DAY 1 | THE ADVENTURE BEGINS, WELCOME TO COSTA RICA

Upon arrival in San José, you will be greeted with a private airport transfer to our hotel, where you can check in and settle after your journey. In the evening, we will enjoy our first dinner together and get ready for the adventure ahead.

Meals included: Dinner

DAY 2 | OFF TO PUERTO VIEJO & BEACHFRONT RESTAURANTS

After breakfast, we will set off on a scenic four‑hour drive to Puerto Viejo, our home for the next week. As we arrive, you will begin to settle into the slower pace of life and get your first taste of Pura Vida. We will enjoy lunch before checking into the hotel and unpacking. Keep your eyes open–you never know who might show up! Sloths slowly making their way through the trees, curious monkeys swinging by, and colorful birds exploring the gardens. Our hosts for this week, Karilily and Joel, intentionally plant greenery and fruit trees to support these local visitors, so wildlife is always just around the corner. Take the afternoon to unwind and enjoy the beach across the street and. Dinner tonight is at a beachfront Caribbean restaurant.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

DAY 3 | WOMAN-OWNED WALKING TOUR + A JAGUAR RESCUE CENTER

If you are an early riser, don’t miss the sunrise over the Caribbean—a moment you will want to experience at least once this week. After breakfast on day 3, we will head to the city center of Puerto Viejo for a cultural tour with a local, woman-owned company. You will learn about the town’s history, its unique Caribbean heritage, and visit sites that reflect its rich cultural history.

After lunch, we’ll visit the Jaguar Rescue Center, a sanctuary dedicated to caring for injured, orphaned, and mistreated wildlife. Here you will hear the stories behind the center and its residents — from sloths and monkeys to birds and reptiles—and learn about the important work involved in rehabilitating and releasing animals back into protected forests (and why there are no Jaguars despite the name). After our visit, we will take a short walk back to the hotel, where we will enjoy dinner together and unwind after a full day of discovery.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 4 | MEDICINAL PLANTS + WATERFALLS

After breakfast on day 4, we will set out to visit a woman healer in the foothills of the Talamanca region, where the Bribri people have lived in harmony with the land for generations.

She will welcome us into her rustic home, where life moves slowly and simply, without running water or electricity. Here, you will learn about the powerful medicinal plants she grows and uses, exploring her garden and hearing how each plant supports health. She will prepare lunch for us, then show us how cacao is made from fresh beans.

In the afternoon, we will take a short hike to a nearby waterfall, where we can enjoy a refreshing swim in the cool, clear waters. After our visit, we will head back to the hotel to relax and unwind, looking forward to another delicious dinner. If the sky is clear, be sure to step outside and enjoy the stars above this peaceful corner of the Caribbean.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 5 | WHITE SAND BEACHES AND CARIBBEAN COOKING CLASS

After breakfast, we’ll take a short bike ride or tuktuk to two of the world’s most beautiful beaches–Punta Uva and Arrecife, known for their white sand, calm turquoise water, and peaceful, unspoiled charm, consistently ranked among the top beaches on the planet. Here, you will have time to soak up the sun, swim, relax, and enjoy a slower Caribbean morning by the sea.

We will head back to the hotel for lunch, then prepare for our cooking class with a local home chef, focusing on nourishing vegan foods. After a tour of her garden, we will learn how to make coconut milk from scratch, then work together to prepare a delicious traditional Caribbean dish, which we will then enjoy together. After a full day of sun, cooking, and exploration, we will return to the hotel to relax and unwind, enjoying another evening listening to the sounds of the jungle.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

DAY 7: CACAO FOREST AND COFFEE

Today we visit a chocolate shop, and cacao forest tour right near the beach in Puerto Viejo. Here, a guided walk through the cacao forest will introduce us to the history and cultivation of cacao, from how the trees are grown and harvested to how beans are transformed into chocolate right on site. Along the way, we will hear how this tradition has evolved on the Caribbean coast and how small producers are bringing artisanal, bean‑to‑bar chocolate to life while supporting the local community and landscape. Next, we will enjoy lunch at the farm’s café, tasting fresh local flavors and maybe a coffee or smoothie alongside rich chocolate treats. Afterward, the afternoon is yours to relax and unwind back at the hotel, giving you time to rest before one of the true highlights of the trip.

In the evening, we will gather for a cacao ceremony with a lovely local indigenous couple, who grow their own cacao and honor ancestral traditions. You will taste cacao made from beans they tend, listen to traditional songs, and may even be invited to join in dance and celebration. This deeply cultural and heart‑opening experience is sure to be one of the most memorable moments of our journey. We will finish the night with dinner at the hotel, taking a moment to reflect on the day’s experiences and connections.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 9: VENICE ISLANDS, GLASSMAKING & GOODBYES

Our last full day in Italy will be spent on the famous islands of Murano and Burano, and we will reach them via private boat. 

Murano Island is famous for its glassmakers and their sparkling creations, and we’ll have the chance to visit some exceptional galleries. Burano is famous for its colorful houses and tradition of intricately designed lace-making. A special set menu lunch will be arranged for us. When we return to Venice Island, please join our last group dinner at a famous Kosher restaurant to swap stories and experiences before we head back to the hotel.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner