Costa Rica: From the Caribbean to the Pacific

Itinerary

• Day 1
  Arrival in San José - Begin your journey and arrive in San Jose, Costa Rica’s capital and its largest city.
• Day 2
  Tortuguero - Passing coffee and banana plantations and small farming communities, we'll head to Costa Rica's Caribbean coast and board a boat for an adventure through the rainforest's canals - it's the only way to reach the eco-lodge, where we'll stay for two nights. After we've settled in, we'll visit the nearby town of Tortuguero and the Caribbean Conservations Corporation Museum, dedicated to studying Atlantic Green, Hawksbill and Leatherback turtles who come to lay their eggs on the protected beaches here between July to October. Many species of turtles which lay their eggs on these beaches came close to extinction until the area was declared a national park. Tonight we’ll have a round of welcome drinks to get to know your fellow guests before you enjoy dinner at the hotel.  Included experience - Visit Tortuguero and the Caribbean Conservation Corporation Museum
• Day 3
  Tortuguero - We'll work off our breakfast this morning with a fascinating walk along one of the nature trails around our lodge before relaxing by the pool during the hottest part of the day.   This afternoon, we'll travel along the lush green waterways of this unique eco-system - expect to see caimans, several types of monkeys and a huge number of endemic and migratory bird species, including toucans, macaws and raptors. Included experience - Guided nature tour by boat
• Day 4
  Sarapiqui - This morning we set off early, westwards through the centre of the country towards Arenal Volcano National Park, famous for the perfect symmetrical cone of the Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica’s youngest volcano. After a stop for lunch, we arrive in Arenal in the afternoon. Signature experience - Visit a Pejibaye Plantation, where one of Costa Rica's must-try ingredients is grown. Pejibaye is the fruit of the peach fruit palm tree native to the tropical forests of Central and South America. They taste like an interesting mix of cashew, chestnut and potato and are full of vitamins and high in energy. You'll get to see what we mean as we learn about this ancient staple food source of traditional cuisine, how the fruit is incorporated into modern cooking and sit down to enjoy a local lunch.
• Day 5
  Arenal Volcano National Park - Today, we have the opportunity to admire the forest beauty close up. Our day's activity takes us to the tree canopy heights as we roam the Hanging Bridges for a unique view of the jungle from up to 145 feet above the forest floor. You'll be able to see several species that inhabit the forest canopy, undergrowth and floor - so don't forget your camera and binoculars!  En route to our hotel, we'll stop in La Fortuna to tour a Costa Rican coffee and chocolate farm. We'll get to see a side of Arenal that most visitors miss and the coffee and cacao crops and taste the final products - it's as fresh as it gets. Included experience - See La Fortuna
• Day 6
  Caño Negro Reserve - Today we’ll head north, close to the Nicaraguan border, to the Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge for an adventure along the Frio River. We'll stay quiet as we float downstream while our expert local guide points out the native birds and wildlife that make their home in the wetlands and tropical forests - there's so much to see you won't know where to look first. More than 300 bird species have been identified here, including kingfisher, ibis, toucans, storks and even vultures - plus you're likely to spot iguanas, caimans and monkeys along the riverbanks. Included experience - Guided boat tour of the Caño Negro Reserve
• Day 7
  Rincon De La Vieja National Park - Continuing north, we'll stop at the bustling town of Liberia before ascending into Rincon De La Vieja National Park, where we'll stay in a secluded location within the boundaries of the park for two nights. In the early evening, before dinner, you can join an optional night walk in search of amphibian and small mammal nocturnal activity. Signature experience - You can spend the morning meeting the extraordinary team at Las Pumas Wildlife Rescue Centre & Sanctuary - and the remarkable creatures they look after. Here, injured animals are cared for, rehabilitated and released back into their natural habitat. If they cannot be released, they stay in a naturalized enclosure in the centre's sanctuary, where we'll meet five of the six species of wildcat found in Costa Rica, including the jaguar and the puma, in the company of a local naturalist and hear more about the wildlife that call the centre home.
• Day 8
  Free day in Rincon De La Vieja National Park - Spend the day within Rincon De Vieja National Park. You could choose adventure with a hike through the jungle on the lookout for Howler monkeys, Capuchin monkeys, Toucans and Coatis as you pass hissing fumaroles, volcanic craters and bubbling mud pools. The hotel offers a range of activities that allow you to explore the area from walking tours through the forest to horseback riding and ziplines over the canopy. You can expect panoramic views, dazzling waterfalls and moments that will have your heart pounding in your chest.  Or, if relaxation is on the agenda, sink into the volcanic mud baths and thermal hot springs to take advantage of the wellness properties of the mineral-rich waters and mud - it's enough to rejuvenate any weary traveller. For the full pamper experience, book in a treatment at The Anahuac Wellness Thermal & Spa (you can pre-book on arrival in Costa Rica). Signature experience - Costa Rica is home to an incredible 750 bird species, making it one of the very best places on the planet for bird-watching. Today we'll wake early to witness the dawn chorus like never before. Adventuring through the grasslands and forests surrounding our hotel, we'll be on the lookout for hawks, orioles, toucans, woodpeckers, hummingbirds, colourful trogons and jacamars, and - if we're lucky - the imposing king vulture or Central American condor. You'll want your camera handy to capture these elusive birds in all their glory!
• Day 9
  Palo Verde National Park - Costa Rica’s real riches come from its immensely fertile volcanic soils which have created a biodiversity of incredible range, variety and complexity – it's a natural paradise! More than 25% of the country is designated as protected reserves or national parks.  Today, we'll take a guided tour to Palo Verde National Park, one of Costa Rica’s most popular conservation areas. Its wide range of land and marine biodiversity makes this one of Central America’s most impressive natural habitats. Our local guide will lead us by boat through the waterways of this tropical paradise to discover a unique combination of thick coastal forest, rivers and mangrove lagoons which are home to more than 109 species of mammals and 184 species of birds. One of its most well-known and likeable inhabitants is the three-toed sloth, but this is not even close to the tip of the iceberg. You’ll also see monkeys, green iguanas, hundreds of varieties of brightly coloured tree frogs, hummingbirds a-plenty, scarlet macaws, blue-winged teal – maybe even a Jesus Christ Lizard (so named for its ability to run across the water).  Later, we'll embrace the local culture and cuisine with a country-style lunch before driving towards the Pacific coast, where a combination of exquisite beaches and tropical forests await. Our five-star hotel is within the secluded location of the quiet beach Playa Mansita, one of the four beaches within Hacienda Pinilla, where you might see iguanas and monkeys on the beach!
• Day 10
  Free day in Guanacaste - Surrounded by a natural reserve where the tropical gardens meet the Pacific Ocean, enjoy a luxurious stay in Guanacaste. After an exciting adventure across Costa Rica, now is the time to kick back and relax. Spend your free day taking advantage of the hotel facilities, including a private beach, outdoor pool and fitness centre. You could replenish your spirit with a treatment at the spa to the sound of falling water, fragrant incense and the passing ocean breeze or take part in hotel activities like aqua aerobics or golf.  If you're not the sit-still-and-relax type, there are plenty of unique outdoor activities to enjoy. From walks and bicycle tours through the nearby trails to horseback riding with true Costa Rican cowboys - or as they call them Sabaneros - you still have the opportunity to explore the spectacular beaches, cattle ranches and forests that encompass Guanacaste.