Summary
Short description
Combine the wildlife and nature of Sarapiqui and the Osa Peninsula with the iconic landscapes of Arenal
Highlights
- Take in Arenal's stunning volcanic landscapes & spot exotic animals as you walk the famous Hanging Bridges
- Spot monkeys, birds, caymans & more among the jungles of the Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge
- Go in search of Costa Rica's wildlife icons amid the jungles of Sarapiqui
- Look out for rare jaguars and tapirs on the remote Osa Peninsula
- Enjoy a stay at the spectacular Lapa Rios Lodge that's surrounded by pristine rainforest
In pictures
About
Recommended for:
Activity adventure | Honeymoon | Independent tour | March holidays | Natural world | Wildlife
Coast to coast, Costa Rica's landscapes are rich in wildlife, with over 25% of the country protected by national parks and reserves. Resplendent quetzals, once considered divine by pre-Columbian civilisations, flit through moss-draped cloud forest, hummingbirds congregate to drink nectar from a fabulous feat of flora while jaguars slink across the forest floor. Head to the sea and you'll discover nesting turtles among the swaying palms and pristine beaches of the country's Caribbean and Pacific coasts. This tour takes you to three of Costa Rica's true gems, beginning with a stay in lowland rainforests of Sarapiqui followed by a trip out to the magnificent Arenal Volcano. You'll then head to the Lapa Rios Ecolodge on the remote Osa Peninsula, where you'll look out for rare jaguars and tapirs amid the dense rainforests that fringe Costa Rica's Pacific coast.
Day by day itinerary
Day
1
UK/San José
Take time to relax in your included VIP airport lounge before boarding an overnight flight to Costa Rica where you'll be met for a private transfer to your hotel on the outskirts of the city. Set amid a sprawling coffee plantation, its rooms are characterful and quirky, furnished in typical Costa Rican style with bright murals and views out to the coffee fields and their mountainous surrounds. There's a delightful spa, a hot tub and a pool too, all ensuring a suitably restful start to your Costa Rican adventure. And, if you've the time, and inclination, there's the chance to explore the grounds on a guided tour, and sample those other grounds at a coffee-tasting workshop.
Stay: Finca Rosa Blanca, nr San José (Superior)
Days
2-3
Sarapiqui
With a free morning, you'll have more time to relax, or take the coffee plantation tour if you missed out the day before. Then, later on, you'll take a private transfer to Selva Verde Lodge in Sarapiqui for a two-night stay. Here, you'll head out on a tour of the La Selva Biological Station – a 1,600 hectare region located at the confluence of two major rivers in Costa Rica's Caribbean lowlands. The station is a veritable treasure trove of biodiversity and more than 240 scientific papers are published each year from the research carried out here.
Stay: Selva Verde Lodge, Sarapiqui
Meals: B L D
Day
4
Sarapiqui to Arenal
Transfer to Arenal this morning, stopping along the way for an exhilarating white water rafting experience on the Saripiqui River. Then, once you've dried off, you'll continue to the plains of San Carlos on the border with Nicaragua, a verdant region of palm, pineapple and citrus plantations, extensive farmlands, forests, lakes and mountain meadows, all framed by the unmistakable outline of the Arenal Volcano.
Stay: Arenal Kioro Suites & Spa (Superior)
Meals: B
Days
5-6
Arenal
This morning you'll embark on a full-day tour of the Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge, including a boat ride on the Frio River. You'll start in the town of Los Chiles, located just four kilometres from the Nicaraguan border, making your way though one of the most diverse natural habitats in Costa Rica. Keep your eyes peeled as you look out for howler, spider and white face monkeys, three-toed sloths, herons, cormorants and reptiles including caiman, Jesus lizards and turtles. The following day you'll enjoy a tour of the Arenal Hanging Bridges, a complex of trails and bridges that runs through the jungle canopy. Lunch is included on day six.
Stay: Arenal Kioro Suites & Spa (Superior)
Meals: B L
Days
7-9
Arenal to the Osa Peninsula
This morning, a private transfer will bring you to the airport for a one-hour flight to Puerto Jimenez. On arrival you'll head to the reception office for Lapa Rios Ecolodge for some refreshments before transferring along dirt-track roads to arrive at the lodge itself, located in the spectacular and remote Osa Peninsula. Take the chance to relax in a hammock, or cool off in the lodge's pool before two days of guided exploration, including guided nature walks, sunrise birding tours, waterfall hikes and rainforest walks as you go in search of Costa Rica's last remaining populations of tapir and jaguar. Each evening, you'll be treated to sunset cocktails and three-course dinners created using fresh, often locally sourced, ingredients.
Stay: Lapa Rios Ecolodge, Osa Peninsula (Superior)
Meals: B L D
Days
10-11
San Jose to UK
Transfer back to the airport at Puerto Jiménez for a flight to San José and a connection on to the UK, flying home overnight to arrive on day 11.
Meals: B
Map
Pricing
Any element of this itinerary can be adjusted to suit your needs. Just contact us to find out more.
Accommodation rating:
11-day tailor-made holiday
from £5,000 pp incl. flights
Superior
Low Season
from £5,000 pp. incl. flights
High Season
from £6,060 pp. incl. flights
Includes:
- Complimentary UK airport lounge access
- Return flights between London and San Jose
- Return domestic flights between San Jose and Puerto Jimenez
- 5 nights accommodation in 4* (Superior) hotels on a full-board basis
- 1 night accommodation in a 4* (Superior) hotel on a breakfast & lunch basis
- 3 nights accommodation in 4* (Superior) hotels on a B&B basis
- Private airport transfers
- Shared touring including coffee tour in Finca Rosa Blanca, half-day tour at La Selva Biological Reserve, rafting in the Sarapiqui River, boat tour to Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge, half-day Arenal hanging bridges tour
- Two on-site guided tours at Lapa Rios (choice of Early and Sunset Birds Tour, Wild Waterfall, Local Medicine Tour, Rainforest Ridge Walk, Osa Trail, Matapalo Tour, Night Walk and the Sustainability Tour)
Terms & Conditions
Prices are per person based on two people sharing a twin/double room; prices are subject to availability and possible change; normal booking conditions apply.
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