Wild Costa Rica – Premium Adventure

Begin in San José, the mountain-wrapped capital of Costa Rica, meeting our representative at the airport for a transfer (45 minutes) to the hotel. Around 7.30pm, say hola to your tour leader and fellow travellers during a short briefing. Your tour leader then ensures a big welcome with a group dinner at the hotel's award-winning restaurant. Our main briefing takes place tomorrow morning due to the late arrival of some flights today. Want to explore San José further? Secure pre-tour hotel nights through your sales representative.

This morning your tour leader will host the main welcome briefing when we gather as a group to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead. Today we transfer (four hours’ drive) to La Fortuna de San Carlos, a popular town watched over by the imposing giant cone of Arenal volcano. En route, we stop at La Tigra Rainforest Reserve to get in touch (and give back!) to nature on a special tree-planting experience. Exploring the rainforest, we learn about its vital contribution to the local communities, while also digging into the earth and planting our own native trees as part of the reserve’s restoration project. We also tour the lodge garden, where the team grow vegetables and greens, before tucking into a delicious lunch made with the produce from that very same garden. Arriving in La Fortuna, we have the rest of the day to relax and enjoy the hotel facilities. Perhaps a dip in the hot spring pools?

The La Fortuna area is a natural haven for sloths, with plenty of wilderness, an absence of predators, and sustenance-providing guarumo trees. Join the tour leader for a guided exploration around a section of that local wilderness, in which we admire the flora and watch wild sloths in their natural habitat. Returning to the hotel, we have the rest of the afternoon to enjoy the hot springs more. When the sun goes down, we head to a local family project for an immersive cookery experience. Start with an exploration of their garden, where we collect vegetables and aromatic spices for the kitchen. Then, under the expert guidance of a chef, we learn the art and techniques behind Costa Rican cuisine, learning how to cook a traditional dish and tortillas over a wood fire. Dinner will be delicious.

We’re off to Quepos on the Central Pacific coast after breakfast. Popular with sun-seekers, it’s the perfect place to unwind following a busy couple of days. After the 4hr 45min journey, take the opportunity to relax. There’s plenty of facilities at the hotel to enjoy, including an adults-only pool and sunset terraces.

Embark on an unforgettable journey through the lush landscapes of Esquipulas Rainforest Private Reserve today, a birder’s paradise with more than 200 bird species, including king vultures and hummingbirds. Accompanied by an expert guide, explore winding trails where every step reveals the beauty of Costa Rica’s rich biodiversity. After our hike (2hr to 2hr 30min), indulge in a coffee-tasting masterclass. We sip exceptional organic coffee, learning how to identify key qualities such as acidity, aroma and subtle tastes. More than just a tasting, this experience digs into how growers are looking to produce coffee in a sustainable way that’s better for nature.

Bid farewell to Quepos, as we set off for the Osa Peninsula, one of the greatest wildlife-watching destinations in the Americas − National Geographic even called it ‘one of the most biologically intense places on Earth’. Our journey includes a two-hour transfer to Sierpe Dock, where we catch a boat for a one-hour cruise to Drake Bay, on the north side of the peninsula. We then head into the jungle-covered hills overlooking the bay, where we spend the next two nights experiencing a truly wild landscape, still largely untouched by development.

Journey deep into Corcovado National Park today, starting with a 30-minute boat ride along the west coast of the Osa. After a wet landing at the ranger station, enjoy a brief talk from one of the resident rangers about Corcovado and the vital conservation work taking place here. Then, set off on a hike, while our local guide points out many of the diverse species along the trail. You may see white-faced, spider and howler monkeys, white-lipped peccaries (wild pigs), scarlet macaws, coati, and countless species of birds and insects. The trails are clearly marked and easy to navigate, ascending and descending through the primary and secondary rainforest. Late morning, we hike to the beautiful San Pedrillo waterfall, spotting more flora and fauna en route. Upon arrival, relax or take a refreshing swim in the natural pool. After, we return to the ranger station to catch the boat back to the hotel; on the way, if we’re lucky, we may spot humpback whales or dolphins breaching and spinning.