Costa Rica – Wildlife, Volcanoes & National Parks

Touch down this evening in Costa Rica’s vibrant capital, San José, where you’ll meet your friendly, local tour manager before heading to your central hotel. After checking in, you’ll have the rest of the evening at leisure to find dinner locally and relax. 

After breakfast, put on your most comfortable shoes as a full day of adventuring awaits. Your first stop is the spectacular Poás Volcano National Park in the Central Valley region. This popular park is home to two craters – one of which is active and contains a striking blue-green lagoon that emits a unique sulphurous gas and the other encompasses cold water. You’ll get the chance to walk around the edge of the main crater, which is easily accessible by a paved path while taking in the park’s plethora of wildlife. Visits are subject to restrictions or at times cancellations given the volcano’s activity. 

Next up is Doka Estate, a coffee plantation covering the fertile slopes of the Poás Volcano – an ideal setting for producing high-quality coffee beans. An expert connoisseur will lead you around the property, pausing to share stories of the family who owns it, as well as the production, harvesting and roasting processes. The tour will then break for an included lunch at the estate. 

Return to San José this afternoon for a guided sightseeing tour around the city’s most impressive areas. Drive through the city’s downtown to La Sabana Metropolitan Park, nicknamed ‘the lungs of San José’ by locals, before continuing through its historic neighbourhoods. Admire the exquisite 19th-century architecture as your tour guide highlights the enduring impact of Spanish colonialism on Costa Rica and the cultural similarities the two countries now share. Stop at the city’s famous Plaza de la Cultura, a bustling public square, which is home to the elegant National Theatre building and Museum of pre-Columbian Gold. You’ll have the chance to view these fascinating buildings from the outside, while your guide outlines their historical importance, before continuing on foot down the pedestrianised Central Avenue, with its thriving collection of markets and museums.  

Later on, return to your hotel for the evening and find dinner locally.  

As you leave San José behind, enjoy the country’s tropical wild spaces as the coach passes through the dense jungle stretches of Braulio Carrillo National Park. With a road winding right through the centre of this protected reserve, Braulio Carrillo offers a unique wildlife-spotting experience.  

This afternoon, arrive in Tortuguero and board a boat for a two-hour coastal sailing to your next hotel, the secluded Pachira Lodge. Passing along Tortuguero’s wildlife-rich backwaters, your guide will highlight your first few sightings of the local fauna, both on the land and in the water, before arriving at your lodge.  

Nestled in the heart of Tortuguero National Park, this exquisite property offers a truly immersive jungle stay and is only accessible by boat or by air. Settle in for an introductory talk from your new hosts, which will outline your activities over the next few days, before tucking into a hearty lunch.  

Later this afternoon, you’ll step back aboard your boat for a visit to a neighbouring village. Here, you’ll learn about the villagers’ remote lifestyles and the efforts made by local communities to promote conservation and protect Tortuguero’s essential coastal breeding grounds from disruption and habitat loss. Pay a visit to the village’s Sea Turtle Conservancy Centre, the oldest of its kind in Costa Rica, where you’ll uncover the vital research and animal welfare projects undertaken throughout the group’s 65-year history. As you explore the centre, you’ll gain valuable insight into the tracking and protection of these enchanting creatures. 

As the sun begins to set over the Atlantic Coast, head back across the waters to your hotel for dinner.

After your first taste of Tortuguero’s magnificent aquatic ecosystems, head out after breakfast for a full day’s exploration by boat.  

Cruise along the shoreline for another chance to catch a glimpse of the native sea turtles, which are most active between July and September, before delving deeper into the canals which line the park’s lush rainforest stretches. The day’s highlight will be the marine species that thrive in the park’s waterways and your expert guide will be on hand to point out the finer details of their aquatic habitats, so you don’t miss a thing.  

After a captivating time on the canals, return to the lodge for lunch before rejoining your guide for a second excursion into the park. Traverse the park’s coastal lagoon stopping for an even closer look at the elusive species that inhabit it. Have your binoculars at the ready for sightings of the region’s smaller creatures, from the poison dart frog and basilisk lizards to the three-toed sloths. 

Returning to the hotel this evening, enjoy the rest of the evening at your own pace, perhaps with a cocktail by the poolside. You can also opt to enjoy a guided walk around the lodge’s secluded grounds before dinner is served.  

Please note: Tours departing in 2027 will not take part in a second water safari and will have more time to explore the lodge's nature trails instead.

Have breakfast before cruising along the coast to Caño Blanco. From here, you’ll trace a scenic route to Sarapiqui. Along the way, you’ll call at Guapiles, a bustling town surrounded by cloud forests and thermal springs, where you’ll have lunch. Continue north into the breath-taking Sarapiquis Valley, a region known for its colonial-era plantations and migratory birdlife.  

As you go, enjoy views of the rural communities interspersed with wilderness and vast mountain peaks. Pause en route at a local family-run farm, where you’ll be introduced to its unusual but lucrative crop – the heart of palm. Learn about the daily challenges of farming in Sarapiqui and Costa Rica’s history of palm harvesting. Enjoy a few traditional snacks, made with the freshly harvested heart of palm, and discover the intricate processes involved in its farming before reboarding your coach.  

Upon arrival, check into the Selva Verde Lodge and Reserve, and relax for the evening. With vast jungle walkways lining the resort’s grounds, you can enjoy a leisurely evening walk, taking in the surrounding bush. Later on, enjoy dinner at the lodge's restaurant.

This morning, have breakfast at the lodge and get your walking boots on before heading out for a stroll through the Selva Verde’s private reserve in the company of an expert naturalist. Embrace the sounds and sights of the Costa Rican rainforest as you meander along its colourful woodland trails and keep an eye out for animal tracks and movement in the bush. Spot the local birdlife and monkeys above as your guide offers fascinating insights into the rich biodiversity and balance of these ecosystems.  

After an enchanting morning stroll, find lunch (on your account) and return to the lodge for the rest of the day on your own time. If you’d prefer a more active afternoon, you can choose to join one of the lodge’s optional activities. From visits to the nearby Chilamate village, with its pineapple and banana plantations, to an interactive experience at the lodge’s conservation centre, you’ll have plenty of choices. This evening, you'll be free to find dinner at leisure.  

Leave Sarapiqui, after breakfast at the lodge, and drive west to Arenal’s glorious volcanic landscapes and hot springs.  

On the way, stop at the Puente de las Iguanas, a footbridge located in dense bamboo woodland, which is a popular spot for iguana sightings. Snap a few well-timed photos before reboarding your coach for the final stretch of your journey.  

Arrive in Arenal later this afternoon and have the rest of the evening at leisure at the resort, based in a stunning private reserve on the edge of Arenal’s impressive crater-strewn national park. After a busy day travelling, you can unwind in the sauna or take a dip in its outdoor Jacuzzi.  

Spend this morning as you wish, starting with a leisurely breakfast at the resort. You’ll then have free rein of the resort’s stellar facilities, including its tennis courts, swimming pools, fitness suites and sauna, and can also join one of the exciting optional activities on offer. Alternatively, you’ll also have the chance to walk the hotel’s private trails alongside a local guide, taking in views of Arenal’s volcanic peaks, jungle springs and cratered landscapes.  

Later this afternoon, you’ll explore the spectacular calderas and volcanic rock that line the base of the imposing Arenal Volcano. Along this walk, witness a different side to Costa Rica’s stunning natural world with panoramic views over the now-dormant fissures. On your way back, embrace Arenal’s magmatic landscapes with a stop at a nearby hot springs resort, where you can bathe in its thermal waters ahead of dinner back at the hotel.  

Enjoy a treat today with a guided tour of a neighbouring chocolate plantation. Witness the role that local farmers play in transforming the humble cocoa bean into one of the world’s favourite snacks and the cultural significance cacao holds in Costa Rican culture. This decadent crop, once sacred to the country’s native tribes, had previously been used in ceremonial rites, traditional medicines and as currency for bartering before it was discovered by European settlers.  

With expert knowledge available throughout, you can explore the plantation and engage with the people who tend the pods. Discover the finer details of cacao farming, watch the fermentation process first-hand and immerse yourself in the plantation’s colourful history. You can also try your hand at some of the daily tasks around the farm, from harvesting cacao pods to getting hands-on with the chocolate-making process. No plantation visit would be complete without a thorough tasting, and you’ll have the chance to savour the delicate flavours of a range of chocolate products before leaving.  

Back at the lodge this afternoon, you’ll have the rest of the day at leisure. Alternatively, you can also join an optional afternoon visit to the spectacular La Fortuna waterfall. Pack a bathing suit and board a coach for the short drive into the foothills of the dormant Chato Volcano before stopping at La Fortuna town, renowned for its distinctive terrain and tropical climate. With entry to the waterfalls being dedicated to the local communities’ Development Association, you’ll also be supporting projects in Arenal from the upkeep of an orphanage to the maintenance of roads. From here, you’ll take a gentle downhill hike into the rainforest, accompanied by a local guide, where you can spot the bright-billed toucans and orioles that nest in its canopy. Coming to the bottom of the falls, you’ll find a natural pool, perfect for a refreshing dip, and stop on its banks for a swim. 

This evening, reconvene for dinner at the hotel.  

Bid volcanic Arenal farewell after breakfast this morning before setting off on a scenic drive to glorious Monteverde, home to a wealth of cloud forests. Trace the boundaries of Arenal National Park, taking in a few last glimpses of its alpine landscapes. Heading further west, you’ll then come to the charming town of Santa Elena, which guards the entrance to the region’s famous cloud forests.  

Upon arrival, check into your hilltop resort before setting out to find lunch. This afternoon, you’ll be free to settle in at the hotel before making your way down to Santa Elena’s charming town centre, renowned for its cheese-making, for a brief guided tour. Enjoy a tasting of the region’s local cheeses at one of the village shops before heading back up to your resort.  

This evening, enjoy dinner at the hotel.  

One of your tour’s unforgettable highlights awaits this morning with a guided walk into Monteverde’s Cloud Forest Reserve. A well-known conservation area in Central America, this tropical rainforest garnered the name ‘Cloud Forest’ because of its high altitude, 

Accompanied by one of the reserve’s expert guides, pass over the region’s famous hanging bridges, which line the forest’s canopies, and enjoy up-close sightings of the diverse fauna that live atop the trees. With much of the cloud forests’ wildlife residing in the canopy, you can spot even its rarest species, including quetzals and agile hummingbirds.  

Return to the lodge in the early afternoon, enjoy lunch ahead of the rest of the day at your own pace. You’ll also have the chance to venture out on a raft of optional activities, ranging for a conservation-focused tour of a local sloth sanctuary to a range of incredible wildlife encounters in the Curi Cancha rainforest by night.  

For a glimpse into the daily goings-on of Monteverde’s conservation centres, consider joining an optional tour of a local sloth sanctuary, which helps to rescue, rehabilitate and reintroduce sloths into their natural habitats. Discover the centre’s long history in Monteverde and the commitments they’ve made to protect and preserve sloth habitats against deforestation with a guided tour and spot its 20 stress-free residents as they slowly navigate the treetops. The sanctuary is home to both three-toed and two-toed sloths and their expert keepers will be on hand to point out the nuanced differences between their behaviours, appearance and diets. After an unforgettable exploration of the centre, taking in unrestricted views of Costa Rica’s easy-going national animals, head back to your Monteverde resort.  

Inspired by this morning’s canopy walk, you’ll also have the chance to further explore the Monteverde Cloud Forests from above on an optional gondola ride to the top of Monteverde’s namesake mountain. Stepping aboard a specially designed gondola, you’ll have the chance to take in 360-degree views of the reserve’s most impressive sights. While aboard, your route will take you up Monteverde’s steep mountain ascent and you can enjoy birds-eye views of the mist-shrouded canopy below as draw closer to its peak. After arriving at the summit, you’ll be treated to panoramic views over Costa Rica’s spectacular natural stretches and will see the Continental Divide, which separates Costa Rica’s Pacific and Atlantic habitats, first-hand. Afterwards, set off back down the mountain aboard your gondola for more thrilling views before returning to your hotel. 

As night falls, there is also an option to head into the Monteverde’s neighbouring Curi Cancha woodland for a wildlife-spotting excursion with a difference – under the cover of darkness. Using animal-friendly red lights to guide your way, you’ll experience the animal kingdom’s nocturnal species. Your expert naturalist will point out the trails, tracks and unique behaviours of the creatures that come out when the sun goes down, and will outline the adaptations that allow them to thrive in the darkness. Keep your senses sharp, and you might spot the sounds and shadows of animals moving in the bush! After a truly unique experience of Curi Cancha’s nocturnal ecosystems, return to the hotel for the evening. 

However you choose to spend your evening, reconvene at the lodge for your last overnight stay in Monteverde.  

Travel to Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast this morning, with breakfast at the hotel, before boarding a coach for the journey west.  

Along the way, you’ll take a brief photo stop at the Tarcoles River, which boasts the one of highest crocodile populations in the world, and admire its winding banks and abundant birdlife. Not only is the Tarcoles a haven for amphibious and avian wildlife, but it also irrigates a wide range of agricultural areas along its 69-mile route. 

Continue west ahead of a visit to Carara National Park, which translates to the ‘River of Lizards’ in the native Huetar language. This spectacular woodland refuge is the only transitional forest in the Central Pacific, which allows both the temperate flora of the rainforest and the dense tropical woodland of the more northerly dry forest to thrive. Carara therefore boasts some of the richest biodiversity in South America, supporting both Mesoamerican and Amazonian habitats, and you’ll be able to see it all with the help of your expert guide. 

Carara is also a birdwatchers’ haven, with thousands of nature enthusiasts flocking to its woodland trails every year, and the national park features some of the rarest and most impressive avian species. As you wander through the park, your guide will explain the intriguing behaviours and quirks of the creatures you come across, highlighting the breath-taking diversity of Costa Rica’s natural world.  

After a memorable excursion, you’ll reboard your coach for the final leg of your journey to the final hotel, set at the heart of beachfront Manuel Antonio, where you’ll check in and enjoy dinner. 

After breakfast this morning, visit Manuel Antonio National Park, just a short drive away.  

Though it’s the nation’s smallest nature reserve, Manuel Antonio remains one of Costa Rica’s most popular, with its rainforest and beaches housing a truly impressive array of unique ecosystems. As you enter the park’s towering woodland, you’ll be surrounded by some of the most populous natural stretches in the country, and your guide will detail the reasons why the reserve has such a high concentration of animals.  

Scan the tree trunks as you walk for sightings of white-faced monkeys, three-toed sloths and common basilisks, or turn your attention to the forest floor for the park’s inquisitive local coatis. Manuel Antonio is also one of the world’s few remaining habitats of the endangered squirrel monkey and if you’re lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of these reclusive creatures. After an exploration of the reserve, retreat to Manuel Antonio’s pristine beaches for a swim, backed by rocky headlands.  

This afternoon, you'll be free to find dinner (on your account). 

A final day at leisure awaits this morning and you’ll have one more chance to tick off any remaining wish-list experiences on Costa Rica’s glorious Pacific Coast. You’ll have the entire day free to unwind at your hotel, the La Fortuna Nature Resort, admiring its 14 hectares of private rainforest from the trails or perhaps with a cocktail or two by the poolside.  

If you’d prefer a more relaxing day, consider calling at Manuel Antonio’s glorious white-sand beaches, for a perfect end to your Costa Rican adventure on the country’s idyllic Pacific Coast.  

Alternatively, having explored Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast by land, you’ll have the chance to experience its stunning marine wildlife with an optional catamaran cruise. Step aboard your boat in Manuel Antonio’s innovative Marina Pez Vela after a walk along the boardwalk and head south out to sea. Charting a course along Manuel Antonio National Park’s glittering shoreline, you’ll get to appreciate just how much of the area remains covered by jungle thicket and will have plenty of chances to spot the nests of its native and migratory birds. Watch the waters as you go, and you might catch a glimpse of the local dolphins, which can be seen year-round across the bay, or pods of migratory whales as they break the surface. You can also spot a wealth of impressive birds, both ashore and on the water, including the pelagic Brown Booby and the magnificent Frigatebird. As you glide across the coast, your expert local guides will point out the finer details of the region’s marine wildlife and the intricate balance of its aquatic ecosystems. 

After a few fascinating wildlife-spotting opportunities above the surface, you’ll have the chance to dive below and witness the world beneath the waves with a snorkelling experience near the bay’s colourful coral reefs. Home to parrotfish, starfish, angelfish, and dolphins there’ll be no shortage of captivating sights underwater. Stepping back aboard the catamaran, you’ll be served a hearty buffet lunch and will have a few final moments to savour Costa Rica’s coastal treasures. Afterwards, head back to shore for the return trip back to the hotel. 

Reconvene at the hotel for dinner and a last overnight stay this evening. 

Have breakfast, check out of the hotel and travel to Juan Santamaria airport for your return flight.  

Touch down in the UK this morning at the end of your wildlife adventure.