This 2-week wildlife holiday in Costa Rica really packs a punch! You criss-cross the country, taking in the central highlands, Caribbean and Pacific coasts, spending time in the rainforest, cloudforest, mangroves, lagoons and beaches. And, of course, encountering Costa Rica’s wildlife holiday famously diverse wildlife: mammals, reptiles, amphibians, insects and birds make this small country a paradise for wildlife lovers.
You’ll see all 4 species of monkeys found in the country, watch hummingbirds from your balcony, spot turtles on the beach and macaws among the trees, marvel at the colours and sounds of frogs on a night walk in the forest, gasp at the iridescent beauty of the quetzal, see sleepy-eye sloths among the branches and snorkel among shoals of multi-coloured fish.
In each location you have the services of expert local guides to help you discover this enchanted land and understand its riches. It’s a holiday for the active, though high levels of fitness aren’t required. You hike through dense forest, follow marked trails, ply canals by boat, paddle in secluded lagoons, climb hills and swim in the ocean.
Accommodation has have been chosen for location, to get you as close to nature as possible. This doesn’t mean sacrificing creature comforts: all rooms are en-suite and many are air conditioned, most hotels and lodges have swimming pools and are all set in gorgeous gardens, and offer warm Tican hospitality.
Costa Rica Wildlife Holiday Itinerary
Day 1:
Arrive at Juan Santamaria International Airport in San José where you are met and driven to your hotel in the heart of the city. At Hotel Presidente you are well located for visiting museums, parks and galleries, though if you prefer to stay put and rest after your flight, the hotel bar is the ideal spot.
Day 2:
Rise early to join a shared coach transfer, stopping for breakfast en route. You are driven to the Caribbean coast through the rainforest and hills of Braulio Carrillo National Park. When you reach the dock at Caño Blanco you swap land for water and board a boat for the 2.5 ride along a series of canals to Tortuguero National Park. This gives you time to look out for animals and birds by the banks. Check into Evergreen Lodge where you have lunch and meet your guide who informs you about the various activities available. In the afternoon you have an optional visit to the local village, or you prefer, rest at the lodge.
Day 3:
Tortuguero is best explored from the water and this morning you join a shared boat trip on the canals with a guide on hand to point out the different bird, mammal, reptile and amphibian species. You can also use a kayak to venture in to quiet lagoons where you can listen out for birds and monkeys – the soundtrack of the rainforest, with which you’ll soon become familiar.
Get Costa Rica Wildlife Holiday Tour Packages
Summery
- San José 1 night
- Tortuguero 2 nights
- Sarapiquí 2 nights
- Bajos del Toro 2 nights
- Manuel Antonio 3 nights
- Osa Peninsula 3 nights
- San José 1 night
