Accommodation options

Host

Day by day:

Day 1: San José, Arrival – Sunset run in San José – Welcome Dinner

On your arrival to San José our team will be waiting for your transfer to the hotel. 

We take an easy day to meet our team and do a debrief of the following days for the experience. 

In the afternoon, we regroup in our hotel for a sunset 8 Km acclimatization run in the colonial part of town. 

After our run we will gather for a group welcome dinner at one of San José’s best restaurants.

Accomodation:                                                                                            Dinner:

San Jose Boutique Hotel                                                                         Included

Day 2: Transfer from San José to Monteverde – Monteverde Run + Yoga and Meditation Session.

The day starts with breakfast and an early departure towards the Punta Arenas Canton to then reach the Biological Cloud Forest Reserve of Monte Verde on a 4 hour drive.

Upon our arrival, we tackle an amazing 9 km run through the magic cloud forest trails In Reserva Santa Elena and Bosque de los Niños Eternos.  A unique run that allows us to have an enticing first encounter with the natural diversity of Costa Rica. 

After our run we settle in for lunch in our hotel and an afternoon yoga stretching session in the Monteverde lodge and rest at sunset.

Accomodation:                                                                                            Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner:

Monteverde Lodge                                                                                    Included

Day 3: Monte Verde 11 km – Lunch and Transfer to Arenal Lake

Day 3 starts with a morning run to the breathtaking Monte Verde trail – an amazing trail filled with magnificent waterfall views, hanging bridges and spectacular paths. This run will tryly be the most astonishing during the whole trip, combining great scenery with a good trail distance. 

After this, we will head to our hotel, shower and have lunch, right before we hop on our bus and transfer to the Arenal Volcano Area. A 3 hour drive will have us arriving in the beautiful area of Arenal Lake around dusk, where a night of pool and jacuzzi relaxation will be great to pamper our bodies. 

Accomodation:                                                                                            Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner:

Arenal Lodge                                                                                                Included

Day 4: La Fortuna Run and Afternoon Hot Springs – 11 km

We kickstart this day by sharing breakfast accompanied by a magnificent view of the Arenal Reserve, after breakfast and a great coffee demonstration, we will tackle a beautiful run in the Observatory Lodge Trails, one amazing run through the jungle side and volcanic rivers, that have the last views of the Lava rivers of 1992. A spectacular trail will have us dive deep into the volcanic and jungle vibe of Costa Rica. 

After this exciting run, we will chill and grab lunch in our hotel. Later, we will have the chance to relax in a soothing session at the Hot Spring rivers of Chollin near la Fortuna. A great way to end this afternoon.

Accomodation:                                                                                            Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner:

Arenal Lodge                                                                                                Included

Day 5: La Fortuna To Puerto Viejo Drive – Sunset Run in Puerto Viejo – 7-13 Km

This day will involve the longest drive and traverse of the trip, where we will make our way from la Fortuna to Puerto Viejo, a 5.5 to 6 hour drive that will lead us to the Caribbean Coastline in the afternoon. Once we are there, we will check-in to our hotel to then have a beautiful beach-side run in the black beaches of Puerto Viejo. 

After the run, showering and dinner in Puerto Viejo for a good rest to recover our energy for the upcoming adventures. 

Accomodation:                                                                                            Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner:

Puerto Viejo Lodge                                                                                     Included

Day 6: Puerto Vargas to Cahuita 10 km – Caribbean Beach Exploration

This final full day of our experience is a grand day full of running and exploring the Caribbean beaches of Costa Rica. We rise early for a short transfer to the entrance of Cahuita National Park for a stunning beachside run unlike any other. The jungles on the side of the trail, combined with beautiful white sand Caribbean beaches on the other side, is truly a marvelous experience where we might be able to see a lot of wildlife around. An unique way to explore the most beautiful oceanside through the astonishing oceanic reserves of this spectacular country. 

After this, we will arrive in Cahuita, have some local fruit and beers. The afternoon will be taken to engage in a scuba diving experience in the Caribbean beach. There is no better way to close this experience while being surrounded by one of the most beautiful parts of Costa Rica.

At night we celebrate with a great farewell dinner at the Puerto Viejo lodge and some more afternoon activities within town.

Accomodation:                                                                                            Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner:

Puerto Viejo Lodge                                                                                     Included

Day 7: Transfer from Puerto Viejo to San Jose Airport

Juan Santamaría International Airport outbound flight.

Requiered to book outbound flights no earlier than 17:00 hrs.

Breakfast & Lunch:

Included

Packing List

Keep your packing as light as possible
Consider layers of breathable clothing for sun, cold and wind.

• Breathable face mask, antibacterial gel (essential to stay in the group).
• Running tights and shorts.
• Plenty of waterproof gear.
• Plenty of cool weather casual and sports clothing.
• Long sleeve and short sleeve shirts.
• Warm down jacket or polar fleece.
• Sandals, bathing suit and quick-drying towel.
• Beanie and running gloves.
• 2 pairs of trail running shoes.
• Enough pairs of running socks.
• Night Lamp or headlamp.
• Biodegradable sunblock, hat or cap and sunglasses.
• Biodegradable insect repellent.
• Personal medical kit (recommendation with basic medicines for any ailment).
• Hydration vest or refillable bottles 2.5 L.
• Thermos for coffee or tea.
• Power plug adapter or voltage converter.
• Personal energy snacks of liking (bars, fruits, nuts,etc…).
• Small waterproof bag (cameras, phones, etc) in case it rains during our runs (optional).
• Hiking poles (optional).

Weather

February is one of the driest months of the year and one of the best times to travel in Costa Rica. Nevertheless, Costa Rica is considered a tropical country, daily precipitation is expected during any season of the year. Therefore we highly encourage travelers to bring plenty of wet-weather clothing for both running and casual activities. And extra pairs of shoes and socks for the occasions. A well prepared rainy set of clothing and also clothing to change within and after activities for each day is necessary.

More Resources

INCLUDED:

• Transportation throughout the whole experience.
• Specially designed trails along the magical landscapes of Costa Rica.
• Carefully curated culinary experiences.
• Exclusively designed yoga and meditation sessions.
• All food and lodging needs throughout the experience.
• Entrance tickets to all national parks and attractions included in the experience.
• Knowledgeable and professional local guides.
• Aire Libre & partner brands merchandise.
• La Familia Global Community Membership ($ 25 USD value)
• Photographer specialized in sports and action

NOT INCLUDED:

•  Inbound and outbound flights to Costa Rica.
• We encourage you to book a personal travel insurance.
• Alcoholic beverages.

DIFFICULTY
All of our trips are designed to welcome hikers and runners of all fitness levels. We will assign different guides to groups of different levels so that no one is left behind. You will feel safe and comfortable throughout the trip whether you’re a professional runner that wants to add these runs to your training, an amateur who wants to explore the world of trail-running or a casual hiker who wishes to challenge themselves while enjoying nature in a secure environment.

Logistics / Getting There

Fly to Juan Santamaría International Airport (IATA Code:SJO), making sure to arrive at least a couple of hours before the retreat begins and to leave a couple of hours after.

Arrival | Saturday, February 4th

Any time before 15:00 hrs | Juan Santamaría Intl Airport (SJO Airport)

Farewell | Friday, February 10th

Any time after 17:00 hrs | Juan Santamaría Intl Airport (SJO Airport)

Travel Specs

• Currently, Mexico’s International Borders remain open
• There is no quarantine in effect upon arrival
• No visa required
• We recommend passangers to acquire travel insurance to cover COVID-19 expenses.

Special Notes

Closer to the experience, you will be invited to a WhatsApp group chat. We use WhatsApp to connect with the group and share detailed info about the trip. Please make sure to download the app so you don’t miss important communication.

Our itineraries are designed to be flexible and subject to change according to weather, participant interest or other conditions.