Costa Rica wildlife holiday
Our Costa Rica holiday takes you through wildlife-rich cloud forests, parks and mountain highlands, staying in a mix of small family-run accommodation and exemplary ecolodges which actively contribute to conserving the biodiverse forests they are set amongst.
Tortuguero Monteverde Arenal Volcano Zip wires Esquinas Ecolodge Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve Manuel Antonio National Park Piedras Blancas National Park Savegre Cloud Forest Turtle nesting (in season)
Price
£4449To£5649including UK flights
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More info
From £3299 - £4299 excluding flights.
Optional single supplement from £635 - £890.
Minimum age 16.
Optional single supplement from £635 - £890.
Minimum age 16.
Last minute
Late availability on these dates: 21 Sep, 28 Sep, 12 Oct, 26 Oct, 31 Oct, 02 Nov, 05 Nov, 14 Nov, 16 Nov, 21 Nov, 23 Nov, 26 Nov, 28 Nov, 30 Nov, 03 Dec, 14 Dec, 19 Dec, 21 Dec
Description of Costa Rica wildlife holiday
Immerse yourself amongst the ecosystems of Central America. This Costa Rica wildlife holiday will have you peering through the undergrowth in jungles, cloud forests and mangrove swamps, and checking out the beaches on both Pacific and Caribbean coastlines.
You'll hike in the realm of Arenal Volcano and stay overnight in a rainforest lodge in Piedras Blancas National Park. Trips to Monteverde and Savegre Cloud Forest help to make this Costa Rica wildlife holiday an incredibly exciting and immersive experience.
Costa Rica is blessed with an absolute abundance of animal action. You might see sloths, monkeys and toucans occupying rainforest canopies, whilst the green turtles of Tortuguero National Park make the most of protected beaches.
From hiking trails and boat journeys to free time and guided tours, this 16 day Costa Rica wildlife holiday provides the perfect introduction to the natural world of Central America.
Itinerary
| Day 1: | The group flight usually arrives into San Jose this evening. Land Only clients should aim to arrive at the hotel by 5pm so that you can meet your fellow travellers and tour leader, who will give you a warm welcome to Costa Rica. If you miss today’s welcome briefing, the tour leader will give you all relevant information on the morning of Day 2. Accommodation: Presidente Hotel (or similar) |
| Day 2: | Our adventure begins early this morning, leaving San José behind as we travel to the northeast of Costa Rica to Tortuguero National Park. Accessible only by boat or light aircraft, Tortuguero has a vast network of waterways, canals and swamps that is remarkably tranquil, unspoilt and devoid of noise pollution. On reaching the pier, we board a small motorboat for the journey to our lodge (up to 1hr 30min) , which is a short distance from the main lagoon. Please note the transfer from San José to Tortuguero is not private for our clients. Our afternoon is spent in Tortuguero village, where it’s possible to visit the Sea Turtle Museum (a donation will be requested at the entrance). Tortuguero is probably most famous as a nesting site for the endangered green turtle, which arrives onto the beach to lay eggs from late July to October (witness it as part of an optional excursion). Hawksbill, loggerhead and giant leatherback turtles also nest in this region. During November to January, baby turtles hatch and make their way towards the ocean. Today's travel time will be in the region of six hours including a break for breakfast. Accommodation: Laguna Lodge (or similar) |
| Day 3: | A morning boat trip enables us to discover the extraordinary flora and fauna of Tortuguero, passing serenely along the waterways. At this time of day, wildlife is usually at its most active, and with the help of our expert guide we are likely to encounter monkeys, caiman, iguanas, butterflies and many of the 300-plus bird species recorded here. The lodge is a tranquil spot to relax this afternoon if you want to take some time out to enjoy the facilities, or you can join a second boat trip or follow a short walking trail through the forest. Accommodation: Laguna Lodge (or similar) |
| Day 4: | We leave Tortuguero the same way we arrived by taking a small boat to the pier. Our bus will be at the pier waiting to drive us to the region of Arenal, passing huge banana, pineapple and sugar cane plantations on the way. Arenal was the most active volcano in Costa Rica until fairly recently when it entered a resting phase, and can no longer be seen spitting ash, smoke or lava. However, there is still a lot of geothermal activity in the area and you'll have the opportunity to visit one of the excellent hot springs this evening. In clear weather, there are great views of the volcano from our overnight base in the nearby town of La Fortuna. Today's travelling time is around 5hr 30min including a lunch stop. Accommodation: Arenal Montechiari (or similar) |
| Day 5: | This morning we take a short scenic hike within Arenal National Park, walking through secondary rainforest and seeing some of the lava fields from past eruptions. The high vantage points on this walk allow great views overlooking Lake Arenal, and the birdlife is plentiful. Waterfalls are abundant in the region of Arenal and we visit La Fortuna, a 213ft (65m) cascade plunging into an emerald pool. A short trail through the rainforest brings us to a relatively steep set of steps that we must descend to reach the waterfall and then ascend to the exit – the hike/climb takes around 20-30 minutes and is within the capabilities of anyone with reasonable fitness. Reward your efforts with a cooling dip in one of the natural pools punctuating the foliage. Alternatively, you could visit the lookout point and wait for the group. After lunch, the rest of day is at leisure to enjoy optional activities such as a chocolate tour or the exhilarating Ecoglide Zipline. Accommodation: Arenal Montechiari (or similar) |
| Day 6: | From Arenal we travel to the Tilaran Mountain Range in the central highlands for our first taste of a Costa Rican cloud forest. The journey provides breathtaking views of the Gulf of Nicoya and the islands below as we ascend the hills towards Monteverde, a forest-cloaked region whose name literally means Green Mountain. The high altitude supports a complex ecosystem where plants thrive, particularly orchids of which there are more than 400 varieties here. Today's drive is around four hours — the last 25mi (40km) of road is gravel and can be bumpy, particularly following heavy rain. Accommodation: Monteverde Country Lodge or Montaña Monteverde (or similar) |
| Day 7: | This morning we have a guided walk in Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve, one of the first community-managed reserves in Costa Rica and an area celebrated for its biodiversity. To this day, the reserve is managed by the Santa Elena High School with funds channelled into protecting the reserve and providing environmental education classes within the community. Thanks to its high elevation, Santa Elena is bathed in thick misty clouds, which support a huge range of flowers, ferns, mosses, vines and orchids. Birdlife thrives in the cloud forest with more 425 species recorded here. Santa Elena is also one of the best places to spot noisy howler monkeys swinging through the trees. In the afternoon it's possible to join an optional coffee tour to learn about the importance of this crop to the socio-economic development of the country or join a canopy tour to get a different view of the forest. Accommodation: Monteverde Country Lodge or Montaña Monteverde (or similar) |
| Day 8: | Our journey takes a southeasterly turn today as we follow the Pan-Am Highway along the coastline to Manuel Antonio, passing African oil palm and teak plantations on the way. Manuel Antonio National Park consists of a vast marine reserve as well as 1,700 acres (690ha) of mangrove swamp, primary and secondary rainforest. The forest vegetation stretches as far as the high-tide line and provides a stunning backdrop to the expansive sandy beaches, forested islands and dramatic rocky headlands. Our drive to Manuel Antonio takes around four hours (not including rest stops and lunch).We settle into our accommodation and, depending on our arrival time, can make use of the hotel’s facilities. Accommodation: Villa Bosque Hotel or San Bada Hotel (or similar) |
| Day 9: | A guided tour of Manuel Antonio National Park this morning should enable us to have close wildlife encounters. White-faced capuchin monkeys play in the trees and are frequently sighted on the beaches, while noisy howler monkeys are usually heard moving through the trees and calling to each other before they are seen. The endangered titi monkey (squirrel monkey) are fewer in number but can sometimes be spotted in this area. Iguanas, agouti and two- and three-toed sloths are also commonly sighted in the national park. Manuel Antonio's beaches rank among the most beautiful in the country and we have all afternoon to enjoy them or try one of the optional activities in this region. Please note that Manuel Antonio National Park is closed on Tuesdays. If your visit falls on a Tuesday, the timing of this activity will be adjusted so that you visit the park on the previous (or following) day and today will be at leisure to enjoy the many optional excursions of the region. Accommodation: Villa Bosque Hotel or San Bada Hotel (or similar) |
| Day 10: | Travel four hours south towards Golfito, a relatively wild and undiscovered region. The dense jungle here has hardly been explored or researched. The next two nights are spent in the beautiful Esquinas Rainforest Lodge set in the heart of primary rainforest and bordered by the Piedras Blancas National Park and Golfito Nature Reserve. The lodge was originally financed by the government of Austria as a project combining forest research, development aid, and nature conservation. Most employees are local and profits are used to help with projects in the nearby village. This afternoon we discover our peaceful surroundings and search for the abundant bird and insect life that resides here. Accommodation: Esquinas Rainforest Lodge (or similar) |
| Day 11: | Hike through the rainforest this morning with your guide and experience all the sights and sounds of the jungle. During this activity we are likely to see snakes, monkeys and maybe sloths. This hike can be quite slippery after rainfall but is a real highlight and well worth the effort. This afternoon has been left free for optional activities — delve deeper into the forest on a network of trails departing directly from the lodge, or simply relax by the pool. In the evening you can join a night walk around the Esquinas trails in search of nocturnal species (optional, no charge). Accommodation: Esquinas Rainforest Lodge (or similar) |
| Day 12: | Our journey takes a northwesterly turn through San Isidro and up and over the Cerro de la Muerte mountain range to our next destination, the Savegre Valley, around a 4hr 30min drive from Golfito (not including stops). The cloud forest of Savegre is said to be one of the best places in Costa Rica to see the beautiful, colourful and notoriously shy resplendent quetzal and we have two nights here to discover the region. These endangered birds rely on the cloud forest for their habitat — the males in particular are striking with a green crest, red breast and tail feathers that can reach a metre long. A good pair of binoculars will be helpful for quetzal spotting as these birds camouflage themselves well among the wet leaves of the forest. In the afternoon, we take a short walk from our lodge into the cloud forest. Accommodation: Savegre Hotel & Spa or Trogon Lodge (or similar) |
| Day 13: | Today is free to relax and explore Savegre Valley. Bring your binoculars to spot some of the 170 bird species, trek through the tropical cloud forest or simply enjoy the incredible view from the lodge. Your leader will suggest walks for today so you can discover the tropical cloud forest and sub-Andean vegetation of the area. Accommodation: Savegre Hotel & Spa or Trogon Lodge (or similar) |
| Day 14: | Visit the Copey valley this morning to step momentarily into the agricultural lives of those living in the highlands of the Central Mountain Range. We take a short walk through this picturesque area, stopping for a typical lunch prepared for us by a local family - sure to give a memorable touch of Costa Rican hospitality. A 2hr 30min journey takes us back to San José, where there is time to explore the modern capital. Accommodation: Presidente Hotel (or similar) |
| Day 15: | The trip comes to an end today after breakfast, and it's time to bid Costa Rica and the rest of the group goodbye. Free transfers to San Jose airport are available to all clients today. |
| Day 16: | Arrive London. |
Map
Price information
£4449To£5649including UK flights
Convert currency:
From £3299 - £4299 excluding flights.
Optional single supplement from £635 - £890.
Minimum age 16.
Optional single supplement from £635 - £890.
Minimum age 16.
Check dates, prices & availability
Travel guides
Little Costa Rica is an adventure playground on an enormous scale. Adventurers can negotiate its rain and cloud forests on foot, horseback, mountain b...
Holiday information
Small group tour, ideal for solos & couples:
Small group travel is not large group travel scaled down. It is modeled on independent travel – but with the advantage of a group leader to take care of the itinerary, accommodation and tickets, and dealing with the language. It’s easy to tick off the big sights independently – but finding those one-off experiences, local festivals, travelling markets and secret viewpoints is almost impossible for someone without the insider knowledge gained from years in the field. For those with limited time, a small group tour will save valuable time in planning, and on holiday.
Our top tip:
This tour is fast-paced, so pack light. But do bring warm layers – the cloud forest gets chilly at night.
Trip type:
Small group tour, min. age 16.
Activity level:
Leisurely – included and optional walks of up to 2-3 hours.
Accomm:
Small hotels and ecolodges – many family run, often with pools.
Solos:
Solo travellers welcome. Single rooms available with surcharge.
Included:
Lodging, transport, transfers, listed activities. Flights if booked.
Meals:
Buffet-style breakfasts, 8 lunches, 6 dinners.
Citizen science:
A few departures each year include citizen science projects. These special departures offer you the opportunity to be involved in the collection of freshwater samples during the trip. The environmental DNA information derived from this sample will contribute directly to the eBioAtlas; the world's largest repository of flora and fauna species data, contributing to the conservation and restoration of biodiversity both locally and globally. To book onto one of these special departures, please ask for more information.
Indigenous communities:
This trip benefits various indigenous communities in Costa Rica by supporting education and local development. Through the Costa Rican Association of Tour Operators, the trip contributes school supplies to children and teenagers in indigenous communities, enhancing their educational opportunities. Additionally, travellers have the opportunity to support local schools in Copey by gifting educational supplies, with the cost included in the tour package.
Reviews
41 Reviews of Costa Rica wildlife holiday
4.5 out of 5 stars
In depth story review
“It’s not like looking out at your garden at home. You have nice birds, of course, but you just don’t have the colours that you have in Costa Rica. ”
Learn more about this itinerary in Responsible Travel's interview with Stephen Lindsay, a traveller on this tripRead full interview
Reviewed on 23 May 2024 by Deborah Ehrenberg
13 out of 10!...The boat tours at Tortuguero, the cloud forest at Monte Verde (including the optional hanging bridges and zip wire excursions) the optional mangrove tour at Manuel Antonio, and staying at Esquinas - all in terms of spending time soaking up, understanding more and appreciating the different types of rainforest and ecosystems and their flora and fauna. Read full reviewReviewed on 31 Jan 2024 by Nikki Hancock
It was an amazing experience and a holiday too. We fell in love with Costa Rica, its people, food, and wildlife. Tortuguero was amazing and we got up really close to a sloth. The 13 zip lines were exhilarating and the monkeys, iguanas and beach at Manuel Antonio were all high points. Too many high points really! Read full reviewReviewed on 17 Jun 2024 by Renate Nahum
[The most memorable was] our guide Randall Obsney who knows everything about botany, animals, birds and humans! - Very good! Read full reviewReviewed on 28 Jan 2024 by Stella Jales
Excellent. A very different place to the UK. It was lovely to walk in the tropical forest and see the massive trees as well as spot the local animals although a bit too focused on the birds for those of us who were not 'bird watchers'. Great to meet local people on the chocolate and coffee plantations we visited. The accommodation was excellent and clean. Read full reviewReviewed on 28 May 2023 by Angie Rickard
10 out of 10! Johnny the guide is the best!!!! And Victor the driver was excellent and safe. The accomodations were great, meal options very good, lots of free time to go wandering.....and so much wildlife! Read full reviewReviewed on 05 Dec 2022 by Janie Hermans
Probably the best holiday for seeing so much nature and wildlife in different regions of Costa Rica. A lot of variable landscapes and you get to see so much of the country. Absolutely the best memorable holiday ever!!! Read full reviewReviewed on 22 Aug 2022 by Loris McEwan
Viewing all the wildlife, Seeing the Resplendent Quetzal and watching the Green Sea Turtles coming up the beach, making the nests, laying the eggs and covering up the eggs before going back to the sea... Excellent. Read full reviewReviewed on 15 Mar 2020 by Peter Linecar
Excellent. Would not hesitate to recommend the operator. Read full reviewReviewed on 12 Mar 2020 by Judith Barford
The holiday was great and our guide was brilliant. He knew so much about the wildlife and plants and trees and also gave us some history to the developments in Costa Rica. He was friendly and respectful and really made the holiday. The landscape did the rest. Read full reviewReviewed on 27 Jan 2020 by Helen Roberts
Fantastic. We all fell in love with Costa Rica and its Pura Vida. I have wanted to visit for many, many years and I was not disappointed. Read full reviewReviewed on 16 Feb 2020 by Alan Lees
The most memorable part of the holiday was river boat trip at Tortuguero which enabled close encounters with birds and animals.. Read full reviewReviewed on 14 Apr 2019 by Tim Graham
One of the best we have ever had. The whole trip was memorable for two main reasons – the variety of scenery and the superb wildlife. Read full reviewReviewed on 27 Feb 2019 by Paula Cooke
Included memories are - Spider monkeys swinging jumping above us to reach the trees on opposite side of jungle river, finding red eyed tree frogs at night... an incredible display by the resplendent quetzal during a courting session Read full reviewReviewed on 25 Feb 2019 by Jean Thirkettle
The stay at Laguna Lodge was an amazing start with river trips and accommodation overlooking the river. Seeing Sloths close up and watching the antics of the capuchin monkeys was fun. Read full reviewReviewed on 21 Feb 2019 by Judith Dean
Where to start? The boat trips around the waterways of Tortuguero, the beach in the Manuel Antonio National Park, the Esquinas experience and having amazing views of Resplendent quetzals. Read full reviewReviewed on 02 Sep 2018 by Lee Truong
I had a great time! We had a great mix of personalities within our group, saw plenty of wildlife and ate lots of great food. Read full reviewReviewed on 28 May 2018 by Alan Nunn
The great diversity of this country, the climate and geographical changes, together with the plants, birds and mammals. Read full reviewReviewed on 15 May 2018 by Chris Schaefer
The highlight was Tortuguero National Park. An excellent trip; travelling for circa 3 to 4 hours every other day was acceptable and allowed approximately a day and a half at each new location. Guide was well informed, articulate and considerate. Read full reviewReviewed on 04 Apr 2018 by Andrew Newbold
Opportunity to see a wide range of wildlife in a good range of varied habitats. Facilitated by an excellent guide. Read full reviewReviewed on 06 Mar 2018 by Julie Taylor
The range of places, experiences and wildlife that we saw was the highlight. Outstanding. Read full reviewReviewed on 26 Feb 2018 by Hazel Nelson
The highlight was staying at Esquinas Lodge. Seeing 2 and 3 toed sloths, several different monkeys and masses of colourful birds. Excellent holiday! Read full reviewReviewed on 20 Mar 2018 by Jennifer Anderson
Despite it being the dry season, the colours, landscapes and sounds of Costa Rica were a continuing delight. So many birds, mammals, reptiles and interesting ecosystems to discover. Read full reviewReviewed on 19 Mar 2018 by Barry Singer
This trip includes walks through various forests; coastal, mountain, cloud forests and volcanos, and each was a wonderful experience. Both my wife and I had a wonderful, educational, and healthy trip. At the end we wanted to do it all over again. Read full reviewReviewed on 14 Dec 2017 by Stephen Lindsay
It was truly memorable, superbly organised and our guide Johnny Villalobos was absolutely brilliant. We stayed in 6 lodges in around the major National Parks plus San Jose, the capital. Read full reviewReviewed on 06 Apr 2017 by Alan Scarisbrick
Seeing a quetzal bird at close quarters was the highlight. Excellent trip. Read full reviewReviewed on 24 Mar 2017 by Alan Hunton
Seeing wildlife close-up and in wonderful country. Read full reviewReviewed on 07 Feb 2017 by Sandy Bagnall
The vast wealth of wildlife in this beautiful country and the ability and skill of our guide to find it ... and the abiding memory is the sound of a rainforest with all the insects, cicadas, and frogs and birds - day and night - continuous - MEMORABLE!! A lovely holiday, a beautiful country, welcoming people, an excellent guide. Read full reviewReviewed on 03 Oct 2016 by Steve Clements
The whole experience was mind blowing but I guess seeing a Sloth on the first day's lunch stop has to be the one (of the highlights). Read full reviewReviewed on 22 Feb 2016 by Duncan Priddle
Great variety of eco-lodge type locations enabled great wildlife watching. Playa blancas area favourite location. Read full reviewReviewed on 14 Feb 2016 by teresa yates
A wonderful experience with a good group of people Read full reviewReviewed on 10 Nov 2016 by Martyn Todd
The natural landscapes and forests along with the different mammals and birdlife. Resplenent Quetzal say no more!! Read full reviewReviewed on 08 Oct 2015 by Ursula Stanton
Staying in Tortuguera and floating down the canals thru the jungle watching birds, monkeys and iguanas. Read full reviewReviewed on 25 Apr 2015 by wendy O Brien
A wonderfully diverse trip visiting lots of different areas of Costa Rica seeing lots of different ecosystems and wildlife. Read full reviewResponsible Travel
As the pioneers of responsible tourism, we've screened this (and every) holiday so that you can travel knowing we've worked to maximise the benefits of your holiday to local people and places, and minimise any negative impacts.
Planet
Accommodation and Meals:We spend two weeks in a combination of hotels and eco-lodges around Costa Rica. We use fairly small, family run and locally staffed establishments which ensures that we are benefiting local communities. Our local operator is a leading member of the Rainforest Alliance and has been awarded a "4 Leaf" award from the Costa Rican Tourism Institute for their sustainable tourism practice & dedication to improving standards. An example of eco-friendly accommodation on this trip is the Esquinas Rainforest Lodge, a model project combining conservation, environmental research and community development in a rural area. It is 100 % carbon neutral and helps to fund local healthcare and education.
Activity:
Being a wildlife based tour, we are very conscious of our effects on the environment and how we can reduce negative impact and aid conservation. On this trip we visit national and private parks, including the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve, one of the first community-managed reserves in the country. Entrance fees directly support conservation efforts in the areas we visit. Our activity also benefits the rural village of Copey, which is nestled in the highlands of the Central Mountain Range. By passing through this area, seeing how the locals live and work and having lunch in a typical home, we are encouraging cultural exchange and providing valuable avenues of income here.
UK Office:
It all starts at home so we have first worked at reducing our carbon footprint in our UK Offices. Through energy conservation measures and recycling policies, we are proud to be actively reducing the waste produced and our impact on the environment. We support various projects all over the world to try and give something back to the places we visit.
People
Charity:Last January we contributed school supplies though the Costa Rican Association of Tour Operators (ACOT). We organised the donation of school packages to children and teenagers in indigenous communities (Dueri, Cerro Alto, Tolok Saku, Jamaikiri, Tsinikicha, Mata de Limón, San Miguel, Gandoca and Yorkin). If guests would like, they are also able to support local schools by delivering a gift of educational supplies when we visit Copey area on this tour. The cost of this is included in the full price of the tour. In terms of environmental charity, we give a monetary donation on a monthly basis to the Organisation for Tropical Studies.
Group Size:
This small group tour has a maximum of 16 participants, meaning that we have a low impact on the environments and communities we visit and are able to ensure that we do not disrupt or lead to the displacement of local people. The small number also allows us to stay in unique, family-run hotels that cannot benefit from coach tours and other mass tourism due to their limited sizes.
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