Wild Costa Rica

The Trip

Day 1: San Jose – Arrive in San Jose and transfer to the hotel /  Hotel Autentico
Day 2: Puerto Viejo – Travel Cahuita – Manzanillo  / Hotel Azania Bungalows
Day 3: Puerto Viejo  – Optional activities Manzanillo  / Hotel Azania Bungalows
Day 4: Puerto Viejo  – Optional activities Manzanillo  / Hotel Azania Bungalows
Day 5: Tortuguero – Transfer to Barra del Colorado / Evergreen Lodge
Day 6: Tortuguero  – Rainforest activities / Evergreen Lodge
Day 7: Bajos Del Toro – Private transfer Siquirres / Bosque de Paz Lodge
Day 8: Bajos Del Toro –  Cloud forest activities /  Bosque de Paz Lodge
Day 9: Uvita – Transfer to Uvita, South Pacific / Cristal Ballena boutique hotel
Day 10: Uvita  – Ballena National Park / Cristal Ballena boutique hotel
Day 11: Drake Bay – Transfer to Drake Bay /  Drake Bay Wilderness Resort
Day 12: Drake Bay  – Corcovado National Park /  Drake Bay Wilderness Resort
Day 13: Drake Bay  – Optional activities Park / Drake Bay Wilderness Resort
Day 14: San Jose  – Flight to San Jose to connect with homeward flight
Day 15: Arrive home

THE ITINERARY

Day 1: San Jose
Fly into San Jose Juan Santamaria International Airport where our representative will be waiting to take you to your hotel, Autentico. The drive from the airport to the hotel takes 25 minutes approximately. The rest of the day is yours to explore as you like. The hotel is walking distance from the Art Museum and La Sabana Park. Due to its relatively high elevation, the city, like the rest of the Central Valley, is always a pleasant temperature year-round, with very occasional showers.

Stay at Hotel Autentico – Standard Deluxe room (B)

Day 2: Caribbean – Puerto Viejo
Escape the hustle and bustle of San Jose and embark on an exciting journey to the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. Take the shuttle transfer from the mountains to Puerto Viejo, where adventure awaits. As you follow the scenic road towards the renowned Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge, be captivated by the pristine beauty of palm fringed Cocles Beach. At Azania Bungalows, you can unwind and soak in the serene ambiance for three unforgettable nights. Experience the magic of this tropical oasis where natural and cultural activities await at every turn.

Stay at Hotel Azania Bungalows (B)

Day 3: Caribbean – Puerto Viejo
Choose optional activities from a nature hike in Manzanillo Wildlife refuge, a sea fronted jungle or Cahuita National Park also with coral reefed beaches and tropical forest. Aside from relaxing on the beach or surfing, hire bicycles, snorkel on coral reefs, or visit fascinating local indigenous and Caribbean communities. For more active pursuits try ocean kayaking at Cahuita.

Stay at Hotel Azania Bungalows (B)

Day 4: Caribbean – Puerto Viejo
Choose optional activities from a nature hike in Manzanillo Wildlife refuge, a sea fronted jungle or Cahuita National Park also with coral reefed beaches and tropical forest. There are also food and culture tours with the locals. For more active pursuits try ocean kayaking or snorkelling at Cahuita.

Stay at Hotel Azania Bungalows (B)

Day 5: Caribbean – Tortuguero
Transfer to Guapiles. Arrive at the pier and take a boat through the Tortuguero canals to the lodge spotting wildlife like sloths, monkeys and exotic birds along the way. Arrive at the Pachira Lodge and enjoy a refreshing cocktail and lunch. All meals and excursions are included at the lodge. In the afternoon, you will visit the picturesque town of Tortuguero, the sea turtle information centre and the beach before returning to the lodge for dinner and a relaxed evening. This lodge is only five minutes away from the entrance to Tortuguero National Park.

Tortuguero National Park is a captivating destination in northeastern of Costa Rica. This enchanting park is renowned for preserving a huge green turtle nesting beach. The Park is a remote haven, accessible only by small boats. Local communities travel only on bicycles or canoes. The park’s intricate and diverse ecosystem promises unique experiences during your tours. From moments of tranquillity, to encounters with the unique tropical flora and fauna. The essence of the Costa Rican Caribbean. There are other optional tours available such as fishing, kayaking and canopy tour.

Stay at Evergreen Lodge – Standard room (B, L, D)

Day 6: Caribbean – Tortuguero
After breakfast you will spend the day exploring the Tortuguero National Park. Two different boat rides are included today to different parts of the park. The canals allow for close wildlife viewing and you will have the opportunity to spot river otters, caimans, howler, spider and white-faced monkeys as well as exotic birdlife like toucans and jacamars. Turtles nest on its ocean beaches. After the day of wildlife spotting, you’ll return for a relaxed evening and a delicious dinner.

Spend another night at the Evergreen Lodge – Standard room (B, L, D)

Day 7: Bajos del Toro
After breakfast at the lodge you will return by boat to the Caño Blanco pier and Siquirres, then continue by private transfer to Bajos del Toro stopping en route at Guapiles for lunch.

Stay at Bosque de Paz Lodge – Standard room (B, L, D)

Day 8: Bajos del Toro
Bosque de Paz Forest is a captivating 1000-hectares privately-owned Reserve. It serves as a natural corridor linking the Poás Volcano with Juan Castro Blanco National Parks. Nestled within the Central Mountain Range, this ecosystem thrives between 1,450 to 2,450 m above sea level. With exclusive access limited to prearranged visits, the Reserve ensures minimal environmental impact. Various trails, ranging from 1 km to 7.5 km cover 22 kilometres of primary and secondary forest. Over 331 species of birds are present, including the resplendent quetzal, the scaled antpitta, the black guan, the emerald toucanet, the three wattled bellbird, the ornate hawk-eagle, and a wealth of enchanting hummingbirds.

Stay at Bosque de Paz Lodge – Standard room (B, L, D)

Day 9: Uvita
Take a private transfer from Bajos del Toro to Uvita. Reveal more hidden treasures of Costa Rica as you venture from Bajos del Toro to the coastal paradise of Uvita. The private transfer gives you the freedom to savour every moment of this awe-inspiring journey. Enjoy breathtaking panoramas as you travel through the highlands to the southern Pacific. There is always plenty to see as you traverse this captivating country. Uvita is a small town, known for dark sandy beaches surrounded by lush rainforest-covered mountains. It is home to the Cola de Ballena (Whale’s Tail) beach, within Marino Ballena National Park. Uvita is also famous for hosting the annual music event, Envision Festival 12.

Stay at Cristal Ballena boutique hotel (B)

Day 10: Uvita – Ballena Marine National Park
Nestled along the South-Western Pacific coast, La Cusinga is a remarkable Eco lodge that has a deep commitment to conservation. Set beside Ballena Marine National Park, which protects the majestic humpback whales.  La Cusinga is also part of a vast Private Nature Reserve, safeguarding thousands of acres of rainforest.  Adventure awaits on the jungle trails, birdwatching, hiking, amid nature’s wonders. It’s an ideal base for whale watching and snorkelling at Marino Ballena National Park, a tour to Caño Island, or a day trip to Corcovado National Park.

Stay at Cristal Ballena boutique hotel (B)

Day 11: Drake Bay
Private transfer Uvita to Sierpe and on to Drake Bay. Nestled on the southwestern coast of Costa Rica, Drake Bay is a hidden gem that beckons adventurers and nature enthusiasts alike. This enchanting haven boasts an astounding array of activities to indulge in. Take walks through the lush forests of Corcovado National Park, where vibrant flora and fauna thrive.  Go snorkelling in the crystalline waters teeming with vibrant marine life. Take a boat ride into the mangroves, home to much birdlife. Immerse yourself in the untamed beauty of Drake Bay, where idyllic beaches await. Enjoy a leisurely stroll or a blissful day basking in the sun. Find yourself captivated by the gold, and intense violets of the sunsets.

Stay at Drake Bay Wilderness Resort – Standard room (B, L, D)

Day 12: Drake Bay – Corcovado National Park
Included excursion:  Corcovado National Park. This cannot be reached by road.  Foot, horse and boat are the only ways to visit this haven of biodiversity. It is home to more than 400 species of birds and over a hundred species of amphibians and mammals. You can see all four species of monkeys (including the endangered red-backed squirrel monkey).  Six species of cats found in Costa Rica live in Corcovado. All four species of sea turtles nesting in Costa Rica also visit the beaches of Corcovado. It is home to some of Costa Rica’s shyest inhabitants: Baird’s tapirs, jaguars, scarlet macaws, harpy eagles, red-backed squirrel monkeys and white-lipped peccaries. It is wet, remote and rugged, but the trails are good and easy to negotiate. Corcovado has 23 miles of deserted golden sand beach, lined with coconut palms and surrounded by the greenery of the rainforest.

Stay at Drake Bay Wilderness Resort – Standard room (B, L, D)

Day 13: Drake Bay – Caño Island Reserve
Included excursion:  Day trip by boat to Caño Island Reserve. With time to relax and swim or walk around the island. This 300-hectare island is famous for its Indian cemetery, coral reefs and marine life. Caño Island is a tropical paradise with white sandy beaches lined with palm trees, and coral reefs. The island’s beaches are a great place to relax and sunbathe. Olive Ridley sea turtles sometimes come ashore to lay their eggs. With visibility of 20 feet or more, and a sheltered reef, snorkelling here is excellent. Snorkellers have the chance to see parrot fish, surgeon fish, barber fish, eels, snappers, puffer fish, barracudas, turtles, and manta rays. Further offshore, humpback whales and bottle-nosed dolphins can occasionally be seen.

Stay at Drake Bay Wilderness Resort – Standard room (B, L, D)

Day 14: Fly to San Jose then home
After breakfast, you will take a boat trip across the bay to Drake Bay Airport for the flight to San Jose and on to your next destination. (B)