Rainforest romance from the Pacuare to the wild Pacific

Pacuare to Osa

When to go

November-August

Trip length

12 days / 11 nights

Typical investmentPrice

from $9,350 pp

A weathered piece of driftwood rests on the empty white sand of a palm-fringed cove, turquoise water lapping at the shore.

An open-air jungle lodge suite with a thatched roof and private plunge pool sits beside a swinging suspension bridge deep in the rainforest.

A three-toed sloth hangs from a branch in the rainforest canopy, peering down through broad green leaves.

A private plunge pool terrace overlooks the ocean through lush tropical palms, set with a table and fresh tropical flowers.

Snorkelers float above a coral reef in brilliant turquoise water near an anchored boat, seen from above.

An aerial view captures a crescent of white sand tucked between rainforest headlands and clear turquoise water.

A hiker walks a shaded jungle path as shafts of morning sunlight break through the rainforest canopy overhead.

Layers of rainforest canopy rise through drifting mist as golden sunrise light filters across the hills.

A family of small orange-and-white squirrel monkeys clings to branches in the rainforest canopy.

Two scarlet macaws fly wingtip to wingtip above the blue Pacific coastline, their red, yellow, and blue plumage catching the light.

Venture into Costa Rica’s wild heart on a romantic escape from the Pacuare River to Manuel Antonio and the Osa Peninsula. Begin with whitewater rafting through rainforest gorges before retreating to your luxurious lodge and private plunge pool. Enjoy birdwatching, treetop dining, and a Cabécar cultural visit, then continue to the coast for Pacific sunsets, national park wildlife, and a Caño Island snorkeling excursion. Conclude your journey deep in the Osa, rappelling jungle waterfalls, exploring forest trails by day and after dark, and dining on a private canopy platform. Twelve days of adventure and indulgence, where rainforest meets the sea.

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Along the way

Trip highlights

An aerial view shows a secluded villa with a green metal roof and private pool perched above the ocean amid dense rainforest.

Sleep in style: remote lodges, private plunge pools & sweeping views

A sea turtle glides through clear blue water beneath snorkelers exploring the reef above.

Snorkel the crystalline waters of Caño Island, where coral gardens glow and rays glide through the deep

An aerial view over swaying palm trees reveals a rocky, forested cove where turquoise water meets a curving white-sand beach.

Beach time on wild, virgin beaches

A multi-tiered jungle waterfall cascades over mossy rock into a turquoise pool ringed by dense rainforest.

Rappel jungle waterfalls and hike rainforest trails alive with monkeys, macaws, and rare orchids

Your route

Day by day

Downriver to the edge of the wild

Pacuare

Day 1: Whitewater rafting in the rainforest

Start your day with an adrenaline-inducing whitewater rafting ride along the rapids of the Pacuare River. Check into your luxurious suite at your rainforest lodge and spend the afternoon relaxing beside your private plunge pool.

Day 2: Birdwatching, Cabécar culture & lunch in the treetops

Take advantage of the early morning hours with a guided nature walk, watching for hummingbirds and butterflies as the jungle comes alive. Enjoy lunch with a bird’s-eye view in “The Nest,” then hike to meet a member of the Cabécar community and learn about their culture and customs.

Day 3: Canyon adventures & a riverside farewell

Spend another full day at your rainforest lodge, choosing between a jungle canyon rappel and a lighter stretch of river with your guide. This evening, enjoy a farewell dinner on the riverside deck before tomorrow’s journey to the coast.

Rafters navigate turquoise rapids in inflatable boats through a steep, jungle-lined canyon on a Costa Rican whitewater river.

Cliffside romance above the Pacific

Manuel Antonio

Day 4: The beach is calling

Trade rainforest for coastline today with a ride to blissful Manuel Antonio for sun and sand. Check into your luxurious pool villa at your coastal retreat and catch the first of many beautiful Pacific sunsets.

Day 5: Wildlife wonders in Manuel Antonio

Explore Manuel Antonio National Park with your private naturalist guide, watching for sloths, monkeys, and birds along tropical trails. Then, enjoy time on the park’s beautiful beaches, where turquoise waters meet white sand fringed by jungle.

Day 6: Caño Island beneath the waves

Board your boat for Caño Island, then don a snorkel to explore cobalt-colored water and schools of tropical fish. Watch for sea turtles and rays as you discover the undersea landscape before returning to your coastal retreat.

Day 7: Poolside indulgence & a Pacific sunset

Spend your final day in Manuel Antonio as you wish, whether beside your private plunge pool or on the beach. Perhaps book a couples treatment before enjoying a sunset dinner overlooking the water.

A woman sunbathes on a quiet stretch of beach where gentle waves meet the sand beneath a wall of dense rainforest.

Untamed beauty and rainforest immersion

Osa Peninsula

Day 8: Into the wilds of the Osa Peninsula

After breakfast, set off for Cabo Matapalo on the southern side of the Osa Peninsula. Check into your rainforest lodge and spend the afternoon beside your private plunge pool, watching for monkeys and toucans in the trees overhead.

Day 9: Rappel jungle waterfalls

Take your rainforest experience to the next level with a waterfall rappel in the heart of the jungle. Follow your guides into the forest for an adventure among cascading water and lush green surroundings.

Day 10: Rainforest trails by day & after dark

Rise early for a private guided hike along the lodge’s forest trails, searching for sloths, scarlet macaws, and orchids. Later, when twilight falls, explore the jungle after dark in search of moths, frogs, bats, and other wildlife that wakes when the sun goes down.

Day 11: A day in the wilds & dinner in the canopy

Spend your last full day in the Osa as you wish. Perhaps arrange surfing, watch for birds, hike rainforest trails, or walk the beach hand in hand. This evening, ascend to a private canopy platform for a treetop dinner and stargazing when skies allow. A beautiful finale in Costa Rica’s wild heart.

Day 12: Farewell to the rainforest

After breakfast, transfer to Puerto Jiménez airport for your flight to San José and onward travels. Bid farewell to river adventures, Pacific shores, and the beautiful Osa rainforest.

A trail of large paw prints leads across damp, empty sand toward the tideline of a remote Pacific beach.

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Our top picks

Where to stay

Nayara Tented Camp

Nayara Tented Camp overlooks the rainforest with elevated platforms and sweeping views of Arenal Volcano. Spacious tents feature private pools and quiet decks washed in birdsong. Highlights are excellent onsite dining & the award-winning spa.

Arenas del Mar

Arenas del Mar occupies one of the few rainforest properties in Manuel Antonio with direct access to two beaches. Rooms are set among the trees where monkeys, sloths, and scarlet macaws are regular visitors. Trails link the accommodations to the shoreline, allowing guests to alternate between the forest and the Pacific.

Lapa Rios

Lapa Rios sits high above the Golfo Dulce with open-air bungalows overlooking one of Costa Rica's richest stretches of rainforest. Scarlet macaws, monkeys, and coatis are seen almost daily around the reserve. Guided walks begin from the lodge, while quiet beaches are only a short drive away.

El Silencio Lodge

El Silencio Lodge occupies a cool cloud forest valley where waterfalls, hummingbirds, and mist are part of the daily landscape. Spacious suites look across gardens and forested hillsides, with oversized decks that invite slow mornings. Walking trails begin on the property and lead to streams, waterfalls, and hidden corners of the reserve.

Gaia Hotel & Reserve

Perched above Manuel Antonio, Gaia is an adults-only retreat overlooking the Pacific from its own private nature reserve. Suites and villas step down the hillside, with regular sightings of monkeys, toucans, and sloths despite being only a few minutes from town. The beach and national park are reached by complimentary shuttle.

El Remanso Lodge

Primary rainforest covers 185 private acres at El Remanso near the tip of the Osa Peninsula. Rooms and villas are linked by forest trails where monkeys, scarlet macaws, tapirs, and countless bird species are regularly spotted. Corcovado National Park lies nearby, placing guests within one of the most biologically diverse regions on Earth.

Kurà

Only eight suites occupy the rainforest hillside at Kurà, high above Uvita and the Marino Ballena coastline. As part of the Cayuga Collection, the adults-only hotel combines tropical minimalism with the highly personalized service for which the collection is known. Every suite faces the Pacific, with uninterrupted views toward the Whale's Tail sandbar and the Osa Peninsula.

Vista Celestial

Vista Celestial is a collection of private ocean-view villas overlooking Uvita, each with generous indoor-outdoor living spaces, a private infinity pool, and wide views across the Pacific. Operated by the same owners as nearby Rancho Pacifico, it delivers the same attentive hospitality in a format that works equally well for couples, families, and friends traveling together.

Rancho Pacífico

Hidden in the rainforest above Uvita, Rancho Pacífico is the adults-only sister property to Vista Celestial. A small collection of suites and private villas overlooks the Pacific and the Whale's Tail far below, while highly personalized service has earned the hotel one of Costa Rica's most loyal repeat followings.

Pacuare Lodge

Pacuare Lodge is Boena's flagship property, hidden along the banks of the Pacuare River within a protected rainforest reserve. Most guests arrive by whitewater raft, following one of Costa Rica's most celebrated rivers to a 20-suite lodge surrounded by primary rainforest. Costa Rican-owned and operated, Pacuare has helped shape the country's reputation for conservation-minded luxury travel.

Makanda by the Sea

Hidden within the rainforest above Manuel Antonio, Makanda by the Sea is an adults-only retreat where contemporary villas and suites are scattered across a steep jungle hillside. Elevated walkways connect the accommodations with infinity pools and a secluded cove below, while monkeys, sloths, and toucans are frequent visitors. It's an ideal place for honeymooners and couples.

Finca Rosa Blanca

Built on a 30-acre organic coffee farm in Costa Rica's Central Valley, Finca Rosa Blanca combines distinctive architecture with one of the country's best boutique coffee experiences. Fourteen individually designed suites overlook gardens, plantations, and surrounding mountains, while coffee tours and farm-to-table dining are central to the stay. SJO is less than 30 minutes away, but many guests come here for far more than a convenient overnight.

Copa de Árbol Beach & Rainforest Resort

Only a handful of cabins share the shoreline at Copa de Árbol, where rainforest meets the Pacific near Drake Bay. Guests arrive by boat before exploring Corcovado National Park, Caño Island, and the surrounding coastline with experienced local guides. Scarlet macaws, monkeys, dolphins, and whales are all regular sightings, depending on the season.

Corcovado Wilderness Lodge

A 189-acre private reserve surrounds Corcovado Wilderness Lodge, where rainforest stretches almost uninterrupted from the mountains to the Pacific. Guests arrive primarily by boat before exploring Corcovado National Park, Caño Island, and the surrounding coastline with experienced naturalist guides. Wildlife is the reason most people make the journey.

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Pacuare to Osa

Trip highlights