Natural Highlights of Costa Rica

Welcome to San José, the culture-rich capital of Costa Rica. The group flight usually arrives into San José this afternoon. Land Only clients should aim to arrive at the hotel by 5pm so that you can meet your fellow travellers and tour leader, who will give you a warm welcome to Costa Rica. If you miss today’s welcome briefing, the tour leader will give you all relevant information on the afternoon of Day 2. Free transfers are available for all clients.

Accommodation: KC Hotel or Delta by Marriott San José Aurola (or similar)

Our adventure begins early this morning, leaving San Jose behind as we travel to Tortuguero National Park in the northeast of Costa Rica. Accessible only by boat or light aircraft, Tortuguero has a vast network of waterways, canals and swamps that are remarkably tranquil, unspoilt and devoid of noise pollution. On reaching the pier, we board a small motorboat for the journey to our lodge (up to 1hr 30min) , which is a short distance from the main lagoon. Please note the transfer from San José to Tortuguero is not private for Exodus clients.

Our afternoon is spent in Tortuguero village, where we can visit the Sea Turtle Museum (a donation will be requested at the entrance). Tortuguero is probably most famous as a nesting site for the endangered green turtle, which can be seen arriving onto the beach to lay eggs from late July to October (as part of an optional excursion). Hawksbill, loggerhead and giant leatherback turtles also nest in this region, and during November to January baby turtles hatch and make their way towards the ocean. Today’s travel time will be in the region of five to six hours including a stop for breakfast.

Accommodation: Evergreen Lodge or Pachira Lodge (or similar)

A morning boat trip enables us to discover the extraordinary flora and fauna of Tortuguero, passing serenely along the waterways. At this time of day, wildlife is usually at its most active and with the help of our expert guide we are likely to encounter monkeys, caiman, iguanas, butterflies and many of the 300-plus bird species recorded here. We return to the lodge for a hearty breakfast by the river. This afternoon, we enjoy a second boat trip along a different canal. Alternatively, stay at the lodge this afternoon if you want to enjoy the facilities or follow a short walking trail through the forest.

Accommodation: Evergreen Lodge or Pachira Lodge (or similar)

We leave Tortuguero the same way we arrived by taking a small boat to the pier. Our bus will be at the pier waiting to drive us to the Arenal region, passing huge banana, pineapple and sugar cane plantations on the way. Arenal was the most active volcano in Costa Rica until 2010, when it entered a resting phase and stopped spitting ash, smoke and lava. However, there is still a lot of geothermal activity here and you’ll have the opportunity to visit one of the excellent hot springs this evening. Alternatively,  embark on a chocolate and coffee tour or take a walk on the wild side with the Ecoglide zipline . In clear weather, there are great views of the volcano from our overnight base, the nearby town of La Fortuna. Today’s travelling time is around 5hr 30min including a lunch stop.

Accommodation: Arenal Montechiari or Casa Luna (or similar)

Today we enjoy Costa Rica’s natural beauty at its best with a visit to Arenal Observatory Lodge, located within Arenal Volcano National Park.

Our walk incorporates a hanging bridge through the treetop canopy and meanders through beautiful tropical gardens and lush rainforest. The property has a variety of trails and the tour leader will select a trail that suits the whole group for an enjoyable walk full of biodiversity. Two impressive observation towers, including the 28-meter-high Nest Tower, offer panoramic views of the surroundings.

The adventure takes approximately two to three hours and offers opportunities to see or hear more than 250 species of birds, three types of monkeys and a whole host of other mammals, insects, reptiles, plants and flowers. After the nature walk, a delicious lunch is included in the restaurant.

The afternoon is free to relax or embark on one of Arenal’s many optional activities, including zip lining and a coffee and chocolate tour.

Accommodation: Arenal Montechiari or Casa Luna (or similar)

From Arenal, we travel to the Tilarán Mountain Range in the Central Highlands for our first taste of a Costa Rican cloud forest. The journey provides breath-taking views of the Gulf of Nicoya and the islands below as we ascend the hills towards Monteverde, a forest-cloaked region whose name means Green Mountain. The high altitude supports a complex ecosystem where plants thrive, particularly orchids of which there are some 400-plus different varieties here. Today’s drive is around four hours – the last 25mi (40km) of road is gravel and can be bumpy, particularly following heavy rain. In the afternoon, it’s possible to join an optional coffee tour to learn about the importance of this crop to the socio-economic development of the country.

This evening we set off on a night walk in Monteverde Wildlife Refuge. Situated within primary cloud forest, this reserve is committed to the preservation of native flora and fauna. Taking a nocturnal walk allows for a completely new perspective on the forest, which our guides will bring to life for us. Keep your eyes peeled for sloths, who are often active during the night!

Accommodation: Montaña Monteverde or Monteverde Country Lodge (or similar)

Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is a favourite destination for birdwatchers and wildlife enthusiasts. A walk through the reserve will reveal huge old growth trees covered in moss while the surrounding mist permeates the atmosphere. The geographic, topographic and climatic conditions of the reserve allow a surprising biodiversity to thrive. There are four ecological ‘life zones’ that harbour different ecosystems for hundreds of species – mammals, birds, butterflies, amphibians, reptiles, insects and arachnids. We can also find a variety of mosses, vines, other plants and trees typical of the cloud forest. One of the reserve trails leads to a lookout point right at the top of the continental divide where, on clear days, you see both Costa Rican coasts: the Caribbean and Pacific. These forests are also one of the few remaining habitats of the endangered resplendent quetzal. Following today’s activity, we transfer to San José.

Accommodation: KC Hotel or Delta by Marriott San José Aurola (or similar)

The trip comes to an end today after breakfast, and it’s time to bid Costa Rica and the rest of the group goodbye. Free transfers to San José airport are available to all clients today. Alternatively, speak to your sales representative to join our post-trip extension to the palm tree-lined beaches of Tamarindo.

The trip comes to an end today after breakfast, and it’s time to bid Costa Rica and the rest of the group goodbye. Free transfers to San José airport are available to all clients today.