Tailor Made

Costa Rica

Turtles and Quetzals in Costa Rica


10 days from £1,405

For the nature-lover, Costa Rica is fit to burst with attractions: hundreds of species of birds, butterflies and animals thrive here in a sub-tropical environment of colourful plant life, coffee, fruit plantations and rainforest. Comfortable well-run lodges allow you to enjoy a magical wildlife experience in just over a week, at a very competitive price.

Suggested holiday itinerary (flexible)

Day 1:  Fly from the UK to San José. Your hotel in the centre of San José is the efficient Don Carlos, once a presidential residence.

Days 2,3:
  By road and boat to Tortuguero National Park on the Caribbean coast, a protected wilderness area of mangrove swamp, lagoons and creeks.  The park is one of the best places on the continent for wildlife spotting, home to spider, howler and white-faced monkeys, three-toed sloths, river otters, caimans, iguanas, poison dart frogs and 320 species of birds. Stay at the excellent Tortuga Lodge, a rustic place with good facilities, from where your naturalist guides will take you on a canoe trip through the rich tropical vegetation to get up close to the birds, mammals and reptiles.  Turtles hatch on the beach here July-September.

Days 4,5:  It is an adventurous trip by road, boat and light aircraft up into the hills to Monteverde Lodge, shrouded in unsullied cloud forest.  It’s a lovely place to relax, with excellent views over the lush gardens. There’s a guided foray into the surrounding woodland, and many other optional activities available from the lodge, such as bird-watching, hikes and horse-riding. You have a good chance of spotting the iconic Resplendent Quetzal showing off its jazzy green and red plumage.

Day 6
: In the afternoon, you’ll be driven to Esterillos Beach (3 ½ hrs) on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast and your hotel, Xandari by the Pacific, right on the shell-strewn beach which is fringed with stately palms. You’ll stay in a villa at this upmarket resort, which has open-air dining, two pools, Jacuzzi, and a spa. 

Days 7,8
: Relax and enjoy the gardens and the beach  (renowned for surfing, but bathers need to beware strong currents). The hotel offers various excursions including rafting, horse-riding and surfing lessons..

Day 9:
  Drive back to San José airport for your flight back to the UK, arriving day 10

How about?

 - staying at La Leona Eco-Lodge close to the rainforest of Corcovado National Park for a wildlife experience on the Pacific coast. Great for families.


Tortuga Lodge
Tortuga Lodge

The Resplendent quetzal
The Resplendent quetzal

Sunset at Esterillos Beach
Sunset at Esterillos Beach

View more imagesTortuga Lodge, Tortuguero National ParkMonteverde Lodge

 
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