Rainforest & Restful Retreats in Costa Rica

Tropical rainforests, active volcanoes, waterfalls, beaches, unrivalled exotic animals, Costa Rica has it all. There are bursts of adventure around every corner on this week-long jaunt. Costa Rica’s incredibly diverse ecosystem allows you to come face to face with howler monkeys, caiman sloths, and incredibly vocal parrots. Stay in exotic eco-friendly hotels and lodges. Zipline through the jungle, swinging Tarzan-style. Rappel down beautiful waterfalls, tube the Rio Celeste and taste the flavour of “Pura Vida” at a beach barbeque. Learn to ride a wave in one of the world’s surfing hubs, soak in thermal baths, or slow down and paddleboard through all the tropical highlights. All these adventures are possible in just 8 days, with this jam-packed itinerary!

People, Places & Planet

We work hard to create trips that have a positive impact on the people and places we visit and look after the planet we explore. Learn more about our sustainable travel ethos and practice here and find out about the work of the Exodus Travels Foundation here.

Some sustainable travel highlights of this trip include:

People

How this trip helps improve life for local communities.

• Local guides keep you well informed about local traditions and cultural-social sensitivities.
• This trip brings income and opportunity to the destination community through the inclusion of locally owned hotels, restaurants, and other enterprises, and by championing locally produced food wherever possible.
• Read more about our other initiatives here.

Places

How this trip helps protect and conserve local landscapes and nature.

• By travelling in a small group we ‘tread lightly’ to minimise our impact on local resources and the environment.
• We work with our partners on the ground to proactively reduce waste; this includes eliminating all single-use plastic water bottles by providing refills for re-usable bottles.
• We use eco-friendly lodges throughout this trip which implement a range of sustainable practices.
• The Rio Celeste Hideaway and Tamarindo Diria have chemical-free gardens, and a greenhouse where they cultivate vegetables used in their kitchen. They also have a treatment process for wastewater.
• We rewild 100 square metres per passenger to compensate for all trip and flight emissions.
• Read about our commitment to nature protection and restoration here, including our rewilding commitment for every customer who travels with us.

Planet

How we seek to keep the carbon footprint of this trip low.

• Accommodation and restaurants in the itinerary use locally sourced food which has not been transported long distances.
• The Rio Celeste Hideaway has approximately 12 hectares of primary and secondary forest in the grounds, each year staff plant native trees through the ACCT (Association Community Carbon Trees for the Reduction of Carbon Dioxide) program, mitigating their carbon footprint.
• Tamarindo Diria have solar panels for the generation of energy.
• Read about our climate action here, including our carbon reduction and compensation commitments.

Tips for sustainable travel on this trip

• Leave no trace: we do all we can to ensure we leave no rubbish in the wild and beautiful places we visit; we ask that you do the same. If there are no recycling facilities in-country, consider bringing recyclable materials home with you.
• Plastic waste reduction: please bring a re-usable water bottle on this trip, also consider avoiding single-use hotel toiletries, which generate a large amount of plastic waste.

Visa

Costa Rica

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Costa Rica; however, proof of onward travel may be required – we suggest you take a physical copy of your flight details in case officials ask to see them.

Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/americas/costa-rica
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/costa-rica
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/costa-rica/entry-requirements
• USA:  www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Costa-Rica.html

Vaccination

Costa Rica

There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for tetanus, hepatitis A, rabies and typhoid. The risk of malaria is slight, but you may wish to consult your doctor or travel clinic for further advice.

Many travellers will also require a yellow fever vaccination certificate if arriving from a country with risk of yellow fever transmission, Tanzania and Zambia. Please check all requirements and travel vaccination recommendations with your doctor or travel clinic.

Dengue and zika, both viral diseases spread by mosquitoes, are known risks in Costa Rica. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available, so we strongly recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites.

Eating and Drinking

• All breakfasts and one dinner included
• Vegetarians are well-catered for, but let us know of any special dietary requirements before departure

Is this trip for you?

• The nature walks occasionally involve walking on rough paths. During times of heavy rain, trails can be muddy and slippery and extra care should be taken
• The trip may not be suitable for those with reduced mobility. However, please contact customer services to discuss the trip and your requirements