Vacances au Costa Rica

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Local travel agency · Since 2014

A 15-Day Costa Rica Women's Tour, from the Caribbean Coast to the Pacific

Fifteen days among women, from coffee hills and Caribbean reefs to volcanic forests, turquoise rivers and a Pacific beach, with a private driver-guide to carry the logistics.

Women-only small group trip in Costa Rica

Upcoming departures

May 1 to 15, 2027

Places disponibles

  • Chambre Twin USD 3,004
  • Chambre Single USD 3,453

Departure confirmed from 6 participants, 8 maximum. Book by March 2, 2027.

Choose this departure

May 16 to 30, 2027

Places disponibles

  • Chambre Twin USD 3,004
  • Chambre Single USD 3,453

Departure confirmed from 6 participants, 8 maximum. Book by March 17, 2027.

Choose this departure

Prices per person, in US dollars, depending on the room type.

This Costa Rica women's tour brings together six travelers for fifteen days and fourteen nights across the country, from the Caribbean coast to the Pacific shore of Guanacaste. Your private driver-guide meets you at Juan Santamaría International Airport and stays with you on the road, so you can leave maps, schedules and traffic behind and simply enjoy the shared moments.

The route follows a natural thread. You begin with organic coffee in the green hills of Turrialba, then settle for four nights in Cahuita, where rescue centers, Cahuita National Park and a kayak trip on a jungle river reveal the rhythm of the Caribbean coast. Inland, family farms in Sarapiquí welcome you for palm heart, pineapple and sugarcane, before the remote waterways of Boca Tapada lead you to the Nicaraguan border.

The second half of this women's group trip climbs toward Arenal Volcano, with old lava flows, hanging bridges and an evening in hot springs, then reaches the blue waters of Río Celeste. You end with a rescue center near Cañas, a gentle float on the Río Corobicí and three nights at Playa Sámara, where a morning at sea in search of dolphins gives way to slow beach days.

Before you land, Vincent, who founded our agency in San Francisco de Heredia and has called Costa Rica home for more than forty years, sends you a welcome note on behalf of the whole team. Our team answers your questions in English before and during your stay.

Your itinerary

Day-by-day itinerary

Day 1

Arrival in Costa Rica and first evening in San José

Welcome to Costa Rica. As you step into the arrivals hall at Juan Santamaría International Airport, in the province of Alajuela, your private driver-guide is waiting with a sign bearing your name. Along with this welcome comes a note from Vincent, written on behalf of the agency: from now on, you can set aside your watch, your phone and the stress of everyday life, and let the team handle the details. A private transfer takes you to your hotel in San José. This first drive is a gentle introduction to the tropical air, the hills and the easygoing pace of the country. Your trip has begun the moment you arrive.

Modern white hotel building in San José with a green living wall, curved entrance canopy, and a red cow sculpture on the lawn
First-night stay in San José after landing at SJO airport on day one of the Costa Rica women's tour.
Day 2

Turrialba: organic coffee on the road to the Caribbean

After breakfast, you leave around 9:00 a.m. for the green region of Turrialba, where the scenery shifts from mountains to plantations and tropical valleys. Around 11:30 a.m., you visit a farm devoted to organic coffee, grown under international standards that guide each step of cultivation and processing, with close attention to quality and the environment. In the beneficio, the mill where freshly harvested beans are processed, you follow the journey from coffee cherry to beans ready for roasting and discover the know-how behind one of Costa Rica's signature products. The visit ends with a tasting, a chance to savor the aromas of a local cup, before you continue toward Cahuita on the Caribbean coast.

Coffee cherries drying in rows on a concrete floor inside a long plastic-covered greenhouse tunnel in Costa Rica
Freshly harvested coffee cherries are spread out to dry under a plastic tunnel, a step visitors can see during a coffee farm visit on the Costa Rica women's tour.
Day 3

Punta Cocles and Manzanillo: a day for wildlife conservation

You leave around 8:45 a.m. for a wildlife rescue center about 20 kilometers from Cahuita, with your visit set for 9:30 a.m. Deep in the rainforest, this private sanctuary cares for injured, sick or orphaned wild animals and, whenever possible, prepares them to return to the wild. You learn about the daily work of the teams and may see mammals, reptiles, butterflies and birds, with sloths and frogs often part of the encounter, depending on the day. In the afternoon, a second conservation project presents its programs for protection, breeding, reintroduction and habitat preservation. A guided walk through the surrounding forest follows, with a chance to spot birds, monkeys, sloths, frogs and reptiles.

Guide speaking to three visitors beside wire enclosures on a shaded rainforest path at a wildlife center in Costa Rica
A guide shares information with visitors next to wooden enclosures surrounded by lush tropical vegetation.
Day 4

Cahuita National Park: forest trails and Caribbean coves

Today belongs to Cahuita National Park, protected for both its rainforest and its coral reefs. The park is open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and the full trail between the Puerto Vargas and Cahuita entrances runs about 11 kilometers. You can walk it all, or enter at Cahuita, follow part of the path and return at your own pace. The trail winds through dense vegetation, sometimes just a few meters from the shore, with glimpses of turquoise water between palms and vines. Keep your eyes open for monkeys, iguanas, raccoons, coatis, sloths, basilisks and tropical birds. At Playa Blanca, pale sand meets shades of blue: time to swim, rest in the shade or enjoy a picnic to the sound of the waves.

Curved sandy beach lined with tropical forest and palm fronds at Cahuita National Park on Costa Rica's Caribbean coast
A quiet stretch of sand framed by jungle at Cahuita National Park, a day 4 stop on our Costa Rica women's tour.
Day 5

Cahuita: an organic farm and a river by kayak

At 9:00 a.m., you meet your local guide for a day of nature and genuine encounters. It begins at an organic farm, where you learn about tropical crops, local farming practices and the people who work this land with care. Then you settle into your kayak for a calm paddle downriver between green banks. The river acts as a natural corridor: howler monkeys, toucans, iguanas and many birds may appear, and your guide helps you spot the shyer residents while sharing knowledge of the plants and the ecosystem. Lunch is included today. In the late afternoon, you return to your hotel for free time by the pool and a quiet Caribbean evening.

Yellow kayak bow on a calm river lined with tropical rainforest near Cahuita, Costa Rica
A yellow kayak glides along a quiet jungle river near Cahuita on day 5 of this Costa Rica women's tour.
Day 6

Sarapiquí: palm hearts, pineapples and red-eyed tree frogs

You leave around 8:30 a.m. for Horquetas de Sarapiquí, a rural region known for family farming. Around 11:30 a.m., the owner of a small family farm shows you how palm hearts, or palmito, are grown, and how mature palms produce pejibaye, a fruit loved in Costa Rican cooking. After tasting fresh palm heart, you sit down at the family soda for lunch, where dishes may include palmito ceviche, lasagna, bread, chorreada or picadillo. Next comes an organic pineapple and sugarcane farm, where you follow the crop from planting to harvest, plant a young pineapple yourself and enjoy a tasting. From 6:00 p.m., a guided walk goes in search of the red-eyed tree frog.

Smiling woman in a white cap carrying a bundle of freshly cut sugarcane on her shoulder among tropical plants in Sarapiquí
A local woman shows freshly cut sugarcane during a farm visit in Sarapiquí, a highlight of this Costa Rica women's tour.
Day 7

Sarapiquí River rafting, then on to Boca Tapada

After breakfast, you head to an adventure center on the Sarapiquí River, arriving no later than 9:15 a.m. The half-day rafting run, with class II and III rapids, balances excitement with calmer stretches to admire the forested banks, led by a professional guide who gives a full safety briefing. If you prefer a gentler morning, you can choose a safari float of about two and a half hours instead, in a non-motorized raft or a motorboat, ideal for watching birds, monkeys and reptiles. Back at the center, a traditional Costa Rican lunch is served. You then discover the world of leaf-cutter ants before driving to the wild, remote region of Boca Tapada.

Group in yellow helmets and red life jackets paddling a blue raft through whitewater rapids in Costa Rica
Rafters paddle together through foaming rapids on a river in the Sarapiquí region.
Day 8

Boca Tapada: by boat to the Río San Juan

After breakfast, you board a boat right from your lodging and travel to the mouth of the Río San Carlos, where it meets the Río San Juan, the natural border between Costa Rica and Nicaragua. The ride is quiet, the forest dense on both sides. Herons, ibises, egrets and kingfishers line the banks, and with some luck you may see caimans, iguanas, turtles and frogs, while your guide explains how water, forest and wildlife are bound together. Later, a guided hike leads you into the rainforest of the reserve, a good place to look for howler, spider and capuchin monkeys. Your guide reads each layer of the forest, from the canopy down to the leaf litter.

Blue wooden boat with a canopy and orange life jackets moored on a brown river bank lined with tropical trees
A covered blue boat waits on the riverbank, ready for a river excursion near Boca Tapada.
Day 9

Arenal Volcano: a waterfall and an evening in hot springs

You drive through the green landscapes of San Carlos toward La Fortuna, as the near-perfect cone of Arenal, about 1,600 meters high, rises on the horizon. Its sudden eruption on July 29, 1968 opened a long period of activity; today it is far calmer and closely monitored. Near La Fortuna, a staircase of about 530 steps, roughly 15 to 20 minutes down, leads to a waterfall more than 70 meters high that drops into a natural pool. When conditions allow, you can swim, then watch for butterflies, birds and perhaps monkeys. The afternoon is spent at a hot springs complex fed by volcanic heat, followed by an included buffet dinner at 7:00 p.m.

Hikers descend stone steps with wooden railings through rainforest toward a tall waterfall in Costa Rica
Hikers head down a stone staircase through dense rainforest, with a tall waterfall visible in the distance.
Day 10

Arenal Volcano National Park and the hanging bridges

At around 8:30 a.m., you set off on a walk of about 90 minutes to two hours in Arenal Volcano National Park. Most of the trail is easy and nearly flat, while a stretch of 200 to 300 meters crosses uneven rocks from old lava flows. From the top, the view opens onto the volcano and the 1992 lava fields. Along the way stands a ceiba tree more than 400 years old, and the forest shows how life has reclaimed volcanic ground. Your entrance fee supports Costa Rica's national system of protected areas. In the afternoon, you spend about two hours on 3 kilometers of trails with 8 fixed and 6 hanging bridges, between 48 and 98 meters long, high above the canopy.

Arenal Volcano cone under blue sky behind the black Parque Nacional Volcán Arenal entrance sign with a coati silhouette
The cone of Arenal Volcano rises behind the national park sign, a stop on day 10 of our Costa Rica women's tour.
Day 11

Río Celeste hike in Tenorio Volcano National Park

You leave around 7:30 a.m. for Tenorio Volcano National Park, in the Guanacaste volcanic range, arriving between 10:00 and 10:30 a.m. A hike of about three hours takes you through lush forest of ferns, vines and tall trees, home to many birds and amphibians. The sound of water grows until you reach the 253 steps that lead down, and back up, to the Río Celeste waterfall and its turquoise pool. The color has a natural explanation: mineral particles in the water change the way light scatters, an effect that becomes visible at El Teñidero, where the river takes on its famous blue. After dark, a guided night walk reveals frogs, insects, reptiles and spiders by flashlight.

Río Celeste waterfall pouring into a turquoise pool, seen from wooden stairs in the forest of Tenorio Volcano National Park
The Río Celeste waterfall drops into its turquoise pool, reached by a winding staircase through the rainforest.
Day 12

Cañas and the Río Corobicí, then the Pacific coast

At around 7:30 a.m., you drive across the plains and pastures of northwestern Costa Rica to Cañas, in Guanacaste. There you visit a rescue center that cares for wild animals unable to return to nature, including pumas, jaguars, ocelots and several monkey species. Founded through the work of Lilly and Werner Hagnauer, it has been supported since 2003 by a foundation funded by visits, donations and sponsors. At 11:30 a.m., you board a boat on the Río Corobicí for a calm float of about an hour and a half, watching for large American crocodiles and many birds amid tropical dry forest, very different from the humid forests of earlier days. After lunch, you continue to Playa Sámara.

Close-up of a puma with amber eyes and open mouth against a blurred green forest background in Costa Rica
A puma looks on attentively at a wildlife rescue center near Cañas, a stop on this Costa Rica women's tour.
Day 13

Playa Sámara: dolphins at sea and a free afternoon

Around 8:00 a.m., you are picked up at your hotel reception for a shared boat trip off Playa Sámara. Out on the Pacific, you search for dolphins and, depending on the season, the weather and the animals themselves, humpback whales that often visit this stretch of coast. Viewing is done with respect for the animals and their habitat, against a backdrop of the Guanacaste shoreline. You are back around noon, with the afternoon free to rest on the beach, walk along the shore or swim. As an option not included in the package, you can join an evening outing at 6:30 p.m. to a nearby sea turtle refuge, mainly from July to January, to watch for nesting turtles.

Two dolphins swimming side by side at the surface of blue ocean water off Sámara, Costa Rica
A pair of dolphins breaks the surface of the Pacific during a boat excursion from Playa Sámara.
Day 14

Playa Sámara: a full day at your own pace

Today has no set program, a deliberate pause after two weeks of discovery. Breakfast at your hotel opens a slow day on the Pacific coast of Guanacaste. You might spend the morning on the sand of Playa Sámara, take a long walk along the curve of the bay, swim in the warm waters of the Pacific, or simply enjoy the shade and the company of your travel companions. It is also a good moment to look back on the road traveled, from the Caribbean reefs to the volcanoes and turquoise rivers, and to savor the easygoing atmosphere of this beach town before heading home.

Day 15

Departure from Costa Rica

After breakfast, your private driver picks you up at your hotel reception, depending on the airport of your return flight: about 4 hours 30 minutes to Juan Santamaría International Airport in San José, or about 2 hours to Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport in Liberia. Departure is timed so that you reach the airport at least three hours before takeoff. If your flight schedule allows, a short visit to San José or Liberia may be possible, with its parks, museums and streets; any entrance fees are not included. After forests, volcanoes, rivers and beaches, it is time to head home. ¡Pura vida, and we hope to welcome you back to Costa Rica one day.

Where you will stay

San José · 1 night

A city hotel in San José for your first night, with an executive room furnished with two beds, convenient for resting after your flight before heading east.

Cahuita · 4 nights

A hotel on the Caribbean coast near Cahuita, with superior rooms and a swimming pool, a relaxed base for four nights between rainforest, beaches and wildlife outings.

Sarapiquí · 1 night

Family-style cabins in the rural Sarapiquí region, surrounded by tropical greenery and close to the farms and forest trails visited during the day.

Boca Tapada · 2 nights

A nature lodge with bungalows in the remote Boca Tapada area, set by the river among the rainforest, from where the boat trip departs directly.

Volcán Arenal · 2 nights

A hotel near La Fortuna with junior suites, in the green surroundings of Arenal Volcano, well placed for the national park, the hanging bridges and the hot springs.

Volcán Tenorio and Río Celeste · 1 night

Bungalows in the forest near Tenorio Volcano National Park, a quiet setting close to the Río Celeste trail and ideal for the guided night walk.

Playa Sámara · 3 nights

A beach hotel at Playa Sámara on the Pacific coast of Guanacaste, with standard rooms, a calm place to end the trip close to the sea.

What the package includes

Included

  • Private transfer from the airport to your hotel
  • Nights in the hotels listed, or similar if unavailable before final booking
  • Breakfast every day of the tour
  • Lunches mentioned in the program *
  • Dinners mentioned in the program *
  • The tour with a private driver-guide **
  • The vehicle with all relevant insurance
  • National park entrance fees listed as included in the program
  • Activities and visits listed as included in the program
  • Private transfer to the airport on departure day
  • The 13% hotel tax
  • The 13% tax on tourist activities
  • Our assistance in English throughout your stay

* Meals include a main course and one non-alcoholic drink

** Included: road costs (the driver’s meals and lodging), the guide’s entrance fees to national parks and to all activities booked in advance (with some exceptions such as horseback rides, boat trips, flights and rafting, depending on the operator), insurance, fuel, parking, ferry (vehicle fee) and tolls

Not included

  • International flights to Costa Rica
  • Drinks outside meals and alcoholic drinks
  • National park entrance fees listed as optional in the program
  • Activities and visits listed as optional in the program
  • Extensions, variations and suggestions
  • Personal expenses and tips
  • Travel or repatriation insurance
  • Any other service

Optional activities

  • Night sea turtle watching tour: USD 45, payable on site

Who this trip is for

This Costa Rica tour for women suits travelers who enjoy nature, wildlife and genuine encounters, and who like sharing the experience with a small group of six. You should be comfortable walking for a few hours on forest trails, climbing staircases of several hundred steps and spending time on the water by kayak or boat; for those who prefer a gentler morning, rafting can be replaced by a calm safari float. The pace alternates between active days and free time on the beach or by the pool, and rooms can be shared in twin configuration or booked as singles. If you are looking for a women-only trip to Costa Rica where a private driver-guide takes care of the road and the timing, this itinerary will feel like a well-paced journey rather than a race between sights.

Would you rather travel in a mixed group, as a couple or with friends? The same itinerary exists as a small group tour, with its own departure dates.

Discover the small group tour

Frequently asked questions

How many travelers join this Costa Rica women's tour?

The trip is designed for a group of six women, accommodated either in three twin rooms or in six single rooms. A private driver-guide accompanies the group throughout the itinerary.

What is included in the package?

The package includes private airport transfers on arrival and departure, 14 nights of accommodation, daily breakfast, the lunches and dinner mentioned in the program (main course and one non-alcoholic drink), the private driver-guide, national park entrances and activities marked as included, and the 13% hotel and activity taxes. International flights, alcoholic drinks, tips, travel insurance and optional activities are not included.

How fit do I need to be?

A moderate level of fitness is enough. Some days involve walking for two to three hours, about 530 steps at the waterfall near La Fortuna, 253 steps at Río Celeste and a short rocky section on old lava flows at Arenal. In Cahuita National Park, you can walk part of the trail and turn back, and the Sarapiquí rafting can be replaced by a calm safari float.

Can I see sea turtles during the trip?

Turtle watching is offered as an option, not included in the package, on the evening of day 13 at Playa Sámara. It takes place at a nearby sea turtle refuge, mainly from July to January and sometimes into early February, and sightings depend on nature. It is booked with the same company that runs the dolphin boat trip.

In which language can I communicate with the agency?

Our team plans trips in English, French, Spanish and German and answers your questions in English before and during your stay. Ask us when you request a quote if you would like details on the languages spoken by local guides for specific activities.

From the coffee hills of Turrialba to the waves of Playa Sámara, this Costa Rica women's tour lets you discover the country through its forests, its rivers and the people who protect them, in the company of a small group of women and a private driver-guide. Each stage has been chosen to balance discovery and rest, so that you return home with the feeling of having truly traveled together. If this women's group trip speaks to you, our team in San Francisco de Heredia will be glad to answer your questions and prepare a quote for your dates.

Request this tour

Tell us your dates and who is traveling: we will reply with a personalized quote for “Évasion Féminine: Women-Only Small Group Tour”.

A personal reply within 48 business hours, with no obligation, from a travel consultant based in Costa Rica.