Off The Beaten Track Costa Rica

Day 1

Arrive in San José and transfer to your hotel.

You’ll be met at the airport by our local representative who will take you to your hotel in Costa Rica’s modern capital.

Stay at - Presidente

Day 2

Transfer to Turrialba via Guayabo National Monument.

From San José, it’s a two-hour drive east to Turrialba. En route you’ll have the opportunity to visit the Guayabo National Monument, the largest pre-Columbian ruins to be discovered in Costa Rica to date.

Although not as grand as other well-known archaeological sites in Latin America, the Guayabo National Monument is still impressive in its own right, especially as so little is known about Costa Rica’s pre-Columbian past, and the setting is beautiful on the jungle-rich slopes of the Turrialba Volcano. Explore the ruins on foot and see petroglyphs and tombs that were discovered by archaeologists in 1968.

Stay at - Casa Turire

Day 3

Optional activities in Turrialba.

Turrialba’s economy has traditionally revolved around agriculture – it’s queso (cheese) is famous throughout Costa Rica – but the town now has a burgeoning adventure sports scene.

Activities with an adrenaline rush include ziplining, waterfall rappelling and white water rafting on the world famous Pacuare River, only a short distance from the town.

Those looking for something more sedate may be interested in a tour around CATIE, a research centre and botanical garden showcasing Costa Rica’s diverse flora and fauna.

Stay at - Casa Turire

Day 4

Transfer to San Gerado de Dota via Copey Estate Winery.

Costa Rica is one of the last places you’d expect to find a vineyard in Latin America. But in Copey de Dota, a village at 2,300m surrounded by the towering Cordillera Talamanca, the Copey Estate Winery is the first and only commercial vineyard in Costa Rica.

Founded in 2012 by a Costa Rican–Israeli couple, the vineyard produces a variety of red and white grapes from pinot noir to sauvignon blanc, and a tour here gives you an insight into not only the inspiration behind the project, but the challenges faced in growing quality grapes in this environment.

The vineyard also has five hectares of golden berries and uses this fruit to produce a liquor named Golden Rush, and other items such as dried fruits and jams. Explore the vineyard and operations plant before savouring several wines and some Golden Rush liquor in the restaurant, whose large windows maximise enjoyment of the mountain views. A charcuterie board with a selection of locally-made cheeses, cold meats and smoked fish is served for lunch before continuing to San Gerardo de Dota.

Stay at - Trogon Lodge

Day 5

Quetzal spotting in the Cordillera Talamanca.

San Gerardo de Dota is a small village set deep in a valley surrounded by the towering Talamanca mountain range. At 2,400m, the air is crisp and fresh here – a welcome change from the heat and humidity of the coast.

The surrounding cloud forest is home to a large population of Resplendent Quetzals, one of the most beautiful birds in the Americas with its metallic green plumage, crimson breast and bell. Quetzals reside here year-round, owing to the temperate climate and abundant fruit from the Aguacatillo trees. Like most birds, the Resplendent Quetzal is most easily spotted early in the morning, so today’s tour starts at 6am after a cup of fresh coffee to wake you up, returning in time for breakfast.

Stay at - Trogon Lodge

Day 6

Optional activities in San Gerardo de Dota

San Gerardo de Dota offers wonderful hiking opportunities, from gentle meanders in the surrounding cloud forest to more challenging hikes in higher elevations of the Cordillera Talamanca.

You may also want to do some more birdwatching. After all, more than 170 bird species have been identified in the area, including Tanagers, Black Guans, Flycatchers, Hummingbirds (Colibri), Trogons, Emerald Toucanets and Sparrows, among many others.

Stay at - Trogon Lodge

Day 7

Transfer to Uvita on the Pacific Coast

From San Gerardo de Dota, the road continues to wind through the Cordillera Talamanca, reaching a highest point of 3,450m at Cerro de la Muerte. Don’t be put off by its intimidating name – ‘Mountain of Death’ – this originates from the era before the highway was built when many ill-prepared travellers on foot or horseback succumbed to the cold and rain. To reassure visitors, the mountain has been renamed Cerro Buena Vista – Mountain with a Beautiful View!

The road then descends all the way down to the Pacific Coast and the beach-front town of Uvita, which sits on the border of the Marino Ballena National Park, one of only two protected marine zones in the country. At its heart is the gorgeous, whale-tail-shaped beach where whale-watching tours depart.

Stay at - La Cusinga Ecolodge

Day 8

Whale watching excursion

Every year, humpback whales migrate to the warm, shallow waters of Marino Ballena National Park and the sight of a 40-tonne mammal jumping out of the water and splashing its gigantic tail is quite spectacular. Sightings are never guaranteed but more likely from July to October when Southern Hemisphere humpback whales migrate from Antarctica, and from December to February when Northern Hemisphere humpback whales arrive from the California and Washington state area. Boat trips typically last three hours and you may also see dolphins and sea turtles, as well as seabirds such as pelicans, frigate birds, brown boobies and many more.

Stay at - La Cusinga Ecolodge

Day 9

Free time on the beach or explore the area.

The lodge where you are staying is tucked away in a private rainforest reserve, with sweeping views over the Pacific and a sandy palm-shaded beach studded with natural pools. Here you can observe abundant wildlife on gentle trail hikes and take a dip in natural swimming holes. Sport fishing, surfing, kayaking, horse-riding, sailing and snorkelling among schools of tropical fish, turtles and octopuses are also popular additional activities available from the lodge.

It’s not all action though: the property has a spa with yoga classes, and you are welcome just to sit back and enjoy a tangerine sunset with a cocktail in your hand.

Stay at - La Cusinga Ecolodge

Day 10

Transfer to Golfito via the Terraba-Sierpe wetlands

The drive south to Golfito takes two hours. En route, you’ll stop in Sierpe, a small town at the mouth of the Sierpe River and the jumping off point for a boat trip though the Térraba-Sierpe National Wetlands. This thriving ecosystem boasts an intricate network of meandering rivers, serene canals and tranquil lagoons, supporting many species of birds, fish, shellfish, mammals and reptiles. Boat tours typically last 2-3 hours and are a rewarding way to break up the journey before continuing to Golfito.

Stay at - Playa Nicuesa

Days 11 - 12

Activities at the lodge

The lodge where you are staying has an extensive network of trails, some of which connect with Piedras Blancas National Park. They range from easy to moderate and difficult, from 30 minutes to two hours, and can be self-guided or guided.

The lodge’s location on the Golfo Dulce (‘Sweet Gulf’) means guests can explore the coastline and nearby mangroves by kayak and paddle board as well.

Stay at - Playa Nicuesa

Day 13

Fly to San José.

Return to San José by small aircraft – this one-hour flight rewards you with some breathtaking views of Costa Rica’s varied landscape, including the Whale’s Tail in Uvita.

Upon arrival at San José’s domestic terminal, you’ll be taken to your hotel up in the hills overlooking the capital for your final night in Costa Rica.

Stay at - Finca Rosa Blanca

Day 14

Transfer to the airport for your international flight.

Before your flight home there may be time to do a birdwatching tour or a coffee tour and tasting at your hotel.