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Costa Rica Highlights Central and South Pacific

Highlights

  • OFFER: Save £200pp on your next holiday. Secure now with a £99pp deposit. Book by October 31st 2024, travel in 2025! (Discounts and reduced deposit will be applied once availability has been confirmed)
  • Hike in the Corcovado National Park - one of the most biodiverse places on earth
  • Snorkel at Cano Island, see whales and dolphins
  • Embark on a mountain adventure through the jungle in Quepos
  • Learn to cook traditional dishes with a local family
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10 Nights

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What you'll do

Overview

This immersive Costa Rican adventure takes you to the country's most stunning locations, where you'll experience some of the most captivating natural sights that Central America has to offer.

Tour summary:

Day 1: San Jose
Day 2 and 3:  San Gerardo De Dota
Day 4-6: Drake Bay
Day 7-10: Manuel Antonio
Day 11: Departure

San José is where your wildlife holiday in Costa Rica starts, and on your adventure the locations you’ll discover are San José, Dota, Drake Bay and then back up the coast to the beautiful beaches of Manuel Antonio.

With locals as your guides, your activities are all included. You will explore volcanoes, hike in dense rainforests, swim with sea turtles on untouched islands and take a dip in a secluded lagoon for a true Costa Rican adventure.

You’ll also visit an indigenous community and spend quality time with the locals there. In Manuel Antonio you will stay at a stunning eco hotel where the beaches are beautiful, the National park is well known for its biodiversity and you can easily spot monkeys, sloths, coatis and others.

*From price based on travel for 2 people in 2025 during the low season (between May and June and August to November). For larger groups, solo travellers or children cost please enquire directly to hello@nitgb.com

Please note: this is a private itinerary but on some experiences throughout the tour you may join a small group.

Begin your adventure

Arrive in San Jose and you will be met and taken to your hotel for your first night in San José.

The hotel  Parque del Lago is a comfortable hotel close to the airport where you can relax and be ready for your adventure to start first thing in the morning.

Accommodation: Parque Del Lago Hotel

Meals: None

San Jose to San Gerardo, Dota

This Morning you will be collected by your guide and driver. The first stop on your journey will be the Irazú National Park, home to the still active Irazú Volcano. At 3400 meters above sea level this is the highest volcano in Costa Rica. Here you’ll take a short hike up to the top of the majestic crater of the volcano, and see the amazing views inside the crater.

Later on, you’ll visit the colonial capital of the country San José, with the opportunity to explore her beautiful Basilica.

You’ll then continue to San Gerardo de Dota, one of Costa Rica´s favourite bird watching sites to see the extraordinary Resplendent Quetzal! San Gerardo is a  lovely little village huddled up against the roaring Talamanca Mountain Range and nestled in the Savegre River Valley, surrounded by  tropical cloud forest and the nearby Paramo covered mountain peaks.

Once you reach the cloud forest, there’s the opportunity to take one of it’s many stunning hikes, there are several hiking routes and you and your guide will decide on the best one for you. One of the highlights is the 2km hike to the secret waterfall.

After you return, you’ll head to your accommodation for the night, the wonderful Trogon Lodge where you’ll stay for two nights.

Accommodation: Trogon Lodge

Meals: Breakfast

Local village life, forest hiking, waterfalls and coffee

This picturesque village is the perfect opportunity to explore and interact with the locals with our Authentic community experience, visiting various families of Providencia, in Dota. You will Visit to the old mill or “trapiche” in Los Abuelos to learn about a tradition of producing raw sugar and other sweet foods from sugar cane. You will se how in rural communities Rural communities the natural environment is an integral part of daily life.

You will take a walk to the Salitre waterfall through a secondary forest with many streams and waterfalls ranging from 5 to 82 metres high!

In a fun cooking class you learn to make jams from the fruits of the region, such as blackberry and tomato.

The last activity of the journey is artisanal coffee making with a local family here you will learn how coffee was traditionally made in the yard of their house, listening to the stories of their lives and the sound of the guitar while they sing, and you taste one of the best cups of coffee in the world.

Accommodation: Trogon Lodge

Meals: Breakfast and lunch

Mangrove boat cruise, local community visit

Today you will explore the different ecosystems of the country as you leave the cloud forests of Dota and make your way to Drake bay

Your next destination will be one of the most exciting experiences of nature in the country, within the lowlands rainforest where the climate is tropical.

On your journey there, you’ll drive through the Subalpine Paramo, pass the Mangrove swamps of the local town of Sierpe before arriving at  the Pacific coastline.

En route, you will visit an indigenous community called Rey Curré, known for its famous “Fiesta de los Diablitos” (little devil’s party) held in January commemorating the indigenous peoples’ resistance against the Spanish invaders.

You take a boat through the Mangrove out to sea and sail down the Southern coastline to reach the bay. You’ll be met by your local guide and travel to one of the less visited areas of Costa Rica, and the hotel Aquila de Osa where you’ll stay for the the next three nights.

Accommodation: Aguila de Osa

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Sail to Caño Island

Today you’ll take a boat trip to the wonderful, untouched Caño Island  the gem of the South Pacific of Costa Rica! The waters around Cano island are renowned as one of the worlds best snorkelling and diving areas, with amazing coral reefs and some of the most abundant and varied marine life in the world.

The island itself has Pre Columbian architectural remains and it is believed to have once been a pirate hideout and some say it was the inspiration for Robert Stevenson’s book ”Treasure Island”

As you sail to the island you have the opportunity to see dolphins, whales, sea turtles, rays and other magnificent marine animals and take the chance to snorkel amongst them if you wish!

Accommodation: Aguila de Osa

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Corcovado National Park

Today you will visit the Osa Península and Corcovado National Park.

These are considered the most biologically diverse places on Earth and the jewel on the crown of Costa Rica’s national parks! A must see for wildlife and nature lovers, Corcovado is one of the less accessible parks in Costa Rica, and this means less tourists visit this area, making it all the more appealing.

This wild, untamed region is home to the only tropical primary lowland rainforest in the world and is a sanctuary for many endangered flora and fauna. It protects over 140 different mammal species, 400 bird species, 20 of which are endemic, 116 amphibian and reptile species, 40 species of fish and at least 500 species of trees in its amazing and diverse habitats of beaches, mangroves, swamps, forest and palm groves.

Your guide will show you some of the best spots to admire the abundant biodiversity of Corcovado, and see animals like the tamandua, the tapir or the peccary.

Accommodation: Aguila de Osa

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Travel from Drake Bay to Manuel Antonio

Today you will start with a boat tour with your local guide through the Sierpe River and its mangrove. The Sierpe area is recognised by its canal system and is surrounded by a lush, mangrove forest and known for its biodiversity.

After your boat ride you will head to the Central Pacific area of the country.

On the way, you will stop at the spherical stones park. The archaeological site of Palmar Sur is located in the Diquís Delta, in the southern part of the Puntarenas Province. Here there are an assortment of over 300 stone spheres. Locally, they are known as ‘bollas de piedra’ and they are commonly attributed to the extinct Diquis culture. They are thought to have been placed in lines along the approach to the houses of chiefs, but their exact significance remains uncertain.

You will then continue on to Manuel Antonio, and the Eco lodge Si Como No Resort & Wildlife Refuge.

Accommodation: Si Como No Resort & Wildlife Refuge

Meals: Breakfast

Relax on the beach

Lazy day at the beach!

Enjoy a free day in the sun and the warm, calm water of the Pacific Ocean. Try some local food and the delicious fruits of Costa Rica, relax and have fun.

Accommodation: Si Como No Resort & Wildlife Refuge

Meals: Breakfast

Waterfalls and Wildlife

You will experience the enchanting fusion of verdant nature and Costa Rica’s rural countryside.

Accompanied by certified guides, immerse yourself in a journey of nature conservation and rural culture. Trek through the verdant slopes of the jungle, where two rivers are born, then plunge into a crystal-clear natural pool beneath a captivating waterfall and witness the fascinating wildlife.

Afterward you will enjoy a traditional Campesino-style lunch at the lodge, while gazing out at the breathtaking panorama of Manuel Antonio National Park and the vast Pacific Ocean. As a crucial participant in the Carbon Offset/Native Tree Adoption Reforestation Program, you’ll adopt your very own tree, helping to preserve this invaluable watershed within the Cloudmaker Nature Reserve.

Accommodation: Si Como No Resort & Wildlife Refuge

Meals: Breakfast and lunch

Free day

Today is another free day to spend at your leisure.

Accommodation: Si Como No Resort & Wildlife Refuge

Meals: Breakfast

Departure Day

It’s time to say goodbye to Costa Rica and head back to San Jose airport, with amazing memories of your wonderful Costa Rican adventure.

Meals: Breakfast

What's included

Included

  • Private transfers from and to the airport
  • 10 Overnight stays
  • 1 night San Jose - BB*
  • 2 nights Dota - BB
  • 3 nights Drake Bay - FB*
  • 4 nights Manuel Antonio - BB
  • Visit to Irazú Volcano National Park
  • Guided community visit and cooking lesson
  • Private transfers and shared Boat trip to Drake Bay
  • Boat trip and snorkel adventure at Cano Island with lunch
  • Guided tour of Corcavado national park with lunch
  • Boat tour with a local guide through the Sierpe River
  • Rural Mountain Adventure through the jungle in Quepos including lunch
  • *BB - Breakfast Included
  • *FB - Full Board (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included)

Accommodation

Parque Del Lago Hotel - Executive Room (or similar)

Parque del Lago Boutique Hotel is located 20 minutes from the Juan Santamaria International Airport and in close proximity to San Jose. The hotel offers 24-hour front desk, free parking, concierge, laundry and dry cleaning. Guests can enjoy the on-site restaurant.

Accommodation includes air-conditioning, cable TV, hairdryer, iron, ironing board, security box and free Wi-Fi.

Trogon Lodge - Standard Room (or similar)

Trogon Lodge is simple but stylish, and the comfortable guest rooms are set in exuberant cloud forest gardens. The terrain around is a rugged and hilly collage of green trees and mountains. It’s a peaceful setting at 2,200m above sea level, where you will be soothed by the sounds of the river below.

There's a shared terrace with rocking chairs, where you can relax to observe the birds flitting through the foliage and the location in is one of Costa Rica's key areas for sighting the resplendent quetzal.

The lodge includes a botanic garden, a swimming pool and a bar and restaurant which features a shaded veranda, its gardens produce much of the fresh fruit and vegetables used in the restaurant and there is a trout pond, ensuring fresh fish is always on the menu.There is WIFI in public areas

Aguila de Osa - Standard Room (or similar)

Nestled amid jungle covered hillside overlooking the tranquil waters of Drake Bay, Aguila de Osa is a jungle Eco Lodge close to  the beautiful Corcovado National Park and Caño Island Biological Marine Reserve.

There are amazing wildlife spotting opportunities and many water and land based activities on offer. The large thatched wooden cabins are simply furnished and very comfortable with views of the surrounding lush jungle.

There is an open air restaurant serving delicious local dishes and there is a bar on site. The hotel works closely with the local community and to protect the environment, using water from its on site well, and composting food waste to use in the organic gardens.

Si Como No Resort & Wildlife Refuge - Superior Room (or similar)

The Si Como No Resort & Wildlife Refuge lodge is situated above Manuel Antonio National Park, on a jungle hilltop and has been awarded Costa Rica’s highest hotel sustainability rating.

There are 58 rooms, most with private balconies, only 1 tree was removed during the construction of the Lodge, and energy efficient light and heating are used throughout.

There is an outdoor swimming pool with swim up bar and a spa. Guests can dine at Claro que Si elegant seafood restaurant or at the casual poolside Bar & Grill.

Sitting in 10 acres of gardens on the jungle hillside and striking the perfect balance between design and comfort, the lodge connects guests with the surrounding tropical forest of Manuel Antonio and the spirit of Costa Rica

Your local host

Roberto

I was born and raised in Costa Rica and have lived here my entire life. And ever since I could, I’ve been travelling the world. Soon after I left school, I travelled around Costa Rica and discovered every single part of it! Although, we do have a fairly small country, there’s an insane amount to explore, and I’m still exploring it today, seeking out new hiking trails, new lagoons, different viewpoints, that take you to places you hadn’t even knew existed before, it really is fascinating.

Due that passion for discovery and exploring new places eating away at me, I started my immersive travel company with a friend (over 18 years ago to be exact) and began having way too much fun helping people discover my won... Read All

I was born and raised in Costa Rica and have lived here my entire life. And ever since I could, I’ve been travelling the world. Soon after I left school, I travelled around Costa Rica and discovered every single part of it! Although, we do have a fairly small country, there’s an insane amount to explore, and I’m still exploring it today, seeking out new hiking trails, new lagoons, different viewpoints, that take you to places you hadn’t even knew existed before, it really is fascinating.

Due that passion for discovery and exploring new places eating away at me, I started my immersive travel company with a friend (over 18 years ago to be exact) and began having way too much fun helping people discover my wonderful country and the countries around it, so as soon as the possibility came around I just grabbed it, and have worked in the industry ever since.

We choose destinations that are not the same as all the other tour companies out there, those that are emerging or have something special about them, that most people don’t know about, we work with local companies that employ real locals and we choose hotels that are sustainable and have a positive impact on their environment.

We always ensure the people we work with are committed to sustainability, it’s our mission to spread the wealth of tourism, to make sure that the money from tourism is kept in the local communities so that the destination can be developed and conserved as a beautiful place to visit.

 

Roberto image

Location

This tour starts from Costa Rica’s capital, San Jose, where your guide will lead you for the next 11 days around the South and Central Pacific region.

You’ll drink in incredible natural parks, volcanoes, waterfalls, jungles, and graceful colonial cities, get to know local, offbeat communities and, spot stunning wildlife and try the best, most authentic food.

Your Itinerary
1. San Jose
2. San Gerardo De Dota
3. Drake Bay
4. Manuel Antonio

 

FAQs

What clothes do I need to bring?

Lightweight cotton and linen clothing is recommended for most of the year, with warmer clothes for cooler evenings. Waterproofing is necessary during the rainy season. Loose-fitting clothing is best. Wear neutral browns and greens for bird and wildlife viewing. Always bring mosquito repellent for both day and night.

Can Children go on this trip?

Costa Rica tours are generally recommended for children aged 12+ however this is at the discretion of the adults travelling as there are no official restrictions, except for certain activities such as zip lining ( if included) There are no reduced prices for children

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