Costa Rica adventure
| country: | Costa Rica |
| trip type: | A small group adventure |
| departures: | Up to 3 departures a week throughout the year |
| price: | From £539 (16 days) excluding flights. Local payment US $250 |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
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the amazing things you'll be doing
You are sure to fall under the spell of Costa Rica's diverse land and welcoming people. We spend 2 weeks discovering the tropical rainforests, rushing rivers, exotic animals, pristine beaches, and towering volcanoes of this naturally diverse Central American country. Nearly 30% of Costa Rica is preserved area, giving us great close-up looks at a true Garden of Eden.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Arrive San Jose. Arrive in San José at any time. |
| Day 2-3: | Puerto Viejo de Talamanca. Begin with a bus ride over the scenic mountains to Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast. The picturesque village of Puerto Viejo de Talamanca's white and black sand beaches are surrounded by exotic tropical vegetation. Many optional activities are available, including bike rentals, snorkelling, and hiking in Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge. |
| Day 4: | Tortuguero National Park. Take a morning boat ride to Tortuguero, with spectacular wildlife viewing en route. The beaches here are nesting grounds of the enormous Green and Leatherback sea turtles. |
| Day 5-6: | Rara Avis (2B,2L,2D). The journey is half the adventure as we begin by travelling along two rivers, the Tortuguero and the La Suerte. Back on land we board a van, then a unimog (all-terrain truck) then a tractor-drawn cart to get to our special jungle oasis. We enter the primary rainforest bordering Braulio Carrillo National Park, where at 700m (2000 ft) above sea level, the climate is generally cool year-round. A naturalist guide leads us along nature trails, a butterfly farm and swimming spots at the twin waterfalls. There is also the option to climb to a viewing platform 30m (100 ft) above the jungle floor. |
| Day 7-9: | La Fortuna / Arenal. La Fortuna, at the foot of Arenal Volcano, is an excellent base for area explorations. Take a night hike around the base of the Arenal Volcano, accompanied by the sounds of monkeys and the distant rumbling of the volcano. Other optional activities include whitewater rafting, horseback riding, waterfall canyoneering (rappelling), a boat tour of the Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge, or a relaxing soak in hot springs. |
| Day 10-12: | Monteverde. Climb into the misty mountain air of the Monteverde cloud forest region. Weather permitting, travel by horse around Lake Arenal to Monteverde. Spend a couple of days exploring the town and a cloud forest reserve, a true nature lover's paradise. Optional activities include a trail of suspended bridges through the canopy, a butterfly garden and a thrilling canopy zip line. |
| Day 13-14: | Quepos / Manuel Antonio National Park. Quepos is a small Pacific town perfect for relaxing at the end of your tour. A short distance away, Manuel Antonio National Park offers excellent hiking, spectacular views, and abundant wildlife. There are beautiful white sand beaches and the warm turquoise water is ideal for swimming, fishing, kayaking, boogie boarding, sailing or surfing. The nightlife in the area is also some of the best in the country. |
| Day 15: | San Jose. Return to San Jose for some last-minute shopping and a final night on the town. |
| Day 16: | Depart San Jose. |
travellers' tales
Most memorable? White water rafting, the most amazing zip-lining, the privilege of watching turtles lay eggs on a pitch black beach, eerie cloudforest and dripping rainforest, lava exploding from Arenal, magnificent hidden waterfalls... (more)
small group adventure holiday
Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-20 like minded travellers (depending on the trip, operator and how many others are booked on the trip) and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends its good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting new people as well as seeing new places.how this holiday makes a difference
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Through our commitment to responsible tourism, we ensure minimal social and environmental impact in the places we visit by travelling in small groups, using local transportation and staying in locally owned hotels. We also work with experienced local guides who are knowledgeable of local culture, history, flora and fauna.
Kids Saving the Rainforest is a non-profit organization in Quepos, Costa Rica that focuses on environmental education and wildlife conservation. On this tour you may have the opportunity to learn about their programs including their efforts to save the endangered Titi monkeys and their animal rehabilitation program. The leading cause of death among these primates is electrocution by both high and low-tension live wires where their treetop pathways have grown around the wires. These bridges lend an invaluable resource to the remaining 1500-1700 Titi monkeys of the Citrinellus subspecies. Recent studies in Manual Antonio have shown 20% increases in the size of some troops in the last couple of years and the size of the subspecies population has increased by approximately 200 since the last study. This is great news, which shows the bridges are contributing towards saving the monkeys. This organisation is supported by the Planeterra Foundation, a non-profit organisation developed by our company as a way to give back to the places in which we operate. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |