Costa Rica nature lovers

Day 1: Arrive San José

Arrive in San José at any time. There are no planned activities, so check into the hotel (check-in time is 3pm afternoon) and enjoy the city. In the late afternoon (approx 5pm) you will meet your fellow group members to go over the details of your trip and for the leader to collect your local payment. After the meeting we will be heading out for a meal in a nearby local restaurant (optional).
Located in the central highlands, San José enjoys a moderate climate. It is the centre of government, theatre and art & has beautiful parks and museums. It is big and often noisy, but even from its crowded downtown streets, you’ll often enjoy a view of the surrounding lush mountains.
If you arrive early, head into downtown San José to visit a museum, shop or people-watch in the main plaza, a good place to watch San José at its most lively. A mime, juggler, marimba band, magician, or storyteller may be performing for tips, and artisan booths are common, creating a regular arts and crafts fair atmosphere.
A source of pride for ‘ticos’ (as Costa Ricans are called) is the National Theatre. Inaugurated in 1897, the building was paid for by coffee growers through a voluntary tax on every bag of coffee exported. Underneath the adjacent Plaza de la Cultura sits probably San José’s best known museum, the Gold Museum; its spectacular collection of indigenous gold art belongs to the Central Bank of Costa Rica.
The National Museum, housed in the Bellavista Fortress, offers exhibits on pre-Columbian art, colonial art and furniture and religious art within a 19th century building that was converted from a military fortress after the army was abolished. The Museum of Costa Rican Art, located in La Sabana Park, is housed in the old terminal building for what used to be the international airport. The 11th floor of the Instituto Nacional de Seguros building houses the excellent Jade Museum, which houses a marvellous collection of jade objects and pre-Columbian ceramic and stone works.
The best and least expensive places to buy souvenirs in San José are the markets. The two main ones are the ones in Plaza de la Cultura, which is an outdoor open market, and the Central Market, where handicrafts are sold along with boots, fish, flour, herbal remedies, shirts and everything else you can imagine. Always watch your belongings and be ready for crowds.

NOTE: Like any city where tourism is on the increase, crime also tends to increase. While San José is not a noticeably dangerous city, there are certain precautions you should take. Make sure that you are aware of your things at all times and don't go out carrying expensive gear or jewellery.

Day 2-3: Tortuguero

Meet your guide (at approx 06.30) and depart for Tortuguero National Park. On the way, stop for breakfast in a typical restaurant and visit a banana plantation. Travel by boat through the canals; along the way we may see herons, egrets and spoonbills, as well as amphibians and reptiles like caimans and the Jesus Lizard, famous for its ability to run on water. Lunch at your lodge. In the afternoon, visit Tortuguero town with an optional visit to the Turtle Conservation Center. On Day 3 the natural adventure continues on the secondary canals that were not visited the day before, including some in the national park itself. This is a good chance to spot howler monkeys, spider monkeys and white face monkeys, as well as crocodiles, red frogs and toucans.
Tortuguero, on the Caribbean coast and close to the Nicaraguan border, is the perfect place to experience Costa Rica’s lowland jungle, complete with some of the best birds and wildlife spotting in the country. The beaches around Tortuguero, a sleepy Afro-Caribbean town, host the nesting grounds of a variety of sea turtles (as the name implies), and Tortuguero National Park was created in 1975 to protect the four species of sea turtles which nest along the beaches: Green, Loggerhead, Hawksbill and Leatherback; the latter nests from mid-March to May, whereas the other species nest from July to September. Walking paths extend through the village and into the National Park, although the main means of transport here are boats, as there are no roads to the town, and naturally no cars. The Caribbean Conservation Center, just outside of town, is an excellent source of information about the turtles and their tropical habitat.

Day 4: Sarapiqui

Retrace your steps, out from Tortuguero to Sarapiquí. Surrounded by lush green forests and banana plantations, this main city was once just a small port town. Located at the junction of the Puerto Viejo River (Río Puerto Viejo) and Sarapiquí River (Río Sarapiquí), this growing area is quickly becoming a popular destination for adventure-seeking tourists and nature enthusiasts. Come before everyone else does!

Day 5-6: La Fortuna / Arenal

Morning tour of La Selva Biological Station. In the afternoon, travel to La Fortuna.
La Fortuna is a centre for adventure travel in Costa Rica. Here you can try numerous optional activities: river rafting, mountain biking, caving, horseback riding or walking on the active volcano. While we are here, you will enjoy an afternoon hike to through the forest at the base of Arenal Volcano followed by a soak to the Hot Springs, fed directly by the active volcano. Once you’re seated at the swim-up bar, you won’t want to get out.
Set on the northern plains of Costa Rica, Arenal Volcano sits on the southeast shore of artificial Lake Arenal (77 square kilometres, or 48 square miles). Separating the mountain ranges of Guanacaste and Tilarán, the lake was created by a hydroelectric dam. Winds sweep down the lake at speeds that reach 48 to 72 km/hr (30 to 45 mph), and the far end of the lake is one of the world’s top windsurfing locations. The volcano is quite active and occasional eruptions make it a natural wonder to be respected. Arenal is especially impressive at night, when the glowing molten lava can be seen against the ink-black sky. Even during the day, its reflection on Lake Arenal is truly enchanting. Note that due to normal weather patterns around Arenal, the top of the volcano is often covered in clouds; if you are lucky enough to see the volcano on a clear day, make sure to appreciate it!

Day 7-8: Manuel Antonio / Quepos Area

The white sand beaches and warm Pacific waters near the tiny town of Quepos are the ideal atmosphere to relax at the end of your adventure. Enjoy swimming, fishing, kayaking, horseback riding, boogie boarding, sailing or surfing. Not far away, Manuel Antonio offers excellent hiking and wildlife viewing. Like monkeys? This is the spot for you. Finally, you can snorkel, swim and try to spot dolphins as we finish our stay with an included sunset sail.
On Day 8, head into Manuel Antonio National Park for a half day tour. Spend the afternoon at leisure.
Manuel Antonio sits on the outskirts of the Manuel Antonio National Park and is a great introduction to the laid back “Tico” lifestyle. The town is popular with younger travellers, and has a good beach for those who want to get a little sun and swim. If you have the jungle in mind, we recommend that you head into the national park. Although this is Costa Rica’s smallest national park, it is also one of the most popular, and it won’t take you long to see why. The park has fabulous beaches, abundant wildlife, and a great trail system for those who want to spend the day hiking. Keep an eye out for monkeys (including the terminally cute but endangered Titi monkey), armadillos, agouti, coatimundis, sloths and some of the over 350 species of birds that make the park their home.

Day 9-10: Dominical

Depart for the groovy, laid-back but isolated paradise of Dominical beach, on Costa Rica’s south Pacific coast. South of Manuel Antonio and before the Osa Peninsula, Dominical is just far enough out of the way that many stop before they get this far. That suits us just fine. Dominical has a fun, laid-back community, great beaches, and it’s all walkable.

Day 11-12: Savegre

Leave the beach and travel to little-known San Gerardo de Dota, situated in the lush Savegre Valley. San Gerardo de Dota is one of the many small towns named after a Catholic saint in the famous coffee-growing Dota region, also known as Valley of the Saints. This is one of the most beautiful areas in Costa Rica, surrounded by lush highland cloud forest. On Day 8, embark on a guided hike through the cloud forest, an excellent chance to spot the elusive Quetzal bird.

Day 13: San José

After breakfast and drive back to San José for some last minute shopping and one last night out with the group.

Day 14: Depart San José