Ultimate Costa Rica

Visit one of the most bio-diverse regions in the Americas - the Osa Peninsula where wild jaguars still live

Spot the Resplendent Quetzal at San Gerardo de Dota Reserve, high up in the cloud forest

Enjoy a canopy tour through tropical rainforest close to Arenal

Visit Manuel Antonio National Park and relax on some tropical beaches in the region

Discover Tortuguero's wildlife rich hidden canals by boat

Direct flights available with British Airways from London Gatwick (regional departures also possible)

Itinerary can be tailor-made to your requirements

Day 1 - Arrival into San Jose

Arrival into San Jose

Arrival into San Jose International Airport. Meet and greet and be transferred to your hotel in San Jose.

Standard Option - Located in Barrio Don Bosco, three blocks from Paseo Colon and only 20 minutes from the airport, the Park Inn Hotel is conveniently situated close to downtown San Jose.

Superior Option - A converted tropical Victorian mansion, this boutique hotel offers the warmth and comfort of a private home with all the amenities of a luxury hotel. The always smiling staff welcomes guests to their “home away from home” time and again.

Standard Option - Park Inn Hotel. Standard Room.

Superior Option - Grano de Oro. Deluxe Room.

INCLUDES : Breakfast

Day 2 - Tortuguero

San Jose - Tortuguero

Early pick up from your hotel. Admire the biodiversity of an astonishing protected area in Costa Rica as the bus drives through Braulio Carrillo National Park. Stop en route to have a delicious typical breakfast. Along the road, you can observe many different kinds of products grown in this area such as pineapples and bananas. Board a comfortable boat upon arrival to Caño Blanco pier and let this extraordinary exotic paradise enchant you as you travel through the Tortuguero canals. Enjoy a refreshing cocktail and a tasty lunch as you arrive to the lodge.

After lunch, visit the picturesque town of Tortuguero, the green turtle information center and the beach area. Tortuguero beach is the most important nesting site of the endangered green turtle in the Western Hemisphere. Giant leatherback, Hawksbill, and Loggerhead Turtles also nest here. Before dinner, you have free time to enjoy the pool or just relax. Dinner will be served from 7:30 - 9pm.

Between July and September an optional night tour (not included in the package) is available to observe the turtle nesting.

Standard Option - Evergreen Lodge. Standard Room

Superior Option - Pachira Lodge. Standard Room

INCLUDES : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3 - Explore Tortuguero

Tortuguero

After breakfast, enjoy a guided walking tour through the trails. Free time before lunch. In the afternoon, visit Tortuguero National Park, exploring the canals in small open boats to allow better visibility. Tortuguero is a network of navigable lakes, rivers and canals (both natural and man-made) that are used for transportation and are a great place for observing local wildlife such as birds, monkeys, two and three-toed sloths, American crocodiles and caimans. The canals also provide shelter to endangered animals such as the Oriental Indian Manatee, a large variety of crustaceans and about 30 species of sweet water fish, including the Gaspar, considered a living fossil. Free time before dinner is served.

Standard Option - Evergreen Lodge. Standard Room

Superior Option - Pachira Lodge. Standard Room

INCLUDES : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4 - Arenal

Tortuguero - Arenal

After breakfast, travel on a shared boat transfer back to the pier, where you will continue by shared transfer to Arenal. Lunch is included.

Standard Option - Hotel Arenal Springs. Junior Suite.

Superior Option - Hotel Arenal Kioro Suites & Spa. Suite.

INCLUDES : Breakfast, Lunch

Day 5 - Arenal Sky Adventure

Arenal

Hearty breakfast at your hotel before you are collected from your hotel to take the Sky Adventure.

Firstly you will enjoy the Sky Tram, a guided tram which travels up over 1,000 metres, hovering over the incredible Arenal forests and arriving at a station with a unique view of Arenal Volcano and Lake. Next, take the Sky Trek, a zip line system which fly's you over mountains at incredible speeds and heights to have an extraordinary adventure. Finally finish with the Sky Walk, a series of hanging bridges which are perfect for discovering the exuberant Arenal Rainforest from all perspectives, while also enjoying great views and waterfalls. Afternoon at leisure.

Standard Option - Hotel Arenal Springs. Junior Suite.

Superior Option - Hotel Arenal Kioro Suites & Spa. Suite.

INCLUDES : Breakfast, Lunch

Day 6 - San Gerardo de Dota

Arenal - San Gerardo de Dota

Private transfer to San Gerardo de Dota.

San Gerardo de Dota is located in the Costa Rica Central Valley and belongs to the wonderful cloud forest and encloses a diverse wealth of flora and fauna. It is a recommended place for birdwatchers; In fact, it is possible to find the Resplendent Quetzal, which is one of the most beautiful and popular species of the highlands.

When travelling to San Gerardo de Dota, you should consider that this is a place to rest, explore and get away from the hustle and bustle, as it is an isolated village, with unpaved roads and most of the hotels are made of wood, these are rustic and basic but charming and cosy; all this is conjugated to offer an adventure like no other.

In San Gerardo you can visit waterfalls, walk in the forest or enjoy different adventure activities such as horseback riding or zip line, all surrounded by unique landscapes (no tours included).

Standard Option - Trogón Lodge. Standard Room

Superior Option - Savegre Natural Reserve & Spa, Junior Suite.

INCLUDES : Breakfast

Day 7 - San Gerardo de Dota free day

San Gerardo de Dota

Free day. Enjoy some of the activities on offer from the lodge. The Savegre Valley is famous as one of the best bird-watching destinations in all of Costa Rica, and is a great place to catch a glimpse of the elusive Quetzal.

Standard Option - Trogón Lodge. Standard Room

Superior Option - Savegre Natural Reserve & Spa, Junior Suite.

INCLUDES : Breakfast

Day 8 - Osa Peninsula

San Gerardo de Dota - Osa Peninsula

Private transfer from San Gerardo de Dota to the Osa Peninsula. Check-in at your new hotel.

Puerto Jiménez is located in the Osa Peninsula, South Pacific of Costa Rica. This is a small rural town, with a privileged geographical position between Golfo Dulce and Corcovado, that is the reason why the area has an important biodiversity and it becomes a sought after place for nature lovers.

Puerto Jiménez is one of the largest towns in the Osa Peninsula and was dedicated to mining during the 1970 decade. It currently offers many services and facilities for its visitors such as the airstrip for domestic flights that allows to shorten distances considerable for those who travel to the South Pacific of Costa Rica. In addition, the area offers different activities such as boat trips for dolphin watching, hiking in the forest, bird watching, among others activities in which you can enjoy the natural beauty of the Osa Peninsula.

Standard Option - El Remanso Lodge. Classic Bungalow
Superior Option - Lapa Rios Ecolodge. Ocean View Bungalow

INCLUDES : Breakfast

Day 9 - El Remanso or Lapa Rios Lodges

Osa Peninsula

Free day. A wide variety of activities can be enjoyed in either lodge with their highly knowledgeable guides: thrilling waterfall rappelling, early-morning bird watching, guided interpretative hikes, a canopy tree platform tour or simply relax on the wooden deck of your cabin while watching monkeys swing through the surrounding trees!

Outside excursions are offered by local guides and include dolphin-watching in the Golfo Dulce, horseback rides through the rainforest and beach, surfing on the famous Matapalo breaks or hiking on a day tour in the Corcovado National Park.

Standard Option - El Remanso Lodge. Classic Bungalow
Superior Option - Lapa Rios Ecolodge. Ocean View Bungalow

INCLUDES : Breakfast

Day 10 - Osa Peninsula free day

Osa Peninsula

Free day. Perhaps take a hike through the nearby Corcovado National Park or relax by the pool which offers spectacular views of the surrounding forest.

Standard Option - El Remanso Lodge. Classic Bungalow
Superior Option - Lapa Rios Ecolodge. Ocean View Bungalow

INCLUDES : Breakfast

Day 11 - Manuel Antonio

Osa Peninsula - Manuel Antonio

Private transfer from the Osa Peninsula to your hotel close to Manuel Antonio.

Manuel Antonio is a small coastal village which is surrounded by rural but beautiful towns and it is located in the Central Pacific of Costa Rica, belongs to Puntarenas province. There is one of the most important and popular protected areas, it is Manuel Antonio National Park which harbour a huge quantity of flora and fauna species as well as beautiful beaches offering incredible views. There is very common to see sloths, monkeys and a deer if you are lucky too. The exuberant vegetation allows you to be in contact to nature and wildlife while you are exploring and doing some activities such as canopy, rafting, horseback riding, canyoning, kayaking or snorkelling.

Manuel Antonio has cosy and charming hotels, located on hills so views from most of the hotels are amazing. This is a popular place for the whale and dolphin watching from August to October.

Standard Option - Hotel Parador Resort & Spa. Garden View Room

Superior Option - Hotel Parador Resort & Spa. Tropical Room

INCLUDES : Breakfast

Day 12 - Manuel Antonio National Park

Manuel Antonio

After breakfast, enjoy a shared half day tour of Manuel Antonio National Park. Located 120 miles (192 km) from San Jose on the Pacific coast, Manuel Antonio National Park is internationally recognised as being one of the most bio-diverse parks on the planet. Lush tropical forests, lagoons, mangroves and pristine white sandy beaches make up one of the most diverse ecosystems imaginable. Among the 109 species of mammals and 184 species of birds, some of the frequently viewed residents include white-faced and howler monkeys, two and three toed sloths and iguanas. The endangered squirrel monkey calls the park home as well. The park contains a great system of well-marked trails to allow visitors to explore (maps may be purchased at the park entrance). The four beaches in the park, Espadilla Sur, Manuel Antonio, Escondito and Playita, are some of the best in the country. Espadilla Sur and Manuel Antonio offer very good snorkelling when the water is clear, which is best during the dry season.

Afternoon at leisure.

Standard Option - Hotel Parador Resort & Spa. Garden View Room

Superior Option - Hotel Parador Resort & Spa. Tropical Room

INCLUDES : Breakfast

Day 13 - Manuel Antonio Free Day

Manuel Antonio

Free days to relax at the hotel or to revisit the National Park.

Standard Option - Hotel Parador Resort & Spa. Garden View Room

Superior Option - Hotel Parador Resort & Spa. Tropical Room

INCLUDES : Breakfast

Day 14 - Manuel Antonio Free Day

Manuel Antonio

Final day in Manuel Antonio. Perhaps enjoy a snorkelling trip.

Standard Option - Hotel Parador Resort & Spa. Garden View Room

Superior Option - Hotel Parador Resort & Spa. Tropical Room

INCLUDES : Breakfast

Day 15 - Departure

Departure

Breakfast at your hotel. Then private transfer back to San Jose Airport. Approximate travel time of 2.5 hours.

INCLUDES : Breakfast

Hotels

Tortuguero

Pachira Lodge

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San Gerardo de Dota

Trogón Lodge

Standard Option

Corcovado

El Remanso Rainforest & Wildlife Lodge

Corcovado Standard Option - El Romanso Rainforest & Wildlife Lodge

San Jose

Park Inn Hotel, San Jose

Standard Option

San Gerardo de Dota

Savegre Natural Reserve & Spa

San Gerardo de Dota Superior Option - Savegre Natural Reserve & Spa

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San Jose

Grano de Oro

Superior Option

Manuel Antonio

Parador Resort and Spa

The Parador Resort and Spa is the perfect hotel from which to either explore the surrounding tropical beaches or to relax by the pool. Nearby to the hotel is Manuel Antonio national park at the hotel provides free shuttles throughout the day.

Arenal

Arenal Springs Resort and Spa

Located close to the Arenal volcano, the Arenal Springs Resort and Spa is a great option if you are looking for a good value hotel with amazing views.The hotel also has the bonus of having its own natural hot springs due to the areas volcanic activity and there are 4 different pools each with a different temperature.

Pricing

All prices shown represent a from price per person based on low season travel unless otherwise stated.
Availability of tour components and flights seats change continually, affecting the final price. The lead-in price given is therefore for guidance only.
To obtain a tailored quote for you and your party, please call one of our travel experts today.

date dependent 1st December 2023 - 15th December 2024

from £3,549pp

Important Info

Inclusions

Return flights from London Gatwick with British Airways
Private arrival transfers with English speaking assistance
Daily breakfast
Mix of shared and private transfers between places
All meals, tours and entrance to the National Park while in Tortuguero
Tour in Arenal: Canopy tour
Tour in Manuel Antonio: Visit Manuel Antonio Park
Lodging taxes
Private departure transfers

Exclusions

Departure tax payable from Costa Rica is US$29 per person (credit cards accepted)
Tips
Optional tours
Alcoholic beverages
Personal expenses