Costa Rica adventure holiday
| country: | Costa Rica |
| trip type: | A small group adventure |
| departures: | 2010: 20 Mar, 22 Mar, 27 Mar, 29 Mar, 3 Apr, 5 Apr, 10 Apr, 12 Apr, 17 Apr, 19 Apr, 24 Apr, 26 Apr, 1 May, 3 May, 8 May, 10 May, 15 May, 17 May, 22 May, 24 May, 29 May, 31 May, 5 Jun, 7 Jun, 12 Jun, 14 Jun, 19 Jun, 21 Jun, 26 Jun, 28 Jun |
| price: | From £799 (16 days) excluding flights |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
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introduction to Costa Rica adventure holiday
Costa Rica is one of the most biologically diverse countries in the world - a true Garden of Eden. Let Costa Rica mesmerize you as we explore its rainforests, rushing rivers, pristine beaches and towering volcanoes. This trip combines world-class highlights with more remote areas for an authentic adventure experience.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Arrive San José. Arrive in San José at any time. There are no planned activities so check into our hotel and enjoy the city. Located in the central highlands, San José enjoys a moderate climate. The heat and humidity of the coast and lowland areas may affect you, with a general sense of lethargy and/or loss of appetite. This is no cause for alarm, it is simply your body’s reaction to the heat. Be sure to drink plenty of water (bottled water is available everywhere) and do not attempt too much in any given day. We prefer fan-cooled rather than air conditioned rooms to avoid having to acclimatize to the heat and humidity every time you go outside. This is also a more eco-friendly approach. Like most cities, San José has its good and bad sides. It is the centre of government, theatre, and art, as well as of air pollution and congestion. It has beautiful parks and museums, and a few beggars on the streets. It is big and often noisy, but even from its crowded downtown streets, you’ll often enjoy a view of the surrounding lush mountains. Start your exploration of the city in the main plaza, a great place to people-watch. A mime, juggler, marimba band, magician, or storyteller may be performing for whatever is collected when the hat is passed. Artisan booths are common, creating a regular arts and crafts fair atmosphere. A source of pride for the ticos (as Costa Ricans are known) is the National Theatre. Inaugurated in 1897, the building was paid for by coffee growers through a voluntary tax on every bag of coffee exported. The National Museum, housed in the Bellavista Fortress, offers exhibits on pre-Columbian art, colonial art and furniture and religious art within a 19th century building that was converted from a military fortress after the army was abolished. The Museum of Costa Rican Art, located in La Sabana Park, was once the international airport; the museum is now housed in the old terminal building. The Jade Museum is on the 11th floor of the Instituto Nacional de Seguros building. In addition to the marvellous collection of jade objects, there are pre-Columbian ceramic and stone works as well as displays with archaeological and ethnographic information. The Gold Museum is located underneath the Plaza de la Cultura. Its spectacular collection of indigenous gold art belongs to the Central Bank of Costa Rica. The best and least expensive places to buy souvenirs in San José are the markets. The two main ones are the ones in Plaza de la Cultura, which is an outdoor open market, and the Central Market, where handicrafts are sold along with boots, fish, flour, herbal remedies, shirts and everything else you can imagine. Always watch your belongings and be ready for crowds. If you plan on spending a few days in or around San José after your tour, there are a number of activities within the city and outside city limits that you can participate in, many of them outdoors. Probably the hardest thing you will do in San José, other than get safely across busy streets, is keep the street numbering systems straight. Street and avenue numbers are posted on buildings at the corners of some intersections. Keep looking as you walk, and you will eventually find one. |
| Day 2-3: | Puerto Viejo de Talamanca. Begin with an incredible bus ride over the mountains to the Caribbean coast. The picturesque village of Puerto Viejo de Talamanca’s fourteen kilometres of incomparable white and black sand beaches are surrounded by exotic tropical vegetation. There are several optional activities available. Rent a bike, or hike to Monkey Point through the Gandoca - Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge. Try snorkelling or take it easy and and explore La Isla Botanical Gardens. Rent a boogie board if the waves are calling, dance the night away to reggae and calypso, taste flavourful Afro-Caribbean cuisine, and succumb to the natural beauty of this tropical paradise. This area of Costa Rica was quite isolated until a road was built a only a couple of decades ago, and it still hasn’t lost its charm. Estimated Travel Time: 4 hours Approximate Distance: 410 km |
| Day 4: | Tortuguero National Park. A morning boat ride takes us from Moín to Tortuguero, with spectacular wildlife viewing en route. The unique village has walking paths that extend into the National Park. Tortuguero National Park was created in 1975 to protect the four species of sea turtles which nest along the beaches. The approximately half-day boat ride along rivers and canals starts just outside the town of Limón and ends in the village of Tortuguero, just outside the park perimeter. We may see herons, egrets, spoonbills, as well as amphibians and reptiles like the “Jesus Lizard” (it walks on water) and caimans. The tropical rainforest gives way to prime beaches, ideal nesting grounds for Green, Loggerhead, Hawksbill and Leatherback Turtles. The latter nests from mid-March to May, the rest from July to September. The Caribbean Conservation Center, just outside of town, is an excellent source of information about the turtles and their tropical habitat. Estimated Travel Time: 8 hours Approximate Distance: 140 km |
| Day 5-6: | Rara Avis (2B,1L,2D). The journey up to the jungle retreat 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 excellent for navigating the jungle along rugged uphill terrain on the way to our special jungle oasis. The bumpy trip takes approximately four hours in total. On our journey in we ford two rivers, by tractor when the water is low, or cross swinging foot-bridges when water levels rise with the rains. Along the way you will see first-hand how rainforests have been cut down whenever they are near roads. We enter into primary rainforest bordering Braulio Carrillo National Park. At 700 m (2000 ft) above sea level, the climate is usually cool and comfortable year-round. There is a lot of rain (it's rainforest!), but mosquitoes are generally not a problem. However, weather is always unpredictable and changeable, so you never know when the rain will let up enough to let the sun (and mosquitoes) in to heat things up. Once you arrive at Rara Avis, your naturalist guide will take you into the rainforest and teach you about the plants and wildlife and the complex relations between them. There will also be the opportunity to swim in large crystalline pools at the base of the twin waterfalls, weather permitting. Experience the richness and splendour of the most diverse environment on earth. Rara Avis is a new way to save rainforest while learning about it. Over 360 species of birds have been found and there is a good chance to see monkeys and anteaters, as well as the tracks of tapirs and jungle cats. The treetops are full of vines, lianas, bromeliads, and orchids and there are more kinds of plants, birds, and butterflies here than in all of Europe. Our accommodation is in a rustic lodge which is based on a multi-share basis, as are bathroom facilities. Estimated Travel Time: 7 hours Approximate Distance: 80 km |
| Day 7-9: | La Fortuna / Arenal. La Fortuna, the town near the foot of Arenal Volcano is an excellent base for adventure. Take an unforgettable night hike around the base of the volcano to see the top glowing an eerie red, accompanied by a soundtrack of monkeys and the rumblings of the volcano in the distance. Hike the area’s nature trails, swim in chilly La Fortuna waterfall or go canyoneering (rappelling) and catch a bird’s eye view of the forest greenery. Other optional activities include full-day white water rafting on the Toro or Arenal Rivers, mountain biking, caving, horseback riding, or a tour of the Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge. Like much of Costa Rica, the area is a birders’ paradise, with over 600 species as permanent residents. Finally, after a long day of exploring, you can choose to take a relaxing soak in the lush, cascading hot springs of Tabacón Resort or Baldi Hot Springs. Set on the northern plains of Costa Rica, Arenal Volcano sits on the southeast shore of artificial Lake Arenal (77 square kilometres, or 48 square miles). Separating the mountain ranges of Guanacaste and Tilarán, the lake was created by a hydroelectric dam. Winds sweeping off the Caribbean Sea reach speeds of 48 to 72 km/hr (30 to 45 mph), across Lake Arenal you can find one of the best locations in the world to go windsurfing. The volcano is quite active and occasional eruptions make it a natural wonder to be respected. Arenal is especially impressive at night, when the glowing molten lava is blasted into the ink-black sky. Even during the day, its reflection on Lake Arenal is truly enchanting. Estimated Travel Time: 6 hours Approximate Distance: 110 km |
| Day 10-12: | Monteverde. From the central valley, we ascend into the cool, misty mountain air of the Monteverde cloud forest region. Once there jump on your horse and enjoy a guided two hour tour through coffee fields and forests maybe exchanging a few words with the friendly locals of the community. Here spend a couple of days exploring the town and a cloud forest reserve, truly a bird lover's paradise. This unique community has several co-operatives worth visiting. Local guides are extremely knowledgeable about the area and passionate about conservation of this precious ecosystem. The unique community has several local co-operatives worth visiting including artist collectives and a cheese factory. If you're there at the right time of year, you may be lucky enough to see the Resplendent Quetzal, one of the most beautiful and elusive birds in the world. Optional activities include the Sky Walk, a series of suspension bridges through the jungle canopy, a butterfly garden and a thrilling canopy zip line. Monteverde or Green Mountain, is exactly what you find at the end of the long, rutted dirt road through the mountains. The surrounding pastures were once covered with dense forest, but today only a few small pieces of it remain. One piece of forest has been preserved is the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve, where all proceeds from the park profit the local community.. A cloud forest is much like a rainforest, but much of the moisture comes not from falling rain but from the condensation left by the nearly constant cloud cover that blankets the tops of mountains in many parts of the tropics. Monteverde Reserve covers 1600 hectares of forest and is home to a great variety of wildlife. More than 2,000 species of plants, 320 bird species and 100 different species of mammals inhabit this small area. Quakers from the United States founded the village of Monteverde in the 1950s. Looking to leave behind the constant fear of war and objecting to being forced to support continued militarism through their taxes, the Quakers chose Costa Rica because of its commitment to a non-militaristic economic path—Costa Rica’s army was dissolved in the 1940s. Since its founding, Monteverde has grown slowly as others who shared the original Quaker founders’ ideals moved to the area. Although the Quakers came here to farm the land, they recognized the need to preserve the rare cloud forest that covers the mountain slopes above their fields. The community is very different from those on the coast, and offers several souvenir shops and the Quaker cheese factory, which is definitely worth a visit. Make sure to try their ice cream! Estimated Travel Time: 5 hours Approximate Distance: 60 km |
| Day 13-14: | Quepos / Manuel Antonio National Park. This small town on the Pacific coast is a great place to relax and enjoy the sun and nearby sea. A short distance away, Manuel Antonio National Park offers beautiful white sand beaches and warm turquoise water, ideal for swimming, fishing, kayaking, boogie boarding, sailing or surfing. Quepos sits on the outskirts of the Manuel Antonio National Park (about 20 min drive) and is a great introduction to the laid-back “Tico” lifestyle. This town is very popular with the younger set of international travellers, and the nightlife in the area is also some of the best in the country. If you have the jungle in mind, then we recommend that you head into the National Park. Although this is Costa Rica’s smallest National Park, it is also one of the most popular and it won’t take you long to see why. This park has fabulous beaches, abundant wildlife, and a great trail system for those who want to spend the day hiking. Look for monkeys, armadillos, coatimundis, sloths and some of the over 350 species of birds that are present in the park! Estimated Travel Time: 6 hours Approximate Distance: 220 km |
| Day 15: | San José. Return to San José for some last minute shopping and a final night on the town. Estimated Travel Time: 5 hours Approximate Distance: 190 km |
| Day 16: | Depart San José. |
traveller reviews for Costa Rica adventure holiday
The whole variety of the trip in Costa Rica was excellent. I think one part i loved was the horse back riding around the lake heading towards Arenal. This was brilliant and we were able to have complete control of the horses and make the most of the riding. (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. |
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