Costa Rica Tours & Holidays

Small Group Tours & Tailor-Made Holidays

Overview

A country that became known as the poster child of ecotourism, beautiful Costa Rica is one of the world’s most stunning natural destinations. Lying along the Central American Isthmus, sandwiched between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, it is home to some 5% of the planet’s entire biodiversity and has long been recognised as one of the world’s most ethical destinations.

With nearly a quarter of its entire landmass being given over to protected areas and national ...

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TAILOR-MADE HOLIDAYS

Whether you want to travel on one of our award-winning itineraries or build your own journey from scratch, our expert consultants will help create the perfect tour for your tastes and budget. Below are a few suggestions of the kind of trips we can offer, all of which can be tailored to you.

SUGGESTED ITINERARIES

HIGHLIGHTS OF COSTA RICA

BEST EXPERIENCES

Walk the Mistico hanging bridges

Walk the Mistico hanging bridges

Inside a 618-acre nature reserve are 15 bridges from 5 to 100 meters long, hangin high up in the canopy. This is a fun and thrilling way to experience the rainforest and enjoy volcano views accompanied by our naturalist guide.

Go on a specialised turtle tour

Go on a specialised turtle tour

Turtles are present all year round, but to experience turtles nesting (July-Oct) take a specialised tour in search of green sea and hawksbill turtles with a naturalist guide or, if in season, go hunting for the rare and massive leatherbacks (Feb-April).

Explore Manuel Antonio National Park

Explore Manuel Antonio National Park

Take leisurely hikes around the beautiful Manuel Antonio National Park with our naturalist guide. Spend the day exploring the pristine forests and tropical beaches of the national park keeping an eye out for protected flora and fauna that call it home.

Walk in Monteverde Reserve at night

Walk in Monteverde Reserve at night

After nightfall, a new world awakens in the cloud forest. With unique wildlife active at night, from frogs to bats and little to no humans, the experience of hiking for nocturnal biodiversity is even more attractive.

Journey up the Cerro Chato volcano

Journey up the Cerro Chato volcano

One of our favourite hikes up the slopes of the dormant Chato Volcano located next to the Arenal Volcano. Great nature and a volcanic crater lake in the summit make this a way to escape crowds and explore the national park.

Hike Corcovado National Park

Hike Corcovado National Park

Take a boat to, perhaps, Costa Rica’s most famous national park in search of wildlife. Hike the trails of San Pedrillo to reach to a beautiful waterfall and cool off with a refreshing swim in its crystal-clear water.

Raft down Rio Savegre’s rapids

Raft down Rio Savegre’s rapids

Rio Savegre has class II, III and IV rapids that are manageable in sturdy rafts that accommodate 2 to 6 people comfortably. Embark on this exciting rafting adventure, stopping at locally known swimming spots and gorgeous waterfalls along the way.

Kayak Manuel Antonio's coastline

Kayak Manuel Antonio's coastline

The adventure begins near Quepos, kayaking along the Manuel Antonio coastline. During the tour, visit the hidden Manuel Antonio treasure at Biezans Bay for a swim and to check out the reefs.

Boat through Tortuguero’s canals

Boat through Tortuguero’s canals

This is the classic way to search for wildlife in the national park and for good reason, as many species can be spotted by cruising the waterways of the reserve with an expert naturalist guide.

TOP PLACES TO VISIT

Arenal

Accessed via La Fortuna town, the Arenal National Park is shadowed by Costa Rica’s most famous volcano, Arenal. The area offers a wealth of outdoor activities such as ...

Manuel Antonio

Manuel Antonio is perfect for combing a bit relaxation at one of Costa Rica’s pristine beaches with more adventurous activities and exploration of the country’s famous protected forests....

Monteverde

The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve contains six distinct ecological zones. There are wind sculpted woodlands on the exposed ridges, protected cove rainforests of majestically tall ...

Tortuguero

Found on Costa Rica’s lesser-explore Caribbean coast, the area of Tortuguero with its canals is famous for being the principal nesting site for green, hawksbill, loggerhead and ...

Osa Peninsula

Being slightly more difficult to reach than Costa Rica’s other prime coastal destinations make the Osa Peninsula ideal for those wishing to escape the bigger crowds and ...

OUR FAVOURITE PLACES TO STAY

Premium | Lodge

Arenal Observatory Lodge & Spa, Arenal

The Arenal Observatory Lodge & Spa is nestled within 870 acres of land surrounding the Arenal Volcano and boasts views of Lake Arenal. As the only hotel within the national park, the property offers…
Luxury | Hotel

Arenas Del Mar, Manuel Antonio

Arenas de Mar is a multi-award-winning luxury hotel set on the blissful beach of Manuel Antonio and built on 11-acres of private nature reserve. The most high-end beachfront property in the area,…
Luxury | Lodge

El Silencio, Bajos del Toro

El Silencio Lodge and Spa provides an immersive experience into rural Costa Rican culture and nature. Set in a 500-acre tropical forest, with a winding river and three waterfalls cascading down the…
Premium | Lodge

La Paloma Lodge, Osa Peninsula

From an elevated, hilltop position overlooking Drake Bay, La Paloma Lodge benefits from the breeze which cools the whole property. With standard rooms and more spacious, split-level bungalows with…
Luxury | Lodge

Lapa Rios Lodge, Osa Peninsula

Winner of the Conde Nast Traveler award and one of National Geographic’s Unique Lodges of the World, Lapa Rios is an incredible rainforest retreat by the sea on the southern Osa Peninsula. Straddling a…
Premium | Lodge

Manatus Hotel, Tortuguero

The Manatus hotel is located on the Tortuguero river side, across from the beach side, only five minutes away by boat from the town and the air strip. The hotel is surrounded by water channels and the…
Luxury | Lodge

Nayara Springs, Arenal

Inspired by the romance of an African safari and wrapped in rainforest, Nayara is an eco-luxury resort nearby Arenal Volcano consisting of Nayara Gardens and Nayara Springs (adult only). One of the…
Luxury | Lodge

Senda Monteverde Hotel, Monteverde

Senda Monteverde is a mountain lodge located above Santa Elena town, the gateway to the famous Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. The luxury hotel maintains a focus on providing an upscale, eco-friendly…
Premium | Hotel

Si Como No Resort & Spa, Manuel Antonio

‘Si como no’ means ‘sure, why not’, reflecting the relaxed and laidback atmosphere of Si Como No Resort & Spa. Located on the Central Pacific Coast, the resort connects you with the surrounding…
Premium | Lodge

Tortuga Lodge, Tortuguero

Set along the Caribbean coast and the borders of Tortuguero National Park, Tortuga Lodge and Gardens is blessed with 50 acres of private reserve. The architecture and style of the lodge reflects the…

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WHEN TO GO

Costa Rica has a typical tropical climate with high season from December to April. The rainiest months tend to be September and October, although the Caribbean Coast benefits from a microclimate staying relatively dry over the turtle spotting season (July to September).

Meet the expert, Richard

Richard is our Latin America expert, who has travelled extensively in the region.

Speak to Richard by calling
1(833) 200-4640

Famous, yes. Well-travelled, yes. Yet Costa Rica continues to hide eco-gems, off-path mountain lodges set in private nature reserves that share biodiversity with divine reverence.

USEFUL INFORMATION

Health and Vaccinations  

There are no mandatory immunisations for travellers to Costa Rica though you should be up-to-date with Typhoid, Tetanus, Polio and Hepatitis A. Malaria is present in some parts of Costa Rica. Please note we are not medical professionals and so we highly recommend you seek advice from your local GP or travel centre as to the correct immunisations and preventative treatments.  

Currency 

In Costa Rica the official unit of currency is the Colon. This is a closed currency and can only be exchanged in country.  

To check out the latest exchange rate for the places that you are visiting you can go to www.oanda.com

Cultural Sensitivity 

On our tours we frequently interact with local people, each with their own distinct customs and traditions. We therefore ask you to be considerate and to treat them with respect. Your guides will be able to advise you accordingly. 

Language & Religion 

Spanish is the official language spoken in Costa Rica and it is spoken nationwide. The level of English spoken by hotel and restaurant staff is amongst the best in Latin America, but it is useful to have a basic grasp of Spanish before you travel. Costa Rican Spanish sounds slightly different to traditional Spanish as Costa Ricans speak fast and their pronunciation is slightly altered.  

Time 

Costa Rica is 7 hours behind GMT.  

A useful website to check the time zone differences is www.worldtimezone.com.  

Food and drink 

Costa Rican food is simple yet tasty, with many regional variations and specialities found across the country. Typically, most dishes will include rice, beans and some kind of meat or fish, although dishes such as ceviche are popular too. Due to a more tropical climate, a large variety of fruit and vegetables are available, and the fresh fruit juices are not to be missed!Alcohol is available throughout Costa Rica.