Maleku Cultural Immersion Day Trip, Arenal/La Fortuna

Learn about traditional Costa Rican coffee production firsthand on this illuminating visit to a small, family-owned farm, where you'll see the sustainable and eco-friendly methods used to produce 100% organic coffee beans. Your naturalist guide will lead you through the fields as they explain how coffee cherries are cultivated, then you'll roll up your sleeves and participate in every step of the process, from harvesting to roasting and grinding. Your experience ends as you savor some freshly ground coffee along with a light snack.

Set out on a privately guided walk of the Arenal Hanging Bridges, set within a 600-acre tropical forest reserve. The trail system features a mix of fixed and suspension bridges offering unique perspectives of the forest's undergrowth, sub-canopy, and canopy levels—the latter treating you to impressive views of Arenal Volcano. With an expert guide, learn about the local wildlife and enjoy spotting species like capuchin, howler, and spider monkeys, as well as diverse birdlife and frogs. Ideal for nature lovers and families, the non-slip concrete trail with gentle slopes ensures a safe and accessible adventure for all.

Set out on a guided walk of the Arenal Hanging Bridges, set within a 600-acre tropical forest reserve. The trail system features a mix of fixed and suspension bridges offering unique perspectives of the forest's undergrowth, sub-canopy, and canopy levels—the latter treating you to impressive views of Arenal Volcano. With an expert guide, learn about the local wildlife and enjoy spotting species like capuchin, howler, and spider monkeys, as well as diverse birdlife and frogs. Ideal for nature lovers and families, the non-slip concrete trail with gentle slopes ensures a safe and accessible adventure for all.

Explore Arenal with a guide as you take on hanging bridges and hike to a waterfall. You'll start with the Arenal Hanging Bridges, where you'll navigate a trail system within a vast rainforest reserve that offers views of Arenal Volcano and the chance to spot diverse wildlife, including over 350 bird species. Next, trek down to La Fortuna Waterfall, where you can swim or relax amid the lush scenery. The day trip concludes with lunch at La Finquita. Ideal for nature enthusiasts and adventure seekers, this excursion offers a vibrant glimpse into Costa Rica's rich biodiversity.

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. 

Perfect for nature lovers and curious kids, this gentle nature walk introduces you to the plants and animals of a private ecological park just outside La Fortuna. You'll have the chance to spot tree frogs, caimans, monkeys, sloths, and a wide variety of birds as you follow your guide along groomed trails surrounded by secondary forest. Stop at botanical gardens, a butterfly garden, and a wetlands area that serves as a bird nesting site, then finish the experience with a visit to a Maleku cultural center to learn about Indigenous traditions and environmental practices.