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Off the beaten track Costa Rica: National parks and private reserves
13 days from £2,375pp

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Off the beaten track Costa Rica: National parks and private reserves

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Off the beaten track Costa Rica: National parks and private reserves

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For decades Costa Rica has been a leading light in conservation, and as a result over a quarter of its territory is given over to well managed national parks and private nature reserves. Many of the parks are popular and much visited, with many facilities of all kinds for tourists, all of which provides for a very different experience from the remote wilderness adventure that many wildlife enthusiasts are hoping for.

So for this holiday we have selected a few of our favourite parks and reserves which, although situated in stunning locations, don’t have the infrastructure to receive hoards of visitors. Among them are Carara National Park and the rugged hills and beaches close to Ojochal. Accommodation is in delightful rustic eco-lodges, usually small and family-run, which offer the opportunity to understand how real life is lived in these bucolic areas.  Again, we’ve picked out the best. At these lodges you’ll have the opportunity to participate in optional or included activities, anything from crocodile spotting to coffee tours.

Holiday itinerary

Day 1

Transfer from the airport to your countryside lodge.

Day 2

Guided discovery of the Carara National Park and crocodile spotting on Rio Tarcoles.

Day 3

Transfer to Santa Juana Lodge inland from the Pacific coast.

Day 4

Activities from the lodge.

Day 5

Transfer to Trogon Lodge close to San Gerado de Dota.

Day 6

Guided activities from the lodge.

Day 7

Transfer to Ojochal area.

Day 8

Activities from the lodge

Day 9

Travel north up the coast to Dominical and Playa Uvita.

Day 10

Free time on the beach or explore the area.

Day 11

Transfer to San José.

Day 12

Transfer to the airport for your international flight.

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Places visited on this holiday

Off the beaten track Costa Rica: National parks and private reserves

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San Jose, central highlands and central valleys
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Overview Fact file
Central San José
Costa Rica’s busy capital, San José, is a city on the move, where the choking traffic and crowds are mitigated by the eager friendliness of the people. There are some good museums and excellent restaurants but no colonial core: it’s a modern place, full of offices, North American style bars and malls - many US citizens visit or are resident in the country and their cultural influence is strong. The landscapes around however are delicious, both in the rolling coffee country of the highlands and in the fertile central valley, watched over by the smouldering Poás and Irazú volcanoes.
When's the best time to go to San Jose and central highlands?

If good weather is your priority, choose the dry season Dec - Apr when there is plenty of sun. The green (i.e. rainy) season is quieter in terms of number of visitors. San José, at 1,150m, has a pleasant climate with temperatures averaging 15-25°C.

What's the official language of San Jose and central highlands?

Spanish.

How do I get local currency in San Jose and central highlands?

Colón. Notes can be withdrawn from the many ATMs using a UK credit or debit card. You may have to authorise your bank first, and withdrawals may be limited to amounts lower than in the UK. US dollars cash can be exchanged in banks too.

What's the time difference between San Jose and central highlands?

GMT -5 hours.

What places combine well with San Jose and central highlands?

A visit to the Caribbean or Pacific coasts for a beach wind down; Arenal, in the north, the most spectacular volcano; Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, for excellent bird watching. There are light aircraft flights from San José airport to many destinations. Costa Rica is a tiny country so road journeys, even winding ones through the highlands, are relatively short. Some roads are in good condition while others are poor and  require 4WD vehicles

How do I get to San Jose and central highlands?

There is a direct flight from London Gatwick to San José (11 hrs) as well as non-direct flights via US and European hubs.

What are the cultural events in San Jose and central highlands?
International Arts Festival: San José, Mar. Music, dance, film art exhibitions.
Independence Day: San José, 15 Sep. music and dancing in the streets starting the evening before.
El Tope: San José, 26 Dec. A horse parade through the city is followed by fairs, fireworks and bull-running south of the city.

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Pacific coast
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Overview Fact file
PAcif
The Pacific coast, unlike the sheltered volcanic beaches of the Caribbean, is lashed by foaming Pacific waves, much beloved by surfers.  The wide golden beaches are extremely beautiful, made more so by the shade of the tropical vegetation and coconut groves which tumble down to and fringe them.

Halfway down the coast is Manuel Antonio National Park, a tropical fairy-land of palms, creepers and mangrove swamps, where monkeys scamper down to the sweep of ochre beach at sunset. Hotels and other properties punctuate the hills beyond and sit along the shoreline that leads to the protected national park. There’s also a growing resort complex at Herradura.
When's the best time to visit Pacific coast of Costa Rica?

To enjoy the beaches, good weather is a priority so most visits are in the dry season Dec - Apr when there is plenty of sun. It’s hot all year round (average temperatures range from 22-25°C, rather higher in the dry season). The busy times for visitors are the dry season months, especially weekends and Easter week. The green (i.e. rainy) season is much quieter.

What's the official language of Pacific coast of Costa Rica?

Spanish.

How do I get local currency on Pacific coast of Costa Rica?

Colón. Notes can be withdrawn from ATMs in San José using a UK credit or debit card. You may have to authorise your bank first, and withdrawals may be limited to amounts lower than in the UK. US dollars cash can be exchanged in banks too. There are ATMs in Quepos, but stock up with your local currency needs before travelling to Manuel Antonio.

What's the time difference between Pacific coast of Costa Rica?

GMT -5 hours

What places combine well with Pacific coast of Costa Rica?

By light aircraft from San José to Quepos, from where it is a 30mins road journey over the cliffs to Manuel Antonio. Flights take less than one hour. By road, the journey to Manuel Antonio from San José takes about 2.5 hours.

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Savegre valley and Chirripo foothills
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Overview Fact file
Savegre Cloud Forest

Nestled into the Pacific side of the continental divide there is a stunning area of Costa Rica which remains unspoilt and is a magnet for nature lovers, especially bird watchers and walkers.

Cerro Chirripó stands at 3,000m is the highest point in the country attracting adventurous trekkers from all over the world. Below, in the forested foothills and valleys, there’s an abundance of species of bird, mammal and reptile on show.

The trout-filled river Savegre, famed for its magnificent stretch of coastal white-water, is surrounded by dense primary rainforest, waterfalls, and canyons. Fishing and river-rafting are attractions here. The river flows south to an estuary in Manuel Antonio National Park.

The forests around the unspoilt town San Gerado de Dota in the Savegre river valley are home to the resplendent quetzal and a host of other brilliantly coloured tropical birds which nest and feed from the abundance of fruit trees. Open plains offer spectacular views and slope down to ethereal, moss covered cloud forest. 

When's the best time to visit Savegre and Chirripo?

At 2,200m above sea level and frequently swathed in mist, San Gerado de Dota has cooler temperatures than the lowlands. It can rain at any time but most precipitation falls between May - Nov. This 'green' season is quieter in terms of visitor numbers. The best months for bird-watching are Feb - Apr. The areas around San Isidro Del General is noticeably warmer and the eco-structure is predominantly tropical rain forest as you drop towards the coastal area of Dominical. 

What's the official language in Savegre and Chirripo?

Spanish.

How do I get local currency in Savegre and Chirripo?
Colón. Notes can be withdrawn from ATMs in San Isidro Del General but we recommend drawing out money in San Jose airport first. UK credit or debit cards are accepted but take cash for smaller or remoter areas. You may have to authorise your bank first, and withdrawals may be limited to amounts lower than in the UK. US dollars cash can be exchanged in banks and money exchanges (casas de cambio) too. 
What's the time difference between Savegre and Chirripo and UK?

GMT -5 hours.

What places combine well with Savegre and Chirripo?

A visit to the remote Southern Pacific coast for a beach wind down at Dominical or Uvita ( 2-3 hours by road) and the spectacular Corcovado National Park on  Osa Peninsula  (2-3 hours by road and 1 hour by boat ). Costa Rica is a tiny country so road journeys, even winding ones through the highlands, are relatively short. Some roads are in good condition while others require 4WD vehicles.

How do I get to Savegre and Chirripo?

The Savegre Valley and Chirripo Foothills are reached by a 3-5hr drive from San José along the Cerro de la Muerte with Los Quetzales National Park on your right and the Talamanca mountain range on your left. Dropping down to the bottom of the valley and leaving the main highway, the road winds for approximately 1 hour.

What are the festivals and cultural events in Savegre and Chirripo?

During January in San Isidro del General the Fiesta Cívica fills the streets and locals dress up while mariachis provide the soundtrack. In May when the patron saint of farmers, San Isidro, is honored with a colorful parade.

Things to do on this holiday

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Visit the national parks and private reserves

Toucan, Osa Peninsular , Costa Rica
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With over 25% of Costa Rica’s territory occupied by national parks and with a population of under 5 million, you might be forgiven for thinking the whole country is a conservation nature reserve with a volcanic divide through the centre.

On the ground however, the differences between the biological, wildlife and marine reserves become more defined.  Many of the national parks are well known and popular, with high visitor figures.  But among the more secluded reserves are many privately owned properties, open to visitors.

These allow you to experience Costa Rica’s great wealth of flora and fauna at close quarters with expert guides, often in solitude. These habitats range from lush primary rainforests  - where paths have been forged so you can immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of the jungle - to wispy, ethereal  cloud forests, where epiphytes such as bromeliads and heliconias are dive bombed by brightly coloured hummingbirds.

Many of the parks and reserves have remote or isolated but well located accommodation, ranging from rustic eco-lodges, often family-run with their own farm attached, through to top-of-the-range properties with spas or wellness facilities.  All offer sensitively operated guided activities on land and water so that you can get the most out of your experience in the wild.

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Spot quetzals in the cloud forest

Quetzal
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In the misty, humid cloud forests, the gemstone-bright plumage of a resplendent quetzal is hard to miss. The iconic birds, worshipped by the ancient Aztecs and Maya, are commonly sighted here between January and July, and it's well worth a little patience to see a male with its glimmering emerald, red feathers and tufted head.

Even if you aren't lucky enough to see a quetzal, there is plenty more animal and bird life to be spotted within this thriving ecosystem. There are several national parks and mountainous regions  at the altitude where cloud forest thrives, including Monteverde  (which encompasses six different ecological zones and protects more than 100 species of mammals, 400 bird species and 1,500 different types of plant) and San Gerado de Dota in the Talamanca mountains, to name just a couple. .

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Go snorkelling at Osa Peninsula

snorkelling
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Join shoals of vividly coloured fish and search for starfish and gangly octopusesi in the aquatic wonderland of Caño Island Biological Reserve. This is the best place to go snorkelling on the Osa peninsula and there's an endlessly entertaining world to be observed under the ocean surface.

The warm water is awash with marine life, from eels and manta rays to turtles and dolphins, and there are beautiful natural gardens of coral sheltering countless varieties of tropical fish.

From Caño Island you can spot dolphins and whales at certain times of the year.

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Zip line in the Costa Rican jungle

Zip Line Through the Jungle
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Soar across a jungle skyline on one of Costa Rica's thrilling canopy tours.

Zip lines vary, but some  combining a number of zip lines with high platforms and treetop suspension bridges.

The focus here is on adventure, but there's also a good chance of spotting wildlife from your bird's eye perspective as you sail over the rainforest below.

Perhaps the supreme zip-line in the country is the 'Superman' zip line which stretches out for over a kilometre above unspoilt tropical landscape at Midworld in Manuel Antonio National Park.

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Rio Tarcoles crocodile experience

Rio Tarcoles crocodile
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Take part in an exciting water-borne safari seeking out the crocodiles which frequent the river banks. Set off early to be more or less alone with these huge creatures (they can reach 4m in length) although bird life is also plentiful here, including hawks and various species of heron.

There have been crocodiles on Earth for over 200 million years, during which time they haven’t evolved much - so the toothy creatures have a really prehistoric air. You can also see iguanas and basilisks basking in their natural habitat. Your covered boat will be steered by a Captain and a bilingual guide will accompany you, both of them able to navigate expertly in order to maximise the opportunity of spotting these gigantic reptiles. They can also tell you about all the fauna and flora of the river, pausing to let you photograph and film the wildlife at close range.

Accommodation on this holiday

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La Cusinga Ecolodge

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Overview

Set on a hill within a private jungle reserve overlooking the Pacific Ocean, La Cusinga is a family-run ecolodge, accredited for its conservation and environmental efforts. There’s also an accent on wellness, and the property features a yoga studio. You stay in one of ten attractive individual wooden cottages, all with high ceilings and large stone bathrooms.

Each has its own private balcony with spectacular views out to the ocean, where passing dolphins and whales can be spotted. There's a covered veranda for enjoying the ocean view. A 15 minute jungle walk where you can spot howler monkeys, sloths, and exotic birds leads to the lodge's own private beach - beautifully secluded, with rainforest spilling on to the white sand. Food at the lodge is excellent, with a variety of fresh Costa Rican dishes, and there's a selection of equally good restaurants in the nearby village.

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Yaba Chigui Lodge

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Overview

Popular Yaba Chigui Lodge is a family-friendly, away-from-it-all place to stay set beside a stream running through lightly peopled, tropical hills inland from the southern Pacific coast of Costa Rica.

Managed by a well travelled, English-speaking family it has four cabins on stilts where you’ll feel enveloped by the surrounding foliage. Each bears the a name in the indigenous languages of Costa Rica and Costa Rican culture is dear to the management team and their philosophy.

There are delightful outdoor showers and a small pool, massages are offered and breakfast is served but there's no restaurant: you’ll be helped to make reservations at the splendid French/Costa Rican eateries in Ojochal, the nearby village.

Activities can be arranged such as zip-lining, canton tours, snorkelling, horse riding, surf lessons, rafting and kayaking. The hotel will help you hire a car if you wish to explore further afield for example to travel up or down the coast or visit the Osa Peninsula.

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Trogon Lodge

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Overview

Trogón Lodge, 87 km from San José, offers simple but stylish guest rooms fashioned from polished wood, all set in exuberant cloud forest gardens. The terrain around is rugged and hilly: a collage of green trees and mountains. It’s a peaceful setting at 2,200m above sea level, where you’re 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. There are a number of optional excursions available including hikes, horse rides and bird-watching: the location in is one of Costa Rica's key areas for sightings of the resplendent quetzal.

The lodge also produces much of the fresh fruit and vegetables used in the restaurant and they have their own trout pond, so fresh fish is always on the menu.

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Cerro Lodge

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Overview

If you are a wildlife enthusiast, appreciative of peaceful rural locations, you’ll love Cerro Lodge. This simple property, enveloped in rich foliage, is especially popular among bird-watchers.

The air-conditioned guest rooms, which have basic wooden furnishings and fabrics in bright tropical colours, are housed in cottages and newer blocks.  Bird feeders scattered around the property attract tropical bird species such as tanagers, toucans and macaws while for human guests the restaurant serves hearty buffet meals. There is a small pool in the grounds where you may cool off, maybe after a day's exploration of Carara National Park, 20 minutes' drive away.  Unlike many lodges in Costa Rica, the friendly staff speak only limited English. 

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Santa Juana Lodge

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Overview

This small, family-friendly lodge and working farm is just an hour’s drive inland from Quepos on the Pacific coast, a bumpy ride through palm plantations and up through rolling countryside to the property at 800m above sea level.

There are seven guest rooms, four of which are individual cabins. There are plenty of birds to spot in the foliage around the cabins which have no air-conditioning but well ventilated with screened doors and windows. It's a real away-from-it-all place, there's no Wifi and TVs tend not to receive any programmes.

Design is contemporary: the spacious cabins are beautifully furnished, featuring polished wood. There are lovely views over the emerald hills from the balconies’ hammocks and rocking chairs.  Meals are offered featuring traditional Costa Rican fare, including the ubiquitous rice and beans. Some cabins have a small kitchenette. Various activities are on offer such as horse riding, waterfall swimming, coffee and nature tours and visits to sugar-cane plantations.

Speak to an expert Travel Consultant or send us your enquiry today.

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Our specialists have been expertly crafting award-winning tailor-made holidays to Latin America for over 37 years.
We would be delighted to create a truly personalised trip which perfectly matches your wishes and requirements.

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Off the beaten track Costa Rica: National parks and private reserves

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Off the beaten track Costa Rica: National parks and private reserves

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Off the beaten track Costa Rica: National parks and private reserves

13 days from £2,375pp

Price excludes international flights at the beginning and end of the trip

 

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