Costa Rica
Costa Rica is noted for its exceptional wildlife and warm and welcoming people. Well-managed parks and reserves encompass tropical jungle, Caribbean and Pacific coastline, verdant hills and dense mangrove swamps. Highlights include howler monkeys, alligators, turtles coming ashore to lay their eggs, tapirs, sloths and tree frogs - and if you’re really lucky, a glimpse of a jaguar or quetzal.
San José, the capital, is set on a high plateau surrounded by mountainous cloud forest, thick with vines, ferns and orchids. Lush plantations are within easy driving distance (self-drive is a popular way to get around). Spectacular volcanoes are an impressive sight - particularly the gently rumbling Arenal whose lava flows glow and smoulder on clear nights. Costa Rica has superb birdwatching, from iridescent humming birds to flamboyant parrots and toucans.
The Pacific and Caribbean coasts have some wonderful beach resorts, with plenty of opportunities for water sports, snorkelling and scuba diving, relaxing on the coral sand, or absorbing the lively Afro-Asian culture. Costa Rica is very family-friendly, with a range of exciting activities, from white-water rafting to zip lines through the forest canopy.
Highlights
Here are some of our Costa Rica highlights
Adventure
From kayaking and tree-climbing to zip-lines through the forest canopy, Costa Rica is a real adventure destination. Possibilities abound with waterfall rapelling, rafting and hiking throughout the country - you'll certainly never be bored!
Smouldering volcanos
The spectacular, active volcano of Arenal in Costa Rica's central valley is one of the country's most impressive. A scenic hike over ancient rocks to the famous lava wall or a relaxing evening dip in the thermal hot springs are highly reccomended!
Turtles
Six species of turtles visit Costa Rica to nest, principally in the areas of Tortuguero on the Caribbean coast and on the Nicoya and Osa peninsulas on the Pacific coast. Seasons vary depending on species and/or area.
Wildlife
The Osa peninsula is a haven for wildlife. Half is covered by the Corcovado National Park, mainly primary rainforest with more than 400 species of birds and many amphibians and mammals and the possibility to see majestic Humpack whales in December and January.
Thank you so so much for all of your help, it was a really special trip and I’m already missing Costa Rica. All our hotels and transfers were perfect and your itinerary suited us so well. Having the transfers all sorted made it so easy for us and I’m so grateful that our trip was planned so well and allowed us to see everything we wanted to.
Our highlights were definitely Mawamba Lodge (Tortuguero), as their staff were just brilliant and the boat trip, the town and the Caribbean Coast was beautiful. For us Arenal and La Fortuna was incredible. The waterfall was amazing (very refreshing!) and the location of the hotel, and being able to wake up and see the Volcano from the balcony was unbelievable. Of course all of our locations were outstanding and we enjoyed every single place we visited.
Everything was so easy and my only downside was that it went so quickly and I wish we had been able to spend longer there. Thank you again for all of your help, we had the best time and I have fallen in love with Costa Rica!- BS