Costa Rica Wildlife Discovery

Arrive in San José, Costa Rica’s culture rich capital. A complimentary transfer takes us from the airport to the hotel. Settle in and take it easy – there’s plenty of excitement ahead, so today is all about relaxing and easing into the journey. Around 7.30pm we meet our tour leader and fellow travellers for a short briefing and dinner together. The main trip briefing takes place tomorrow afternoon in Tortuguero to accommodate late arriving flights. If you would like to explore San José further, you can arrange extra nights before the tour through your sales representative.

We make an early start from San José and travel northeast to Tortuguero National Park, a peaceful maze of canals, waterways and swamps that is accessible only by boat or light aircraft. At the pier we board a small motorboat for the 1hr 15min ride to our lodge, set on a slender strip between the Caribbean Sea and the main lagoon. This afternoon our tour leader hosts the main welcome briefing, then we visit Tortuguero village where you can enter the Sea Turtle Museum for a small donation. Tortuguero is renowned as a nesting site for endangered green turtles from late July to October – you can witness this on an optional evening excursion, payable locally. Hawksbill, loggerhead and leatherback turtles also nest in the region. Today’s travel time is around six hours, including a stop for breakfast.

At dawn we glide through Tortuguero’s waterways on a boat trip to uncover its remarkable flora and fauna, joined by our tour leader and a keen eyed captain who knows the canals intimately. The early start brings the forest to life – with expert spotting we are likely to see monkeys, caiman, iguanas, butterflies and some of the more than 300 recorded bird species. This afternoon you can unwind at the lodge, take a dip in the pool or relax on the sandy beach, or you can join a second boat trip or follow a short forest trail.

We depart Tortuguero by boat to the pier, where our bus awaits for the journey to the Arenal region, passing vast banana, pineapple and sugarcane plantations en route. Arenal was Costa Rica’s most active volcano until 2010, when it entered a resting phase, yet geothermal activity remains high and you can visit excellent hot springs this evening. In clear weather there are fine views of the cone from our base in nearby La Fortuna. Today’s travelling time is around 5hr 30min including a lunch stop.

This morning we take a short scenic hike in Arenal National Park, walking through secondary rainforest and over old lava fields from past eruptions. Vantage points offer sweeping views across Lake Arenal and birdlife is plentiful. We then visit La Fortuna Waterfall, a 213ft (65m) cascade plunging into an emerald pool. A rainforest path leads to a steep flight of steps – allow 20–30 minutes to descend to the base and climb back up – well within the capabilities of anyone with reasonable fitness. Cool off with a refreshing swim in natural pools, or you can wait at the lookout if you prefer. After lunch the rest of the day is at leisure – you can choose from optional activities such as a chocolate experience or the exhilarating Ecoglide zipline.

From Arenal we travel into the Tilarán mountains for our first taste of cloud forest. The ascent brings breathtaking views over the Gulf of Nicoya and its islands as we head towards Monteverde – a forest cloaked region whose name means Green Mountain. The high altitude supports a complex ecosystem where plants thrive, especially orchids, with more than 400 varieties recorded. Today’s drive is around four hours, with the final 25 miles (40km) on gravel that can be bumpy after heavy rain. We should arrive in time for lunch, and the rest of the day is free – you can relax at the hotel or join one of the many optional activities.

This morning we enjoy a guided walk of about two hours in the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve, one of the first community managed reserves in Costa Rica and still overseen by the Santa Elena High School, which channels funds into protection and environmental education. Thanks to its lofty elevation, the reserve is bathed in mist that nourishes a wealth of flowers, ferns, mosses, vines and orchids, and more than 425 bird species thrive here. Santa Elena is also an excellent place to spot howler monkeys swinging noisily through the canopy. In the afternoon you can join an optional coffee tour to learn about this vital crop or take a canopy tour for a different perspective on the forest.

We turn southeast and follow the Pan American Highway along the coast to Manuel Antonio, passing African oil palm and teak plantations on the way. Manuel Antonio National Park encompasses a vast marine reserve plus 1,700 acres (690ha) of mangrove swamp and primary and secondary rainforest. The greenery runs right down to the high tide line, framing sweeping sandy beaches, forested islets and dramatic rocky headlands. Our drive takes around four hours, not including rest stops and lunch. On arrival we settle into our accommodation and, time permitting, make use of the hotel facilities.

A guided tour of Manuel Antonio National Park this morning brings close wildlife encounters. White faced capuchin monkeys often play in the trees and along the beaches, while howler monkeys are usually heard before they are seen. The endangered titi monkey can sometimes be spotted here, and iguanas, agouti and two and three toed sloths are also commonly seen. The beaches rank among the country’s most beautiful and you have the afternoon free to enjoy them or try optional activities in the area. Please note – the national park is closed on Tuesdays. If our visit falls on a Tuesday, we adjust the timing so we explore the park the previous day and today is at leisure.

We travel about four hours south to Golfito, a relatively wild and little visited region where dense jungle cloaks the hills. Our next two nights are at Esquinas Rainforest Lodge, set amid primary rainforest and bordered by Piedras Blancas National Park and the Golfito Nature Reserve. The lodge was originally financed by the Austrian government as a project combining forest research, development aid and conservation. Most staff are local and profits support projects in the nearby village. This afternoon we explore our peaceful surroundings and search for the abundant bird and insect life.

This morning we hike through the rainforest with our tour leader, tuning in to the sights and sounds of the jungle on a walk of around two hours. We are likely to encounter snakes, frogs and birds, and with luck monkeys and sloths too. The trail can be slippery after rain, but the experience is a true highlight and well worth the effort. The afternoon is free – you can delve deeper into the forest on trails starting directly from the lodge or simply relax by the pool.

We turn northwest through San Isidro and over the Cerro de la Muerte range to the Savegre Valley – about 4hr 30min from Golfito, not including stops. The cloud forest here is renowned as one of the best places in Costa Rica to see the colourful and notoriously shy resplendent quetzal, and we have two nights to explore. These endangered birds rely on the cloud forest for their habitat – males are striking with a green crest, red breast and tail feathers that can reach a metre long. A good pair of binoculars helps, as quetzals blend cleverly with the wet foliage. In the afternoon we venture from our lodge into the cloud forest in search of them. Our exact route depends on recent nesting and feeding sites, and you should be prepared for steep slopes.

Today is free to relax and explore the Savegre Valley at your own pace. Bring binoculars to look for some of the 170 recorded bird species, set out on trails through tropical cloud forest or simply soak up the views from the lodge. Your leader will suggest walks – expect steep sections – so you can discover the cloud forest and sub Andean vegetation of the area.

This morning we visit the Copey valley to step briefly into highland agricultural life. We take a short walk through this picturesque area before a typical lunch prepared for us by a local family – a memorable taste of Costa Rican hospitality. We then visit the family property, where they grow flowers, medicinal plants, fruit and vegetables and raise farm animals. Afterwards a 2hr 30min journey returns us to San José, where there may be time to explore the modern capital.

Enjoy a final breakfast at the hotel before we say our goodbyes. If you are not quite ready to leave, speak to your sales representative about extending your adventure – relax on the beach, treat yourself to spa time or seek out more nature. You can stay for as many nights as you wish in a range of hotels, and airport transfers in either direction will be arranged.