Visit to Maleku Indigenous Reserve, 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. You'll also learn about the history of chocolate production in Costa Rica. In many ancient Mesoamerican cultures, the cacao tree was considered extremely important. Your bilingual guide will explain how chocolate was once consumed as a ceremonial drink and show you how to make a traditional Costa Rican drink that dates back centuries.

You'll have the opportunity to visit an organic coffee plantation located in the village of Naranjo, Costa Rica. This small family-run farm uses sustainable and eco-friendly cultivation methods to produce 100% organic coffee beans. You'll learn about the traditional Costa Rican methods used to cultivate coffee and participate in every step of the process, from harvesting to roasting and grinding. At the end of the tour, you'll get to savor a hot cup of freshly ground coffee along with a light snack. Many visitors have claimed that this is the best cup of coffee they've ever tasted, thanks to their newfound appreciation for the time and care that goes into producing the perfect cup of coffee.

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. 

A bilingual guide will lead you on a nature walk through the Ecological Park & Butterfly Garden Danaus on this half-day tour. You'll have the chance to spot tree frogs, caimans, monkeys, sloths, and a wide variety of birds as you follow your guide on a nature trail. Stop at botanical gardens, a butterfly garden, and a wetlands area that serves as a bird nesting site. Finish the tour with a visit to a Maleku cultural center to learn about Indigenous traditions and environmental practices.

This evening tour offers a combination of nature and Costa Rican cuisine. Armed with flashlights, you'll follow your guide along a short trail, looking for nocturnal wildlife, including frogs, insects, bats, and more. One highlight along the walk is a visit to a frog sanctuary, where your guide will point out dart frogs and bullfrogs. You're also likely to see red-eyed tree frogs and little glass tree frogs. After the hike, you'll sit down for a traditional Costa Rican dinner prepared on a wood-burning stove.