Days 1 – Arrival in San Jose
On arrival in San Jose airport, you will be met by one of our friendly representatives who will be escorting you to your charming boutique hotel in a lovingly restored Victorian mansion near Paseo Colón. You’ll also receive an information pack filled with all your documents and useful tips for your journey ahead. Once you’ve settled into your comfortable room, head up to the roof terrace for a refreshing drink and soak in the bubbling jacuzzi while enjoying views across the city.
Day 2 – San Jose – Tortuguero
This morning, it’s an early start as you’ll be collected from your hotel in San Jose around 6.30am. Your private transfer will take you as close as they can access by road, until you board a boat for a short journey along the Tortuguero River to reach your eco lodge in the heart of the jungle. You will be staying at one of the most renowned rainforest lodges in Costa Rica, set on 146-acres of private jungle set along the winding river. Surrounded by lush gardens, tropical trees, and tonnes of wildlife, this is the ideal spot to relax on your terrace, spot howler monkeys swinging through the trees, or watch toucans and parrots fly past. As this is the only lodge in the area with its own private reserve, you can enjoy exclusive access to quiet trails and really immerse yourself in the incredible wild and peaceful natural surroundings.
Day 3 – Tortuguero National Park
Wake up early to the sounds of birds and the gentle river breeze, stepping out onto your terrace with a fresh Costa Rican coffee in hand. After enjoying a delicious breakfast by the river’s edge, you’ll board a small boat with a professional guide for a cruise through the glassy canals of Tortuguero National Park, where howler monkeys bark from the treetops, vibrant kingfishers dart past, and caimans can be spotted basking on the muddy banks. Back at the lodge, enjoy a freshly prepared lunch overlooking the river, before it’s time for another adventure. You can choose from a range of different activities including a guided kayaking experience that takes you through the backwater creeks, a twilight walk to discover the nocturnal creatures as they begin to stir. Later, enjoy a tasty dinner under the canopy of stars while the jungle hums around you, and finish the night with a refreshing drink by the water, listening to the river drift by.
Day 4 – Tortuguero – La Fortuna
Today, you’ll be collected and taken to the lively rainforest town of La Fortuna, in northern Costa Rica. Surrounded by lush jungle, rivers and waterfalls, La Fortuna is known as the gateway to Arenal Volcano, where outdoor adventure and steamy hot springs sit underneath the dramatic cone-shaped peak. You’ll be staying at a premium resort, with a naturally heated river flowing through the gardens, where you can soak in thermal streams surrounded by tropical plants for an immersive and atmospheric hot springs experience.
The sunset creates a magical atmosphere, as the light fades and the warm water steams away in the cool air, with lanterns glowing through the greenery and the sounds of the jungle increasing around you. After a delicious dinner, taking one final soak beneath the stars is the perfect way to end the day, completely immersed in nature.
Day 5 – Free time in La Fortuna
Wake up to the sounds of birdsong and soft jungle light filtering through the trees, before enjoying a delicious fresh breakfast in the open-air restaurant. Spend the morning exploring the rainforest trails nearby, crossing hanging bridges, visiting cascading waterfalls or just taking in the incredible views of Arenal Volcano. By mid-morning you’ll be itching to to take a dip in the naturally heated pools, moving from one steaming spring to the next, beneath the lush jungle canopy. Relax and soak it all in. After lunch, find a comfortable hammock or indulge in a spa treatment inspired by volcanic minerals, the perfect way to spend a relaxing afternoon in this serene setting.
Day 6 – Twilight safari experience
Free time…
In the evening, head out on a safari with a difference. Hop on a raft and glide along the Peñas Blancas River, just as the sun begins to set, bathing the jungle in a twilight glow. Your expert local guide will do the rowing while you sit back and watch the nocturnal wildlife come alive. Keep your eyes peeled for howler and white-faced capuchin monkeys, sloths, caimans, iguanas, and a vibrant range of tropical birds along the banks. Back on dry land, you’ll visit The Hidalgo Family Home, for a taste of traditional Costa Rican life. The family will welcome you into their home, showing how they farm and live, and sharing a fresh snack or a drink. Take the opportunity to spend some time chatting, sharing stories and soak up the local culture, ending your tour on a warm personal note, before heading back to your lodge.
Day 7 – La Fortuna – Monteverde
Travelling along the winding roads, through lush green hills and small farming communities, you’ll notice the air begin to cool and the landscapes disappear behind a blanket of mist – a sure sign you’ve entered the cloud forest. You’ll be staying in a premium mountain eco-lodge nestled among tropical gardens and hillside trails, where contemporary bungalows are consciously designed to blend in with the natural surroundings. Sustainability is at the heart of this lodge, from solar power and having a strict ‘no single-use plastics’ policy, to locally sourced food and a team made up of Costa Rican staff. Step across the hanging bridge and enter Aguti Wildlife Reserve, which lodge guests have exclusive access to. Wander along the winding forest trails beneath towering trees draped in moss, and spot hummingbirds darting between flowers as the cloud forest hums quietly around you.
Day 8 – Treetop tour
Today, you’ll be accompanied by a naturalist guide on a walk through the cloud forest canopy, where ferns, mosses and orchids bloom amongst the hanging tree branches. You’ll learn all about how this rare ecosystem thrives in constant moisture and misty conditions. From the bridges and viewpoints, look out over the layers of endless deep green forest, with clouds moving slowly through the treetops. Keep an eye out for movement in the trees – if you’re lucky you may spot monkeys or a sloth moving quietly through the canopy.
Day 9 – La Fortuna – Manuel Antonio
Today you will be collected from your lodge in La Fortuna and travel from the volcanic highlands to the tropical Pacific shoreline of Manuel Antonio. As you head back down to sea level, you’ll notice how the air becomes warmer and the landscapes shift from lush cloud forest to tropical jungle and scenic coastline. As you arrive, you’ll soon catch a glimpse of the ocean shimmering through the trees as you’re greeted by a fresh sea breeze and a cool drink from reception. Your resort is designed to blend in with its surroundings, with wooden walkways, tropical gardens and the sounds of wildlife all around. Settle into your room with ocean views, where floor-to-ceiling windows draw in views of the Pacific Ocean and rainforest canopy.
Day 10 – Manuel Antonio National Park
It’s an early start today, as you’ll be setting off to explore Manuel Antonio National Park when the forest is at its coolest and wildlife is most active. Alongside an expert local guide, you’ll follow shaded trails through dense rainforest where monkeys swing overhead, sloths sleep in the treetops and vibrant birds dart between branches. Eventually, you’ll feel the sand beneath your feet, stepping out onto a powder-soft beach with bright blue turquoise waters and the lush jungle rising just behind you.
Day 11 – Catamaran Tour
Today, you’ll get to see Costa Rica’s Pacific coast from a different perspective, as you’ll be boarding a catamaran and cruising along the calm azure waters. Glide past lush jungle hanging over hidden coves, and feel the sea breeze on your skin as the shoreline stretches as far as you can see. Keep an eye out for dolphins riding the bow wave, and if you’re visiting between August and September, you’ve got a high chance of spotting humpback whales. Along the way, you’ll stop off at a sheltered bay ideal for snorkelling and swimming among the colourful tropical fish, before enjoying a delicious fresh lunch on board.
Back on dry land, enjoy one final sunset from the quiet comfort of your terrace, with the jungle sounds and gentle rolling waves in the distance. Then it’s time for another candlelit dinner, sharing memories from your trip while savouring fresh seafood and a glass of wine for one last evening immersed in nature before your journey home begins tomorrow.
Day 12 – Departure from Costa Rica
This morning, enjoy a leisurely breakfast as you take in the views one last time, letting it all soak in. Then, it’s time to pack up and say goodbye, as your driver will be waiting to take you back to the airport for your flight home. If you’d like to extend your stay at any time, just let your travel specialist know, as every trip is fully tailored for you.
Accommodation
