Costa Rica tailor made holiday, vistas and volcanoes
| country: | Costa Rica |
| departures: | Available all year. This suggested itinerary can be modified entirely to your personal wishes including departure date, duration, accommodation used and how long you spend in each destination. |
| price: | From £3200 per person (15 days) including flights from the UK |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
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introduction to Costa Rica tailor made holiday, vistas and volcanoes
Costa Rica is well known for its diverse landscapes, abundant wildlife and wealth of exhilarating activities, and no visit would be complete without experiencing these. However, there are also some hidden gems where you can get off the beaten track and escape the crowds which this suggested trip aims to encompass.
The trip begins in Rincon de la Vieja National Park in the north of the country. Here the imposing volcano not only provides a dramatic backdrop but also feeds many natural hot springs, perfect for relaxation after an activity filled day. You will then continue to one of Costa Rica's foremost attractions, Volcan Arenal. This picture perfect volcano is among the twenty most active in the world, regularly spewing out glowing molten rocks and thick smoke.
The trip then takes you to the serene cloud forests of Bajos del Toro and El Silencio Lodge. Here you really can escape the world for a couple of days, relaxing at this fantastic ecolodge or exploring the trails winding through the cool, dense forests. The next stop, Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui, is emerging as a popular spot, with excellent wildlife viewing opportunities and a renowned biological research station where you will enjoy a guided birdwatching tour with a naturalist guide. This is also a perfect spot to enjoy the favourite Costa Rican activity, ziplining through the treetops.
Continue to Tortuguero National Park, a breeding ground for green sea turtles and important conservation site. Your time here will be spent exploring the canals spotting monkeys, birds and caiman with evening turtle watching tours offered from July until September. The trip rounds off nicely with time spent relaxing on the gorgeous beaches of the Caribbean coastline and exploring the jungle at the Almonds and Corals resort in Manzanillo. There is also a rare opportunity to visit with the lodge the Bribri and Cachabri indigenous groups, as well as take excursions into the national park. A perfect way to end your time in this wonderful country.
The trip begins in Rincon de la Vieja National Park in the north of the country. Here the imposing volcano not only provides a dramatic backdrop but also feeds many natural hot springs, perfect for relaxation after an activity filled day. You will then continue to one of Costa Rica's foremost attractions, Volcan Arenal. This picture perfect volcano is among the twenty most active in the world, regularly spewing out glowing molten rocks and thick smoke.
The trip then takes you to the serene cloud forests of Bajos del Toro and El Silencio Lodge. Here you really can escape the world for a couple of days, relaxing at this fantastic ecolodge or exploring the trails winding through the cool, dense forests. The next stop, Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui, is emerging as a popular spot, with excellent wildlife viewing opportunities and a renowned biological research station where you will enjoy a guided birdwatching tour with a naturalist guide. This is also a perfect spot to enjoy the favourite Costa Rican activity, ziplining through the treetops.
Continue to Tortuguero National Park, a breeding ground for green sea turtles and important conservation site. Your time here will be spent exploring the canals spotting monkeys, birds and caiman with evening turtle watching tours offered from July until September. The trip rounds off nicely with time spent relaxing on the gorgeous beaches of the Caribbean coastline and exploring the jungle at the Almonds and Corals resort in Manzanillo. There is also a rare opportunity to visit with the lodge the Bribri and Cachabri indigenous groups, as well as take excursions into the national park. A perfect way to end your time in this wonderful country.
best time to go
The best time of year to travel to Costa Rica is generally from December through to June, which is the dry season. However, Costa Rica has a truly tropical climate and rain can be expected at any time of year especially on the Caribbean coast where the seasons are less defined and when September/ October is the best. day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Fly from London to Liberiain Costa Rica where your guide will be waiting to greet you for the transfer to your accommodation near Rincon de la Vieja National Park. |
| Day 2: | A day at leisure at Borinquen Hotel to relax and enjoy the mud pools and scenery or to take one of the tours operated by the hotel. |
| Day 3: | Travel from Borinquen to Arenal Volcano. This afternoon take an excursion to the base of the volcano when you will be able to trek across the lava fields. This evening you will enjoy a traditional homecooked dinner as well as a relaxing dip at the Ecotermales hotsprings. |
| Day 4: | Arenal Hanging Bridges. This morning you will take a guided walk at Arenal Hanging Bridges - a series of paths and suspended bridges through the forest, where it is common to spot wildlife. |
| Day 5: | Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge. A full day excursion to the wonderful Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge with your guide. This is renowned for its excellent opportunities to spot wildlife. |
| Day 6: | Bajos del Toro. Today you will travel from Arenal to the cool cloudforest in Bajos del Toro, where you will stay at the unique El Silencio lodge. This afternoon your 'eco-concierge' will explain the various options you have to explore, or you may like to simply relax in your private jacuzzi or book a treatment at the wonderful spa. |
| Day 7: | A day at leisure to explore the forests around El Silencio Lodge. |
| Day 8: | Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui. Today you will travel with your private guide to Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui, a lesser visited area of Costa Rica with excellent wildlife and adventure sports. This afternoon you will try the Costa Rican favourite: ziplining through the canopy! |
| Day 9: | La Selva biological station. A morning tour to the renowned La Selva biological station where your private naturalist guide will introduce you to the diverse and abundant flora and fauna of the region. |
| Day 10: | Tortuguero National Park. Travel from Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui to Tortuguero National Park, joining a shared transfer at Siquirres. You will travel by boat through the scenic canals for the final section of the transfer. After lunch you will be able to visit Tortuguero town including the interesting museum about turtle protection. |
| Day 11: | A morning exploring the canals of Tortuguero National Park - a great place to spot the diverse wildlife of the region. |
| Day 12: | Manzanillo. This morning you will leave Tortuguero by shared boat. Your guide will meet you in Siquirres for the journey to Almonds and Corals Resort in Manzanillo. |
| Day 13: | Relax. A day to relax at Almonds and Corals |
| Day 14: | Depart. Transfer to the airport in San Jose for your return flight to London. Overnight on the plane. |
| Day 1: | Arrival in the UK. |
tailor made holidays
This trip can be tailor made to create a unique holiday for your individual requirements by travel experts with intimate knowledge of the destination. It is a more individual trip that will suit those who enjoy immersing themselves in new cultures and environments, with the flexibility to plan a trip at your own pace. Quality and value are the hallmark of these trips, with most services being provided on a private basis.how this holiday makes a difference
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Environment:
Costa Rica is frequently cited as a leader in responsible tourism; with around a quarter of the small yet incredibly diverse country protected by "National Park" or "Reserve" status, it would be hard to find a country with a better attitude to sustainable tourism. However, Costa Rica's growing popularity as an ecotourism hotspot has led to increased visitor numbers and in some places overdevelopment and mass foreign investment. We therefore recommend the smaller, locally owned properties in more off the beaten track destinations in order to maximise benefit to the local community and enjoyment for the visitor. Costa Rica awards properties 'leaves' based on sustainable tourism, and many of the properties featured in this itinerary have been awarded three, four or even five leaves for their commitment to the environment and local community. El Silencio Lodge - is the perfect example of a responsibly run, yet luxurious, hotel; the lodge was built with minimal impact on the land and a reforestation project is underway. Situated in a private cloud forest reserve, this is a lesser visited alternative to the more popular cloud forests and therefore an ideal place for spotting birds and wildlife without the crowds. Community: We always recommend using private local guides, where possible, since we feel that this will really enhance vistors' experiences of the country that they are visiting. El Silencio Lodge - Staff are local, restaurant produce is local and the owners contribute to community projects, all whilst providing first class service and accommodation to guests. Almonds and corals - has been awarded 5 leaves for sustainable tourism and also supports local Bribri and Cachabri indigenous groups. |
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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