Where to Stay
Every captivating tailor-made itinerary needs a perfect base. Our team has handpicked this collection of properties to give you luxury options in styles to suit any adventure.
South Pacific Coast
According to National Geographic, Corcovado National Park is ‘the most biologically intense place on the planet’.
This lush and verdant area of complex ecosystems ranges from freshwater swamps to cloud forest, with 8 different “life zones” and over 500 species of tree in an area of more than 40,000 hectares.
Wildlife includes all four species of Costa Rican monkey (Spider, white-faced Capuchin, Squirrel and Howler), all 6 cats and endangered species such as the giant anteater and tapir. Between December and February, it is not uncommon to observe the enormous tail flukes of Humpback Whales breaking spectacularly through the ocean surface. This area of outstanding natural beauty is a paradise for nature lovers and offers one of Costa Rica’s richest and most rewarding wilderness and wildlife experiences.
Costa Rican Wildlife
Birdwatching is tremendous here with over 370 recorded species including the opportunity to glimpse Costa Rica’s largest population of Scarlet Macaws and the magnificent Great Curassow. You have to put a little effort into getting to this remote corner of the country. Light aircraft from San Jose will treat you to tremendous views of mountains and volcanoes before following the Pacific coast south to a small airstrip at Palmar Sur or Puerto Jimenez. Some of the more remote lodges require a further journey by boat past crocodile inhabited mangroves along the Sierpe River and into the Pacific Ocean, followed by a wet landing and a final leg in a tractor-towed buggy to the lodge. However, you don’t have to compromise on comfort. The Osa Peninsula boasts some of the country’s finest forest lodges.
The Osa Peninsula
A stay on the Osa Peninsula will typically include guided hikes into Corcovado National Park and a boat journey for snorkelling to Isla del Cano, a marine biological reserve with reefs and a huge variety of fish. Isla del Cano also contains an archaeological site that suggests the existence of a Pre-Columbian cemetery. The perfectly round stone spheres that are found on the mainland in the Diquis Valley can also be seen here. Nobody is sure how and why these mysterious over-sized marbles were created.
What do our specialists recommend?
Spend as much time as you possibly can in and around Corcovado Park. There is no development permitted within the park but also no fences to restrict the movement of creatures and at some of the closest lodges, you’ll find yourself literally tripping over wildlife such as huge toads, snakes and coatimundis. Night is a magical time on the peninsula – grab a glass of courage, take a seat outside your bungalow and surrender yourself to the night time noise of the rainforest and the sense that something in that dark and dense wall of jungle is watching you.
Experiences
What do you really love doing? We curate your itinerary especially for you.
Idea
Costa Rica
Costa Rica’s Wild South
This holiday to Costa Rica combines the highlights in the north of the country with the more remote, less visited south. Featuring a sprinkling of boat rides and a careful balance of pristine coastlines with overgrown jungles, this journey reaches areas where…
Idea
Costa Rica
A Family Adventure to Costa Rica
From zip-lining over jungle canopies to exploring monkey-inhabited national parks, this is a classic Costa Rican adventure designed to provide conservation insight and fun in equal measure. Combining activity-centric Arenal with a change of pace on the beautiful Pacific and Caribbean coasts…
Idea
Costa Rica
Highlights of Costa Rica
Through a combination of protected areas and community-based, sustainable tourism, Costa Rica has successfully restored its forest cover to over 52%. Suited to thrill seekers, nature lovers and those with a curiosity to learn more about conservation, this holiday dips a toe…
Group tour
Costa Rica
Uncharted Costa Rica 4×4 Self-Drive Adventure
Venture into Costa Rica’s wilder, less-visited corners at the helm of your own 4×4 expedition vehicle, following expert Costa Rican guides leading four vehicles across riverbeds, beaches, pineapple plantations, remote dirt tracks and asphalt coastal roads.
Idea
Costa Rica
Journey through Costa Rica & Nicaragua
Combining the prolific wildlife and outdoor pursuits of Costa Rica‘s Carribean coast with the colonial architecture and volcanic islands of Nicaragua‘s Pacific coast, this customisable trip is suited to intrepid travellers who seek a balance of exhilarating explorations with time spent unwinding…
Idea
Nicaragua
El Salvador, Nicaragua & Costa Rica
This intrepid holiday to Central America journeys overland between the smallest and the largest of the region’s countries. From El Salvador through Nicaragua to Costa Rica, all three destinations are bursting with wildlife, epic volcanic scenery, UNESCO sites, colonial history and remote…
Idea
Costa Rica
Costa Rica’s Wild South
This holiday to Costa Rica combines the highlights in the north of the country with the more remote, less visited south. Featuring a sprinkling of boat rides and a careful balance of pristine coastlines with overgrown jungles, this journey reaches…
Idea
Costa Rica
A Family Adventure to Costa Rica
From zip-lining over jungle canopies to exploring monkey-inhabited national parks, this is a classic Costa Rican adventure designed to provide conservation insight and fun in equal measure. Combining activity-centric Arenal with a change of pace on the beautiful Pacific and…
Idea
Costa Rica
Highlights of Costa Rica
Through a combination of protected areas and community-based, sustainable tourism, Costa Rica has successfully restored its forest cover to over 52%. Suited to thrill seekers, nature lovers and those with a curiosity to learn more about conservation, this holiday dips…
Group tour
Costa Rica
Uncharted Costa Rica 4×4 Self-Drive Adventure
Venture into Costa Rica’s wilder, less-visited corners at the helm of your own 4×4 expedition vehicle, following expert Costa Rican guides leading four vehicles across riverbeds, beaches, pineapple plantations, remote dirt tracks and asphalt coastal roads.
Idea
Costa Rica
Journey through Costa Rica & Nicaragua
Combining the prolific wildlife and outdoor pursuits of Costa Rica‘s Carribean coast with the colonial architecture and volcanic islands of Nicaragua‘s Pacific coast, this customisable trip is suited to intrepid travellers who seek a balance of exhilarating explorations with time…
Idea
Nicaragua
El Salvador, Nicaragua & Costa Rica
This intrepid holiday to Central America journeys overland between the smallest and the largest of the region’s countries. From El Salvador through Nicaragua to Costa Rica, all three destinations are bursting with wildlife, epic volcanic scenery, UNESCO sites, colonial history…
Costa Rica
SCP Corcovado Wilderness Lodge
Set in a prime location and only accessible by motorboat, SCP Corcovado Wilderness Lodge offers a remote rainforest experience nestled within a 170-acre private reserve bordering Corcovado National Park. This intimate lodge has 14 bright and…
Costa Rica
Playa Nicuesa Lodge
Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge is a tropical paradise constructed from naturally fallen trees and recycled materials. Here you can enjoy the sights and sounds of the rainforest from a hammock in the lodge’s special tree-top lodge, or…
Meet our experts
A passion for travel runs right through every one of our experts - meaning they're always ready with first-hand insight about their specialist countries.
Clare Wiggins
My love for Asia began with living there. Based in Vietnam and then Malaysia, I also explored the surrounding regions before eventually finding my way back home via China and the Trans-Siberian railway. At Steppes Travel, I get to share that love for Asia every day, helping clients experience the places I know best as if they were locals themselves.
Talk with our experts
- 01285 880 980
John Faithfull
Costa Rica is simply the best spot in Central America for nature lovers, and is always John’s top recommendation for those wishing to hike, swim, zip, raft, ride or float through outstanding scenery and rich biodiversity.
Talk with our experts
- 01285 880 980
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Explore other regions
Central Valley
Plantations, fincas, primary rainforest and ravines of a truly beautiful wilderness area.
North and Central Pacific Coast
The Pacific Coast stretches from the Nicoya Peninsula in the north to the Osa Peninsula in the south. This coastal plain rises…
Puerto Viejo and Caribbean Coast
It has wonderful beaches with fine volcanic sand lapped by warm water.
Volcanoes
Costa Rica, straddling the tectonic plates of the Pacific and Caribbean, boasts 110 volcanoes, five of which are still active.
Wetlands
The wetlands of Costa Rica are some of the best areas to experience a variety of birds and wildlife.
Why Choose Steppes?
Our knowledge, curiosity and expertise set us apart, driving us to create remarkable holidays and Beautiful Adventures tailored perfectly to you, carefully curated to help protect and conserve our planet.
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