Surf and turf, collide along Costa Rica’s Pacific coast as dense jungles rich in exotic wildlife lead to beautiful beaches and protected marine reserves on this tour that we’ve combined with the mountainous cloud forests.
Costa Rica's impossibly beautiful Pacific coastline includes the stunning Nicoya Peninsula, Manuel Antonio National Park and the thriving, productive Corcovado National Park on the Osa Peninsula. Extending over 1,000 kilometres in length, much of the coast of Costa Rica is protected and its vast sweeping bays host nesting turtles, its gulfs provide safe haven to migrating humpback whales and its reefs are home to an abundance of tropical fish.
Lush rainforest, literally teeming with flora and fauna lines the shore, and walking trails facilitate up close and personal encounters with a wealth of creatures in their natural habitat. Enjoy nature’s bounty as insect, reptile, amphibian and bird life is nothing short of prolific, not to mention spectacular. As no visit to the country is complete without experiencing the cloud forests and hanging bridges of Monteverde, Santa Elena and Bosque de Paz too, this all encompassing tailormade holiday showcases Costa Rica’s sunset side in all its glory.
Suggested Itinerary
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Day 1:
Fly to San José
Upon arrival in San Jose, you're privately transferred to your stunning overnight birding lodge, located between Juan Castro Blanco and Poás Volcano national parks, a journey of around 90 minutes.
Accommodation: Bosque de Paz Lodge, 1-night
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Days 2-3
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Visit Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve
After an early morning indulgence of watching hummingbirds crowd feeders around the lodge and perhaps a walk through the orchid garden, depart for the mystical shrouded cloud forests of Monteverde and Santa Elena, just a 4-hour transfer away. Crossing beautiful plains before ascending scenic, sinuous roads into the mountains, once ensconced in the overwhelming tranquillity of your lodge, wander through butterfly-filled gardens and explore moss and lichen-filled forest trails in this deeply atmospheric environment.
Join an included guided tour, walking through ethereal Santa Elena Forest Reserve, where your accompanying naturalist reveals all manner of life, plant and animal, secreted away in their verdant hideaways. There are a host of activities on offer here from the adventurous to canopy walks experiencing the famous hanging bridges.
Accommodation: Cloud Forest Lodge by Boena, 2-nights
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Days 4-5
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Explore Tamarindo
Costa Rica’s Pacific coast awaits, and the journey to Tamarindo takes in the region of four hours. Your time in this vibrant surfing and tourist centre on the Nicoya Peninsula is your own, and there’s plenty of wildlife to be found nearby. Palo Verde National Park is a birdwatcher’s paradise and at Las Baulas National Marine Park, take a river cruise in search of playful monkeys, sloth and caiman. Evening visits can also be arranged, as under cover of darkness, leatherback turtles come ashore between October and March to lay their eggs on the beach.
A wealth of activities can be organised here, think water sports, ziplining, volcano visits and waterfalls, or you may prefer to do a little less … hammocks and cocktails at sunset are perfectly acceptable!
Accommodation: Tamarindo Diria, 2-nights
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Days 6-7
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Manuel Antonio National Park
At Manuel Antonio National Park, another 4-hour drive away, vigorous, lush rainforest extends almost to the Pacific Ocean, culminating on glorious white powder sand beaches strewn with scuttling crabs and tree climbing iguanas.
The perfect location for nature lovers, search for passing migrating whales and let your tour guide uncover nature’s bounty on a walk through the park, checking leaf litter for frogs, reptiles and critters plus the canopy for sloth, primates and technicoloured birds including fiery-billed aracari and violet sabrewing.
During your free time, choose from another plethora of options including sea kayaking, horse riding, rafting and mangrove excursions.
Accommodation: Si Como No Resort & Wildlife Refuge, 2-nights
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Days 8-10
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Osa Peninsula & Corcovado National Park
Continue your travels down the Pacific Coast to the jewel in Costa Rica’s wildlife crown, the astounding and incredibly biodiverse, Osa Peninsula. Your remote wilderness lodge can only be accessed by boat, so sit back and search the mangroves and the ocean for marine life, as amazing things lie in store. A simply staggering amount of plant and animal life inhabits this wildlife mecca, and you search for it all on both land and at sea.
A guided visit, walking through Corcovado National Park, kick-starts proceedings, where you stop regularly to marvel and wonder at its myriad of terrestrial residents. These may include up to six feline species, tapir, anteaters, sloth, northern tamandua and a bewildering array of snakes, other reptiles, amphibians and arthropods. You’ll probably hear scarlet macaws before you see them, alongside a huge array of other feathery friends.
The aquatic environment is just as rich and en route to a snorkelling excursion at Caño Island Biological Reserve where tropical fish glide over and through impressive coral formations, take the opportunity to search for whales, dolphins, rays and turtles.
Accommodation: Casa Corcovado, 3-nights
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Day 11:
Fly from Drake Bay to San Jose
Return to San José today, travelling from your lodge initially by boat and then by air from Drake Bay to the capital. Upon arrival, you transfer to your overnight accommodation and the rest of the day is at leisure.
Accommodation: Hotel Bougainvillea, 1-night
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Day 12:
Depart San José
Most of the day is yours to do with as you wish before an overnight flight back to the UK.
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Day 13:
Arrive UK
