Overview & Highlights
A Costa Rica wildlife and relaxation holiday with a difference: avoid the busy, commercialised places in favour of less visited, but equally beguiling spots with excellent small eco-lodges.
- Guided excursion in Carara National Park and Rio Tarcoles crocdile spotting
- Guided excursions and activities at Santa Juana Lodge
- Guided excursion to spot quetzals in San Gerardo de Dota forests
- Whale-watching at Uvita (depending on season)
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.
Outline 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.
What our clients say
97% of our clients rated their experience with us as Excellent or Good.
For me, the Uros Reed Islands. I loved it. The Islands, the boat trip, the people. Incredible. Loved seeing the condors. Loved Cusco and Areequipa. Loved the cable cars. Loved Lake Titicaca. Loved the Sacred Valley. Loved Ollantaytambo.
CS, Winscombe
Tailor made holiday
Our specialists have been expertly crafting award-winning tailor-made holidays to Latin America for 40 years. We would be delighted to create a truly personalised trip which perfectly matches your wishes and requirements.
Carrie Gallagher - Travel Consultant
A former JLA tour leader, Carrie brings a wealth of on-the-ground experience to our London-based Escorted Groups team.
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.
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.
Costa Rica / San Jose, central highlands and central valleys
Cerro Lodge
Costa Rica / Pacific coast
La Cusinga Ecolodge
Costa Rica / San Jose, central highlands and central valleys
Santa Juana Lodge
Costa Rica / Savegre valley and Chirripo foothills
Trogon Lodge
Costa Rica / Pacific coast
