A South Pacific Adventure in Costa Rica

Highlights

  • Hike in the Corcoval National Park - one of the most biodiverse places on earth.
  • Visit to an indigenous community at Drake Bay and spend time with locals
  • Snorkel with marine life at Cano Island.
From £2705 pp*
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What you'll do

Overview

This immersive Costa Rica tour takes you to some of the country's most amazing and unexplored locations, where you'll feast your eyes on captivating natural sights and sounds.

Your adventure begins on arrival at San Jose airport and the locations you’ll discover are San José, Dota, Drake Bay and you will end your adventure at the beach in Manuel Antonio.

Day 1 San Jose

Day 2 & 3 San Gerardo de Dota

Day 4-6 Drake Bay

Day 7-10 Manuel Antonio

Day 11 Departure from San Jose

With locals as your guides, your activities along the way include exploring volcanoes, hiking in dense rainforests, swimming with sea turtles on untouched islands, taking a dip in secluded lagoons, visiting indigenous communities and spending quality time with the locals there – ending your stay in a beautiful Eco-lodge in Manuel Antonio.

You will go off the beaten track to less touristy areas as you discover local communities in the forest, and venture to one of the more remote and less visited National Parks – Corcorvaro the most biologically diverse place on earth, and an essential location on a Costa Rican wildlife holiday. On Osa Peninsula you can snorkel with dolphins, manta rays and tropical fish, a once in a lifetime experience.

At the end of your immersive wildlife adventure you can relax on the picturesque Pacific coast, the perfect way to unwind after so much exploring. And with gorgeous weather year-round, this itinerary makes the ideal winter sun experience.

 

*Based on 2 people travelling  during low season.

Begin your adventure

Arrive at your hotel for your first night and rest at your hotel in San José.  You’re here! Be ready to depart first thing in the morning

 

 

 

 

Accommodation

You’ll stay at the Parque Del Lago hotel.

Meals

None

San Jose to San Gerardo, Dota

This Morning you will be collected by your guide and driver. The first stop on your journey will be the Irazú National Park, home to the still active Irazú Volcano. At 3400 meters above sea level this is the highest volcano in Costa Rica. Here you’ll take a short hike up to the top of the majestic crater of the volcano, and see the amazing views inside the crater.

You’ll then continue to San Gerardo de Dota, one of Costa Rica´s favourite bird watching sites to see the extraordinary Resplendent Quetzal! San Gerardo is a  lovely little village huddled up against the roaring Talamanca Mountain Range and nestled in the Savegre River Valley, surrounded by  tropical cloud forest and the nearby Paramo covered mountain peaks.

Once you reach the cloud forest, there’s the opportunity to take one of it’s many stunning hikes, there are several hiking routes and you and your guide will decide on the best one for you. One of the highlights is the 2km hike to the secret waterfall.

After you return, you’ll head to your accommodation for the night, the wonderful Trogon Lodge where you’ll stay for two nights.

Trogon Lodge is simple but stylish, and the comfortable guest rooms are set in exuberant cloud forest gardens. The terrain around is a rugged and hilly collage of green trees and mountains. It’s a peaceful setting at 2,200m above sea level, where you will be 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 and  the location in is one of Costa Rica’s key areas for sighting the Resplendent Quetzal.

The lodge includes a botanic garden, a swimming pool and a bar and restaurant which features a shaded veranda, its gardens produce much of the fresh fruit and vegetables used in the restaurant and there is a trout pond, ensuring fresh fish is always on the menu.

Accommodation

Trogon Lodge

Dota

Day 3 will start off with a guided morning hike in the forest to find one of the most exotic and beautiful birds in the world, the Resplendent Quetzal.

For the rest of the day you have the opportunity to explore more areas of  the Tropical Cloud Forest and visit the local indigenous village of San Gerardo.

This picturesque village is the perfect opportunity to explore and interact with the locals with our Authentic community experience, visiting various families of Providencia, in Dota. You will Visit to the old mill or “trapiche” in Los Abuelos to learn about a tradition of producing raw sugar and other sweet foods from sugar cane. You will se how in rural communities Rural communities the natural environment is an integral part of daily life. You will take a walk to the Salitre waterfall through a secondary forest with many streams and waterfalls ranging from 5 to 82 metres high! In a fun cooking class you learn to make jams from the fruits of the region, such as blackberry and tomato. The last activity of the journey is artisanal coffee making with a local family here you will learn how coffee was traditionally made in the yard of their house, listening to the stories of their lives and the sound of the guitar while they sing, and you taste one of the best cups of coffee in the world.

You will pass by a crystal clear river, where you will have time to try your hand at fishing or take a hike from the village on one of the scenic routes round the mountain.

 

Accommodation

Trogon Lodge

 

Dota to Drake Bay

Today you will explore the different ecosystems of the country as you leave the cloud forests of Dota and make your way to Drake bay

Your next destination will be one of the most exciting experiences of nature in the country, within the lowlands rainforest where the climate is tropical.

On your journey there, you’ll drive through the Subalpine Paramo, pass the Mangrove swamps of the local town of Sierpe before arriving at  the Pacific coastline.

En route, you will visit an indigenous community called Rey Curré, known for its famous “Fiesta de los Diablitos” (little devil’s party) held in January commemorating the indigenous peoples’ resistance against the Spanish invaders.

You take a boat through the Mangrove out to sea and sail down the Southern coastline to reach the bay. You’ll be met by your local guide and travel to one of the less visited areas of Costa Rica, and the hotel Aquila de Osa Rainforest Lodge, where you’ll stay for the the next three nights.

Nestled amid jungle covered hillside overlooking the tranquil waters of Drake Bay, Aguila de Osa is a jungle Eco Lodge close to  the beautiful Corcovado National Park and Caño Island Biological Marine Reserve. Accommodation is in beautifully appointed rooms equipped with ceiling fan, coffee maker and  mini-bar.

There are amazing wildlife spotting opportunities and many water and land based activities on offer. The large thatched wooden cabins are very comfortable with views of the surrounding lush jungle.

The Great room is an open air restaurant with gourmet dining, an extensive breakfast menu and delicious local dishes and there is a bar on site. The hotel works closely with the local community and to protect the environment, using water from its on site well, and composting food waste to use in the organic gardens.

Accommodation

Agulia De Osa Rainforest Lodge

 

Meals

Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner

Caño Island

Today you’ll take a boat trip to the wonderful, untouched Caño Island  the gem of the South Pacific of Costa Rica! The waters around Cano island are renowned as one of the worlds best snorkelling and diving areas, with amazing coral reefs and some of the most abundant and varied marine life in the world.

The island itself has Pre Columbian architectural remains and it is believed to have once been a pirate hideout and some say it was the inspiration for Robert Stevenson’s book ”Treasure Island”

As you sail to the island you have the opportunity to see dolphins, whales, sea turtles, rays and other magnificent marine animals and take the chance to snorkel amongst them if you wish!

Accommodation

Aguila de Osa Rainforest Lodge

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch , dinner

Corcovado National Park

Today you will visit the Osa Península and Corcovado National Park.

These are considered the most biologically diverse places on Earth and the jewel on the crown of Costa Rica’s national parks! A must see for wildlife and nature lovers, Corcovado is one of the less accessible parks in Costa Rica, and this means less tourists visit this area, making it all the more appealing.

This wild, untamed region is home to the only tropical primary lowland rainforest in the world and is a sanctuary for many endangered flora and fauna. It protects over 140 different mammal species, 400 bird species, 20 of which are endemic, 116 amphibian and reptile species, 40 species of fish and at least 500 species of trees in its amazing and diverse habitats of beaches, mangroves, swamps, forest and palm groves.

Your guide will show you some of the best spots to admire the abundant biodiversity of Corcovado, and see animals like the tamandua, the tapir or the peccary.

 

 

Accommodation

Rainforest Lodge Aguila de Osa

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Drake Bay to Manuel Antonio

Today will start with a boat tour with your local guide through the Sierpe River and its mangrove. The Sierpe area is recognised by its canal system and is surrounded by a lush, mangrove forest.

After your boat ride you will head to the Central Pacific area of the country.

On the way, you will stop at the spherical stones park. The archealogical site of Palmar Sur is located in the Diquís Delta, in the southern part of the Puntarenas Province. Here there are an assortment of over 300 stone spheres. Locally, they are known as ‘bollas de piedra’ and they are commonly attributed to the extinct Diquis culture. They are thought to have been placed in lines along the approach to the houses of chiefs, but their exact significance remains uncertain.

You will then continue on to Manuel Antonio, and Eco lodge Si Como No.

The Eco lodge is situated above Manuel Antonio National Park, on a jungle hilltop and has been awarded Costa Rica’s highest hotel sustainability rating.

There are 58 rooms, most with private balconies, only 1 tree was removed during the construction of the Lodge, and energy efficient light and heating are used throughout.

There is an outdoor swimming pool with swim up bar and a spa. Guests can dine at Claro que Si elegant seafood restaurant or at the casual poolside Bar & Grill.

Sitting in 10 acres of gardens on the jungle hillside and striking the perfect balance between design and comfort, the lodge connects guests with the surrounding tropical forest of Manuel Antonio and the spirit of Costa Rica.

 

Accommodation

Si Como No Resort & Wildlife Refuge

Meals

Breakfast

Si Como No Hotel - Manuel Antonio

For the next three days you will relax and unwind in the tropical environment of the Spa and Wildlife refuge, spend your days relaxing by the pools, looking out over the ocean, with the wonderful sounds of the forest birds and animals. Spend some time in the butterfly garden, or sip a cocktail at the swim up bar.

The Cala Spa offers beauty and wellness treatments using many ingredients grown in the hotel’s 10 acres of garden.

Or if you are still looking for adventure  this is the perfect place to get it. There is the opportunity to explore Manuel Antonio’s forests and beaches with a guide, observe nocturnal creatures on a night walk, experience the thrills of a canopy and zip-line tour, swim beneath waterfalls, cruise the ocean by catamaran or go horse riding.

Accommodation

Si Como No Resort & Wildlife Refuge

Meals 

Breakfast

What's included

Included

  • 1 Night Parque Del Lago Boutique Hotel BB*
  • 2 Nights Trogon lodge BB
  • 3 Nights Aguila De Osa FB*
  • 4 Nights Si Como NeResort Spa and Wildlife Refuge BB
  • Guided tour to Irazú Volcano
  • Providencia Rural Experience
  • Boat trip to Drake Bay
  • Boat trip and snorkle adventure at Cano Island
  • Guide tour of Corcavado national Park
  • All transfers between hotels and to and from the airport
  • *BB - Bed and Breakfast
  • *FB - Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
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.

 

Location

This tour starts from Costa Rica’s capital, San Jose, where your guide will lead you for the next ten days around the central and South Pacific region.

On the Pacific coast the dry season is from December to April and the rainy season from May to November, when you will you’ll probably see rain for only a couple hours in the afternoon each day (if that), especially if you travel May-August or in November.

On your adventure you’ll drink in incredible natural parks, volcanoes, waterfalls, jungles, get to know local communities, spot stunning wildlife and try the best, most authentic food.

The experience ends in Manuel Antonio, in a beautiful resort on the coast of the Puntarenas Province.

1. San Jose
2. San Gerardo, Dota
3. Drake Bay
4. Cano Island
5. Corcavado National Park
6. Manuel Antonio

What our travellers are saying...

We keep excellent memories of our stay in Costa Rica, all thanks to you. It was an unforgettable experience that we would love to repeat.

Roser

I can't express enough gratitude for all of what you have done for me on this trip. This would not have been a good trip if it wasn't for you guys. I will definitely reach out to you again the next time I come to Costa Rica. I'll also recommend you to all of my friends who come down here. Pura Vida!!!

Ike

We loved our trip, the people are extremely nice and the country is great. We did some beautiful tours and were able to see a great quantity of birds, lovely landscapes thanks to the experience of our guide. 

Manon

FAQs

What are the travelling times on this itinerary

On Day 1 to the Cloud Forest - 1 hour drive.
From the Cloud Forest to Drake Bay - 2-2.5 hrs to Sierpe where you get a boat. It is around 45 mins boat ride to Drake Bay.
From Drake Bay to Manuel Antonio - 45 min boat ride to Sierpe and then a 2 hour drive to Manuel Antonio
Manuel Antonio to San Jose approximately 2.5 hours

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