Start your adventure at San José Airport, where a private Flash Pack transfer will be waiting to transport you to your upscale downtown hotel
Get to know your group over a welcome drink and traditional Costa Rican dinner: think black bean soup, fresh ceviche and plantain washed down with a glass of guaro
Day 2
Orchid & insect photography
Settle in for a scenic journey into the Monteverde hills, an area of high elevation known for its rare cloud forest ecosystem and incredible biodiversity
Stop at a local small-holding for a hands-on cheese-making experience: milking the cows, bottle feeding the calves and learning the art of tortilla-making
Take a night walk with a biologist, who will show you how to use your smartphone to take incredible macro photos of orchids, insects and sleeping birds
Trip highlight
Day 3
Bird spotting in the clouds
Explore the Lord of the Rings landscape of Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve; keep your eyes peeled for the rare resplendent quetzal – a bird sacred to the Maya
Get your adrenaline flowing with an optional high-speed zipline tour over the jungle canopy, experiencing the cloud forest from an aerial perspective
Day 4
Coffee & gold
Spend the morning on a coffee plantation for a bean to brew experience; mix your very own bag of light, medium or dark roasted beans to create your perfect blend
Visit a private artisanal gold mine where you’ll be invited to see the hand-dug tunnels, grind the glittering gravel and try your hand at panning – no other tourists in sight
Trip highlight
Day 5
Rainforest flavours
Head west to the Pacific Coast where the beautiful beach town of Manuel Antonio awaits, encompassing rugged rainforest, white-sand beaches and coral reefs
Stop by a family-run spice farm filled with tropical fruits, medicinal plants and flowering trees and enjoy a delicious spice-infused lunch cooked over a wood-fired stove
Check in at your idyllic abode where you’ll be spending the next few nights, soaking up the stunning sunsets and relaxing into beach life
Day 6
Exotic wildlife encounters
Learn about Manuel Antonio National Park with an expert local guide; the park is renowned for its vast diversity of tropical plants and wildlife
Search for exotic animals, including endangered white-faced capuchin monkeys, three-toed sloths and hundreds of species of bird
Enjoy a free afternoon to hang out on the picture-perfect beaches, snorkelling the offshore reefs and hiking to Cathedral Point for panoramic views
Day 7
Sail the Pacific
Set sail on a catamaran for a full day of coastal exploration, island hopping to secret coves and hard-to-reach beaches
Snorkel on the thriving coral reefs off the Manuel Antonio coast; keep your eyes peeled for dolphins, turtles and even migrating whales
Gather with your group for a farewell dinner in a rainforest-fringed restaurant, raising a toast to the incredible adventures you’ve shared
Trip highlight
Day 8
Farewell, Costa Rica
Departure
Take a group Flash Pack transfer back to San José Airport where you’ll bid farewell to your fellow Flashpackers – now firm friends (just remember to book a flight departing after 2pm)
Arrive home feeling calm and recharged after your Costa Rican adventure; you’ve been immersed in nature and experienced local life that most visitors never see
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