Costa Rica Wildlife Discovery

Day 1

Arrive in San José and transfer to your hotel.

You will be met at the airport by our local representative who will take you to your hotel in the capital.

Stay at - Presidente

Day 2

Fly to Tortuguero National Park.

Take a short flight from San Jose to Tortuguero National Park on the Caribbean coast for a couple of days most rewarding wildlife-spotting. On arrival at the local airstrip, you take a 5-minute boat ride across the river to your lodge. This is true wilderness: it isn’t the Caribbean of resort hotels, sugary beaches and piña coladas.

Stay at - Tortuga Lodge

Day 3

Wildlife spotting excursion in Tortuguero.

Set off on a wildlife adventure on a guided boat trip through the mangrove forest of Tortuguero National Park, now one of the last protected areas of tropical rainforest in Central America, with 11 different natural habitats and a huge range of endemic wildlife, much of which can be spotted as you glide through the water. There are 3 species of monkeys (Spider, Howler, and White-faced), Three-toed sloths, and River otters are often seen along the natural inland waterways and canals.

Caimans, iguanas, river turtles, lizards and poison-dart frogs inhabit the area, along with over 320 species of birds including 3 of toucan and 8 of parrot.

The park was originally intended to conserve a major nesting beach of the Atlantic green sea turtle and although less frequent these days you can see leatherbacks too . Visit the nearby turtle museum to gather some information about the nesting cycle of these ancient reptiles. In season, take a night-time walk along the moonlit beach, and search for turtles and their eggs. In season you will have the opportunity to request a private guided turtle observation expedition: if you travel between June and October you might be lucky enough to see them laying their eggs. ( Please ask one of our experts for details)

You’ll also have a guided tour of Tortuguero village including a visit to the Caribbean Conservation Corporation Museum. Flanked by rivers and waterways on one side and Caribbean beach on the other, this faraway village serves as a sleepy hub for visitors to the area, human and otherwise.

Stay at - Tortuga Lodge

Day 4

Fly to Arenal.

Fly to La Fortuna in a Cessna (or equivalent) light aircraft: a 30-minute airborne adventure where you skim over the countryside with volcano views. Land at a small airstrip and continue by road to your hotel.

At 1,674m, Arenal is an impressive conical volcano dominating the surroundings. These days, lava flow and volcanic eruptions are infrequent and there has not been any significant activity since 2010. However, as seismic activity is often unpredictable the situation may change by the time you travel. Even without any recent volcanic activity, the region is still considered to be one of the highlights of a visit to Costa Rica.

Stay at - Arenal Manoa

Day 5

Excursion to Arenal Volcano & Guided excursion to the Ecotermales hot springs.

The 225-hectare El Silencio Private Reserve is a short drive from La Fortuna and offers a selection of hiking trails in the foothills of Arenal Volcano. Accompanied by a guide who will tell you all about the area’s history and geology, you’ll follow the 1km Lava Field’s trail which climbs up to a viewpoint overlooking the volcano. Although very short, the trail is quite steep in places and generally uneven due to the black jagged rocks which once exploded out of the volcano, most notably in 1968.

In the afternoon there’s an excursion to the hot springs at Ecotermales. These waters provide a more off-the-beaten-track experience than their better-known and more overcrowded cousins. Set well back from the road that runs between the lake and the town of La Fortuna, the farm has only recently been opened to the general public. The springs, five free-flowing pools set in a natural river gorge, vary in temperature from 38ºC to 43ºC depending on the pool.

Stay at - Arenal Manoa

Day 6

Wildlife spotting in Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge

A day trip in the Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge. This remote reserve near the Nicaraguan border is a lowland forested wetland set up to protect migratory birds. It has become renowned for opportunities to observe water-associated birds, especially during migrations.

You’ll be picked up by your bilingual guide and taken to the small town of Los Chiles to begin your nature cruise. It’s an enchanting 3hr boat trip up the Río Frío through the reserve to Caño Negro lake, a shallow overflow from the river in the wet season (it’s dry in March-April).  In the months of July-November the reserve acts as a wintering site for migrant American birds. During the dry season the water level steadily falls, until all that is left is the Río Frío’s main channel. Most birds make their appearance at this time. These include the Glossy ibis, Black-necked stilt, American widgeon, Northern shoveller, and Snail kite.

Along the shores of the river and in the trees that bend over its waters, you’ll be able to spot birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians. There are Howler, Spider and White-faced monkeys, Three-toed sloths, caimans, turtles, bats and tropical flora.

Stay at - Arenal Manoa

Day 7

Transfer to Bajos del Toro.

It’s a 3hr drive to Bajos del Toro in the cloud-forest below Poás volcano, to stay at Bosque de Paz Lodge close to Bosque de Paz Rainforest Reserve. It’s a privately-owned reserve with a spectacularly rich ecosystem because of its privileged location on the continental divide, with altitudes ranging from 1,450 to 2,450m.  It isn’t as well-known or visited as other reserves at this altitude, but is just as stunning, with waterfalls and trout pools, and is the habitat of a wide range of bird and orchid species. It’s only a 90min drive from San José, but feels very remote.

The small and friendly lodge embraces easy forest hiking trails and an orchid garden. You can see many hummingbirds flitting between the feeders scattered around the property.

Day 8

Birdwatching in Bosque del Paz.

The reserve is open only to prearranged visits. The number of visitors is limited so that environmental impact is kept at minimum levels, and visitors receive personal attention. The three main objectives here are: conservation, research and education. Most of the earnings are reinvested to purchase more forest to add to the privately protected area. You will have a guided tour of the trails in parts of the reserve from a local guide who can only be booked on site. During your visit, you will have the opportunity to pay a symbolic fee to plant a tree to help with the regeneration of the forest in areas that were once cleared.

Day 9

Transfer to San Jose airport and fly to the Osa Peninsula.

Transfer to the airport and fly to Palmar Sur on the Osa Peninsula. Wildlife reserves have been established throughout this lush region, notably Corcovado National Park, with magnificent biodiversity, sheltering rare species of mammals including the Central American Squirrel monkey, White-faced capuchin, ocelots and tapirs. Caimans and crocodiles lurk watchful in the dark lagoons. The reserve is absolutely brimming with wildlife, and the diversity of flora is equally mind-boggling. You’re bound to see loads of birds, animals and exotic flowering plants.

You will be met at the airport and driven along a paved road to Sierpe, (30mins). Here, embark on a 90min motor-launch ride through forest canals and mangroves. The area has 13 separate ecosystems with almost 100 kinds of tree, over 350 species of bird, and a healthy population of Scarlet macaws, tapirs and jaguars.

Stay at - Aguila de Osa

Day 10

Snorkelling expedition; whale and dolphin watching in season.

You’ll take a short boat ride to the Coral Garden – a snorkelling haven set in a marine reserve where you can spot manta rays, turtles and small (harmless) White-tipped sharks. Dolphins can be sighted all year round, while Pilot and Humpback whales are more common December – March and July – November. You’ll roam the waters for about an hour. Life jackets are provided and we strongly recommend you bring extra water, sun cream, a hat and a swimsuit. Snorkelling equipment is provided.

Stay at - Aguila de Osa

Day 11

Wildlife-spotting hike in Corcovado National Park.

This stimulating, adventurous guided tour takes you deep into the heart of Corcovado National Park. You’ll take a local boat to the Sirena Ranger Station to set off on a hike – the secluded, remote location allows for prime bird and wildlife spotting. Explore the various trails leading to different areas of the park. As you trek through the verdant primary and secondary rainforest you may well spot some exotic wildlife, such as tapirs, Spider monkeys, Scarlet macaws, White-faced capuchins and Howler monkeys. Bird sightings may include toucans, trogons, hummingbirds, parrots and vultures.

Stay at - Aguila de Osa

Day 12

Transfer to airstrip and fly to San José.

Road transfer to airstrip to fly to San José, transfer to hotel for the last night of the holiday.

Day 13

Transfer to airport for international flight home.