Costa Rica - Costa Rica Wildlife Itinerary 14 nights

Exciting Wildlife Itinerary exploring Costa Rica. All flights, accommodation  included.

Costa Rica Wildlife Itinerary 14 nights with international flights from UK, private transfers, hotels, excursions and many meals included.
Price guide from £3183 per person

Upgrades available at some hotels at a supplement

San Jose - 2 nights (total) bed and breakfast
Tortuguero - 2 nights full board
Tiskita -  3 nights full board
San Gerado de Dota - 2 nights full board
Sarapiqui - 2 nights bed and breakfast
Arenal - 1 night  bed and breakfast
Abangaritos - 2 nights full board

Day 1 Met at the airport. Private transfer to the hotel Don Carlos (superior room), San Jose  (BB)
Day 2 Early morning group guided transfer to Tortuguero (minibus/boat). Enjoy guided group wildlife spotting trips. Overnight: Mawamba Lodge, Tortuguero (FB)
Day 3 Enjoy wildlife spotting canal trips. Overnight: Mawamba Lodge, Tortuguero 
Day 4 Short boat transfer to the airstrip for flights to Tiskita (via San Jose and Puerto Jimenez). Met at the lodge. Overnight: Tiskita Jungle Lodge, Punta Banco (FB)
Day 5 Day at leisure or join guided group walks through the grounds spotting birds and other wildlife. Overnight: Tiskita Jungle Lodge. 
Day 6 Day at leisure or join group guided walks through the grounds spotting birds and other wildlife. Overnight: Tiskita Jungle Lodge.
Day 7 Take a flight back to San Jose (via Puerto Jimenez/Palmar Sur). Private transfer upon arrival to San Gerado de Dota. Overnight: El Trogon Lodge, San Gerado de Dota (FB)
Day 8 Morning guided group* walk in the cloud forest to try to spot the famous Quetzal bird. Overnight: El Trogon Lodge, San Gerado de Dota.
Day 9 Private transfer to Sarapiqui. Evening Group Bat Tour to la Tirimbina Reserve (dinner inc). Overnight: La Quinta Country Inn, Sarapiqui (BB)
Day 10 Enjoy a privately guided tour of La Selva Biological Station (lunch included). Overnight: La Quinta Country Inn, Sarapiqui.
Day 11 Private transfer to Arenal. Afternoon guided group* tour to Volcano and hot springs (dinner inc). Overnight: Lost Iguana, Arenal (BB)
Day 12 Morning Private Guided Tour to Arenal Hanging Bridges – Private transfer to Abangaritos (dinner inc). Overnight: Hacienda La Ensenada, Abangaritos (FB)
Day 13 Enjoy a half day group boat tour through the Palo Verde National Park. Overnight: Hacienda La Ensenada, Abangaritos.
Day 14 Private transfer to San Jose. Overnight: Don Carlos (superior room), San Jose  (BB)
Day 15 (Option to visit Poas Volcano & La Paz Waterfalls on way to the airport for a supplement). Transfer to the airport for flights back to the UK.

* excursion can be upgraded to private tour at a supplement.
(BB) bed and breakfast
(FB) full board

Price guidance quoted includes international flights from London Heathrow with British Airways and American Airlines (via Miami) and local airport transfers in Costa Rica. A 4x4 vehicle can be included in most of the itineraries to give freedom and independence. All itineraries are available with transfers throughout (quotes on request if needed).
 Accommodation basis at all hotels is as described in the itineraries (standard room unless otherwise stated) and is based on 2 sharing a twin/double room. (Quotes for more than 2 people also available upon request.)

Please note that for itineraries including transfers by boat or internal flights, there are luggage weight restrictions of 12kg per person. Excess luggage will need to remain with a local agent and you will be reunited with your luggage at the earliest opportunity.

Where car hire is applicable, the itineraries include local 100% CDW cover. Depending on the itinerary, you will either be taken to the local car hire office to collect your vehicle or the car will be delivered to your hotel. The vehicle will generally be collected from the hotel on the evening of your last day of hire.

Please note that these itineraries are only suggestions to give you an idea of what is possible - please feel free to tailor your itinerary, simply call us on 08451300580 and we will do the rest!

Small and breathtakingly beautiful, Costa Rica has much to offer its visitors, with its dramatic scenery and unsurpassed opportunities to see a wide variety of wildlife in their natural habitat. Costa Ricans (‘Ticos’) enjoy the opportunity to show visitors their wonderful country and wherever you go you will find a warm welcome.

Located in the tropics of Central America, between the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, Costa Rica is a small country, (two-thirds of the size of Scotland), with a population of 4.5 million Spanish speaking people. Discovered by Christopher Columbus and named Costa Rica (rich coast) in 1502, it is lush and fertile. Today much of its economy is based around the export of fruit (mainly bananas & pineapple), sugar cane and coffee. Coffee is known locally as the ‘grano de oro’ (grain of gold) as it was this that originally brought wealth to the country.

Called the ‘Switzerland of Central America’ due to its neutrality and the abolition of its army in 1948, Costa Rica is an independent republic and one of the oldest democracies in America. It has enjoyed political stability for many years. 93% of the population can read and write, and it has an excellent National Health Service.

With hundreds of miles of beaches, and imposing mountains and volcanoes, Costa Rica has 3 climate zones: the central highlands, the Pacific coast, and the Caribbean coast. These variations within such a small area encourage a great diversity of wildlife and Costa Rica is home to 5% of the world’s total biodiversity. There are more than 800 species of birds (more than the whole of North America), 1,200 species of orchids, 10% of the world’s butterfly species, 8,000 species of higher plants and over 150 species of edible fruits. In recognition of this approximately 25% of Costa Rica is now protected, given over to national parks and reserves.

Costa Rica offers the visitor a combination of rainforests, wonderful wildlife, rugged mountains, active volcanoes, remote beaches stretching along jungle-lined shores, white-water rafting, friendly locals and character accommodation.

Costa Rica at a glance:
Beautiful, small, compact country 
Jungle, beaches, cloudforest, active volcanoes 
Easy to get around – perfect for fly drive 
Dry season December to April, but most areas can be visited all year round 
Amazing selection of wildlife- including turtles, monkeys, sloths, butterflies, caiman, crocodiles, iguanas, poison dart frogs and armadillos 
Excellent bird watching – over 800 species including humming birds, toucans and scarlet macaws 
Wonderful flora – including 8,000 species of orchid, 150 species of edible fruits and  ‘walking palm trees’   
Good quality accommodation available
Selection of wonderfully remote, rustic jungle lodges for wildlife viewing
Ideal for soft adventure activities including white water rafting and horse riding
Perfect for honeymoons and romantic getaways
Great for families