Kayak, Hike and Tree Camp the Hidden Rainforests of Costa Rica

I mostly booked this trip for the activities and to try a new country, I had no idea how special this trip would be. The area is almost untouched by tourism and the nature we experienced has given us memories of a lifetime - everything from monkeys, sloths and even puma pawprints...

The activities were really well organised, we were quite a fit group and it was challenging but not difficult. Although the kayaking was tough for some but we were well accommodated for. The hiking was really amazing and the passion for the jungle and nature from the team who looked after us was infectious. The food was also really excellent, the kitlist said to bring snacks but the team always knew what we needed before we realised we needed it!

We went during rainy season and avoided the afternoon rain every day, but be prepared to sweat - it is humid in the jungle. Hiking gear took too long to dry so I'd recommend gym gear, long sleeves and full leggings for kayaking (factor 50 wasnt enough!) and some breathable hiking boots. Bring more underwear and changes of clothes than you think you need, you sweat a LOT and we were rinsing our clothes which wasnt ideal.

The group was really good fun and I couldn't have asked for more from the organisers. I also added on the Corcovado overnight stay, not to be missed, way better than any safari!!

If you want to experience real Costa Rica, meet some fun people and have an active trip this is perfect, would recommend to anyone!

Amazing trip, very well looked after and guided by Javier and his team. 10 out of 10. Great mix of activities and accommodation. Fantastic opportunity to make wonderful memories. Excellent value for money If you’re thinking of booking this trip then I’d say book it you won’t regret it.

Wow what an adventure and trip we have had. It has been amazing and led by an amazing host Javier and his team. Such expert advice, sights to see and we felt well supported. You can see and hear the teams enthusiasm and knowledge for thier country. I felt well suppirted kyaking, especially since I have not been kyaking before. We had such wonderful food and the odd cocktails in the jungle. The trip was well worth the money, and I'd say follow the packing list. Also, take some long sleeve tops, which can be used for kayaking, as it's very hot out on the Ocean. Thank you Javier and Much Better Adventures for this experience

Javier and Fernando were amazing. They thought of every detail and took amazing care of us. The food was incredible. It was a great adventure making memories for a lifetime. Thank you!!

Absolutely phenomenal experience al around. Javier and Fernando were amazing guides. Great balance and mix of activities to make for this great experience! 10/10!

This is a fantastic trip! Hiking & camping in the jungle was an amazing experience, as was the kayaking. It was all such a brilliant adventure. Javier and the team looked after us so well, they were so welcoming and did everything to make the trip as comfortable and fun as possible. It's true what is advised that the fitter you are the easier it will be. Plus there was always a cold beer or cocktail waiting for us at the end of the day after all the activities. I can't recommend this trip highly enough to those with an adventurous spirit!

It was a fantastic, well-planned, unforgettable experience.

Absolutely incredible trip! So we'll organised and loads of surprises along the way too! Treks and kayaking tough but so well supported and with a group of 10, with a nice team building activity to start, it encouraged you to push yourself! I would definitely do it again!

Wow what an adventure. We started as strangers and very quickly became great friends. The scenery was breathtaking, the activities were great fun and the food was amazing. Javier and his team were outstanding and made everything work like clockwork. The weather hot and humid but a daily downpour kept us fresh! This adventure had a bit of everything. Would highly recommend it and Much Better Adventures as your adventure team

The guides were fantastic. Food delish! It was great to see parts of the jungle that are too remote to easily access. The hikes were challenging - uphill, hot, and fast-paced on slick or rocky terrain. Kit list helpful - bring hiking boots, closed toe shoes for camp (trainers with good traction) and water shoes (river walking and kayaking with landing on rocky beaches. Sandals with straps (like Tevas) are not hearty enough. Ankle support needed in all areas. For the full day at the tree camp, ask to be back well before sunset to enjoy trails and nearby snorkeling. Most days have ample time to enjoy the juices, wildlife (including bugs), and people. Bring books and games in waterproof bags - even on the kayaking trips. Treat yourself to a solo room - one of the two beds at Mar y Luna is more of a cot.

It was a great trip and run really well. Javier, Fernando and Linette were professional, friendly and such fun - the perfect combo! The trip activities are really well balanced. So whilst it a good fitness level and sense of adventure are needed, it never felt hard going. I would highly recommend this trip - it was fantastic!

A fabulous adventure!

Great trip, the guides were lovely and the snorkelling is amazing! The trekking was a lot more challenging than expected but the views from the top were brilliant.

An amazing experience. Experienced and knowledgeable and guides providing reassurance and support throughout, especially during the challenging activities. The group was a mix of nationalities and ages making for a varied but similar minded group of people. Kit list was very useful. Good sustainable ethos reflected by guides. H&S was sufficient throughout. I haven't seen another tour including tree tent camping, never mind the 3 course meals and cocktails served at the jungle camp! What an experience to be immersed in the jungle. A good level of fitness and sense of adventure is definately recommended to get the most out of this fantastic tour.

A superb trip and thank you to Javier, Fernando, Laura and Zoe for all their hard work in making it a wonderful experience. The activities are reasonably challenging and you will be tired at the end of each day but also have a great deal of satisfaction. There are a few steep inclines hiking so it is important to know your fitness level when doing these. Highlights include the superb views, Tarzan swing, seeing all the wildlife ( so cool having bottle nosed dolphins coming within ten feet of our kayaks) and a lovely group dynamic. I'd highly recommend this trip, especially to hear Fernando's plant knowledge and Laura's historical knowledge of the area. Both are very proud of their area👍

This trip is fantastic! First and foremost if you have never done a Much Better Adventures trip, this was my second and the other travellers have been a great bunch both times. Regarding the trip itself, the location of Golfito is incredible and authentic - international tourism hasn't hit the area yet. The rainforest is great for hiking and nothing uber challenging. As long as you can walk for a few hours a day in the countryside you're fine - only one day has some steepish inclines. When hiking we weren't blessed with seeing too many animals (maybe we were just unlucky or maybe the reason why the area isn't so touristy is because other areas are home to a greater abundance of wildlife?). However, we did see toucans, macaws, iguanas, other birds, small mammals and flashes of monkeys. When staying at the hotel accomodation is basic but more than sufficient and importantly has AC! When in the jungle the tree tent is an incredible experience just simply because of the basecamp location. Waking up in the jungle on the beach with the views... Wow. The kayaking is great and you don't need to be experienced - the days at sea slightly better than the day within the bay as you have the opportunity to snorkel and see fish, even saw dolphins and jumping rays! For convenience / weather the itinerary wasn't followed exactly and included a day or two less in the jungle and one or two more in accomodation which may or may not suit your taste. Overall I really enjoyed seeing an authentic Costa Rica this way and had a great time and as a pointer you'll get the most out of the trip by doing it in the dry season for sure! Special mention to guides Javier and Fernando by the way for their knowledge, friendliness, cooking abilities and making the trip great fun! Pura vida. If there wasn't so many other Much Better Adventures trips to do I'd definitely go back.

Excellent tour, not particularly physically challenging. Beautiful scenery, stunning beaches and very knowledgeable and experienced guides. Suggest bringing UV protective clothing for kayaking in dry season, including gloves to protect from the sun.

Amazing trip, well organised and informative. Need a fairly good level of fitness as the hikes are steep and the kayaking can be challenging depending on the conditions in the bay.

Would do it all again tomorrow if I could!!

What an amazing trip!! This itinerary is so undersold on the website and I cannot recommend it enough! Javier, Fernando and Laura were amazing guides who looked after us so well and were so flexible with us. Javier is such an interesting guy, so many fun stories and clearly incredibly passionate about his work, he honestly couldn't have done more for us. Fernando was our trekking and kayaking guide, he was so knowledgable on plant and wildlife and took us on hikes away from the standard trails, machete in hand, which was fantastic. Laura, is the sweetest person and walking history book, she was able to answer all of our history and cultural questions on Costa Rica and then some! They perfectly complemented each other and were the ultimate hosts! The trip was the perfect balance of active and chill out time. The highlight for me was the camping nights, we were camped on the beach surrounded by the jungle, with wildlife all around us and barely a sign of civilization in sight, it was truly surreal. Pura vida!!

Great location for some adventure and hosts were great

From start to finish I felt well looked after on this trip. Javier was beyond helpful and very quick to respond to all my questions, putting me immediately at ease. The trip itself was an incredible experience; the mix of activities and rest was perfect and everything was expertly planned. One element that isn’t mentioned is the amazing food you will experience on this trip, having three-course restaurant standard dinners and cocktails in the jungle was not something I was expecting! To choose a highlight is too difficult as I have so many amazing memories, thanks to the fun team dynamic, excellent leadership from Randall and the opportunity to connect with the beautiful country of Costa Rica in such an authentic way, words aren’t enough :)

This trip is amazing and I’d recommend it to everyone! The hosts; Javier, Randy and Fernando are great people and make the experience so enjoyable and special. They cater for everyones needs, are extremely knowledgeable and are so easy to get on with and have good chat! Costa Rica is a stunning place and this trip let’s you explore beautiful places. The trip itinerary is perfect- a good mix of fun activities and time to relax as well. The food and accommodation are Brilliant and enhance the experience even more. Also met lovely people and new friends. I loved every minute of it and wish I was still there! Pura Vida!!

Incredible trip!! A great balance of jungle trekking and sea kayaking with also time to enjoy your beautiful surroundings! Top marks from me, and a special shout out to the incredible team and guides.

Golfito and Piedras Blancas are hidden gems. Natural beauty that holds its own against, or beat, any national parks in Costa Rica - without the tourists!

This trip was a knockout! Pristine natural access and multi-sport adventure with a team that takes care of things so you can focus on your experience. Local team are serious pros and perfect combo of detail-orientation and people-friendliness. The brother team works well - Javier was extremely fast responding and offered to chat with my niece and I beforehand. We did a 1-hour call and it calmed any fears I had about a new company, first int'l trip since covid, and bringing a dependent. He helped us with our pack list a lot. Eric obviously has tons of experience guiding. Perfect vibe - low key and personable but aware of risks and on-top of the plan. I felt lucky we had such a pro for our small group. Beyond his guiding, his cooking was amazing! It created the space each meal that allowed for group chill and connection time. As for the location, we had incredible access to a unique and pristine part of the country that's least visited. Seeing spider monkeys, coati and anteater were highlights. Kayaking the coastline allowed a unique view and bird sightings. Hard to convey everything in one review, so my suggestion... talk to Javier directly and he'll tell you honestly what to expect and how to prepare.

Anything else you'd like to add? Our first chill afternoon, we played Banana Grams and enjoying an afternoon rain storm, then Eric made other stellar meal - this time fajitas with chicken, steak, fresh avos and all. He followed up with bananas flambe, lighting the rum on fire and everything. We loved it! Wrapped up that great day with karaoke and a night swim. A great way to wrap 4 days of hike/kayak adventuring together. // One awesome thing Eric did was tell us all to pick 5 songs and add to a playlist. We spent one night during dinner and after listening and guessing who added the song. We had a great time and ended up with a sweet mix as a souvenir that we will all for sure listen to and remember the trip.