San Juan de Dios

Day Trips

Begin with a scenic drive into San Juan de Dios, taking in lush mountain vistas and roadside fruit stands. Check into a cozy eco-lodge run by a local family. Savor a freshly brewed Costa Rican coffee while meeting fellow travelers.

Join a guided walking tour of the village, learning about its history and traditional architecture. Stop at a family-run sodas stand for a lunch of gallo pinto and tropical fruit juice. Wander through the town plaza and chat with artisan vendors.

Gather for a welcome dinner featuring casado and homemade tortillas. Enjoy live marimba music under twinkling lights. Relax in a hammock and listen to nocturnal frogs serenading the night.

Visit a nearby shade-grown coffee farm to learn the bean-to-cup process. Participate in hand-picking ripe coffee cherries alongside local farmers. Roast your own batch under expert guidance.

Enjoy a farm-to-table lunch of grilled fish and plantains shaded by banana trees. Take a nature hike through coffee fields, spotting hummingbirds and toucans. Sample different roast profiles paired with dark chocolate.

Return to town for a barista-led tasting session of your freshly roasted coffee. Swap stories with fellow guests around a fire pit. Drift off to sleep to the sounds of chirping cicadas.

Gear up for an adrenaline-pumping white-water rafting trip on the Sarapiquí River. Navigate class II and III rapids under the supervision of an experienced guide. Spot monkeys and sloths perched in riverbank trees.

Refuel with a riverside picnic of fresh ceviche and tropical salad. Take a refreshing swim in a calm river eddy. Learn about local flora from your guide as you float downstream.

Return to the lodge for a soothing soak in natural hot springs. Share photos and highlights of the day’s adventure over a light dinner. Fall asleep to the gentle roar of the river.

Head to a canopy park for zip-lining high above the rainforest canopy. Feel the thrill as you glide past orchids and bromeliads. Pause on suspension bridges to hear howler monkeys calling.

Hike to a hidden waterfall and cool off with a swim in its crystal-clear pool. Enjoy a packed lunch on mossy rocks while birds dart overhead. Photograph the cascading water framed by ferns and vines.

Take a guided night walk to discover nocturnal wildlife like tree frogs and tarantulas. Learn about indigenous medicinal plants used by local healers. Return for a casual dinner of seasoned rice and papaya salsa.

Visit a family-run cacao farm to explore the origins of Costa Rican chocolate. Grind cacao beans by hand and create your own truffles. Learn ancestral recipes passed down through generations.

Share lunch with the cocoa farmers, featuring fresh garden produce. Participate in a traditional dance workshop taught by local elders. Craft a small souvenir basket using palm fronds and natural dyes.

Attend a storytelling circle where villagers recount myths about the rainforest. Taste homemade chocolate desserts paired with local rum. Drift to sleep to the lullaby of crickets.

Travel to La Selva Biological Station for a guided birdwatching excursion. Spot toucans, tanagers and motmots in their natural habitat. Learn about long-term research projects protecting amphibians.

Enjoy a cafeteria-style lunch inside the research station, mingling with visiting scientists. Explore canopy walkways to observe insects and orchids up close. Join a short lecture on rainforest conservation efforts.

Return to San Juan de Dios for a farm-style dinner of grilled chicken and yucca. Reflect on the day’s discoveries with fellow nature enthusiasts. Fall asleep under a mosquito net to the sounds of tree frogs.

Set out to a sprawling tropical fruit plantation showcasing pineapple, mango and guava. Taste fruits freshly picked from the tree. Learn sustainable farming techniques from the owners.

Enjoy a cooking demonstration turning local fruits into jams, ice creams and smoothies. Take part in planting new fruit saplings in the nursery. Explore adjacent cacao and coffee groves at your leisure.

Return home for a sunset yoga session on the lodge’s terrace. Savor a light dinner of tropical salad and lime-infused fish ceviche. Watch fireflies dance among banana trees.

Stroll through San Juan de Dios’s weekly artisan market vibrant with woven baskets and clay pottery. Chat with local craftsmen about their techniques and stories. Purchase unique souvenirs directly from makers.

Enjoy a street-food tour sampling empanadas, tamales and plantain chips. Join a pottery workshop shaping your own mug out of red clay. Try natural dyes for decorating fabric napkins.

Gather for a film screening of Costa Rican nature documentaries in the town hall. Discuss conservation themes with locals over popcorn and fruit smoothies. Return to the lodge for a restful night’s sleep.

Take a short drive to natural hot springs nestled in volcanic rock formations. Soak in mineral-rich pools while enjoying jungle views. Indulge in a volcanic mud bath for a rejuvenating skincare treat.

Enjoy a healthy lunch of grilled vegetables and quinoa salad at the springs’ café. Meander along shaded trails to discover hidden thermal springs. Try a forest massage using local essential oils.

Head back to town for a farewell dinner at a popular sodas restaurant. Savor signature dishes like arroz con pollo and fresh mango flan. Toast to your ten-day journey under a starlit sky.

Sleep in before enjoying a leisurely breakfast of tropical fruit platters and Costa Rican pastries. Pack and prepare for departure. Take a final stroll through the village to catch any last-minute photos.

Host a communal lunch featuring live cooking stations serving gallo pinto and grilled cheese empanadas. Exchange contact info with newfound friends and local hosts. Participate in a farewell dance session to cumbia and salsa rhythms.

Watch the sunset from a hilltop viewpoint overlooking the valley. Reflect on your immersive experiences with a cup of locally grown coffee. Depart with a heartfelt goodbye from your hosts and the promise to return.