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Private Journeys

Explore and Relax in Costa Rica: Volcanoes to the beach

11 days from £6,500pp

(based on two people sharing & excluding flights)

Costa Rica

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Overview & Highlights

Stay in gorgeous countryside properties and eco-lodges to explore volcanic landscapes, bird-filled cloudforest before lazing at a top Pacific beach resort.

Combine outdoor adventures with beach wind-down time on the Pacific coast. Costa Rica is bursting with an extraordinary diversity of flora and fauna and its people are among the friendliest in Latin America. The comprehensive network of national parks with their extensive trails is always very accessible. This short holiday uses modern, shared minibuses for transport between hotels.

Begin your adventure with a couple of days exploring the beautiful landscapes in the shadow of the picture-perfect Arenal Volcano Move on to discover the densely packed canopy in the Monteverde cloud forest, with its rich bird and animal life on display. After this, travel to the Pacific coast and stay at a beach resort on the Nicoya Peninsula for a few days’ relaxation.

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  • Arenal: Guided excursion to the Ecotermales Hot Springs
  • Monteverde: twilight tour at El refugio
  • Monteverde: Guided exploration of Santa Elena Reserve

THE UK’S NO. 1 SPECIALIST IN TRAVEL TO LATIN AMERICA

Charlotte

Charlotte Daubeney

Travel Expert

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Outline itinerary

Day 1

Arrive in San José and transfer to countryside resort..

Day 2

At leisure on the property.

Day 3

By road to Arenal volcano area.

Day 4

Excursion to the hot springs at Ecotermales

Day 5

Optional hanging bridges, lake kayaking or Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge.

Day 6

Drive to Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve; twilight tour.

Day 7

Guided exploration of Santa Elena Reserve.

Day 8

Transfer to beach resort hotel on the Nicoya Peninsula, Pacific coast.

Days 9-10

At leisure on the beach.

Day 11

Transfer to airport for international flight home.
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Things to do

We proudly offer the widest range of activities, excursions and one-of-a-kind experiences across all our destinations, tried and tested personally by our travel experts.

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Soak in Arenal’s hot springs
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Spot quetzals in the cloud forest
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Visit Caño Negro Wildlife Reserve
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Nature trail across Arenal’s hanging bridges

Accommodation

Browse our unrivalled portfolio of accommodation . Every option has been carefully chosen by our team of travel experts, so you can rest assured that you’ll relax in utter comfort.

Xandari Resort and Spa

Costa Rica / San Jose, central highlands and central valleys

Xandari Resort

Nayara Gardens

Costa Rica / Arenal and the north

Arenal Nayara spa and gardens

Monteverde Lodge and Gardens

Costa Rica / Monteverde and the cloud forest

Monteverde Lodge and Gardens

Lagarta Lodge

Costa Rica / Nicoya Peninsula

Lagarta Lodge

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What our clients say

  • Cuba is a fascinating country and JLA have pulled together a fantastic trip with excellent local guides. It exceeded my expectations and I do hope to return one day.

    AES, Eastbourne

  • Most memorable experience: “I can't really single out any one- I found it all memorable but what was a real pleasure was the friendliness of the local people.”

    PB, Swansea

  • Highlights? "Where to start? Angel Falls, Kaieteur Falls, the Iles de Salut, sleeping in a hammock, flying in small planes - just loved everything. The range of hotels from very…

    PS, Bolton

  • Trogon is an excellent holiday taking you from the bustle of Rio to the relative quietness of Paraty. Then on to the magnificent Iguasu Falls, before the thrill of the…

    JDC, Sheffield

  • Most memorable experience? - Boat trip at Tortuguero.  Watching a falcon catch and eat a snake! Seeing Honduran White tent-building bats roosting under a Heliconium leaf. A superb holiday for those…

    ST, York

  • Everything was memorable, Chilean landscapes are so different...Patagonia (Torres del Paine) was my favourite because it's just stunning. Valparaiso: wonderful colourful city, Atacama Desert: incredible landscapes, and so varied from…

    EG, Hove
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Our Expert's Opinion

With this trip, we aim to show that you don't have to be an adrenaline junkie to enjoy Costa Rica. We have included some relaxing activities, such as soaking in Arenal's hot springs, and we have chosen luxury properties throughout. Ending this Costa Rican escape with a candlelit dinner on a beach overlooking the Pacific Ocean is a particularly romantic way to unwind.

Charlotte
Charlotte Daubeney Travel Expert Charlotte's fascination with Latin America began with a family holiday to Belize. She went on to study Spanish in school and at university before spending a year living in Santiago, Chile.
Get in touch Meet our experts

Inspired by this trip

Our exciting range of articles on Latin America explore everything from iconic destinations and lesser-known cultural gems to delicious traditional recipes. You’ll also find exclusive travel tips, first-hand client reviews and the chance to get your personal questions answered by our travel experts.

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Your edit for Latin American inspiration

Our exciting range of articles on Latin America explore everything from iconic destinations and lesser-known cultural gems to delicious traditional recipes. You’ll also find exclusive travel tips, first-hand client reviews and the chance to get your personal questions answered by our travel experts.

View Extraordinary Inspiration
San Jose Costa Rica

Destination Guides

48 hours in… San José
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Bartolome, Galápagos

Meet our team

Real Latin american experts

Get in touch Meet our experts
  • Ben
    Ben Line - Travel Expert

    Ben fell in love with Latin America on a six month backpacking trip from Colombia to Mexico in 1995. Since then he has explored most of South America, including living in Peru for a year. He is now Head of Sales.

  • Antigua
    Alex Walker - Travel Expert

  • Juliet
    Juliet Ellwood - Travel Expert

    After graduating with a degree in Anthropology and History and having been fascinated by Latin America since childhood by the book featuring photos of Nazca, Juliet first visited the region in 2003. Since then, Juliet has visited the majority of countries in Latin America but has particularly extensive experience with Peru, a country she loves for many reasons but not least, its incredible archaeological richness and delicious food!

  • Carrie
    Carrie Gallagher - Travel Expert

    A former JLA tour leader, Carrie brings a wealth of on-the-ground experience to our London-based Tailor-made and Group Tours department.

  • Sophie
    Sophie Barber - Travel Expert

    Sophie lived in Chile before joining us and has travelled extensively across Latin America, from Mexico to the furthest tip of Patagonia and beyond to Antarctica.

  • Chris
    Chris Rendell-Dunn - Travel Expert

    Anglo-Peruvian Chris grew up in Lima and spent much of his adult life in between London and Cusco as a tour leader, before settling permanently in our London-based Tailor-made and Group Tours sales team.

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