SAMPLE ITINERARY
Colours of Costa Rica
Glide along rainforest waterways, walk among the treetops and follow the forest all the way to the Pacific.
14 days · Escorted small-group tour
From Caribbean Waterways to Pacific Shores
Start in San José, then swap city streets for the waterways of Tortuguero on Costa Rica’s Caribbean side. Here, the best views are from a small boat. As you travel along the canals, scan the branches for monkeys and watch the water’s edge for flashes of colour from tropical birds.
In Arenal, follow trails through a landscape shaped by the volcano, then ease into a natural hot spring. Drift down the Río Peñas Blancas with a naturalist guide and visit a cacao farm to see how chocolate is made. From there, cross Lake Arenal and head up into Monteverde, where hanging bridges bring you level with the treetops. Return to the forest after dark and listen as a different cast of wildlife stirs.
Finish on the Pacific coast at Manuel Antonio, where rainforest trails open onto white-sand beaches. Keep an eye on the canopy for sloths and monkeys, then take to the water again to explore the mangroves of Isla Damas.
Tortuguero National Park protects a major nesting beach for green sea turtles. The park’s network of rivers and canals is explored by small boat.
Tour Highlights
Explore Tortuguero by boat. Follow narrow waterways into the rainforest and look for wildlife among the branches and along the banks.
Walk beneath Arenal Volcano. Take in views of the volcano and lake before unwinding in a natural hot spring.
Taste chocolate where the cacao is grown. Visit a local farm and follow the process from cacao bean to finished chocolate.
See Monteverde by day and after dark. Cross hanging bridges for a view into the canopy, then discover what comes out on a guided night walk.
Discover Manuel Antonio and Isla Damas. Walk from rainforest to beach in the national park and explore the mangrove waterways by boat.
Monteverde has Quaker roots. During your stay, you’ll meet a local host who shares the story of the community and its heritage.
What’s Included
Return international flights from the UK, including flight taxes
12 nights’ accommodation, with stays in San José, Tortuguero, Arenal, Monteverde and Manuel Antonio
12 breakfasts, eight lunches and nine dinners
Airport transfers and transport between destinations, including boat travel where the route calls for it
Guided sightseeing and activities as listed in the itinerary, including the Tortuguero canal cruise, Monteverde hanging bridges and night walk, and the Isla Damas mangrove boat trip
Travel in a small group of up to 18 people
The name Costa Rica means rich coast in Spanish. This journey takes you from the waterways on the Caribbean side to the beaches and mangroves of the Pacific coast.