Costa Rica Highlights

The Costa Rican fun begins with your arrival into San Jose, the capital city. You’ll be welcomed by your private driver for the transfer to your hotel. After a long flight, you want to do relax and enjoy some of the facilities at your hotel. Unwinding around the pool with a cocktail and occasionally enjoying a refreshing dip. You’ll want to be rested up for an exciting early morning tomorrow with the first opportunity to spot the country’s incredible wildlife. For dinner you might want to sample some of the local foods like olla de carne, a hearty beef stew, or tamales.

It will be worth the early wake up call this morning as you’ll get your first real taste of wildlife. You’ll ultimately be transferred toward Tortuguero National Park, but first you’ll travel through the Braulio Carrilo National Park and then enjoy a stop for breakfast as you head to the Caribbean coast. In order to reach your lodge, you’ll hop in a boat along the famous winding waterways that lead into the Tortuguero. During this mesmerizing experience keep a close watch for monkeys, turtles, crocodiles, and colourful tropical birds. Afterward, you’ll be taken to your accommodation where you can relax this evening.

Today you can choose from a variety of excursions, whether you’re looking for something more relaxed or heart-pounding. There are many various tours that will take you to search for the local wildlife in the park and on the waterways. The water channels are also a great way to discover the rich nature of the area, or you can see it from above by flying through the air over the rainforest canopy on a zipline. For avid birders, rise early to join a bird watching tour, and for those who like to fish, practice sports fishing in one of the world’s best spots.

This morning you’ll be met by private transfer after checking out of your hotel for the drive to the airport. Here you’ll board a light aircraft and will in awe of the sights you see from above as you head to the town of La Fortuna, adjacent to Arenal Volcano. Upon your arrival, a private driver will meet you and bring you to your next accommodation where you’ll enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure. As this is a geothermal area you might soak in soothing hot springs or just relax around the pool before enjoying dinner at your hotel.

Private transfer will pick you up for a rare experience today, with a visit to the Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge near the border of Nicaragua, a marshy, jungle-like area that’s one of the most difficult places to visit on your own in Costa Rica. Incredibly remote, it’s often submerged in water from flooded rivers. A boat will bring you along a slow-flowing river that meanders through canyons on its way to Cano Negro Lake. Along the shores and in the trees, watch for howler, white-faced and spider monkeys, caimans, three-toed sloths, turtles and all sorts of colourful birds.

Heading into Arenal National Park today, your private driver/guide will bring you to experience the famous Hanging Bridges Tour, one of the most popular attractions in Costa Rica. You’ll enjoy the rainforest for a bird’s point of view, an incredible experience being able to see the exotic animals in the trees as you stroll the hanging bridges. They sit high up in the canopy of the rainforest, with everything from sloths, lizards and tiny leaf-cutter ants to toucans and many other colourful birds spotted. It’s a detailed and unique perspective on the tropical forest’s flora and fauna, with commentary from a specialist guide.

To complete your trip in the most relaxing way possible, you’ll spend your last few nights at Nosara Beach, the most tranquil of Nosara’s beaches. Nosara is often considered the wellness capital of Costa Rica, with opportunities for yoga, indulging in spa treatments and dining on healthy but delicious foods. While you could always just unwind and enjoy the scenery, there are many ways to get more active too. Surfing lessons are readily available and will get you up on a board in no time or try paddle boarding, horseback riding, or fishing, just to name a few.

Now that you’re relaxed and recharged, it’s time to say farewell to Costa Rica. Enjoy one last breakfast here and then check out of your hotel. You’ll be met by your private driver for the approximately 4.5-hour ride to Juan Santamaría International Airport in San Jose where you’ll catch your flight home.