Stay in three of Costa Rica’s most beautiful and luxurious lodges during this ‘best of Costa Rica’ itinerary travelling in style.
After spending a night in the central highlands close to San Jose, begin your luxury tour of Costa Rica in the fantastic region of Arenal. Here stay in Amor Arenal, a beautiful lodge located in the foothills of Arenal where you will spend your days experiencing the local wildlife and relaxing in the area’s famous hot springs. Continue your journey to the southern Osa Peninsula, where you will stay in the exquisite El Remanso Rainforest Lodge which overlooks the Pacific Ocean. Witness sloths and monkeys around the lodge and opt for activities such as birdwatching and snorkelling. Finish your luxury Costa Rica holiday in the exclusive cloud forest lodge, El Silencio, where you can explore the trails in search of colourful birdlife and tumbling waterfalls and enjoy the property's excellent facilities including the signature spa.
Central Highlands – Arenal – Osa Peninsula – Bajos del Toro
Trip Highlights
- Amor Arenal is a world-class rainforest lodge offering unforgettable views of Arenal Volcano
- Search for colourful toucans, hummingbirds and scarlet macaws in the beautiful Arenal National Park
- El Remanso Lodge in the Osa Peninsula is surrounded by rainforest with a Pacific Coast panorama
- Your lodge on the Osa Peninsula is surrounded by rainforest, on a promontory overlooking the Pacific
- Explore the spectacular cloud forest private reserve that surrounds El Silencio Lodge
- Travel around Costa Rica using private transfers and light aircraft which offers excellent views from above
Itinerary
Day 1
Depart the UK / San Jose to Central Highlands – 43kms
On arrival in San Jose in the evening on the flight from the UK, you will be met and transferred to your boutique hotel in the Central Highlands. Just over an hour from the airport on the road to Arenal in a private vehicle, your lodge is surrounded by coffee plantations and forest, not far from the small town of Naranjo with the lights of San Jose glimmering in the distance.
Chayote Lodge
Day 2
Central Highlands to Arenal – 86kms
There is time this morning to take in the view from your lodge and perhaps take a walk in the surrounding forest, enjoying the birdlife and butterflies of this beautiful location before it is time to move onto Arenal. Your private transfer will take about two hours to reach your hotel in the rainforest close to the base of Arenal. Surrounded by lush vegetation, this luxurious resort is a spectacular setting for a four-night stay.
- Breakfast
Amor Arenal
Day 3
Arenal
Begin the morning with an introduction to the wildlife of Arenal where you will join a shared guided tour of the wonderful hanging bridges. This offers an excellent opportunity to see the wildlife and birdlife of the rainforest with trails leading from the forest floor to suspended walkways that take you through the rainforest canopy. Return to you lodge late in the morning with the rest of the day free to relax in the beautiful resort or explore the trails that lead through the rainforest around your hotel.
- Breakfast
Amor Arenal
Day 4
Arenal
This morning is free to relax or enjoy some of the many optional activities that can be organised through your accommodation. After lunch, you will be collected for a shared walking tour in Arenal National Park, taking in the beautiful environment and views as you explore the trails with your guide. Arenal National Park is a premier birdwatching destination home to colourful toucans, hummingbirds, scarlet macaws and raptors. After the hike, continue to Ecotermales Hot Springs to wind down in the geothermal heated pools and springs before returning to your hotel in the evening.
- Breakfast
Amor Arenal
Day 5
Arenal
Today is at leisure. The hotel can arrange any further activities if you wish such as a guided walk to look for birdlife or sloths, visit a local plantation to learn about the production of coffee and chocolate. Alternatively, you can indulge yourself in the spa and relax by the pool.
- Breakfast
Amor Arenal
Day 6
Arenal to San Jose – 122kms / San Jose to Osa Peninsula – by air
This morning you will be driven back to San Jose, around a three hour journey, arriving in time for a midday flight in a light aircraft to the small town of Puerto Jiminez on the Osa Peninsula. A representative from your lodge will be waiting to meet you on arrival and transfer you along a bumpy dirt road to your lodge at the remote southern tip of the peninsula. Settle into your lodge deep in the rainforest overlooking the ocean for a four-night stay.
- Breakfast,
- Dinner
El Remanso Rainforest Lodge
Day 7
Osa Peninsula
Your lodge on the Osa Peninsula is surrounded by rainforest, on a promontory overlooking the Pacific Coast. While the ocean here is rough with strong currents, there are tidal pools and lagoons where you can relax by the beach. A network of trails lead around the lodge, and your stay includes on-site activities such as guided birdwatching and hiking, as well as the chance to explore the trails on your own and look out for the incredible wildlife of the rainforest.
- Breakfast,
- Lunch,
- Dinner
El Remanso Rainforest Lodge
Day 8
Osa Peninsula
As well as enjoying the included activities from your lodge, a range of optional activities can be arranged to explore the surrounding region. The Gulfo Dolce is only a short drive away, and you can take a boat trip around the sheltered waters looking for marine life including dolphins, whales and rays or try kayaking through the mangroves.
- Breakfast,
- Lunch,
- Dinner
El Remanso Rainforest Lodge
Day 9
Osa Peninsula
Today is your last day on the Osa Peninsula. You might opt to enjoy another boat trip or try your hand at surfing. Alternatively ave a more relaxed day exploring the trails and enjoying the lodge’s pool and spa.
- Breakfast,
- Lunch,
- Dinner
El Remanso Rainforest Lodge
Day 10
Osa Peninsula to San Jose – by air / San Jose to Bajos del Toro – 168kms
Return by road to the local airstrip to take the short but scenic flight back to San Jose. On arrival, your private vehicle will be waiting to transfer you your lodge in the cloud forest of Bajos del Toro, about an hour and a half away. You will be spending the next two nights in an exclusive lodge set in an extensive private reserve.
- Breakfast
El Silencio Lodge
Day 11
Bajos del Toro
Spend the day exploring the cloud forest of Bajos del Toro. Trails lead through the private cloud forest reserve around your lodge to explore the incredible birdlife and waterfalls for which Bajos del Toro is famous for. You can also learn about the culture of the region, taking a cooking class to learn how to prepare typical Tico meals, practicing the traditional art of oxcart painting or sampling the local coffees. The lodge also offers a signature spa, farm-to-table restaurant and swimming pool in a spectacular setting.
- Breakfast
El Silencio Lodge
Day 12
Bajos del Toro to San Jose – 168kms / San Jose to the UK
After a final morning in the cloud forest, you will be taken back to the airport in San Jose. Arrive in in time to check in for the overnight flight back to the UK.
- Breakfast
Extending your stay...
The North Osa Peninsular can be combined with the south, staying in a lodge close to Drakes Bay to access Corcovado National Park and Cano Island.
Monteverde offers some excellent accommodation in the cloud forest which is easy to fit in after your trip to Arenal. Here you can explore the scenery and birdlife through hanging bridges.
San Isidro between San Jose and the Osa Peninsular is home to one of Costa Rica’s most luxurious lodges set in an extensive reserve of highland rainforest and coffee plantation.
Guide to Price
12 days from £7390 per person
What's Included
- International flights
- Domestic Flights in light aircraft
- All transfers as specified
- Shared guided tours as specified
- Hotel accommodation and taxes
What's Not Included
- Optional activities from lodges
- Visas
- Travel Insurance
- Expenses of a personal nature
- Meals unless specified
from £7390
Travel Information
Getting There
British Airways offers frequent direct flights from London to San Jose during the peak season from October until March. There are also indirect flights via Europe with airlines including Iberia, KLM, Air France and Lufthansa, as well as flights via Canada and the United States.
Flying Time
The direct flight between London and San Jose is about 10-11 hours, with indirect flights slightly longer depending on where you are flying via and the stopover time.
Time Zone
Costa Rica -6 hours GMT.
Visa Requirements
British citizens do not need a visa to visit Costa Rica for stays of up to 90 days.
Do’s and Don’ts
Greet locals with a friendly ‘buenos dias’ or ‘buenas tardes’ and understand that eye contact is valued in conversation. ‘Pura vida’ is the most common saying throughout Costa Rica, translating to the ‘simple life’ or ‘everything is good’ and recognises a relaxed, optimistic and grateful lifestyle.
Embrace the slower pace of life and expect service in restaurants and bars to be slower than the UK and Europe.
If self-driving, don’t underestimate travel times as when driving in more rural and remote areas roads can be windy and/or unpaved. Also avoid driving at night.
Do not touch or feed wildlife and do not remove natural souvenirs such as taking rocks, shells or plants from their natural habitats.
It is polite to ask permission of any local people before taking any photographs.
Money
Costa Rica has its own currency, the Costa Rica Colón, which is divided in 100 centimos. The US dollar is also very widely accepted in Costa Rica and can be used in most hotels, restaurants and shops as well as for tips. There are ATMs in larger towns and cities and credit cards are also widely accepted, but in remote rainforest lodges it is best to have US dollars cash or local currency.
Tipping
Tipping is common in Costa Rica as with the rest of Latin America but is at your discretion. The amount of tip should depend on the service received. A 10% service charge is always included in restaurant bills. As a guideline, a tip of around US$5 to US$10 per person per day for a guide is about the right amount, and about S$5 per person per day for a driver. Tips to guides and drivers are normally given in US dollars cash. Please note that American travellers to Costa Rica do often tip much higher than this amount, but you should not feel pressured to overtip.
Food and Drink
Costa Rica is known for its abundance of fresh tropical fruits and vegetables as well as excellent seafood. Many dishes were brough to Costa Rica by Spanish settlers but adapted to local ingredients, although the Caribbean coast does have more of an Afro-Caribbean influence. Gallo Pinto, the local version of the ubiquitous Latin American staple of rice and beans is one of the most common dishes, often served for breakfast, but can also be found for lunch and dinner. Grilled meat and fish with rice or salad is served in most restaurants, with ceviche, raw marinated fish, common on the Pacific Coast and rondón, a meat and vegetable stew common on the Caribbean coast.
Copo, shaved ice flavoured with fruit syrup is a great way to cool down, and there is an abundance of fresh fruit juices as well as excellent local coffees. The national alcoholic drink is guaro, made from sugar cane, although American-style beers are more common, with some excellent craft beers produced in San Jose.
Shopping
Local handicrafts such as the woodwork and handmade jewellery can be found in the Mercade Central in San Jose as well as the markets of Tamarindo and Sarchi. Costa Rica is known for its excellent local coffee and chocolate which can often be purchased directly from plantations as well as in Britt stores.
Travel Advice
Costa Rica is generally regarded as a safe country, although petty theft such as pickpocketing and purse-snatching is not uncommon, especially in San Jose and you should remain vigilant. For current information on Costa Rica the best resource is the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice) which is a comprehensive resource and updated regularly. We would also recommend visiting the Safer Tourism Foundation website (www.safertourism.org.uk) before you travel and will be happy to address any questions or concerns you may have.
Suggested Reading
Lonely Planet and Rough Guides have excellent guide books for Costa Rica. The ‘Birds of Costa Rica’ by Richard Garrigues is an excellent guide to the birdlife of the country, although many lodges have their own field guides.
Health
Costa Rica is considered to have the best healthcare system in Latin America with a comprehensive public health system supported by reputable private clinics. Your doctor is the best person to advise you on staying healthy whilst abroad but current recommended vaccinations are Hepatitis A and Tetanus. Yellow Fever is not present in Costa Rica, but a Yellow Fever certificate is required if travelling from countries with a risk of Yellow Fever. This includes all destinations with Latin America with the exception of Panama and Argentina. There is a low risk of malaria on the Caribbean Coast and very low risk elsewhere in the country - antimalarials are not usually recommend except in exceptional circumstances. For current information on health advice you may wish to visit the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) website Travel Health Pro on https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/. The Medical Advisory Services for Travellers Abroad (MASTA) website (www.masta.org) is also a useful resource.
Accommodation
Costa Rica offers a wide range of accommodation, from city hotels to rainforest lodges to boutique beach resorts and private villas, all with a wide range of standards. While there are some large beach resorts, most accommodation tends to be small and focuses on providing excellent service. Outside of San Jose, visitors to Costa Rica rarely stay in large towns or cities and most often stay in more remote locations to soak up the wildlife and scenery. Due to the remote location and small size of the hotels and lodges, accommodation needs to be booked well in advance.
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