Itinerary Expand all San Jose to San Jose Day 1 Start San Jose. Arrive into San Jose any time this afternoon/evening and adjust to your new surroundings. Accommodation: Presidente Hotel (or similar) Day 2 To Tortuguero N.P. Begin early this morning, leaving San Jose behind as you travel to the north-east of Costa Rica to Tortuguero National Park. Accessible only by boat or light aircraft, Tortuguero's vast network of waterways, canals and swamps is remarkably tranquil, unspoilt and devoid of noise pollution. On reaching the pier you'll board a small motorboat for the one hour fifteen minute journey to the lodge, which is nestled on a small strip of land between the Caribbean Sea and the main lagoon. Your afternoon can be spent at Tortuguero village, where it’s possible to visit the Sea Turtle Museum (a donation will be requested at the entrance). Tortuguero is probably most famous as a nesting site for the endangered Green turtle, which can be seen arriving onto the beach to lay eggs from late July to October (as part of an optional excursion). Hawksbill, Loggerhead and Giant Leatherback turtles also nest in this region, and during November to January baby turtles start to hatch and make their way towards the ocean. Today's travel time is normally in the region of six hours including a break for breakfast. Accommodation: Laguna Lodge (or similar) Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 3 Boat tour around Tortuguero waterways. An early morning boat trip will give you the opportunity to discover the extraordinary flora and fauna of Tortuguero, passing serenely along the waterways. At this time of day wildlife is usually at its most active, and with the help of the local guide you may encounter monkeys, caiman, iguanas, butterflies and many of the 300+ bird species recorded here. You'll return to the lodge for a hearty breakfast near the river. The lodge is a tranquil spot to relax this afternoon if you want to take some time out to enjoy the facilities, or alternatively you can join a second boat trip or follow a short walking trail through the forest. Accommodation: Laguna Lodge (or similar) Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 4 To La Fortuna, near Arenal Volcano. You'll leave Tortuguero the same way you arrived by taking a small boat to the pier. From here a transfer will be waiting to drive you to the region of Arenal, passing huge banana, pineapple and sugar cane plantations on the way. Arenal was Costa Rica's most active volcano until fairly recently when it entered a resting phase, and can no longer be seen spitting ash, smoke or lava. However there is still a lot of geothermal activity in the area and you may want to visit one of the hot springs this evening. In clear weather there are great views of the volcano from your overnight base in the nearby town of La Fortuna. Today's travelling time is likely to be around five and a half hours including a lunch stop. Accommodation: Arenal Montechiari (or similar) Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Day 5 La Fortuna Waterfall hike; visit Arenal Volcano. Waterfalls are abundant in the region of Arenal and this morning you'll visit La Fortuna Waterfall, a 65 metre cascade of water plunging into an emerald pool below. A short trail through the rainforest brings you to a relatively steep set of steps to descend to reach the waterfall and then ascend to the exit - the hike/climb takes around 20-30 minutes and is within the capabilities of anyone with reasonable fitness. Reward your efforts with a dip in one of the natural pools punctuating the foliage to cool off! After lunch you'll have a short scenic hike within Arenal National Park, walking through secondary rainforest and passing some of the lava fields from past eruptions. The high vantage points on this walk allow great views overlooking Lake Arenal, and the birdlife is plentiful.Accommodation: Arenal Montechiari (or similar) Meals included: Breakfast Day 6 To Monteverde in the Tilaran Mountains. From Arenal you'll transfer to the Tilaran Mountain Range in the Central Highlands for your first taste of Costa Rican cloud forest. The journey provides breathtaking views of the Gulf of Nicoya and the islands below as you ascend the hills towards Monteverde, a forest-cloaked region whose name literally means 'Green Mountain'. The high altitude supports a complex eco-system where plants thrive, particularly orchids of which there are some 400+ different varieties here. Today's drive is around four hours — the last 40km of road is gravel and can be bumpy, particularly following heavy rain.Accommodation: Monteverde Cloud Forest Lodge (or similar) Meals included: Breakfast Day 7 Visit Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve. This morning you'll visit Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve, one of the first community-managed reserves in Costa Rica and an area that is world-famous for its biodiversity. To this day the reserve is managed by the Santa Elena High School with funds channelled into protecting the reserve and providing environmental education classes within the local community. Thanks to its high elevation, Santa Elena is bathed in thick misty clouds which support a huge range of flowers, ferns, mosses, vines and orchids. Birdlife thrives in the cloud forest with over 425 species recorded here. Santa Elena is also one of the best places to spot noisy Howler monkeys swinging through the trees! In the afternoon it's possible to join an optional coffee tour to learn about the importance of this crop to the socio-economic development of the country, or join a canopy tour to get a different view of the forest. Accommodation: Monteverde Cloud Forest Lodge (or similar) Meals included: Breakfast Day 8 To Manuel Antonio. Today you'll travel south-east, following the Pan-Am Highway along the coastline to Manuel Antonio, passing African oil palm and teak plantations on the way. Manuel Antonio National Park consists of a vast marine reserve as well as 1,700 acres of mangrove swamp, primary and secondary rainforest. The forest vegetation stretches as far as the high-tide line and provides a stunning backdrop to the expansive sandy beaches, forested islands and dramatic rocky headlands. The drive to Manuel Antonio is likely to take around four hours. The next two nights are based here, normally in a hotel close to the beach and the entrance of the national park. Depending on your time of arrival into Manuel Antonio there is likely to be some time to enjoy various optional activities this afternoon or the hotels facilities. Accommodation: Villa Bosque Hotel (or similar) Meals included: Breakfast Day 9 Discover Manuel Antonio N.P. Visiting Manuel Antonio National Park this morning gives the opportunity for some close wildlife encounters. White-faced Capuchin monkeys play in the trees and are frequently sighted on the beaches, whilst noisy Howler monkeys are usually heard moving through the trees and calling to each other before they are seen. The endangered Titi monkey (Squirrel monkey) are fewer in number but can sometimes be spotted in this area. Iguanas, agouti and two and three toed sloths are also commonly sighted in the national park. Manuel Antonio's beaches are considered to be some of the most beautiful in the country and you will have all afternoon to enjoy them or try one of the optional activities available in this region. Please note that Manuel Antonio National Park is closed on Mondays. If your visit falls on a Monday, the timing of this activity will be adjusted so that you visit the park on the previous day, and today will be at leisure to enjoy the many optional excursions of the region. Accommodation: Villa Bosque Hotel (or similar) Meals included: Breakfast Day 10 To Esquinas Lodge in Piedras Blancas N.P. Travel four hours south towards Golfito, a relatively wild and undiscovered region. The dense jungle here has hardly been explored or researched. You'll spend the next two nights in the beautiful Esquinas Rainforest Lodge set in the heart of primary rainforest and bordered by the newly created Piedras Blancas National Park and Golfito Nature Reserve. The lodge was originally financed by the government of Austria as a project combining forest research, development aid and nature conservation. Most employees are local and profits are used to help with projects in the nearby village. This afternoon there is the chance to discover the peaceful surroundings and search for the abundant bird and insect life that resides here. Accommodation: Esquinas Rainforest Lodge (or similar) Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 11 Hike on trails in Piedras Blancas N.P. Hike through the rainforest this morning and experience all of the sights and sounds of the jungle. During this activity you may see snakes, monkeys and maybe sloths. The hike can be quite slippery after rainfall but is a real highlight and well worth the effort. This afternoon has been left free — delve deeper into the forest on a 10 mile network of trails departing directly from the lodge, or simply relax by the stream-fed pool.Accommodation: Esquinas Rainforest Lodge (or similar) Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 12 To Savegre Cloud Forest. Today's journey takes you through San Isidro and up and over the Cerro de la Muerte mountain range to your next destination, the Savegre Valley, located around four and a half hours away from Golfito. The cloud forest of Savegre is said to be one of the best places in the whole of Costa Rica to see the beautiful, colourful and notoriously shy Resplendent Quetzal and you'll have two nights here to discover the region. These endangered birds rely on the cloud forest for their habitat — the males in particular are striking with a green crest, red breast and tail feathers that can reach a metre in length. A good pair of binoculars will be helpful for quetzal spotting as these birds camouflage themselves well amongst the wet leaves of the forest! After lunch you may want to take a short walk from your lodge into the surrounding forest.Accommodation: Savegre Hotel, Nature Reserve & Spa or Trogon Lodge (or similar) Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 13 Free day to discover walking trails in Savegre. Today is free to relax and explore Savegre Valley. Bring your binoculars to spot some of the 170 bird species, trek through the forest or simply enjoy the incredible view from the lodge. There are several walks on the hotel trails that you can discover today to experience the tropical cloud forest and sub-Alpine vegetation of the area. Accommodation: Savegre Hotel, Nature Reserve & Spa or Trogon Lodge (or similar) Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 14 To San Jose. Today you'll return to San Jose on a journey of around two and a half hours, leaving you some free time to explore the modern capital.Accommodation: Presidente Hotel (or similar) Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Day 15 End San Jose. After breakfast it's time to bid Costa Rica goodbye. A transfer to San Jose airport is available today. Meals included: Breakfast
Costa Rica Holders of British, US, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand and most EU passports can enter Costa Rica for a stay of 90 days without a visa. Proof of onward travel may be required when entering Costa Rica - we suggest you take a print out of your flight details in case officials ask to see them. All passengers flying via the USA will have to clear immigration during transit. Prior to travel you must apply for an Electronic Travel Authority (USD14) under the Visa Waiver Programme. Please see here for more information. The same applies to travel via Canada which also requires an Electronic Travel Authority. If you are not a UK citizen please check with your local U.S. Embassy.
Costa Rica There are no mandatory vaccination requirements, however, if you have travelled to a country at risk of Yellow Fever prior to arriving in Costa Rica you will be required to have a valid Yellow Fever Certificate with you. Recommended vaccinations are: Hepatitis A. The risk of malaria is slight but you may wish to consult your GP or travel health clinic for further advice. Dengue fever is a known risk in places visited. It is a tropical viral disease spread by daytime biting mosquitoes. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available for Dengue, and therefore the best form of prevention is to avoid being bitten. We recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites. Zika fever is a mosquito‐borne viral disease and a known risk in places visited on this trip. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available, we therefore strongly recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites.
Hotels & Eco-Lodges 14 nights spent in hotels and eco-lodges, all with en suite facilities and most with swimming pools. Accommodation has been chosen for its location: typically wooden lodges set in tropical gardens or eco-lodges tucked away in the heart of the rainforest. We aim to use family run establishments as much as possible. In San Jose the comfortable, modern Presidente Hotel has been chosen with easy access to downtown areas of the city. In Tortguero, Laguna Lodge combines a number of wooden lodges surrounded by beautifully kept gardens where wildlife often roams freely (look out for sloths and monkeys here!) - please note there are celing fans but no air-conditioning at this property.Arenal Montechiari Hotel is located within a 10 minute walk of La Fortuna town. Each chalet bungalow is set amidst the tropical gardens where hummingbirds like to gather, and there are wonderful views of the Arenal Volcano. In the cloud-forest we use the Monteverde Cloud Forest Lodge, a comfortable property elevated to have a panoramic view across the forest from the main restaurant area. Rooms are cosy with duvets for the change in climate you'll notice here. In Manuel Antonio we stay at Villa Bosque Hotel due to its close proximity to the entrance of the National Park which enables easier access to and from the park. The highlight of this trip will no doubt be your stay at Esquinas Rainforest Lodge, a 100% carbon neutral property within Piedras Blancas National Park — wake up surrounded by the sound of birds! This is a unique and simple property, with ceiling fans rather than air-conditioning due to its location in the heart of the forest. Our final accommodation is Savegre Hotel, located in an ideal position within the Savegre Valley this lodge has plant-filled gardens, multiple walking trails to use and cosy wooden lodges. Please note that one or several of the named properties might be substituted for similar alternatives to secure availablity. Please discuss with your Sales Consultant if you require more details. For a greater chance of staying in the named properties, early booking is advised. Optional single supplement available, please see Dates & Prices.
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Reviewed June 2020 Kate Maguire Trip: Tailormade - Discover Costa Rica Best holiday ever! We were furtunate to get our complete holiday in before the Coronavirus lockdown. There were 14 of us who all got on so well and our tour guide Glenda was fantastic. The places we visited and the wildlife we saw were out of this world, Glenda kept a list of everything and passed it on to us. We not only saw all the flora and fauna of Costa Rica but also learnt a lot about the country as we travelled round - we were impressed how fair the country is and how people are looked after and educated, it could teach our own country's leaders some lessons. Our two drivers - one on the boat and Geraldo on the bus were great too and joined in spotting wildlife to make sure we didnt miss out on anything. Would definitely recommend this trip. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? The early morning trip on the boat as the sun came up and seeing a sloth for the first time What did you think of your group leader? Words cannot do justice on how great she was. She was with us almost 24/7 making sure we saw everything and were taken care of. She even took us on a walk to see a waterfall on what should have been her rest day. She arranged great places to eat as we all got on so well we chose to eat together. She was very efficient getting us from place to place with what seemed to be no effort at all. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Make sure you have a good camera and binoculars as there is so much to see. Is there anything else you would like to add? The whole trip was great from the flights to the transfers and all the Costa Rican people we came into contact with. We hope that tourism can commence safely soon.
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