Central America's Garden of Eden
Using specialist naturalist guides and charming small-scale accommodation
In Brief
| San José - 2 nights.
Tortuguero - 2 nights.
Sarapiqui - 2 nights. Arenal - 1 night. Monteverde - 2 nights. San José - 1 night. Flight - 1 night. |
Day 1 Fly from London Heathrow, via Miami or Madrid, to San José. Transfer to the Villa Tournon for a two-night stay.
Day 2 Visit the National Theatre and the Gold and Jade museums. Afternoon at leisure for independent exploration.
Day 3 Drive to the Atlantic coast via the Braulio Carrillo National Park (4 hrs). Transfer by boat to the Evergreen Lodge in Tortuguero for two nights. Visit the Turtle Museum.
Day 4 A morning boat tour, exploring the Amazonesque channels surrounding the Tortuguero Lagoon, before enjoying an afternoon at leisure. In the evening there will be a sunset cocktail cruise.
Day 5 Transfer by boat to Caño Blanco and continue by coach (4 hrs), enjoying a typical Costa Rican lunch en route, to La Quinta de Sarapiqui for a two-night stay. Enjoy a cookery class and in the evening there will be a talk by your naturalist guide.
Day 6 A morning walk through the intriguing La Selva Nature Reserve with a resident naturalist guide. The reserve is home to nearly half of the 850 species of birds found in Costa Rica as well as monkeys, peccaries, agoutis and coatis. Afternoon at leisure.
Day 7 Drive to Arenal Volcano to bathe in the hot springs at Ecotermales La Fortuna. Overnight at Hotel Montaña de Fuego with an included dinner.
Day 8 Traverse the scenic Tilarán Mountains to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve (5 hrs). This high elevation cloud forest offers miles of trails and excellent opportunities for bird watching. Spend two nights at the Hotel El Establo.
Day 9 A guided walk explores the trails of the reserve and is followed by time at leisure prior to a night walk in the grounds of the lower altitude of the Bosque Eterno de Los Niños.
Day 10 An unforgettable tour of walkways and bridges built high in the cloud forest canopy. Later transfer back to the Villa Tournon in San José (3 hrs) for the night.
Day 11 Fly via Miami or Madrid to London Heathrow.
Day 12 Arrive Heathrow in the morning.
Extension-Manuel Antonio Nature Reserve
A four-night extension at the Manuel Antonio National Park combines idyllic white sand beaches with wonderful wildlife. Accommodation (with breakfast) is in premium sea view rooms at the stunningly located and beautifully decorated 4-star Hotel Parador. A frequent complimentary shuttle service operates between the Parador, the nature reserve and nearby beaches. A final night is spent in San José.
