Costa Rica Off the Beaten Path
Thirteen days on routes most visitors never find, from overnight rafting on the Pacuare River to Caribbean coast beaches, mountain biking through sugar cane country, canyoning, and rainforest night walks
From River Lodge to Cloud Forest
Explore Costa Rica's Quieter Side
This custom itinerary follows a route through Costa Rica's less-traveled regions. Turrialba sits in a valley of sugar cane fields and river canyons with a laid-back town center and almost no crowds. Puerto Viejo on the southern Caribbean coast has its own pace and culture — Afro-Caribbean food, reggae, and warm water reef breaks. Sarapiquí is lowland rainforest with small communities and working plantations. Bijagua, near Tenorio Volcano, is green farmland and cloud forest where you're more likely to see a farmer than another traveler.
Rafting, Biking, Canyoning, and Night Walks
Your journey opens with a two-day, one-night whitewater rafting trip on the Pacuare River — you sleep at a riverside lodge accessible only by raft. From there, the activities match each destination: mountain biking through the Atirro countryside and canyoning down five waterfalls in Turrialba, a guided hike through Cahuita National Park on the Caribbean, a night walk at Tirimbina Biological Reserve in Sarapiquí to spot sloths and tree frogs after dark, and a crater lake hike through cloud forest near Tenorio. Offbeat Travel handles the guides and bookings while you self-drive between destinations at your own pace.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Thirteen days by raft and rental car through Costa Rica's less-visited regions, from the Pacuare River to the Caribbean coast, the Sarapiquí rainforest, and the Tenorio Volcano area. This itinerary can also be configured with private transfers if you prefer not to drive.
Day 1: Arrival in San José
Arrive at Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) and transfer to your hotel in San José for the night.
Lodging: Sleep Inn Paseo Las Damas, San José
Meals: Breakfast
Day 2: Pacuare River Rafting Begins
Early pickup from San José. Travel through Cartago and several small towns before reaching the Pacuare River, one of the world's most iconic whitewater runs. After a safety briefing, spend the day rafting Class III-IV rapids through a canyon lined with waterfalls, clear water, and dense rainforest. The Pacuare works for both beginners and experienced rafters.
At the end of the day, pull off the river at Ave Sol River Sanctuary — a lodge accessible only by raft. Dinner and overnight on the riverbank.
Lodging: Ave Sol River Sanctuary, Pacuare River
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 3: Pacuare Day Two and Drive to Turrialba
Wake up to the sound of the river and enjoy breakfast before heading out for the final rafting section. After the run, a buffet lunch by the river. Your rental car is delivered at the take-out point, and you drive to the Turrialba area to settle in for three nights.
Lodging: Villa Florencia Hotel, Turrialba (3 nights)
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Day 4: Mountain Biking the Atirro Countryside Loop
Ride from near Lake Angostura through paved and gravel roads, passing sugar cane fields, rainforest, and views of the Pejibaye River canyon. Stop in the village of Pejibaye for a rest and a glimpse of local rural life before completing the loop. The ride covers approximately 22 miles over about four hours and is suitable for beginner to intermediate riders.
Lodging: Villa Florencia Hotel, Turrialba
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Day 5: Canyoning
Five waterfall descents with professional guides who handle the equipment and rope systems. Between rappels, short hikes through the forest connect each waterfall. The guides share technique so you can focus on the descents.
Lodging: Villa Florencia Hotel, Turrialba
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Day 6: Drive to Puerto Viejo
After breakfast, drive toward Puerto Viejo on Costa Rica's southern Caribbean coast. The road crosses mountain views, rainforest, rivers, and banana and pineapple plantations — the landscape shifts noticeably as you drop from the highlands to the coast.
Lodging: Azania Bungalow, Puerto Viejo (3 nights)
Meals: Breakfast
Day 7: Cahuita National Park
A guided morning hike through Cahuita National Park, where trails wind through coastal rainforest. Your guide helps you spot monkeys, sloths, birds, and other wildlife while sharing the park's history and biodiversity.
Lodging: Azania Bungalow, Puerto Viejo
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Day 8: Free Day in Puerto Viejo
A full day to explore at your own pace — the beach, the town, or surfing (arranged independently).
Lodging: Azania Bungalow, Puerto Viejo
Meals: Breakfast
Day 9: Drive to Sarapiquí and Tirimbina Night Walk
After breakfast, drive from the Caribbean coast into the Sarapiquí lowland rainforest. The route passes through banana and pineapple plantations and small towns as you cross from the coast into Costa Rica's interior.
In the evening, a guided night walk at Tirimbina Biological Reserve. Cross a suspension bridge into the rainforest after dark, when many animals are most active — sloths, red-eyed tree frogs, porcupines, and kinkajous.
Lodging: Sarapiquís Rainforest Lodge (2 nights)
Meals: Breakfast
Day 10: Mountain Biking in Sarapiquí
Ride through small communities and plantations with expert guides, experiencing Sarapiquí's rural landscape and spotting local wildlife. Routes are adjusted based on your experience level and physical condition, ranging from flat terrain to trails and hills.
Lodging: Sarapiquís Rainforest Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, snacks
Day 11: Drive to Bijagua and the Tenorio Area
After breakfast, drive to the rural region of Bijagua near Tenorio Volcano. The road crosses farmland, small villages, rivers, and green landscapes — an authentic countryside destination surrounded by nature and daily life.
Lodging: Heliconias Rainforest Lodge, Bijagua (2 nights)
Meals: Breakfast
Day 12: Laguna Danta Crater Hike
Hike through rainforest and cloud forest to Laguna Danta, a peaceful crater lake in the Tenorio area. The trail includes hanging bridges with views of the forest canopy. Keep an eye out for monkeys, sloths, and birds along the way. The hike is approximately four and a half miles over about four hours at a medium difficulty level.
Lodging: Heliconias Rainforest Lodge, Bijagua
Meals: Breakfast
Day 13: Return to San José and Departure
Drive back to San José, return your rental car, and transfer to the airport for your departure flight. Pura Vida.
Meals: Breakfast
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