Highlights of Costa Rica

Set between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, Costa Rica offers luxuriant tropical rainforests, steaming volcanoes, delightful beaches and an incredible diversity of wildlife. Our tour takes you to explore the contrasting highlights of this naturalist’s paradise.

Guide

GUIDE
•   The Highlights of Costa Rica is escorted by a local guide from Day 2 to Day 10.
•   Extensions are not escorted but assistance is provided in each destination by our local representatives.

MEAL PLAN
•   Prices include breakfast daily.
•   Breakfast, lunch and dinner is included in Tortuguero.
•   Lunch is included on Day 7 and dinner is included on Day 9.
•   The Corcovado extension includes breakfast, lunch and dinner.
•   The Nicaragua extension includes lunch on Days 11 and 12.
•   The Panama (pre tour) extension includes lunch on Day 6.

ACCOMMODATION
•   Hotels are of at least a three star standard. All have been selected for their fabulous locations.
•   On occasion, the itinerary may be operated in a different order. Similar hotels or lodges to those listed may be substituted according to availability.

GROUP SIZE
•   Maximum 24 passengers.

MINIMUM NUMBERS
•   This tour is subject to a minimum numbers of passengers, please call for details.

GRATUITIES
•   Tipping is expected in Costa Rica. We recommend you tip your driver and guide at the end of your tour.

TRAVEL TIPS
•   Visitors between July and September may have the opportunity to view green turtles as they lay their eggs on the beaches of Tortuguero (this is a separate tour which is available at an extra cost).

DAY 1 - LONDON TO SAN JOSÉ
Iberia flight via Madrid to San José. Transfer to the Crowne Plaza Coribici in a Deluxe room for one night.

DAY 2 - SAN JOSÉ TO TORTUGUERO
Transfer by road into the Caribbean lowlands and continue through the jungle by boat to Turtle Beach Lodge for a two night stay. Nestled in lush rainforest on a sandbar overlooking the Caribbean, the lodge is an ideal base from which to explore the Tortuguero National Park. The park is an area of significant biological diversity, which includes toucans, monkeys, crocodiles, colourful frogs and green turtles. Learn about the local flora and fauna from your guide as you spend the following day exploring the National Park by boat and on foot (approx. 65 miles).

DAY 4 - TORTUGUERO TO SARAPIQUI
Continue west for two nights at the Sueno Azul in a Standard room, located close to the Sarapiqui River in an area of verdant tropical wet forest. Spend the afternoon and following day at leisure, enjoy the wonderful surroundings or take a gentle walk through the forest, where there is the opportunity to bathe beneath the nearby waterfalls (approx. 65 miles).

DAY 6 - SARAPIQUI TO LA FORTUNA

Join the ‘chocolate trail’ in Tirimbina Rainforest Reserve, learning how cacao is grown and processed and about its history with the chance to sample the final product. In the afternoon continue to the town of La Fortuna set beneath Arenal Volcano. The almost perfect conical peak is an impressive sight and you can often watch as it spews ash and steam, while at night you may be able to watch the glowing lava roll down the slopes. Your stay for the next two nights is at the Arenal Paraiso hotel in a Superior room. The following day spend time discovering the local culture, learning about agriculture at a typical farm house, visiting a local school and taking a ride on a tractor drawn trailer (approx. 60 miles).

DAY 8 - LA FORTUNA TO MONTEVERDE

Take a morning walk in the National Park where toucans and other wildlife can often be seen. In the afternoon depart to the small town of Monteverde, located amid pristine cloud forest. It is noticeably cooler here and the flora and fauna are distinctly different from the tropical forests. Spend two nights at the Cloud Forest Lodge in a Standard room. Enjoy a morning walk the following day in the Santa Elena cloud forest reserve, the abundant vegetation here is home to a variety of wildlife including the highly elusive jaguar and the resplendent quetzal, although sightings are rare amid the dense vegetation. In the afternoon, visit the Don Juan coffee plantation (approx. 75 miles).

DAY 10 - MONTEVERDE TO SAN JOSÉ
Return to San José and stay overnight at the Crowne Plaza Coribici in a Deluxe room (approx. 90 miles).

DAY 11 - SAN JOSÉ TO LONDON

Overnight flight via Madrid to Heathrow with Iberia.

TAMARINDO BEACH
Located on the Nicoya Peninsula, Tamarindo is popular with surfers and famous for the leatherback turtles that come to lay their eggs here. Our hotel, the four star Capitan Suizo is set directly on the beach approx. 15 minutes walk from the lively centre.
DAY 10 - MONTEVERDE TO TAMARINDO

Instead of returning to San José, continue by road to Tamarindo for four nights at the Capitan Suizo in a Standard room (approx. 109 miles).
DAY 14 - TAMARINDO TO LONDON
Return by land (approx. 160 miles, flights available at a supplement) to San José and stay overnight in a Deluxe room at the Crowne Plaza Coribici before your return overnight flight to Heathrow with Iberia via Madrid.

MANUEL ANTONIO – BEACH & NATURE
Manuel Antonio offers a glorious setting with tropical beaches backed by dense forest, prolific wildlife and a well maintained network of walking trails. The four star El Parador hotel is set on a hill overlooking the Pacific close to the National Park.
DAY 10 - MONTEVERDE TO MANUEL ANTONIO

Continue directly by road to Manuel Antonio (approx. 101 miles) for four nights at the El Parador in a Garden room.
DAY 14 - MANUEL ANTONIO TO LONDON
Return by land (approx. 100 miles, flights available at a supplement) to San José and stay overnight at the Crowne Plaza Coribici in a Deluxe room before your return overnight flight to Heathrow with Iberia via Madrid.

CORCOVADO & THE OSA PENINSULA
On the remote Peninsula de Osa on the Pacific Coast, Corcovado National Park protects a large area of coastal rainforest and its remote location results in an incredibly diverse range of flora and fauna. La Paloma Lodge is set atop a high bluff surrounded by tropical rainforest overlooking the Pacific, close to the national park.
DAY 11 → Fly south and transfer to La Paloma Lodge in a Standard room for four nights. Your stay includes a guided hike through the jungle and visit to the offshore reserve of Caño Island, a haven for marine life.
DAY 15 → Return flight to San José and overnight stay at the Crowne Plaza Coribici in a Deluxe room before your overnight flight via Madrid to Heathrow with Iberia.

NICARAGUA
Still comparatively undiscovered, Nicaragua is rapidly gaining popularity with its enticing mix of natural splendours and colonial charms.
DAY 10 - MONTEVERDE TO NICARGUA
Transfer from Monteverde via Liberia and on to the Nicaragua border at Penas Blancas. Continue on the Panamerican Highway to the historic colonial town of Granada. Stay three nights in a Standard room at La Gran Francia, a renovated colonial building. Your itinerary includes a boat tour on Lake Nicaragua, a tour of Granada’s old town and a visit to the impressive Masaya volcano.
DAY 13 - NICARGUA TO LONDON
Transfer to Managua airport for your return flight with American Airlines to Miami, connecting with British Airways overnight to Heathrow.

PANAMA (PRE TOUR)
Perhaps best known for its famous canal, the small country of Panama offers a fascinating colonial history, diverse wildlife and beautiful scenery.
DAY 1 - LONDON TO PANAMA CITY
Fly Iberia to Panama City for two nights at the Country Inn Hotel in a Standard garden room.

DAY 3 - PANAMA CITY TO BOCAS DEL TORO
Fly Air Panama north to the Bocas Del Toro Islands for two nights staying at the Playa Tortuga hotel in a Standard room. Still largely undiscovered these islands offer a genuine Caribbean atmosphere.
DAY 5 - BOSCAS DEL TORO TO BOQUETE Continue by ferry and road to the mountain village of Boquete. Spend two nights at the Panoramic Hotel or similar in a Standard room exploring this area of scenic forests and coffee plantations.
DAY 7 - BOQUETE TO SAN JOSÉ Fly Lacsa Airlines to San Jose and join the main itinerary from Day 1.