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Costa Rica’s North Pacific Coast

Highlights

  • Get off the beaten track and see the local side to Costa Rica most tourists miss
  • Discover incredible wild spaces like dense jungles and pristine beaches
  • Thrill at adventures like ziplining, surfing and quad-biking in stunning settings
  • Meet the locals, try their food, and see how life really is in Costa Rica
From £1647 pp
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  2. Choose the number of adults and children in your group
  3. Select the accommodation type for your group
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What you'll do

Overview

Explore the North Pacific coast of Costa Rica, uncovering pristine coastline, lush, tangled jungle with amazing wildlife, characterful towns and rural villages where you can really immerse yourself in the Costa Rican way of life.

 

Summary:

Day 1          San Jose

Day 2 & 3  Albangaritos

Day 4 – 6   Santa Teresa

Day 7 & 8  Central Pacific Coast

Day 9 &10  Jaco

You’ll start your adventure from Alajuela, and head straight for the place you’ve come for, the North Pacific coastline of Costa Rica. The country prides itself on a brand of tourism that is eco-friendly and socially sustainable, and this will be very much the focus of the ten-day tour, as well as experiencing Costa Rica’s highlights on this stunning stretch of coastline.

You’ll be visiting local, rural communities like an eco-farm in the Puntarenas Province on your first day, where you’ll be immersed in rural Costa Rican culture, getting to know how the farm runs and learning how to cook real, authentic Costa Rican cuisine.

Then, you’ll be off to Ensenada Wildlife Refuge, a must-visit destination on any wildlife holiday in Costa Rica, a stunning stretch of protected mangrove forest that offers some of the best bird watching in the world, as well as the opportunity to see crocodiles and howler monkeys as you cruise your way through the otherworldly forests by boat.

From surfing at the world-renowned Santa Teresa one day, to soaring on a zip-wire through the steaming air, the jungle canopy stretched out beneath you, there are magical waterfalls, atmospheric little towns, and stunning beaches to be found all the way to Jaco, where your once in a lifetime adventure ends.

As well as the adrenaline-pumping activities, incredible food and stunning scenery that you’ll experience, this tour offers an opportunity to really get under the skin of Costa Rica and see the hidden gems, off the tourist trail, that you would otherwise miss.

Thanks to your local drivers and guides, you’ll meet and interact with local people and stay in their homes, get to know their way of life and establish human connections that create long-lasting memories, from spending a day with fisherman in the islands of the Nicoya Gulf to making wonderful, sociable meals at Betty’s house.

Arrive in Costa Rica

Arrive in San Jose airport, where you will be picked up and driven to your first accommodation. Recover from your long journey and get ready for the adventure of a lifetime.

 

 

 

 

Accommodation

Hotel Aeropuerto

Located in Alajuela, Costa Rica, Hotel Aeropuerto is conveniently situated 4 kilometers from Juan Santamaría Internacional Airport. The hotel boasts 24 rooms, each features air conditioning, cable TV, Queen size beds, telephone, and coffee maker. Guests can enjoy dining at the onsite Las Planchas Restaurant which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Hotel amenities include Wi-Fi, garden and a swimming pool.

Head to the Coast and Get Off the Beaten Track

On your second day in Costa Rica, fully-refreshed and ready to explore this incredible country, you will be collected by your driver and will head towards the wild Pacific coast, stopping at a Zapotal de Miramar, your first taste of authentic, rural Costa Rica.

In this community of just 100 people, visit an eco-farm where you’ll learn just how ingenious the Costa Rican people are at making the best of their natural surroundings, whilst working harmoniously with them.

You will learn about the wastewater purification process, and all about the organic garden with medicinal plants, but most importantly, you’ll learn how to use the fruits of this fertile land to cook proper Costa Rican cuisine.

Then, you’ll continue your journey to the tropical dry forest of Ensenada Wildlife Refuge. A private refuge with a family-run lodge, this lush, biodiverse area is legendary for its birdwatching and mangrove forests . Relax in the peaceful atmosphere here, with views over the Nicoya Gulf, the Mangroves and  salt marshes.

The estate is 800 acres where horses and cattle roam, and the main production is salt and growing fruit. Since 1977 the estate has been pursuing a programme of reforestation and much of the area has been reclaimed and re-wilded by the atmospheric, twisting branches of the mangroves, providing a haven for all manner of exotic birds, crocodiles and howler monkeys.

A stay at the Hacienda is a unique and unforgettable experience, it is family run and you have the opportunity to participate in the daily activities of typical country life of Costa Rica. Your accommodation will be in a bungalow facing the Gulf with twin beds, a private bathroom and a spacious terrace with a hammock to relax and watch the sunset.

 

Accommodation

Hacienda La Ensenada

 

Meals 

Breakfast

Explore Unique Eco-Systems

The mangrove forests for which this area is renowned work to create a unique ecosystem and environment, as they act as a water purifier and as a nursery for all kinds of native wildlife.

On your third day in Costa Rica, you’ll begin exploring this magical landscape by boat, slipping silently through the dappled sunlight beneath the twisting mangroves.

Spot roseate spoonbills, hawks, black-bellied whistling ducks, and egrets over your two-hours gliding through the shade of the trees.

Accommodation

Hacienda La Ensenada

Ferry to Surfers Paradise

The next day, you’ll be heading to the Nicoya Peninsula by ferry, then crossing it to the west coast and the stunning little town of Santa Teresa.

A surfer’s paradise, it combines sea, sand and beautiful trails winding inland to create the perfect spot for nature lovers. The town of Santa Teresa sits snugly on the long line of palm-fringed beaches, and exudes a deliciously laid-back, surfer town kind of vibe.

Pair this with great restaurants, cafes and bars and you’ve got yourself the perfect base for exploring the North Pacific coast.

Accommodation

Manala Hotel

Located in the small town of Santa Teresa and is within walking distance of the beach, the accommodation is in spacious bungalows featuring modern amenities including air conditioning, minibar and a fully equipped bathroom. The hotel has an in-house restaurant serving light dishes including pizza and pasta. The bar serves a range of cocktails and tropical beverages. Guests may also relax at the beautiful outdoor swimming pool which is surrounded by lush vegetation.

A Day of Adventure and Adrenaline

Strap yourself in for a day of adventure, because today you’ll be jumping onto a zipline that carries you through the tropical dry forest canopy. As you soar through the cool coastal air, you will see the incredible landscape unfold beneath you, for one of the highlight activities of the tour.

Then, get your hiking shoes on and strike out through the jungle for the great Montezuma Waterfall. Nestled in the deep jungle, white water cascades into a deep blue lagoon totally surrounded by pristine nature.

Take a dip in the refreshing pool, or add more adventure to your trip by leaping from the heights of the waterfall into the water below.

Accommodation 

Manala Hotel

Meals

Breakfast

Ride the Waves in Santa Teresa

You can’t visit this surfing haven without trying your hand at the most popular activity there. So on your final day here, you’ll be taking advantage of the perfect surf that comes rolling into the stunning beaches from the Pacific with a surf lesson from a local expert.

Learn to ride the waves and immerse yourself in the natural environment in the greatest way possible, and enjoy the freeing sensation of standing and surfing to shore in beautiful settings.

 

Accommodation

Manala Hotel

Meals

Breakfast

Glamping on a Remote Tropical Island

You’ll be heading back across the Nicoya Gulf today, and  travelling south towards Jacó. As you hop on the ferry, there is a beautiful little island in the gulf known as Jesusita Island and this will be your stop for two nights.

A glorious, untouched gem of lush green forest and golden sand beaches set in glistening blue waters, it’s an incredible place to get off the beaten track and experience nature at its purest.

During the day you can try your hand at artisanal fishing, your guide will take you to some of the best spots on the island and you can catch fish in the traditional way, spending a day getting to know the slow life of the local fisherme. In the afternoon relax and take in the sunset from your lounging deck, accompanied by only the sounds of nature, the gentle hissing of the surf and the call of tropical birds, in your own private paradise.

On one evening  you will have the opportunity to see  a rare natural sight on the ocean,  as darkness falls and you take to a boat just off the coast where you will witness the amazing sight of bioluminescence!  In the dark waters surrounding Isla Chiquita there are high concentrations of  light-emitting plankton that create this magical effect. Upon being disturbed, the algae give off a burst of light, and as there are millions of them it looks like sparkles in the water. Depending on the number of algae it appears as bluish or greenish sparkles,  and is a magical sight.

Accommodation

Isla Chiquita Glamping

Located on the shores of Costa Rica’s Gulf of Nicoya, each of the 15 glamping tents features a king bed, a daybed lounger, and a spacious lounging deck with stunning ocean views.

The dining experience at Isla Chiquita brings together the best of two worlds; the stunning natural beauty of the Gulf of Nicoya and the freshest ocean-to-table seafood to be found in Costa Rica. Guests can enjoy a diverse array of excursions, from self-guided kayaking and stand-up paddle-boarding to bird watching, sports fishing and island hopping tours.

Meals

Breakfast

Ferry to your beach stay at Playa Hermosa

Your ninth day will be spent travelling south by boat to beautiful Playa Hermosa.

Your hotel for the next two nights will be the Villa Caletas, a luxury boutique hotel located on a hilltop,  with a distinctive design and a large infinity pool overlooking the lush tropical jungle and coastline.The atmosphere here is enchanting, the views are amazing and the facilities and service are second to none.

One mile from the hotel, guests can enjoy the private Caletas beach, there is a daily, hourly beach transfer between 9:00 and 15:00 to the  wild and very private pebble beach equipped with sun beds, showers, restrooms and a snack bar to relax under the sun or the cool shade.

This one of kind place is so peaceful that you’re practically guaranteed to see wildlife like monkeys, coatis or even spot humpback whale in migration season.

The rooms are equipped with a private bathroom, Wi-Fi, TV, coffee maker, mini bar, hairdryer and safe. For guests enjoyment there are restaurants and bars, infinity swimming pool, boutique, spa, fitness centre, tour centre and a private beach.

Relax and enjoy your last days in Costa Rica, by the beach, at the pool or taking part in some of the activities close by the hotel in this surfers paradise.

 

 

Accommodation

Hotel Resort Villa Caletas

Located directly on the beach with two outdoor pools and a restaurant serving Costa Rican and International cuisine. There are 61 rooms,  each with air-conditioning and wonderful views overlooking the gardens, pools and the ocean. There are lots of activities to try close to the hotel such as kayaking, horse riding and rafting, or you could choose to spend your time relaxing and taking in the gorgeous views.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meals

Breakfast

 

Jungle Adventures in Jacó

Today, experience the thrill of exploring the wild, untamed jungle as you ride quad-bikes along the dirt trails and river beds, splashing through the forest on a unique journey through nature.

Enjoy a two hour guided white-knuckle ride  ( or something a little more tame – depending on your preference) through the spectacular forest and then take a cooling dip in a wonderful natural swimming pool surrounded by many species of indigenous flora and fauna,  a great way to refresh, you will swim immersed in nature at its richest and most vibrant.

 

 

Accommodation

Hotel Villa Caletas

 

 

Meals 

Breakfast

Transfer to San José and Departure

It’s time to say goodbye and head back to San José and the airport, after an incredible ten-day journey around the beautiful, unspoilt North Pacific coast of Costa Rica.

What's included

Included

  • All transfers from to San Jose airport, between hotels and activities
  • 1 night in Country Inn suites, San Jose B&B
  • 2 Nights Hacienda La Ensenada, Albangaritos B&B
  • 3 nights Manala Hotel, Santa Teresa B&B
  • 2 Nights Isla Chiquita Glamping B&B
  • 2 nights Terraza del Pacifico, Jaco B&B
  • Visit to an eco-farm and cooking lesson
  • Boat ride through the mangroves
  • Visit to Ensenada Wildlife Refuge
  • Montezuma Forest Zip-line Canopy Experience and Waterfall hike
  • Surfing lesson
  • Quad-bikes jungle ride
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.

My deep knowledge of countries extends far beyond just Costa Rica as well, I’ve been lucky enough to have a broad knowledge of most of the other Central American countries, as well as, a lot of the South American coun... 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.

My deep knowledge of countries extends far beyond just Costa Rica as well, I’ve been lucky enough to have a broad knowledge of most of the other Central American countries, as well as, a lot of the South American countries, allowing me to extend tours over there as well.

You might be surprised to know that I started out in a completely different field altogether, I studied engineering at university and worked in this industry for a little while. But, a little while later, due that passion for discovery and exploring new places eating away at me, I started my immersive travel company with a friend (14 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, decided to leave engineering behind and have worked in the industry ever since.

What inspired you to work in travel?

As I’ve mentioned, I do have a bit of an obsession when it comes to showing people the beauty of Costa Rica. But apart from this, I’ve always been very much pro environment and have a keen interest in conservation. One of the best things about travel is that it can have a large component of conservation, at some point before I started working in travel, I thought I would work within conservation. So travel is a great bridge between my passions of discovery and conservation. Because if tourism is done right can help change both people’s lives and the world, and that’s really powerful.

What makes your experiences special?

Firstly, supplier and destination selection is key for us when choosing our experiences. If you get these right, you have a pretty good shot of having a truly authentic experience. So, 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. An example would be, Drake Bay in Costa Rica, there’s a few things that everybody does e.g. the Corcovado National Park, a must visit for this area. But the difference between us and the other companies is that we use the local companies, that employ real locals, so this gives smaller companies a chance to compete with the large companies. When we choose hotels, we choose those that are sustainable, away from the normal ones.

And we always ensure the places/people we work with are committed to sustainability, it’s our mission to spread the wealth of toursim, to make sure money just doesn’t go to all the large companies, we think it should be shared equally to everyone in the country. So our suppliers are always real local people, that truly love their country and are trying to make an honest living out of it.

 

Roberto image
Sustainability Efforts

What Sustainability Efforts are we Taking?

At Not in the Guidebooks we’re committed to empowering the local communities in Costa Rica. We work closely with the local people and their businesses to make sure that they receive a fair percentage of the money you spend on your holiday there. By partnering with local guides and suppliers, we’re able to create meaningful, authentic experiences that directly benefit the people who call this incredible country home.

Learn More

Location

The tour begins in Alajuela, heading south through Abangaritos, Santa Teresa, the Central Pacific Coast and then down to Jaco.

All transport is provided, including all ferries and transfers from accommodation to accommodation, so you can simply relax and watch the stunning scenery unfold before you.

On your final day, you will be driven back to the airport in San Jose.

Your Stays on this Holiday
San Jose
Nicoya, Puntarenas
Santa Teresa
Jaco
San Jose

What our travellers are saying...

We had 12 days in Costa Rica in the North West, Nicoya Gulf and Pacific coast. The holiday was great because we saw a lot of the beautiful country, staying in six places. From the cloudy rain forests with their hanging walkways to surfing at Santa Teresa within three hours. All the logistics all worked - great drivers who transported us and told us about the country. A range of activities from boating in the mangrove forests, to zip lining, surf

Natalie L

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.

Please let us know the following in "Free text" for each participant when booking:

Weight*
Height*

*To prepare your surf equipment

What ages are considered children for this holiday?

Children's ages are 12 and under.

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