This is a Global Expeditions Travel Club Trip:

The group will travel January 8 - 16, 2011

Get your adventure juices flowing on this exciting and unique 9 Day Global Expeditions Travel Club group tour to Costa Rica.

Join us as we rappel down 200' waterfalls, hike near an active volcano, rest in natural hot springs, zipline across the roof of the jungle, ride a beautiful horse through the stunning countryside, take a fun whitewater rafting ride down the Class 3-4 rapids of Rio Toro, see indigenous animals up close, experience nature at its purest and best, but most of all experience this adventure with friends both old and new.

Best of all, we end this trip with a couple of relaxing days on Samara Beach, a charming, off-the-beaten-path beach town that hasn’t been overrun by tourists yet. Here you can choose to relax at a beach side bar, take some surfing lessons, go kayaking, or simply lay on the beach. Do it all or do nothing but relax. Either way, this group tour is action packed and is sure to provide you with incredible memories and lasting friendships. And at this price, you’ll be hard pressed to find anything equal!

NOTE: while this trip is adventurous and action packed, it is a great trip for both beginners and those with some experience. The local guides are experienced and regularly guide those who are rafting, rappelling, horseback riding or zipling for the first time.


Make Friends. Travel the World. The Global Expeditions Club is a unique and exciting social travel club open to anyone interested in traveling to exciting destinations around the world with other like-minded adventurers. Membership is free. Please see The Global Expeditions Club website for more details about the club.

B: Breakfast | L: Lunch

Brief Itinerary:

Day 1: Arrive in San Jose.
Day 2: Whitewater rafting. (B, L)
Day 3: Canyoneering tour. (B, L)
Day 4: Free day to explore wonderful La Fortuna. Evening nature hike, volcano viewing and hot springs. (B)
Optional: 1/2 day Mountain Biking Tour.
Day 5: Horseback riding adventure. (B)
Day 6: Canopy zipline, transfer to Samara Beach. (B)
Day 7: Free day at beach.
Day 8: Morning free at beach. Afternoon transfer to San Jose.
Day 9: Trip ends, transfer to airport. (B)


Detailed Itinerary:

Day 1
San Jose

Arriving at the airport, you will be met and transferred to our nearby hotel. This evening you will have a chance to meet your Global Expeditions Club Trip Leader and your fellow members who you will be traveling with. Today most will be strangers, but by week’s end they will feel like friends for life!.

Day 2
La Fortuna (B, L)

Getting a bright and early start, we'll be picked up and head straight to our exciting whitewater rafting trip. Located in the beautiful rolling hills in the heart of Costa Rica's adventure zone, we'll ride down the Class 3-4 Rio Toro and feel the exhilaration of over 45 crazy, continuous rapids in this secluded, picturesque canyon.

After whitewater rafting, we'll head to the picturesque town of La Fortuna located at the base of the active Arenal Volcano. Here there are lots of great restaurants to choose from.

Day 3
La Fortuna (B, L)

Starting off the day, we head out on the ultimate waterfall adventure – we'll strap on a harness and with the help of our guides rappel down 4 tropical waterfalls. After the thrill of the descent, we make our way along magical trails to reach the top of a brilliant, pristine canyon where lunch will be served. The afternoon and evening are free to explore the exciting town of La Fortuna.

Day 4
La Fortuna (B)

Today is a free day to spend as you like. Roam the quaint streets and shops of La Fortuna or continue your adventures with an optional mountain bike tour. Costa Rica has some of the most-beautiful scenery for mountain biking. On this half-day tour we’ll get you fitted to your bike and you and your guide will ride along moderate-level rolling hills on well-maintained country roads with views of the behemoth Arenal Volcano and spectacular jungle all around you.

Regardless of how you spend your free day, we're off on an included group twilight nature hike with a local naturalist near the base of Central America's most-active volcano: Arenal Volcano. Following our hike we will drive to a viewing spot where, if nature cooperates, we will be able to witness blazing red, car size chunks of lava roll down the side of the steep volcano slopes in the dark of night. The evening brings the much anticipated chance to soak in the Baldi Natural hot springs and recover from the day's adventures.

Day 5
La Fortuna (B)

Today we will enjoy a scenic horseback ride through the Costa Rican countryside. Riding these beautiful horses will give you the opportunity to see nature and the true beauty of Costa Rica up close. This is a great chance to see the volcano in the distance and to spot toucans, monkeys and many other unique animals along the way.

Day 6
La Fortuna to Samara Beach (B)

Morning is our chance to play "Indiana Jones meets Tarzan" by flying through the jungle treetops on an exhilarating canopy zipline course. In the afternoon, we travel to Samara Beach, a charming, off-the-beaten-path beach town that hasn’t quite been discovered by tourists yet. In the evening, sit for hours at one of the beachside bars, grab a bite to eat, enjoy a cold drink, have a laugh with your fellow GEC members, reminisce about our recent adventures, listen to the waves crash, and watch the sun set over the Pacific Ocean. Does life get any better?

Day 7
Free Day at Beach

Today is a free day at the beach. Rent a surfboard and take a lesson for a couple of bucks, join a sea kayaking tour, or simply relax at the beach. Regardless, life is good!

Day 8
Free Morning at Beach & Afternoon Transfer to San Jose/Alajuela

Today we have the morning free to spend at the beach. In the afternoon we travel to Alajuela in the capital city of San Jose where we'll enjoy one last night of fun with our new found friends before catching our flights home the following morning.

Day 9
Alajuela/San Jose & Airport Transfer (B)

Trip ends after breakfast. You're transferred to the airport to catch your flight home.