Wildlife abounds on this exceptional trip which provides plenty of opportunity to see Costa Rica’s diverse flora and fauna.
Discover nesting turtles, monkeys, Costa Rica’s prolific birdlife and much more – all amid a tapestry of forests, beaches, lagoons and waterfalls. Exploring by foot, boat and high above the trees on a canopy walkway, you’ll visit some of our favourite wildlife spots: the waterways of Tortuguero, the cloudforest of Monteverde, the idyllic white sand beaches and verdant forests of Manuel Antonio.
Suggested Itinerary
Day1: Fly to San José
On arrival in San José, you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel, situated to the north of the city.
Journey from San José, through the Braulio Carrillo National Park, to Siquirres and on through rainforests and large banana plantations to the embarking point at Caño Blanco. Here you board a boat to cruise the canals until you reach Tortuguero. In the afternoon, enjoy a guided visit to the small village and the Green Turtle Information Centre.
Your second day starts with a sunrise boat tour through the canals of the park to spot some of its 309 different species of birds, swamp forests and floating aquatic plants. Monkeys are especially abundant. You should also see the fishing bulldog bat, keel-billed toucans, anurans, seven species of turtles, West Indies manatees, crocodiles and gar.
After breakfast, ride again through the canals on your way back to the disembarking point at Caño Blanco. Continue to Siquirres for lunch, then take a private transfer to La Fortuna, home of the stunning Arenal Volcano. During your stay in Arenal you will have a guided hiking tour along one of the best trails in the Arenal Volcano National Park as well as a whole day to spend as you wish to explore the area further on an optional excursion.
Cross Arenal Lake, the largest and the most important fresh water lake in Costa Rica, and continue by land through a non-paved road to Monteverde, one of Central America's finest reserves and home to over hundreds of species of mammal, bird and flora.
Accommodation: Ocotea Boutique Hotel, 2-nights
Day8: Visit Santa Elena Reserve
Located high on the Caribbean slopes of the Cordillera de Tilarán at an altitude of 1,500 metres, Santa Elena was one of the first community-managed reserves in the country. Conservation efforts in the area concentrate on establishing forest corridors radiating from the central conservation area down to lower altitudes, as many of the forest fauna such as the resplendent quetzal, American puma, jaguar, ocelot, and red brocket deer, require large territories in which to forage and breed.
Days9-11: Manuel Antonio via Carara National Park
You are transferred from Monteverde to Manuel Antonio National Park on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica which is a journey of approximately four hours by road. To break up the transfer, you will stop at Carara National Park for a guided visit. Carara is famous for its population of scarlet macaws, but there is a wonderful array of other species to enjoy there including mantled howler monkey, white-nosed coati, Baird's trogon, boat-billed heron and two-toed sloth. Following your visit to Carara, you continue to Manuel Antonio.
On your first full day in Manuel Antonio, you will have a guided walk of the national park to enjoy its idyllic beaches and lush rainforest and hopefully observe some of the wildlife that resides here. Manuel Antonio is usually an excellent location for both two-toed and three-toed sloth, but it is also possible to encounter northern tamandua, white-faced capuchin and mantled howler monkeys. In addition to the mammals, there are some excellent birds that can be seen here such as fiery-billed aracari, golden-naped woodpecker, ocelated piculet, white-necked jacobin and violet sabrewing.
The following day, you are free to spend as you wish and can choose to do one of the optional excursions available from your accommodation.
Tortuguero is a vast area of pristine rainforest on a remote stretch of Caribbean coast, where beaches, canals and wetlands create an astonishing biodiversity. Activities centre on boat trips through the freshwater creeks and lagoons. Green, hawksbill and leatherback turtles come ashore here to lay their eggs.
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Where: Limon Province
Ideal for viewing: Baird’s tapir, green turtle, spectacled caiman, spider monkey, three-toed sloth
This reserve is thought to be one of Central America’s finest protected areas. Weather from the Caribbean and Pacific creates a cloud forest ecosystem that is home to over 100 species of mammal, 400 birds, tens of thousands of insects (including 5,000 different moths) and 2,500 plants (including 420 varieties of orchid).
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Until 2010 Arenal was Costa Rica’s most active volcano. In recent times it has entered a period of quiescence, although you can still hear subterranean rumbles and see the odd ash column. The surrounding national park contains a bizarre landscape of solidified lava flows, lush forest and tropical flora and fauna.
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This national park protects the last noteworthy tract of primary rainforest in the Central Pacific region. Due to its proximity to the capital, it attracts a lot of visitors – both local and international. However, if you can avoid the crowds it has sufficient wildlife to impress the most avid enthusiast.
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Where: Central Pacific Region
Ideal for viewing: collared peccary, green and black poison arrow frog, scarlet macaw, white-faced capuchin, boat-billed heron
Costa Rica’s vibrant capital stands in the centre of the country at an elevation of around 1,200 metres. Home to the main international airport, it has the country’s pristine natural attractions on its doorstep. The downtown area is fairly small and has several interesting museums and parks.
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The country’s most visited national park covers a rocky peninsula and its hinterland, plus a large tract of Pacific Ocean. From trails along the rainforest-fringed beach, you can see copious wildlife, including Costa Rica’s only populations of endangered squirrel monkeys, as well as exploring the mangroves.
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Where: Puntarenas province
Ideal for viewing: brown pelican, brown throated three-toed sloth, Central American squirrel monkey, mantled howler monkey, white-faced capuchin monkey
Suggested accommodation options are shown below.
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for further recommendations.
Situated in the northeastern corner of Tortuguero, this pleasant lodge lies just a five minute boat trip from the main entrance to Tortuguero National Park. Surrounded by towering trees and exuberant tropical vegetation, it offers an ideal location from which to explore this unique area.
Find Out More about Evergreen Lodge
Hotel Arenal Springs is located just outside La Fortuna en route to Volcan Arenal National Park. Its 87 air-conditioned junior suites all have direct views of the volcano and are surrounded by exotic gardens. Bird lovers will delight in the 132 bird species that have been recorded within the hotel’s grounds.
Find Out More about Hotel Arenal Springs
Situated in a quiet suburb just north of San José, 25 minutes from the international airport and a mere 15 minutes from the city centre, this pleasant hotel makes a good base for exploring the Central Valley. Its extensive gardens are particularly beautiful and attract a variety of birds and frogs.
Find Out More about Hotel Bougainvillea
This rainforest ecolodge occupies an exclusive location on a narrow strip of land that lies between the Caribbean Sea and the main Tortuguero Lagoon. There is direct access to the sandy beach where, from mid-July until October, green sea turtles (amongst others) come ashore to deposit their eggs
Find Out More about Laguna Lodge
Located on the Central Pacific coast, this uniquely special spa resort and wildlife refuge overlooks the sparkling ocean from a series of lush terraces and exotic gardens on an idyllic jungle-clad hilltop near world-famous Manuel Antonio National Park, one of Costa Rica’s foremost protected areas.
Find Out More about Si Como No Resort
