of the rushing waterfall directly in front of the dining area. Watch wildlife and hummingbirds up close. Reward yourself homemade chocolate made from cocoa beans collected right from the garden.

Meal:Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accomodation:Fonseca Homestay (or similar)
Included Activities:Hike to a local family home stay Duration : 2.0 hr, Chocolate Making

day 6 - Piedras Blancas/Esquipulas

Walk through the jungle from the homestay and raft the Savegre River. Then, relax at the end of the Day at camp and enjoy an included dinner.
Today is a full, action-packed day. Set your alarm for an early morning start and a two-hour hike back to Brujo where we jump into rafts and head off on the Savegre River.

Paddle toward the Pacific coast, then take a van to Esquipulas. Spend the rest of the day relaxing at camp before an included dinner.

Meal:Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accomodation:Esquipulas Rainforest Camping (or similar)
Transport:Private Vehicle Duration : 1.5 hr Distance : 33 km
Included Activities:Hiking Duration : 2.0 hr, Savegre River Whitewater Rafting Duration : 4.0 hr

day 7 - Manuel Antonio

Enjoy a Day trip to explore beautiful Manuel Antonio Park. In the afternoon the group will transfer back to Esquipulas for a relaxing evening and included dinner.

Meal:Breakfast and Dinner
Accomodation:Esquipulas Rainforest Camping (or similar)
Transport:Private Vehicle Duration : 1.0 hr Distance : 26 km
Included Activity:Manuel Antonio National Park Tour
Optional Activities:Kayaking , Whitewater Rafting Manuel Antonio

day 8 - Quepos

Enjoy a free Day in the area for optional activities. Be as active or relaxed as you'd like.
A free day for exploring the area, there are a number of activities to choose from depending on the group’s interest and energy levels.

Meal:Breakfast
Accomodation:Esquipulas Rainforest Camping (or similar)
Optional Activities:Fishing Cast a line and (depending on the season) hope to hook a marlin, sailfish, tuna or dorado (mahi mahi). Fishing in Quepos, north of Manuel Antonio, is Costa Rica’s most popular spot for blue water sport fishing.

day 9 - Esquipulas/Uvita

Enjoy a morning at your leisure before travelling to beautiful seaside Uvita. Opt to surf, whale-watch, horseback-ride or kick back and relax.
After a slow morning, hop in a private van and enjoy the ride to Uvita, a small beach town on the southwestern Pacific coast.

Take some much deserved time to rest and relax.

Meal:Breakfast
Accomodation:Hotel Luz De Luna (or similar)
Transport:Private Vehicle Duration : 3.0 hr Distance : 75 km

day 10 - Uvita

Spend the morning swimming, relaxing, and watching humpback whales off the coast of Ballena Marine National Park, before enjoying free time in Uvita.
This is a perfect day for some quality hammock time. Still need to move? There's lots to do. Take a surf lesson, horseback ride, snorkel, SCUBA dive or take a trip to nearby Caño Island.

Accomodation:Hotel Luz De Luna (or similar)
Included Activity:Ballena Marine National Park Visit
Optional Activities:Caño Island Visit Book a full day-trip to the protected marine reserve of Caño Island – popular with snorkellers, divers and anyone who appreciates beautiful beaches and trails that wind through mountainous untamed forests. Located 16km (10 mi) offshore from the Osa Peninsula, spend time hiking, beachcombing or just enjoying nature. Snorkel or scuba the clear waters, and see more than 100 species of fish, including barracuda, eels, white tip reef sharks, bottlenose dolphins, humpback whales, and rays. , Horseback Riding Throw on some long pants, grab the reins and hop up on a well-trained horse. Trail ride through the tropical forest and across the area’s most beautiful landscape. Look for toucans in the trees and admire the ocean views. Visit waterfalls and end your journey jogging your horse along the beach., Scuba Diving Set off by boat, admire the rugged coastline, and in 15 minutes, arrive at Marino Ballena National Park. Suit up in scuba gear and explore the diverse underwater world. See a large variety of reef fish as well as underwater pinnacles and coral covered in sea fans., Snorkelling Rent a mask and fins and head underwater to check out the marine life under thriving in the warm waters off this southern Pacific coast. Take a half-day trip to Marino Ballena National Park, watch for whales, dolphins and sea turtles, then jump overboard and see a spectacular variety of fish.

day 11 - Uvita/San José

Transfer back to the capital for a final evening with the group.

Accomodation:Boutique Hotel Casa Las Orquideas (or similar)
Transport:Local Bus Duration : 5.0 hr

day 12 - San José

Depart at any time.
Depart from San José at any time.

Trek Hidden Costa Rica

Get Trip Brochure & Exclusive Discount

Download a detailed PDF brochure and unlock an exclusive discount for this tour

What's Included

Accommodation
Hotels (5 nts), Jungle Homestay (3 nts), Camping (3 nts).
Meals
6 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 5 dinners
Note: Allow USD250-325 for meals not included.
Transport
Local bus, pickup truck, private vehicle, raft, hiking.All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
Guide
CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout, local guides.
Included activities
Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and GroupYour Foodie Moment: Bread Making, Piedras BlancasYour Foodie Moment: Chocolate Making, Piedras BlancasHiking excursion to Piedras Blancas (4 days)Whitewater rafting on the Savegre RiverTrapiche demonstrationBallena Marine National Park visitManuel Antonio National Park EntranceFree time in Esquipulas and Uvita

What's Excluded

Do you need help from our trip consultants?

If you have any question about this tour or need help with planning a trip, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us.

Our travel experts are ready to help.
Jane Andersen
Sine
Rasmus Juul Olsen

Why Book with Bookmundi

Earn USD 66+ in travel credits.

Best price guaranteed.

No credit card or booking fees.

100% financial protection.

Carbon neutral tours.

25,000+ trip reviews, with an average rating of 4.8 out of 5.

What are customers saying about Bookmundi

4.67/5
Excellent based on 807 customer reviews fromReviews.io

SAMER

Good service and easy going , highly recommend 👌
1 week ago