Costa Rica | Road Scholar Trip Extension to the Sarapiquí Rainforest

After breakfast, depart for Selva Verde Lodge in the Caribbean lowlands of Sarapiquí, this private transfer is about 2 hours. Selva Verde Lodge is located in the lush lowlands of northeastern Costa Rica, on a very large, private tract of virgin tropical rainforest and rich second-growth habitats. It is adjacent to Braulio Carrillo National Park and the Organization for Tropical Studies' field station, La Selva. While at Selva Verde, guests may schedule an array of activities suited to every interest and ability, from relaxing in a hammock and absorbing the wonder of the forest, to rafting on the Sarapiquí, or hiking Selva Verde's rainforest trails with a resident naturalist. Beyond its roughly 500 acres of preserved rainforest, the lodge boasts a resident naturalist and local guides. You will have the rest of the day to explore the lodge on your own. This evening at 7PM join Selva Verde's naturalist guides for an exciting exploration of the rainforest at night! Bring your flashlight and search the grounds and surrounding trails for nocturnal wildlife - including tree frogs, leaf mimicking insects, and nocturnal mammals including kinkajous and bats!

This morning after breakfast you will join your guide to Experience first-hand the wonder of exploring a tropical rainforest. Enjoy a personalized and leisurely ramble through Selva Verde's 500 acre private reserve with our knowledgeable naturalist guides. Learn more than just the names of rainforest plants and animals - discover their secret lives and fascinating natural histories. Be on the lookout for monkeys, mot-mots, toucans, and poison dart frogs, and remember to bring your camera!

Early this morning, receive an introduction to the amazing tropical birds of Selva Verde during a short hike with your guide around the grounds of the lodge. The avifauna here is abundant, and feeding stations have been set up to facilitate observation and identification of the many species that frequent the area. Return to the lodge for breakfast, followed by chocolate tour. You will discover how cacao seeds are transformed into one the world's favorite foods - chocolate! Visit a historical cacao plantation and learn about the natural and cultural history of cacao plant. Native to Central America, cacao was cultivated by Mayan, Aztec, and other Central American cultures before European explorers introduced it to the rest of the world. You will have the rest of the day on your own to explore.

This morning, after one last Costa Rican breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight home. This transfer is 2 hours to the airport plus check in at the international airport is 3 hours prior to flight time so you would need to schedule an afternoon departure flight