Turtle Conservation
Visit Tortuguero, one of the world’s major nesting sites for Atlantic green turtles
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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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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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The people who lead the way when it comes to those things which matter to us: exploration, the environment, women’s empowerment and education.
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.
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