Fire & Rhythm
Six days from the volcano's backcountry to the slow, sun-warm soul of the Caribbean — adventure first, then the other coast to let it all go.
The journey
Two halves of one country that couldn't feel less alike. First the volcano: hidden waterfalls, hot springs, a gourmet dinner cooked just for you. Then the long drive east to the Caribbean — a different rhythm entirely, where the reef meets the jungle, the food turns to coconut and spice, and the days slow right down. You earn the beach, then you have it. Airport to airport, every mile of it handled.
The ground you'll cross
Region to region, one unbroken line.
Each marker is a region you'll wake up in; the dotted line is the route that strings them together — every boat, flight and road transfer between handled for you.
- San José
- Arenal
- Puerto Viejo
The journey, day by day
Six days, handled.
- Day 01
Into volcano country
We meet you at the airport and head north into the Arenal valley, the cone rising ahead of you. Settle in, ease into the hot springs as the light goes, and gather for a welcome dinner. The trip starts the moment you land.
- Day 02
Off the grid, then the chef's table
A hike to off-the-map waterfalls only locals know, with a local guide reading the forest the whole way — the birds before you see them, the wildlife you'd have walked right past. Then, in the evening, the chef's table: a private gourmet dinner from a self-made local cook who built his whole life around making it.
- Day 03
East to the other coast
The scenic crossing to the Caribbean — a stop along the way to break it — the land and the air and the music all changing as you go. By afternoon you're on the southern coast, where the road runs along the sand and the pace drops by half. First sunset, Caribbean-style.
- Day 04
Reef, jungle, cacao
The Caribbean's whole different feel — snorkel the coral off Cahuita, find the sloths in the trees, and head into the jungle for a Bribri cacao afternoon, tree-to-bar with the community that's grown it for generations. Coconut, spice, and warm water.
- Day 05
Slow
A beach day, and nothing more — swim the reef, ride the sand, a long lunch, the kind of nothing you came for. The Caribbean does slow better than anywhere.
- Day 06
Out
A last morning by the water, then the drive back to the airport and home. The fire and the rhythm both behind you.
Yours to shape. Prefer the wild canals of Tortuguero to the beach, or more days on the volcano? Every journey is built around you.
What’s included
- Airport pickup and drop-off
- All transfers
- Five nights' lodging across both regions, in your chosen style
- The Arenal experiences and the chef's table above
- The Caribbean reef and cacao days
- Private guide and transport throughout
- Hot springs
- All park and reserve fees
- Daily breakfast
Not included
- International flights
- Most lunches and dinners
- Gratuities
- Travel insurance
The essentials
What you can count on, before a word is exchanged.
Airport to airport
Six days, five nights. Arrive and depart from whichever airports suit you — San José, Liberia, or one of each. We meet you and return you to the airport, and every transfer between is ours to handle. San José is the natural base for an Arenal-and-southern-Caribbean journey; Liberia is offered but a longer haul to the coast, and the difference is absorbed into your proposal.
Private
The journey is yours and your party's alone.
Where you stay
Entirely your choice across both regions, from relaxed and characterful to the most exclusive addresses on the coast. We build the journey around the comfort you want.
Pricing
Each journey is composed individually — priced on enquiry, never from a fixed list. Tell us who's travelling and how you like to stay, and we prepare a proposal made for you.
Season
Wonderful year-round; the southern Caribbean is often at its sunniest in the months others call the green season.
Plan this journey
Tell us who’s travelling and how you like to stay. We build the rest.
Priced on enquiry — composed for your party, never from a fixed list. We reply personally, usually within a day.