Traditional Cooking Class with Dinner, Arenal/La Fortuna

In this hands-on chocolate experience, you'll learn all about one of Costa Rica's most famous exports. Participate in the cacao harvest, see how the seeds are dried and ground to produce creamy cocoa butter, and sample freshly made chocolate. Your bilingual guide will share insights into chocolate's cultural and economic importance in ancient Mesoamerican societies and show you how to make a traditional Costa Rican drink that dates back centuries. Don't miss the chance to taste the cacao beans' fruity pulp straight from the pod, offering a fresh and delightful experience for chocolate enthusiasts and history buffs alike.

Explore the thrilling Arenal Hanging Bridges on this popular excursion. The trail system, located inside a rainforest reserve, features suspension bridges that take you high above the treetops before treating you to a once-in-a-lifetime view of Arenal Volcano. Venturing along these spectacular elevated walkways, up to 180 feet (55 meters) above the rainforest floor, you'll have a chance to appreciate this area's incredible biodiversity, including some of the 350 avian species that live here.

Embark on an adrenaline-pumping whitewater rafting adventure down the Río Balsa. You'll transfer from La Fortuna to the put-in spot on the river, where your guide will give you safety instructions and outfit you with a helmet and life vest. Then, push off into the current and start paddling through rolling Class II and III rapids with names like Morning Coffee and Rock around the Croc. Enjoy wildlife spotting along the way—you'll even have a chance to swim while passing through calmer stretches of the river. 

Embark on a guided adventure through Arenal Volcano 1968 Park, where you'll find the Arenal Volcano. As you navigate the path around the volcano's base, your expert guide will point out exotic birds, monkeys, and other creatures. You'll continue your hike through segments of the park that the lava flow affected during the volcanic eruption in 1968 that left the landscape devoid of vegetation. This unique terrain offers beautiful vistas of the crystal-clear Lake Arenal and the dormant Cerro Chato Volcano.

Visit Proyecto Asis, a wildlife rehabilitation and rescue center. A naturalist guide will lead you on a tour, introducing you to the resident animals and sharing their stories. You'll likely see anteaters, monkeys, snakes, parrots, sloths, and more. 
(Because the center's goal is to release as many animals back into the wild as possible, the wildlife present at the center is subject to change.) During your visit, you'll also learn about conservation and sustainability.

Visit Proyecto Asis, a wildlife rehabilitation and rescue center. A naturalist guide will lead you on a private tour, introducing you to the resident animals and sharing their stories. You'll likely see anteaters, monkeys, snakes, parrots, sloths, and more. (Because the center's goal is to release as many animals back into the wild as possible, the wildlife present at the center is subject to change.) During your visit, you'll learn about conservation and sustainability. As part of the volunteer tour, you will also have hands-on opportunities with the animals. Learn how to prepare and serve food to the animals, interact with them (following the guide's instructions), help clean cages or craft animal toys, and more. You will go home with unforgettable memories!