All the diversity, none of the crowds. Cross the country from golden beaches via coffee fincas and mountain walks to the incredible wildlife of the Osa Peninsula.
Duration
19 days
Duration
All our trips are tailormade and therefore can be extended or reduced to suit you. You'll find a few ideas to extend your trip below, but please do ask about how we can tailor it to you.
Guide Price
£3,640 pp
n/a
Guide Price
This is a realistic guide price per person, based on you travelling at an optimum time for this holiday. Please see 'What's Included' for full details and contact us for a personalised quotation.
When
Dec-Aug
When
This is a broad indicator of when you might realistically take this holiday. Please do ask us if you'd like to chat through your options in more detail - getting the timing right is important. We'd love to help.
This trip is an antidote to the crowded paths of Manuel Antonio, the queues of Monteverde and the billboards of Arenal. We have used our extensive experience of Costa Rica to ignore the ‘labels’, the well known, and instead have tied together a series of real highlights which thankfully escape most visitors’ notice.
Enjoy reading this taster itinerary. Please Request Full Details if you'd like to know more, or to discuss how we can tailor this holiday for you.
Arrive in San José and transfer to your comfortable hotel in the eastern suburbs of the city. Your car delivered this evening so you can get going when you like in the morning.
2 of 19
Day 2 - Swim in the warm Caribbean
Set off driving this morning as you travel south along the Caribbean coast towards your characterful lodge tucked away in the forest within strolling distance of a quiet beach.
3 of 19
Day 3 - Private guided Cahuita National Park visit
Your private guide leads you on a hike inside Cahuita National Park to see monkeys, sloths, snakes and other wildlife that inhabits the coastal forest here. This afternoon is yours to explore.
4 of 19
Day 4 - Visit conservation projects
Today you have the best possible introduction to the flora and fauna of the area with a visit to a nearby botanical gardens and the Great Green Macaw reintroduction project.
5 of 19
Day 5 - Visit a wildlife sanctuary
This morning you take a private tour of the nearby Jaguar Rescue Center before you travel north to the Caribbean uplands near Turrialba where you stay in a lovely family-run coffee estate.
6 of 19
Day 6 - Learn about coffee at a historic farm
Today is spent on and around the historic finca, exploring coffee production, and local life in this traditional town. If the weather's warm, cool off with a dip at a spectacular waterfall.
7 of 19
Day 7 - Raft the Pacuare River
Spend time on the water today, rafting on the Pacuare river through pristine rainforest on grade III and IV water, a fun way to see the lowland nature.
8 of 19
Day 8 - Drive up into the central mountains
Drive south into the cloudforest below Cerro Chirripo, Costa Rica's highest peak. Cross the pass of Cerro de la Muerte, where you can detour to hike to the lovely Savegre waterfall.
9 of 19
Day 9 - Walk in the hills with you private guide
Meet your private guide this morning as you head out to explore the cloudforest, either on a shorter walk to focus on the flora and fauna, or a real leg stretch up the mountain.
10 of 19
Day 10 - Explore the rural area with your guide
Spend another day with your guide in the Herradura Valley where you learn about agricultural life in the area with visits to some small-scale food producers.
11 of 19
Day 11 - Explore the rainforest at night
Today you drop down to the southern Pacific paradise of the Osa Peninsula. Sit down with your host before a night-time walk to see insects, snakes and frogs in the nearby forest.
12 of 19
Day 12 - Snorkel off Caño Island
Spend today on a shared guided snorkelling trip to Caño Island, one of the best places for underwater life in the country.
13 of 19
Day 13 - Follow a self-guided walk along the coast
Today is yours to spend as you wish. There is a path all the way along the coast which takes you to some beautiful beaches with monkeys and macaws in the trees overhead.
14 of 19
Day 14 - Explore, and sleep in, wildlife-rich rainforest
Take a shared boat to Corcovado National Park and spend the day wildlife spotting with your private guide before you spend the night at the ranger station in the heart of the park.
15 of 19
Day 15 - Experience the rainforest coming to life
Wake up in the national park, with the unique privilege of seeing the forest long before any of the day visitors arrive - not that there are many of them anyway.
16 of 19
Day 16 - Settle into your hotel on the coast
Return to the mainland to the pretty coastline around the village of Dominical, looking out over the Pacific as you enjoy a relaxed few nights in Costa Rica.
17 of 19
Day 17 - Relax on the Pacific coast
You have a full day free on the Pacific coast so you can either simply relax and enjoy the dramatic views, or visit the beach of Bahia Ballena (Whale Bay) to kayak.
18 of 19
Day 18 - Enjoy zip lines and visit a wildlife sanctuary
One of the best zip lines in the country is just down the road waiting for you this morning. This afternoon, visit the wildlife sanctuary which is connected to your hotel.
19 of 19
Day 19 - Head for home
Drive north to San José this morning, leaving time to drop off your car and check in for your flight home this afternoon. Or ask us how you can stay longer!
1 of 19
Day 1 - Welcome to Costa Rica!
Arrive in San José and transfer to your comfortable hotel in the eastern suburbs of the city. Your car delivered this evening so you can get going when you like in the morning.
2 of 19
Day 2 - Swim in the warm Caribbean
Set off driving this morning as you travel south along the Caribbean coast towards your characterful lodge tucked away in the forest within strolling distance of a quiet beach.
3 of 19
Day 3 - Private guided Cahuita National Park visit
Your private guide leads you on a hike inside Cahuita National Park to see monkeys, sloths, snakes and other wildlife that inhabits the coastal forest here. This afternoon is yours to explore.
4 of 19
Day 4 - Visit conservation projects
Today you have the best possible introduction to the flora and fauna of the area with a visit to a nearby botanical gardens and the Great Green Macaw reintroduction project.
5 of 19
Day 5 - Visit a wildlife sanctuary
This morning you take a private tour of the nearby Jaguar Rescue Center before you travel north to the Caribbean uplands near Turrialba where you stay in a lovely family-run coffee estate.
6 of 19
Day 6 - Learn about coffee at a historic farm
Today is spent on and around the historic finca, exploring coffee production, and local life in this traditional town. If the weather's warm, cool off with a dip at a spectacular waterfall.
7 of 19
Day 7 - Raft the Pacuare River
Spend time on the water today, rafting on the Pacuare river through pristine rainforest on grade III and IV water, a fun way to see the lowland nature.
8 of 19
Day 8 - Drive up into the central mountains
Drive south into the cloudforest below Cerro Chirripo, Costa Rica's highest peak. Cross the pass of Cerro de la Muerte, where you can detour to hike to the lovely Savegre waterfall.
9 of 19
Day 9 - Walk in the hills with you private guide
Meet your private guide this morning as you head out to explore the cloudforest, either on a shorter walk to focus on the flora and fauna, or a real leg stretch up the mountain.
10 of 19
Day 10 - Explore the rural area with your guide
Spend another day with your guide in the Herradura Valley where you learn about agricultural life in the area with visits to some small-scale food producers.
11 of 19
Day 11 - Explore the rainforest at night
Today you drop down to the southern Pacific paradise of the Osa Peninsula. Sit down with your host before a night-time walk to see insects, snakes and frogs in the nearby forest.
12 of 19
Day 12 - Snorkel off Caño Island
Spend today on a shared guided snorkelling trip to Caño Island, one of the best places for underwater life in the country.
13 of 19
Day 13 - Follow a self-guided walk along the coast
Today is yours to spend as you wish. There is a path all the way along the coast which takes you to some beautiful beaches with monkeys and macaws in the trees overhead.
14 of 19
Day 14 - Explore, and sleep in, wildlife-rich rainforest
Take a shared boat to Corcovado National Park and spend the day wildlife spotting with your private guide before you spend the night at the ranger station in the heart of the park.
15 of 19
Day 15 - Experience the rainforest coming to life
Wake up in the national park, with the unique privilege of seeing the forest long before any of the day visitors arrive - not that there are many of them anyway.
16 of 19
Day 16 - Settle into your hotel on the coast
Return to the mainland to the pretty coastline around the village of Dominical, looking out over the Pacific as you enjoy a relaxed few nights in Costa Rica.
17 of 19
Day 17 - Relax on the Pacific coast
You have a full day free on the Pacific coast so you can either simply relax and enjoy the dramatic views, or visit the beach of Bahia Ballena (Whale Bay) to kayak.
18 of 19
Day 18 - Enjoy zip lines and visit a wildlife sanctuary
One of the best zip lines in the country is just down the road waiting for you this morning. This afternoon, visit the wildlife sanctuary which is connected to your hotel.
19 of 19
Day 19 - Head for home
Drive north to San José this morning, leaving time to drop off your car and check in for your flight home this afternoon. Or ask us how you can stay longer!
