Our Team
Our Tour Experts
Heroes and Heroines
Turtle Conservation
Visit Tortuguero, one of the world’s major nesting sites for Atlantic green turtles
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![Amy Waters snow biking]()
Our Team
Steppes Travel is made by the people who work here. Incredible holidays are made possible because of their vast travel experience and the great enthusiasm they bring to their work.
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![William Dalrymple]()
Our Tour Experts
We carefully select our experts based on their knowledge, companionship and influence, ensuring that you can travel with the most knowledgeable leaders in the field.
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![Liz Bonnin]()
Heroes and Heroines
The people who lead the way when it comes to those things which matter to us: exploration, the environment, women’s empowerment and education.
Highlights of Costa Rica Holiday
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 in both the Caribbean and the Pacific and visits all the best bits in between.
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.
Key Highlights of this Itinerary
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Jungle Hideaways
Stay in lodges that set the highest benchmarks for service and sustainability.
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Tropical wildlife
Encounter Costa Rica’s wealth of jungle wildlife, including frogs, monkeys and colourful birds.
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Rafting & Zip-Lining
Whizz through the jungle canopy along zip lines and embark on white water rafting river safaris.
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Days 1
San Jose (Grano de Oro)
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Day 2
San Jose - Tortuguero (Tortuga Lodge)
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Day 3-4
Tortuguero (Tortuga Lodge)
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Day 5
Tortuguero - Rio Pacuare (Pacuare Lodge)
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Days 6-7
Rio Pacuare (Pacuare Lodge)
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Day 8
Rio Pacuare - Arenal (Arenal Observatory Lodge)
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Day 9 -10
Arenal (Arenal Observatory Lodge)
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Day 11
Arenal - Montezuma (Ylang Ylang)
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Days 12-13
Montezuma (Ylang Ylang)
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Day 14
San Jose
Days 1
San Jose (Grano de Oro)
On arrival, you’re met and transferred to your hotel. The following day, either relax or take a full-day tour to Poas Volcano, the Doka Coffee Plantation and La Paz Waterfall Gardens.
Day 2
San Jose - Tortuguero (Tortuga Lodge)
Drive and then transfer by boat Tortuguero National Park, a wetland reserve that lies on the country’s Caribbean coast. Stay at Tortuga Lodge, where iguanas roam the garden and howler monkeys hide in the trees above.
Day 3-4
Tortuguero (Tortuga Lodge)
Explore the wetlands on a small group basis from the lodge. Take a boat trip through the lagoons and a network of rivers and canals that cut through this rainforest. Home to over half of the bird and reptile species found in Costa Rica, Tortuguero is also one of the world’s major nesting sites for Atlantic green turtles.
Day 5
Tortuguero - Rio Pacuare (Pacuare Lodge)
Travel by boat and road back inland, heading towards Rio Pacuare, found in a valley of the Talamanca Mountain range. Here, jump into a raft and traverse whitewater to Pacuare Lodge, a jungle hideaway within a private reserve.
Days 6-7
Rio Pacuare (Pacuare Lodge)
Choose from the activities on offer at Pacuare. These range from 4×4 adventures, trekking and whitewater rafting to nature tours, visits to indigenous communities and culinary experiences.
Day 8
Rio Pacuare - Arenal (Arenal Observatory Lodge)
Leave Pacuare by raft then road, heading north towards the volcanoes of northern Costa Rica. Stay at the Arenal Observatory Lodge, which lies just three kilometres away from the most famous of these volcanoes, Mount Arenal.
Day 9 -10
Arenal (Arenal Observatory Lodge)
With spectacular views of the volcano, this area is a hotspot for adventure. Start the first day with a zipline canopy tour, continue into the jungle in search of sloths and finish with a nighttime rainforest walk. On your second day, hike Mount Arenal for incredible views of the landscape below.
Day 11
Arenal - Montezuma (Ylang Ylang)
Travel down the Nicoya Peninsula, which juts out into the Pacific Ocean. Stay at Ylang Ylang Beach Resort, which is located on a spectacular stretch of coastline.
Days 12-13
Montezuma (Ylang Ylang)
Swim and snorkel in the Pacific Ocean during a stay in Montezuma.
Day 14
San Jose
Travel back to San Jose and fly home.
More details
Biking & Canopy Walkways
It is difficult not to be jungle-centric when exploring Costa Rica, but this country is no one-trick pony. In some of the country’s most rugged terrains, whizz through the canopy along zip lines with views to Arenal Volcano, cross long suspension walkway bridges and journey on horseback to thundering waterfalls.
Bursting with single-track trails, Costa Rica is a mecca for mountain biking; you can embark on a full day ride far off the beaten track with our expert guides to discover the real Costa Rica. Along the way, visit a fruit farm or take a bean-to-bar chocolate-making lesson.
Pacuare Lodge
Since 2009, Pacuare Lodge has supported the Jaguar Program by providing researchers with lodging, cameras and equipment for expeditions. Carolina, a scientist at the National University, placed camera traps along game trails in the Pacuare Lodge’s 340 hectare private rainforest reserve, originally acquired to help protect the local ecosystem.
Through this research and equipment, photos and videos have been used to identify five individual jaguars, including a rare black jaguar – a mutation that had only been documented in one other region of Costa Rica.
Raft to a Rainforest Hideaway
With its multitude of rambling mountain-sourced rivers, Costa Rica offers exhilarating world-class white water rafting, and Pacuare Lodge is accessible by one of these thrilling rafting expeditions.
Traverse grade III and IV rapids through outstanding scenery of deep-sided gorges and dense riverside jungles to reach the lodge, stopping for a picnic lunch on a pebbly riverside beach.
Tortuga Lodge
Tortuga Lodge strive to coexist in harmony with the ecosystems of Tortuguero National Park. Around 55% of the lodge’s total energy consumption is supplied through the on-site solar panels and active biodigesters create the methane gas used by the kitchen to prepare staff meals.
A high-tech system of filters and ultraviolet light is also used to purify local water to make it drinkable and a three-tank environmental septic system ensures no contaminated water enters the canals. This only captures a handful of Tortuga Lodge’s conservation efforts.
How does this holiday make a positive impact?
- Relevant SDGs
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Tortuga Lodge is committed to monitoring their consumption and implementing measures to mitigate excessive use. They have installed water metres to help analyse water consumption and have since installed high-tech toilets for the most efficient water use. Through a high-tech system of filters and ultraviolet light, they also purify local water to make it drinkable. This helped them to eliminate the use of bottled water and avoid single-use plastics as much as possible.
Pacuare Lodge has purchased 340 hectares of primary rainforest along the Pacuare River. Previously under threat from developers, this prime wildlife habitat is now strictly protected and has a ‘no-visitor’ policy in place. Pacuare Lodge gives the Jaguar Program access to this protected zone and, in addition, provides food, lodging and other support to the researchers conducting vital work on jaguar conservation in Costa Rica.
Pacuare Lodge is a firm believer that responsible tourism should benefit local communities. Their community support program works to enhance the living standards of the local community by improving infrastructure in the area, for example restoring the cable car service which local residents use to cross the river. They are also invested in providing direct and indirect employment to local communities and supporting local schools with funds to support environmental education and raise awareness of the importance of protecting the environment.
Learn more about the UN's 17 sustainability goals
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.
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
Paul Bird
It wasn’t part of the script, career plans were quite different but after four global trips visiting such exciting destinations, travel became a passion that eventually led to me entering the industry. The more I have travelled the greater the desire has been to see and do more.
Talk with our experts
- 01285 880 980
Start planning your trip
A note on price
Prices will vary depending on the time of year you are travelling. Prices do not include international flights. Please ask one of our Travel Experts for an accurate quote. Flights purchased through Steppes Travel departing from the UK are ATOL protected.
This Itinerary
Price
From £7,450 Per person
When to travel
Costa Rica in January
January to April generally has the lowest rainfall throughout the year, though showers can still be expected in such a tropical climate. One of the most popular times of year to visit, with fantastic opportunities to view wildlife, explore the jungle, and relax on white sandy beaches. The ideal time to visit the Pacific Coast.
Costa Rica in February
January to April generally has the lowest rainfall throughout the year, though showers can still be expected in such a tropical climate. One of the most popular times of year to visit, with fantastic opportunities to view wildlife, explore the jungle, and relax on white sandy beaches. The ideal time to visit the Pacific Coast.
Costa Rica in March
January to April generally has the lowest rainfall throughout the year, though showers can still be expected in such a tropical climate. One of the most popular times of year to visit, with fantastic opportunities to view wildlife, explore the jungle, and relax on white sandy beaches. The ideal time to visit the Pacific Coast.
Costa Rica in April
January to April generally has the lowest rainfall throughout the year, though showers can still be expected in such a tropical climate. One of the most popular times of year to visit, with fantastic opportunities to view wildlife, explore the jungle, and relax on white sandy beaches. The ideal time to visit the Pacific Coast.
Costa Rica in May
May and June mark the beginning of the ‘green season’. Rainfall increases a little, but with that means fewer visitors and quieter national parks. The flora and fauna return to its lushest state and makes for beautiful photography opportunities.
Costa Rica in June
May and June mark the beginning of the ‘green season’. Rainfall increases a little, but with that means fewer visitors and quieter national parks. The flora and fauna return to its lushest state and makes for beautiful photography opportunities.
Costa Rica in July
July and August is green season, but there is a brief little summer or ‘veranillo’, which breaks up the rain in July. A great time to enjoy water sports in the country, although sun-seekers can still enjoy the beaches on the far northern Pacific coast.
Costa Rica in August
July and August is green season, but there is a brief little summer or ‘veranillo’, which breaks up the rain in July. A great time to enjoy water sports in the country, although sun-seekers can still enjoy the beaches on the far northern Pacific coast.
Costa Rica in September
While travel is not recommended on the Pacific side in September and October, as it is the peak of the wet season, it is the ideal time to visit the Caribbean coast.
Costa Rica in October
While travel is not recommended on the Pacific side in September and October, as it is the peak of the wet season, it is the ideal time to visit the Caribbean coast.
Costa Rica in November
November and December see the country start to dry up, although the exact timing of the end of the green season varies. By Christmas and New Year, it is getting busy again so it is worth booking accommodation in advance.
Costa Rica in December
November and December see the country start to dry up, although the exact timing of the end of the green season varies. By Christmas and New Year, it is getting busy again so it is worth booking accommodation in advance.
Holiday Inspiration
Our experts have created and curated these tailor-made holiday ideas to get you started. Take the time to search through them and find something that is the spark for your unique adventure.
Why Choose Steppes?
Our knowledge and expertise set us apart. So too our curiosity. It is this that drives us to create a journey that is really bespoke to you, all the while ensuring we travel and operate sustainably.
Are you ready to discover extraordinary once again?
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