
Costa Rica Wildlife Holidays
Award-winning sustainable holidays away from the crowds
Dolphin racing Avian adventures Burst of pace Trained eye Snorkel stalker Liquid eyes Picture perfect Snorkelling with sharks
From Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica
OK, we weren't actually racing dolphins. But for several minutes, we could have been, as a pod of dolphins leapt and frolicked all around us. We slowed the boat right down, and sat enthralled. There must have been a dozen or so in all. Absolutely fantastic.
After reluctantly waving them goodbye, the thought occurred to me that a race wouldn't have been much of a contest - those guys could really shift through the water.
From Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica
I’d never been that fussed by birds, only the really large or really colourful. Then I went to the Osa Peninsula and it wasn't just the Scarlet macaws that had my eyes darting from treetop to treetop. Partly it was the quantity, partly my guide’s obvious delight each time he spotted a different species.
I'll never forget that priviliged morning rummaging around the most biodiverse pocket of our planet, even if I've forgotten most of the names.
From Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica
"John, have you seen what’s behind you?" "Undoubtedly a massive crocodile, right? Ha ha." "Well, it’s not massive but…"
While it was probably just catching some rays, there seemed to be a hungry glint in its eye. The fact that it was actually slightly above our head height did not help improve things for the more squeamish members of the paddling party. Let’s just say some people found a sudden burst of pace…
From Tortuguero, Costa Rica
I am amazed at my guide's ability to distinguish between apparently identical creatures far, far away - his exceptionally well-trained eye means he is able to see the tiniest details of a bird before I even see where it is. His passion for and affinity for the animals here is obvious.
It fills me with absolute joy to witness someone in what is clearly their natural state, doing what they enjoy and what they do best.
From Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica
I feel like a stalker. But I had no choice - sea turtles can swim like the clappers. After my first couple of attempts to get close, I realised my only hope was to sneak up on them. Turtles have terrible rear visibility, so I floated along behind, enjoying the sight of these beautiful creatures.
At night, they move onto the beach to bury their eggs. By day, they bob about offshore, having a very occasional encounter with snorkeling stalkers.
From Cahuita, Costa Rica
As I was headed back to the room for my bag, the gardener beckoned me over with a grin and a pointing finger. It took me a moment to spot him, or her, it’s pretty hard to tell – but there he/she was, tucking into the foliage barely 20m above my bungalow roof.
I whipped out my camera, and for one glorious moment those liquid brown eyes looked through the leaves, directly at me. I think it might have been a smile, you know.
From Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica
First morning of my trip, I was up early, coffee in hand, dawn cacophony ringing all around. I just wanted to absorb it all.
I'd had my eye on, and my zoom trained on, a helicona flower. Losing track of time, I waited. When a hummingbird finally flitted into view, I sprang into action. The clatter of the shutter joined the chorus and from it emerged a photo so crisp that even the ant is in focus. It hangs in my hallway, so I see it every day.
From Cahuita, Costa Rica
On the Caribbean coast we did so much exploring. We did the most amazing thing possible - snorkelling in a coral reef. I saw a shark so big I don’t have words to describe it. Just imagine a creature so beautiful you just wanted to reach out and touch it. It looked so soft.
There was a sting ray buried under the sand and so many beautiful fish of so many different colours.
Sleepy sloths in the jungle; basking crocs in the mangroves; majestic quetzals in the cloud forest - Costa Rica is one of the world's great wildlife destinations. Our trips take you off the tourist trail to give you more time in beautifully unspoilt landscapes, where the wildlife is as good as it gets.



Great Road Trips: Costa Rica's Hidden Highlights
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£5,400 pp$7,000 ppn/a
- 20 days
Great Road Trips: Costa Rica's Hidden Highlights
When: Nov-Sep
Price: £5,400 per person
Duration: 20 days
All the diversity, none of the crowds. Cross Costa Rica from golden beaches via coffee fincas and cacao farms to the incredible wildlife of the Osa Peninsula.
Costa Rica's Ultimate Wildlife Wonders Holiday
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£6,500 pp$8,500 ppn/a
- 22 days
Costa Rica's Ultimate Wildlife Wonders Holiday
When: Nov-Sep
Price: £6,300 per person
Duration: 22 days
Quetzals in quiet cloud forest; turtles on wild beaches; monkeys in remote jungle. You're in the very best places for Costa Rica's greatest wildlife encounters.
Premium Ecolodges of Costa Rica Holiday
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£6,800 pp$8,800 ppn/a
- 15 days
Premium Ecolodges of Costa Rica Holiday
When: Nov-Sep
Price: £6,800 per person
Duration: 15 days
All the wildlife of Costa Rica, all the creature comforts of premium ecolodges. Enjoy Costa Rica's most biodiverse hotspots, guided by our expert helping hand.
Classic Costa Rica Away From the Crowds
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£4,900 pp$6,300 ppn/a
- 18 days
Classic Costa Rica Away From the Crowds
When: Nov-Sep
Price: £4,900 per person
Duration: 18 days
Swap the tourist trail for our peaceful path through Costa Rica, with all the coffee fincas, volcano views, misty forests and jungle-fringed beaches you could wish for.
Our Ultimate Costa Rica Holiday: A Month of Wonders
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£7,500 pp$9,750 ppn/a
- 29 days
Our Ultimate Costa Rica Holiday: A Month of Wonders
When: Nov-Sep
Price: £7,500 per person
Duration: 29 days
Give us four weeks and we will give you the full variety of Costa Rica's wildlife and ecosystems, following roads less travelled, meeting a country less known.
Our Ultimate Osa Peninsula Holiday
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£4,500 pp$5,800 ppn/a
- 12 days
Our Ultimate Osa Peninsula Holiday
When: Nov-Sep
Price: £4,500 per person
Duration: 12 days
Wild beaches, tropical fjords and primary rainforest, brimming with biodiversity and experienced with locals. This is a special trip in a very special place.
Nicaragua to Costa Rica Wildlife & Culture Holiday
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£5,120 pp$7,168 ppn/a
- 26 days
Nicaragua to Costa Rica Wildlife & Culture Holiday
When: Nov-Sep
Price: £5,120 per person
Duration: 26 days
The howl of a monkey; the flash of a quetzal; the aroma of coffee roasted at source. This trip celebrates the natural world, and the locals who call it home.
Tailor-made Itineraries
Wildlife Wonders in Costa Rica
Created by specialists, tailored to you.

Wildlife At Its Best
For a truly great wildlife holiday, we first need to put you in the right places. As great as Monteverde is for some, if you want to see quetzals we're going to need some blissfully peaceful cloud forest for that.

Expert Company
The right company transforms a walk in the forest into an unforgettable wildlife experience. Our trips pair you with specialist wildlife guides, for the richest possible window into their wild world.

More Than the Wildlife
Our wildlife trips are about more than the wildlife. Even if you know your tanagers from your trogons, you'll love the beautiful places you'll stay, the charming Ticos you'll meet and the local flavour packed into your trip.