Wild Costa Rica

Overview

Wild Costa Rica

Do you dream of meeting a sleepy sloth? Have you wondered where the unusual-looking tapir lives? Do you long to tick the beautiful ocelot off your ‘wild cat’ list? Costa Rica is home to all these incredible creatures, plus impressive reptiles, colourful frogs, unique beetles and hundreds of bird species. This is your opportunity to trek through cloud forests, sail along crocodile rivers, be surrounded by a kaleidoscope of butterflies, and let the nocturnal creatures sing you to sleep.

What's Included

  • 14 nights in hotels and 1 in flight (accommodation as specified or similar)
  • 32 meals: 14 breakfasts (days 2-15) 6 lunches (days 3-5, 8, 10 and 13) 12 dinners (days 1, 3-8 and 10-14)
  • Titan’s VIP door-to-door travel service
  • Local Titan tour manager
  • Travel in destination by coach
  • Porterage
  • Flights from London Heathrow

Excursions:

  • 19 excursions and visits
  • Tour of San Jose
  • Visits to Tortuguero and Turtle Preservation Centre; Ecotermales Hot Springs; Bajo del Tigre Reserve; Monteverde Butterfly Gardens; Monteverde Orchid Garden; Carara National Park; Manuel Antonio National Park
  • Tortuguero Canals wildlife cruise
  • La Tirimbina Biological Reserve night walk
  • Arenal Lake boat trip
  • Mount Arenal base walk in Arenal National Park
  • Cooking class at Rancho Heliconia
  • Curi-Cancha Cloud Forest Reserve night walk
  • Crocodile safari
  • Hiking day at Corcovado National Park
  • Paramo forest walk and birdspotting walking tour, San Gerardo de Dota

Full Itinerary

Day 1: UK - San Jose

Titan’s VIP door-to-door travel service collects you from home for your flight to San Jose.

Day 2: San Jose

Our tour of San Jose includes the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum - which holds precious objects from different Columbian civilisations over the last 2,300 years - and the Costa Rica National Theatre. The afternoon is free to explore further.

Tour of San Jose (morning)

Day 3: Tortuguero

Costa Rica wildlife holidays are all about seeing incredible creatures in their natural habitat. After a drive through banana plantations to the Tortuguero Canals, we'll board a boat, looking out for sea turtles, crocodiles and other inhabitants on the river banks as we sail along these natural waterways.

We arrive at our lodge for lunch, then take a short boat ride to Tortuguero village. Glimpse rural life as we walk through the village to the Turtle Preservation Centre. Exhibitions focus on the organisation’s work to protect green, hawksbill and leatherback sea turtles, which lay their eggs on the village beach. Turtle nesting season is usually July to October and they hatch from September to December, so we may catch a glimpse if we’re lucky.

Visits to Tortuguero and Turtle Preservation Centre (all day)

Day 4: Tortuguero National Park

This morning we take to the canals to view the 50 shades of foliage within the tropical rainforest. Hopefully you’ll also see monkeys, toucans, green macaws or caimans. This afternoon is at leisure to take a guided hike along the beach, or through acres of trees and botanical gardens. Or relax by the hotel’s pool.

Tortuguero Canals wildlife cruise (morning)

Day 5: Sarapiqui

After breakfast we’ll journey by boat and coach to our lodge in Sarapiqui, stopping for lunch on the way. Relax before we take a 4km guided night walk at La Tirimbina Biological Reserve, within walking distance of our lodge. At night, the tropical forest comes alive with an orchestra of nocturnal birds, insects and frogs. Your guide will help you look for sloths, porcupines and more.

La Tirimbina Biological Reserve night walk (evening)

Day 6: Sarapiqui

Today is free to learn about indigenous cultures at the ecolodge or follow a nature trail. Alternatively, choose an optional excursion to a traditional cacao or pineapple plantation, go horse riding, or learn about dozens of native bats species at La Tirimbina Biological Reserve.

Day 7: Arenal

This morning we journey to Arenal National Park. We’ll walk along the base of the active Arenal Volcano, with views of lava that flowed in recent decades. We reach our hotel this afternoon, before we head to the EcoTermales hot springs. Relax and rejuvenate in mineral-rich water naturally heated by volcanic rocks. Our visit includes a traditional Costa Rican dinner.

Mount Arenal base walk in Arenal National Park (morning) Visit to Ecotermales Hot Springs (afternoon)

Day 8: Monteverde

As we cross Lake Arenal by boat, keep your camera ready for the beautiful views of Arenal volcano. On reaching Rancho Heliconia, learn about Costa Rican culture at a cooking class. After enjoying your creations for lunch, we plant a native tree to help reforest the area. We’ll continue to our hotel in Monteverde and this evening, we follow a guide into the Curi-Cancha Cloud Forest Reserve for a night walk. Watch out for armadillo, coati, agouti, ocelot, two-toed sloth and over 200 bird species.

Arenal Lake boat trip (morning) Cooking class at Rancho Heliconia (morning) Curi-Cancha Cloud Forest Reserve night walk (evening)

Day 9: Monteverde

Today starts with a walk at Bajo del Tigre Reserve, a rare ‘rain shadow forest’ with lots of endemic species. The walking continues through Monteverde Butterfly Gardens, to observe these beautiful insects. Then, rest your feet or spend your afternoon on an optional excursion in the forest canopy on a Sky Tram and Sky Walk tour.

Visits to Bajo del Tigre Reserve and Monteverde Butterfly Gardens (morning)

Day 10: Monteverde - Tarcoles

Spend this morning in the Monteverde Orchid Garden - more than 450 types grow here. Then head to Tarcoles for lunch, after which we regroup for a crocodile safari. Iguanas and basilisks might also be spotted. We’ll stay for two nights in Tarcoles.

Visit to Monteverde Orchid Garden (morning) Crocodile safari (afternoon)

Day 11: Carara National Park

Visit Carara National Park, populated by over 400 bird species of every shape and colour, like the scarlet macaw and collared aracari. The afternoon is at leisure - maybe spend it on the sweeping Pacific Coast beach.

Visit to Carara National Park (morning)

Day 12: Manuel Antonio National Park - Dominical

Our exploration continues at Manuel Antonio National Park. With luck, on a leisurely hike, you’ll watch sloths and monkeys in the trees, anteaters rummaging on the ground, and various birds circling above.

Please note: A limited number of visitors can access Manuel Antonio National Park each day and entrance is not guaranteed. We’ll start early to ensure our best chances, however If we’re unable to gain entry, an alternative and similar excursion will be arranged.

Visit to Manuel Antonio National Park (morning)

Day 13: Corcovado National Park

Rise early for a boat trip to Corcovado National Park. We hike amongst the beautiful flora with the hope of spotting howler, spider and white-faced monkeys. After about 1.5 hours, you’ll be rewarded with lunch, before a second, 2.5-hour hike to see more wildlife amongst the ancient trees.

Hiking day at Corcovado National Park (all day)

Day 14: San Gerardo de Dota

The resplendent quetzal, acorn woodpecker, sooty robin and dozens of different hummingbirds are some of the species to look for on this morning’s excursion into San Gerardo de Dota. We walk through paramo forest with a guide who’ll talk you through the trails. Afterwards, we’ll head to our hotel for our final night’s stay.

Paramo forest walk (morning)

Day 15: San Jose - In Flight

One last opportunity to search for birds on a walking tour, before we transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK.

Birdspotting walking tour (morning)

Day 16: UK

Upon arrival, your Titan vehicle will be waiting for the journey home.

Hand Picked By

Abigail Limm

We have been working with Titan for many years and our customers particularly love their VIP door-to-door travel service.

Abigail Limm

Additional Information

  • Date: Various departures for 2024
  • Board Basis: Mixed meal plan
  • Duration: 15 nights
  • Departure Airport: London Heathrow
  • Guide Price: Guide price from £3,499pp
  • Includes Titan’s VIP door-to-door travel service
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