7 minute read
Costa Rica – Wildlife, Rainforest & Caribbean Beach
Travelling as a small group of adventurers, this beguiling journey goes beyond the basic tourist haunts to reveal Costa Rica’s staggering natural beauty.
Red Eye Tree Frogs
Zip-line
Available Jan to Jun & Sep to Nov 2023 & 2024 Fly direct from (flight upgrades available). Prices from
• Gatwick £2,879 (UK connecting flights available, call us for details) Personalise your holiday
• Forest Canopy Zipline – from £67 Room for Sole Use from £989
Arenal Volcano
Nicaragua
Selvatura hanging bridges
La Fortuna Arenal Volcano
Monteverde Caño Negro Wildlife Sanctuary
Poás Volcano
National Park San José
Costa Rica Panama
• Stare in awe at the active Poás Volcano and visit a coffee plantation • Embark on a guided walk through the enchanting Monteverde Cloud Forest
Reserve • Learn about local plantations during an
El Trapiche tour • Take to the river of the Caño Negro
Wildlife Sanctuary • View the jungle from a different angle with a Sky Walk tour • Meander around a local palmito plantation and taste an array of products • Be led by a naturalist guide to Ots La
Selva Biological Station • Embrace ample time to unwind at a
Caribbean beach resort • 11 nights’ carefully chosen bed and breakfast accommodation, plus one night on the aircraft • 11 breakfasts, six lunches and five dinners • Return scheduled flights to San José, with coach travel and transfers throughout • Fully escorted by a friendly, experienced tour manager
Asweeping immersion into a land of active volcanoes, natural hot springs, cloud forest canopies and the rarest of wildlife. Guided excursions, led by expert naturalists, take you into the depths of tropical jungles while welcoming locals share stories of their familyowned plantations. The final days promise the perfect setting to slow things down along the coast, blissful snoozing under palm trees, snorkelling over coral reefs and sipping on cocktails as the sun dips behind the Caribbean Sea.
Crowne Plaza Hotel
Crowne Plaza Hotel, San José night 1
A prime city centre location allows for easy access to Costa Rica’s spirited capital and its signature sights. Sleek guestrooms with pops of colour encompass safes, desks, mini-bars, TVs, and free Wi-Fi. Hotel & Spa Poco a Poco, Monteverde nights 2-3
This natural haven, with a focus on sustainability, is spread across different levels and features a covered heated swimming pool, and a wellness centre focusing on organic treatments.
Day One – Fly to San José Today, you’ll touch down in Costa Rica’s vibrant capital – San José. You’ll be met by your friendly tour manager and transferred to your hotel in the city’s buzzing downtown. Day Two – Included excursions to Poás Volcano National Park and Doka Estate Your first stop is the spectacular Poás Volcano National Park in the Central Valley region. This popular park is home to two craters – one of which is active and contains a striking blue-green lagoon that emits a unique sulphurous gas and the other encompasses cold water. Next up is Doka Estate, a coffee plantation covering the fertile slopes of the Poás Volcano – an ideal setting for producing high-quality coffee beans. An expert connoisseur will lead you around the property, pausing to share stories of the family who owns it, as well as the production, harvesting and roasting processes. Day Three – Included guided walk through the Monteverde Cloud Forest and El Trapiche tour Breakfast will be followed by a guided walk into the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. A well-known conservation area in Central America, this tropical rainforest garnered the name ‘Cloud Forest’ because of its high altitude (4.600 feet). Leaving the forest, the tour will travel to a traditional Costa Rican farm, and you’ll be welcomed by a local family. Your guide will explain the process of farming sugar cane and the history of this important crop, as well as show you the different stages of coffee farming. Day Four – Day at leisure Tuck into breakfast before being transferred to your next hotel, which is surrounded by tropical farmland and overlooks the Arenal Volcano. This afternoon, lunch will be on your own account, and you can potter around at your own pace. Perhaps take a salubrious soak in the property’s thermal volcanic hot springs, with a swim-up bar, book a spa treatment or just lounge on the sun terrace. Day Five – Included Caño Negro Wildlife Sanctuary boat tour Rise for breakfast and then join the tour as it takes to the waters of the Frio River in a roofed boat. You’ll then travel upstream under green canopies through the Caño Negro Wildlife Sanctuary – a refuge of diverse biological areas teeming with endangered reptiles, birds, plants, and fish. The boat will call at Hacienda Caño Negro dock, where you’ll feast on an included Hacienda-style lunch. Day Six – Included Arenal Sky Walk tour Today’s exploration allows you to view the jungle from a different angle entirely, so don’t forget your camera. The Sky Walk excursion first takes you on a gentle, guided walk through the rainforest of the Arenal area before you navigate your way to suspended bridges hanging amongst the treetops. Along this jungle journey, you’ll pass towering waterfalls, as well as Lake Arenal – the largest lake in Costa Rica, sitting at the base of the Arenal Volcano. Day Seven – Included tour of a palmito plantation Have some breakfast, check out of your hotel, and then set off on a tour to a nearby palmito plantation. Here, you’ll learn about this popular vegetable, also known as the ‘Heart of palm’, its history, the process involved to make it edible, and the main dishes it is used in. You’ll take a stroll around the property before sampling different products made with palmito and sitting down for some lunch. Day Eight – Included visit to Ots La Selva Biological Station Wake up to the soothing sounds of the river and a profusion of birdlife before breakfast. You’ll then set off on a short, guided walk to the Ots La Selva Biological Station, a local research station that was one of the first in the country. Day Nine – Included lunch at a local restaurant After breakfast, you’ll check out of your hotel, and be transferred to the next destination. In the afternoon, lunch will be served at a local restaurant. You’ll then head to the coast to your next hotel in another picturesque setting. Days 10-11 – Days at leisure After a trip of so much exploration and discovery, it’s only fitting to conclude with some well-deserved downtime. Over the next two days, you’re free to embrace your surroundings, doing as little or as much as you like. Day 12 – Fly back to the UK Say goodbye to paradise, maybe make a promise to return in the future, and check out of the resort. You’ll then be transferred to Juan Santamaría International Airport for your return flight home. Day 13 – Arrive in the UK Land back in the UK at the end of an enthralling deep dive into the natural splendours of such a special corner of the world.
Arenal Manoa Resort & Hot Springs
Arenal Manoa Resort & Hot Springs, Alajuela San Carlos nights 4-6
Backed by the Arenal Volcano, this hot springs resort has an undeniably relaxing feel. Casually decorated rooms include tea/coffee-makers, TVs, mini-fridges and furnished terraces facing the volcano.
Selva Verde Ecolodge & Rainforest Reserve
Leave the bustle of city life behind and embrace the beauty of nature in this tropical ecolodge, located within a protected rainforest. Connected by elevated wooden walkways, the simple, air-conditioned guestrooms ensure you’re fully immersed in nature, and amenities include Wi-Fi, safes, and hairdryers. A dining hall looks out over the river, there is an open-air pizzeria, as well as an outdoor swimming pool encased in tropical gardens.
Cariblue Beach & Jungle Resort
Cariblue Beach & Jungle Resort, Puerto Viejo de Talamanca nights 9-11
With a jungle background and beach-facing position, this resort provides the perfect recipe for relaxation and adventure. Air-conditioned guestrooms, with tiled flooring, have ceiling fans, safes, hairdryers, and free Wi-Fi. An inviting wellness centre provides treatments with local products, and two outdoor pools sit alongside two hot tubs and a poolside bar. The thatched, on-site restaurant specialises in a mix of Mediterranean and Caribbean dishes.
