Experience Costa Rica’s iconic wildlife and biodiversity on this two-week trip that combines pristine national parks and reserves, remote peninsulas and enchanting lodges.
Home to over 500,000 species – which represents nearly 5% of the species estimated worldwide - Costa Rica is one of the most biodiverse countries globally. Start your Costa Rica wildlife tour in the coastal wetlands of Tortuguero before heading inland to the highland rainforest of Sarapiqui. Continue to Manuel Antonio to experience the area’s beautiful beaches and coastal rainforests and then head south to the Osa Peninsula. Visit Corcovado National Park, the largest and most important of Costa Rica’s national parks, which is home to monkey, sloth, tapir and big cat including jaguar and puma. Finish your wildlife holiday in the remote cloud forest region of San Ramon, a birding hotspot where over 400 species of bird recorded.
San Jose – Tortuguero – Sarapiqui –– Manuel Antonio – Osa Peninsular - San Ramon
Trip Highlights
- Take a boat trip through Tortuguero National Park’s waterways in search of monkey and sloth
- Sarapiqui is known for its excellent bird populations with nearly 500 specific recorded including toucan
- Relax on the spectacular beaches of Manuel Antonio, where the rainforest meets the Pacific Ocean
- Explore the wildlife of Corocovardo National Park, one of the most biodiverse regions on the planet
- Snorkel in the beautiful waters off Cano Island where you may see turtle, rays and reef sharks
- In San Ramon, spot colourful, unique birds in the cloud forest treetops, as well as mammals and butterflies
Itinerary
Day 1
UK to San Jose
Your flight from the UK arrives in San Jose in the evening, where you will be met and transferred to your hotel in downtown San Jose. You have the evening at leisure to experience this vibrant city and enjoy dinner in a local restaurant.
Hotel Presidente
Day 2
San Jose to Tortuguero – 168kms
You will be collected from the hotel early this morning and taken in a shared minibus to the Rio Tortuguero where you will transfer to a boat for the journey to your lodge close to the Caribbean Coast. This will be your first introduction to the wildlife of Costa Rica as you travel through the rainforest in Tortuguero National Park, looking out for wildlife along the way. You will arrive in your lodge in time for lunch before beginning your exploration of this iconic national park by foot or boat on a shared tour.
- Breakfast,
- Lunch,
- Dinner
Manatus Hotel
Day 3
Tortuguero
Today continue to explore the wildlife in Costa Rica’s Caribbean Coast. Walk the trails surrounding the lodge before taking a shared boat trip to discover the different habitats of Tortuguero, from mangrove swamps and wetlands to lowland rainforest and lagoons. Look out for birds including the endangered great green macaw, keel-billed toucan, great blue heron and kingfisher, as well as reptiles and mammals with likely sightings of caiman, three-toed sloth, white-headed capuchin and howler and spider monkey. If you are visiting between July and October you can experience the green turtle nesting season.
- Breakfast,
- Lunch,
- Dinner
Evergreen Lodge
Day 4
Tortuguero to Sarapiqui – 106kms
This morning return by shared vehicle by river and road to the small town of Guapiles where you break for lunch before continuing the short distance to Sarapiqui in a private vehicle. This region of lush rainforest in the north of Costa Rica is a great place for birdwatching as species from both the Caribbean and Pacific side of the country can be seen here. After settling into your lodge, begin your exploration of the rainforest with a shared night walk.
- Breakfast
Selva Verde
Day 5
Sarapiqui
Start the morning with a shared birdwatching tour from your lodge, exploring this birding hotspot with an experienced guide from your lodge. Between 400-500 bird species have been recorded in the region’s lowland rainforests, rivers and wetlands and sightings can include toucan, macaw, aracari, tanager, eagle and honeycreeper. The rest of the day is free to explore the wildlife that can be found around the lodge grounds. Alternatively, the lodge can arrange an extra activities such as visiting local plantations or taking a river safari on the Rio Sarapiqui.
- Breakfast
Selva Verde
Day 6
Sarapiqui to Manuel Antonio – 234kms
Today you will be driven in a private vehicle between from Sarapiqui to Manuel Antonio, which will take around 5 hours. Pass the Central Highlands of Costa Rica before heading down to the Pacific Coast and keep an eye out for wildlife as you journey through a variety of habitats. Stay for three nights in Manuel Antonio which is famous for its beautiful national park where the lush rainforest descends directly to the glistening Pacific Ocean.
- Breakfast
Si Como No
Day 7
Manuel Antonio
This morning join a shared guided tour of Manuel Antonio National Park. Although this is the smallest of Costa Rica’s national parks, it is one of the richest with over 100 species of mammals and nearly 200 species of birds packed into an area of 8 square miles. Here the rainforest covered mountains of the Continental Divide come down to the Pacific Coast creating spectacular covers and headlands connected by a network of accessible trails. As well as watching for wildlife, there is time to relax on the beautiful beaches of the park and swim in the Pacific Ocean before returning to your hotel.
- Breakfast
Si Como No
Day 8
Manuel Antonio
You have a day at leisure today. You can relax by the beach or hotel pool or why not organise a tour through your lodge to explore the wildlife of the Central Pacific Coast. Options include a boat trip through mangrove swamps, kayaking along the coast or heading into the hills of the interior in search of birdlife and butterflies. Your lodge is also an excellent place to see some smaller wildlife and birds.
- Breakfast
Si Como No
Day 9
Manuel Antonio to Osa Peninsula – 220kms & boat
After breakfast head along the Pacific Coast in a private vehicle to small town of Sirepe, before transferring to a shared boat for the trip to your lodge on the Osa Peninsula. Along the way you will pass through the mangroves of the Sirepe Wetlands before heading out into Drakes Bay, arriving in your lodge in time for lunch with the afternoon free to begin your exploration of the rainforest of the Osa Peninsula. Join a shared night walk of the rainforest around your lodge in the evening.
- Breakfast,
- Dinner
Corcovado Wilderness Lodge by SCP
Day 10
Osa Peninsula
The excellent Corcovado Wilderness Lodge is located within a 170-acre private rainforest reserve bordering Corcovado National Park. Today take a shared tour into the park, walking through the jungle trails with your guide before returning along the beach. Corcovado is the largest national park in Costa Rica and is one of the most biodiverse regions in the world, with around 2.5% of the world’s species found within the forests here. Keep your eyes peeled for mammals including four different species of monkey, sloth, and if you are very lucky, tapir and big cat such as jaguar, puma and ocelot. There is also a fantastic range of birds, insects and butterflies to spot.
- Breakfast,
- Lunch,
- Dinner
Corcovado Wilderness Lodge by SCP
Day 11
Osa Peninsula
This morning embark on a boat trip to Cano Island. Located just off the cost of the Osa Peninsula, look out for whales and dolphins along the way. Cano Island is surrounded by rich and colourful coral reefs, some of the best in Costa Rica, and which offer excellent snorkelling. Under the waves, you are likely to see turtles, rays and reef sharks, as well as the many species of fish which live in the reefs.
- Breakfast,
- Lunch,
- Dinner
Corcovado Wilderness Lodge by SCP
Day 12
Osa Peninsula to San Jose – by air / San Jose to San Ramon – 62kms
This morning transfer by boat to the local airstrip to board the short domestic flight back to San Jose. Enjoy the scenic views as you fly over the rainforest back to the capital, where a private transfer will be waiting to take you to the hills of San Ramon in the Central Highlands. After a drive of about and hour and half, check into your cloud forest lodge for a three-night stay.
- Breakfast
Villa Blanca
Day 13
San Ramon
Today is free to explore the extensive Los Angeles Cloud Forest Reserve that surrounds your lodge. It is one of the country’s lesser-known cloud forests and a great alternative to busier Monteverde. The mist-shrouded hills of the Central Highlands are known as a birding hotspot with over 400 species of birds, as well as beautiful orchids, incredible insects and mammals including monkey, sloth and coatimundi. You can explore the trails around your lodge with the option of arranging a local birdwatching guide or joining a night safari walk.
- Breakfast
Villa Blanca
Day 14
San Ramon
With another day at leisure, continue to explore the lodge’s walking trails. You may also arrange to visit the local town of San Ramon to learn about traditional crafts and stop at a local coffee plantation. San Ramon is one of Costa Rica’s most respected coffee-growing areas where the surrounding hills have ideal conditions for high quality Arabica coffee. During a tour you can experience the coffee production, walk through the picturesque grounds and sample this liquid gold straight from the source.
- Breakfast
Villa Blanca
Day 15
San Ramon to San Jose – 62kms / San Jose to UK
Today you will be driven back to San Jose Airport in a private vehicle, arriving in time to check in for your overnight flight back to the UK, returning home the following day.
- Breakfast
Extending your stay...
Cahuita National Park on the Southern Caribbean Coast offers a great mixture of marine wildlife, rainforest and relaxation which can be included at the start of your trip.
The Southern Osa Peninsula offers a different atmosphere from the lodges of the north, offering the chance for a more relaxed stay with a wider range of activities while still offering excellent wildlife.
Self Driving is an option with this tour, collecting your vehicle after the visit to Tortuguero and driving as far as the Osa Peninsula where you can drop off the car.
Guide to Price
15 days from £5990 per person
What's Included
- International flights
- Domestic flights in a light aircraft
- All transfers as specified
- Shared guided tours as specified
- Hotel accommodation and taxes
What's Not Included
- Visas
- Travel Insurance
- Expenses of a personal nature
- Meals unless specified
from £5990
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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