Itinerary Highlights
- Tortuguero's canals and waterways
- Hike on the Arenal Volcano
- Bathe in Thermal hot springs
- Take a night walk in the Cloudforest
- Traverse the rainforest canopy in Monteverde
- Wildlife spotting in Manuel Antonio National Park
What's Included
- Flights
- Accommodation Throughout
- Travel Guide
- Transfers
12 nights from £3,495 per person
Kerry Cook
Travel Specialist
Enjoy the many highlights of Costa Rica on this 12-day itinerary, including volcanoes, lakes, cloud forest and both the Caribbean and Pacific coasts. Costa Rica is a country of great natural beauty and every region and area has something unique to offer. This route takes you to a variety of eco-systems, ensuring that you see a stunning variety of wildlife and scenery.
Whether you are watching the Arenal volcano whilst bathing in hot springs, walking through the canopy treetops of Monteverde’s cloud forest or relaxing on one of the many beautiful beaches that adorn its coastline, Costa Rica has an experience for everyone, and really is a nature lover’s paradise.
Itinerary
Day 1 UK - San Jose
Fly into San Jose today on your chosen route, where on arrival you are met from the airport by a local representative. You are then transferred directly to your hotel where you have the remainder of the day at leisure.
Day 2 San Jose - Tortuguero
This morning you are picked up early to travel to Tortuguero. On the way you are given an early introduction to the natural highlights on offer in Costa Rica as the road passes the protected Braulio Carrillo National Park, and then on through agricultural farmland, home to many pineapple and banana plantations before arriving at the pier to board your boat onto to Tortuguero. Tortuguero National Park is one of the most important nesting sites in the world for the green sea turtles and its territories protect not only the turtle-nesting beach, but also the surrounding forests, canals and lagoons. Everything in Tortuguero centres on the waterways and access is by boat or air only. Its peaceful atmosphere and the feeling of being in one of the most remote places on Earth attracts nature lovers, yet the area has managed to develop a low-density tourism system. A visit to Tortuguero is the ideal place to start a trip to Costa Rica, with great opportunities to spot some of the highlight wildlife. You stay at your chosen lodge for 2 nights, on a full board basis including all of your meals and excursions.
Day 3 Tortuguero National Park
Today is a full day exploring the Tortuguero National Park by boat with your local guide. All excursions are included with your stay at the lodge, and are shared with other guests. The canal of jungle-fringed waterways behind the beach are teeming with bird and insect life. At sunrise the rainforest comes alive with wildlife including birds (over half of the species found in Costa Rica), monkeys, sloths and for the lucky alligators, tapirs, ocelots, peccaries and anteaters.
Day 4 Tortuguero - Arenal Volcano
Depart Tortuguero this morning for the Arenal Volcano region. You leave your lodge and board a boat through the canals to the pier, to continue by road to the pick up point between Tortuguero National Park and San Jose City. You are then collected and driven towards the Arenal Volcano and your hotel located on the outskirts of La Fortuna town.
Day 5 La Fortuna Waterfall
Today you are taken to visit La Fortuna Waterfall, located near the Arenal Volcano National Park in an area rich with vegetation. This beautiful waterfall has its sources in La Fortuna River and you have the opportunity to take a gently undulating hike into the forest to get to the 70 metre high waterfall. At the base of the waterfall there is a “natural pool” and an opportunity to swim in the fresh water and admire the surrounding rainforest before returning to your hotel in Arenal.
Day 6 Arenal Volcano Hike and Hot Springs
Today you are taken for a walk along the old lava beds in the Arenal Volcano National Park. You are given some history of the volcano and have a chance to see some of the abundant wildlife that can be seen throughout the trail and in the surrounding tropical forest. At the end of the tour you are taken back towards La Fortuna town, where you then have entry into the local Hot Springs, and you have the chance to bathe in the thermal waters and have dinner with the rumbling of the volcano in the distance.
Day 7 Arenal Volcano - Monteverde Cloud Forest
Today cross lake Arenal for one of the most scenic ways to get to Monteverde, and the cloud forest region. After a combination of road and boat you arrive into Monteverde later today and have some time to check-in to your hotel before you are then taken on an evening excursion into the forest. You arrive for your night walk as the forest awakens and the nocturnal creatures start to emerge. Your guide helps you spot an array of insects, reptiles, birds and mammals that inhabit the forest at night. some of the highlight species that can be spotted include snakes, spiders (especially tarantulas), sleeping blue crowned mot-mots, tiny tree frogs, coatimundis, agoutis, a sleeping sloth, a wide-eyed kinkajou, an armadillo, or the highly endangered olingo.
Day 8 Monteverde Cloud Forest
Today visit the Selvatura Walkways and obtain a bird's eye view of the jungle as you traverse the canopy via a network of suspended bridges. The reserve is mainly primary cloud forest and is shrouded in mist for most of the year. The area is home to more than 400 species of bird, including one of Costa Rica's birding highlights, the Resplendent Quetzal. As well as the walkways today, you have the opportunity to visit the butterfly garden, and also the sloth sanctuary for the chance to see one of Costa Rica's most iconic mammals, and learn about the destruction of their habitat and rehabilitation into the wild.
Day 9 Monteverde - Manuel Antonio
Today head down from the coolness of the cloud forest to the steamier Pacific Coast. You have three nights based at your chosen hotel close to the Manuel Antonio National Park. Spend your days exploring the park, relaxing on the beach or by the pool.
Day 10 Manuel Antonio National Park
Manuel Antonio National Park is one of the most popular in the country thanks to its wide variety of flora and fauna specimens. It is home to 3 of the 4 existing monkey species in Costa Rica. The park itself boasts 3 different trails that vary in grade from flat to very steep. Accompanied by a knowledgeable nature guide explore a trail of approximately 3km that loops through the Park, with plenty of opportunities to spot sloths, birds and reptiles, as well as unusual orchids, butterflies and tropical trees.
Day 11 Manuel Antonio
Today is a free day to relax and to explore the beautiful beaches of Manuel Antonio National Park. As one of Costa Rica's most protected areas, the 683 hectares of mangrove swamps and beaches are home to a rich variety of flora and fauna. Within the park there is also good hiking for viewing a host of wildlife. Aside from the park other options include sea kayaking, mountain biking, canopy tours, scuba diving and deep sea fishing.
Day 12 San Jose - UK
Today you are collected from your hotel on the coast and driven approximately 3 hours back towards San Jose City, where you are taken to the airport in good time for your flights back to the UK. Flights back to the UK travel overnight, and you arrive tomorrow.
Kerry Cook
Travel Specialist
Pricing Information & Dates
12 nights from £3,495 per person
Kerry Cook
Travel Specialist
Price Includes
- Return International Flights as per the itinerary
- All airport taxes and security charges
- Accommodation and meals as specified
- Transfers as specified
- Activities and excursions as specified
- All entrace fees on sightseeing tours as specified
Prices are inclusive of International flights from the UK, with all transport and services within Costa Rica arranged as described including local guides, excursions and meals as mentioned in the itinerary.
Price Excludes
- Travel Insurance
- Any meals not specified in the itinerary
- Tips and gratuities
- Optional excursions
Tips, optional excursions and meals not described in the itinerary.
Pricing Notes
Please note that this itinerary is a suggestion only, and flexible to be amended according to your preference of tours, accommodation and transport. It is subject to availability at the time of booking and the price is calculated according to the season and dates that you wish to travel.
Why Choose Us?
Passionate travel experts
- We've been leading wildlife travel since our first South Africa tours over 25 years ago
- Our Travel Specialists have lived in their specialist area for years
- We work with local guides to immerse you deeper in our diverse range of experiences
Personal & tailor-made
- You'll speak to your own expert who'll share their first-hand knowledge
- We'll make your itinerary seamless with 24/7 emergency contact available
- Your Travel Specialist will listen to ensure you have the best chance of seeing the wildlife you love
Responsible by nature
- We take care to actively contribute to the conservation of environments we visit
- For select countries, we make a charitable donation on your behalf when you make your booking
- We've partnered with conservation experts and NGOs to curate responsible tours
For the latest travel advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office check www.gov.uk/travelaware
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