From River to Jungle to Ocean in Costa Rica's Boutique Hotels

Depart from your hotel in San Jose this morning and head for Rio Pacuare by private transfer, listed as one of the world's top five rafting rivers. Bordered by lush vegetation and punctuated by waterfalls, the river winds its way through dense rainforest, which is home to myriad wildlife species. Adventure awaits you here and this is the ideal spot for thrill-seekers, with its fast-moving rapids (classified from III to IV), deep gorges, steep canyon walls and thundering cascades. There are also slower-moving areas of the river where you can see the rich local fauna, including tropical birds, jaguars, ocelots, monkeys, racoons, iguanas, sloths and toucans, as well as several kinds of snakes, frogs and butterflies. Once you’ve had your fill of the adrenaline-inducing rafting, explore the forest canopy by zip line, indulge in a hot stone massage or go hiking through the rainforest.

From one river to another, today you’ll leave Rio Pacuare and be privately transferred to Rio Sarapiqui. As another rafting hot spot, we’d advise testing out the rapids on arrival to see how they compare to Pacuare. Other activities on offer include hiking, kayaking, mountain-biking and wildlife watching. For a closer look at some of the resident wildlife, we can arrange a private nighttime observation walk along the trails surrounding your lodge with an expert naturalist. Most of Costa Rica’s amphibians, birds and reptiles are nocturnal, so heading out as dusk falls is the best way to encounter them.

Collect your hire car in Sarapiqui and drive three hours to Bijagua, heading south through the dense forestry of La Selva (with a pit stop in Arenal along the way). The drive is a scenic one and you’ll pass Poas Volcano and Juan Castro Blanco National Park, before heading west towards Arenal Volcano – one of the country’s geographical standouts. While in Arenal National Park, head up into the surrounding rainforest canopy on the Sky Tram – a series of platforms, cables and zip lines strung up among the treetops. Once you’ve appreciated (and photographed) the magnificent panoramic views of the volcano and lake from the viewing platform, speed back down on one of the zip lines through the forest. Continue on from Arenal past Miravalles and Tenorio Volcanoes to reach the sleepy town of Bijagua. Located in northern Costa Rica, Bijagua is the gateway to the turquoise-hued Rio Celeste and the ideal starting point for exploring Tenorio Volcano National Park and Rincon de la Vieja Volcano.

Even more rainforest exploration awaits today around Bijagua. Situated in the foothills of Tenorio Volcano lies the private reserve of Heliconia, offering spectacular views of the landscapes surrounding Bijagua and Lake Nicaragua. Head out on a private guided walk through the heart of the rainforest with an expert naturalist, crossing the three canopy suspension bridges and keeping your eyes peeled for monkeys, sloths, snakes, insects and toucans along the way. Tenorio Volcano National Park and the Rio Celeste are also worth a visit; the river is renowned for its surreal turquoise blue colour, due to minerals in the water that contrast with the intense green of the tropical vegetation. Or, as the legend goes, because God washed his brushes here after painting the sky blue.

Take one last good look at the volcanoes and then it's time to head to the Pacific Coast. You'll see some treasures during your drive, including the Rio Tempisque crossing and the sandy shores of the Colorado Gulf. Your destination, Nosara, is a hot-spot for surfing and yoga in Costa Rica. Situated on the Nicoya Peninsula, the village has maintained its chilled-out vibe and you can embrace the laid-back Pura Vida lifestyle with private yoga or surf lessons, before enjoying beachfront dinners and sundowner cocktails come evening. Kayaking or canoeing through the Nosara mangrove is another special activity and Nosara Biological Reserve is home to monkeys, crocodiles, coatis, wild cats and more than 270 species of birds. Along the way, make sure to stop off at the beautiful beach of Nosara, one of the world's largest sea turtle nesting sites.

The three-and-a-half-hour journey from Nosara to Isla Jesusita starts by heading north-east along Route 150 to the city of Nicoya and across a number of the region’s small towns. From there, continue south through the Nicoya Peninsula to arrive in Paquera and then travel a further ten minutes down to the small port of La Nicoyana, to catch a quick ferry to Isla Jesusita. Located adjacent to Isla Cedros, Isla Jesusita is home to the crystal waters of the Bahia de Paquera and boasts wild, lush and exotic landscapes. Your time here includes night kayaking to observe bioluminescent plankton, a surprising natural phenomenon where phytoplankton react with oxygen in the ocean currents and illuminates the water.