Northern Emerald Toucanet, Senda Monteverde, Costa Rica

Costa Rica’s Wild South

  • TAILOR-MADE HOLIDAY IDEA

Duration

15 Days

Prices Start from

$10,256pp(ex. flights)

This holiday to Costa Rica combines the highlights in the north of the country with the more remote, less visited south, rewarding the visitor with some extra special wildlife experiences.

Featuring a sprinkling of boat rides and a careful balance of pristine coastlines with overgrown jungles, this journey traverses the width and length of Costa Rica, reaching areas where there are more wild creatures watching visitors, rather than the other way round…

Key Highlights of this Itinerary

Resplendent Quetzal, from Savegre in Costa Rica 1

Colourful birdlife

Explore cloud forest trails, home to a kaleidoscope of birdlife including the quetzal.

Humpback Whale, Costa Rica 2

Coastal Costa Rica

Witness turtles nesting on the Caribbean coast and humpback whales off the Pacific.

Lapa Rios Ecolodge, Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica 3

Wild Hideaways

Stay in riverside and beachfront lodges, surrounded by nature and accessed by boat and raft.

Monkey, Costa Rica 4

Osa Peninsula

Discover incredible wildlife in one of the ‘most biologically intense place on earth’.

Explore our suggested itinerary

Costa Rica on your wishlist? Talk to our experts about tailoring this trip for you.

  • Days 1

    San Jose (Grano de Oro)

  • Day 2

    San Jose - Tortuguero (Tortuga Lodge)

  • Day 3

    Tortuguero (Tortuga Lodge)

  • Day 4

    Tortuguero - Rio Pacuare (Pacuare Lodge)

  • Days 5-6

    Rio Pacuare (Pacuare Lodge)

  • Day 7

    Rio Pacuare - San Gerardo de Dota (Trogon Lodge)

  • Day 8

    San Gerardo de Dota (Trogon Lodge)

  • Day 9

    San Gerardo de Dota - Osa Peninsula (Lapa Rios Ecolodge)

  • Days 10-11

    Osa Peninsula (Lapa Rios Ecolodge)

  • Day 12

    Osa Peninsula - Puerto Jiménez - Golfo Dulce (Playa Cativo)

  • Days 13-14

    Golfo Dulce (Playa Cativo)

  • Day 15

    Golfo Dulce - Puerto Jiménez - San Jose

Days 1

San Jose (Grano de Oro)

On arrival, transfer to your hotel and spend the remainder of the day at leisure.

Day 2

San Jose - Tortuguero (Tortuga Lodge)

Drive and then transfer by boat to 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

Tortuguero (Tortuga Lodge)

Take a boat trip through the region’s network of lagoons, rivers and canals in search of abundant birdlife and reptiles. Tortuguero is also one of the world’s major nesting sites for Atlantic green turtles which can be seen between July and October.

Day 4

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 float to Pacuare Lodge, a jungle hideaway within a private reserve.

Days 5-6

Rio Pacuare (Pacuare Lodge)

Choose from the activities on offer at Pacuare. These include trekking, rafting, zip lining and canyoning as well as nature tours, visits to indigenous communities and culinary experiences.

Day 7

Rio Pacuare - San Gerardo de Dota (Trogon Lodge)

Raft out of Pacuare through spectacular scenery before heading south overland to the cloud forests of San Gerardo de Dota, a road journey of around four hours.

Day 8

San Gerardo de Dota (Trogon Lodge)

Explore the cloud forest trails in search of birdlife including hummingbirds, woodpeckers and the famous quetzals

Day 9

San Gerardo de Dota - Osa Peninsula (Lapa Rios Ecolodge)

Travel south for around five hours to the Osa Peninsula and check into your accommodation.

Days 10-11

Osa Peninsula (Lapa Rios Ecolodge)

Spend two days exploring this biodiverse and beautiful region via guided nature walks. Search for wildlife in Corcovado National Park, learn to surf, or go whale watching between August and October.

Day 12

Osa Peninsula - Puerto Jiménez - Golfo Dulce (Playa Cativo)

Transfer 30 minutes north to Puerto Jimenez before boarding a boat for a scenic boat ride across the Golfo Dulce to your accommodation on the other side.

Days 13-14

Golfo Dulce (Playa Cativo)

Spend two days relaxing and enjoying the activities on offer, from kayaking in the mangroves to hiking with naturalists, or taking to the water in search of whales or dolphins.

Day 15

Golfo Dulce - Puerto Jiménez - San Jose

Journey by boat back to Puerto Jimenez for a flight back to San Jose and onward travels.

Our travel experts can tailor this itinerary to suit you.

More Details

Leatherback Turtle on the Caribbean Coast
Leatherback Turtle on the Caribbean Coast

Boat Safari & Turtle Nesting

Travel north to the Caribbean Coast and the canals of Tortuguero National Park, where dense rainforest, swamps and waterways allow for superb wildlife viewing opportunities. Take to the water in a boat that navigates the tributaries where chattering monkeys and flitting birds live their lives overhead, and watch out for the Jesus Christ lizards that are renowned for their ability to run on the surface of water. In one of the finest places in the world to watch Atlantic green sea turtle’s nesting, we can arrange expertly guided excursions to secluded spots on the Caribbean Coast where, under moonlight, it is possible to watch as turtles come ashore to lay eggs.

Aerial View of Pacuare River, Pacuare Lodge, Costa Rica
Pacuare Lodge, Rio Pacuare, Costa Rica

Raft to a Jungle Hideaway

With its multitude of rambling mountain-sourced rivers, Costa Rica offers exhilarating world-class white water rafting, and one of the country’s most esteemed lodges, 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. The solar and water-powered property, which offers 4×4 tours, rugged rainforest treks and visits to nearby indigenous communities, carefully balances the understated luxury of spring-fed swimming pools with eco-friendly jungle living.

Corcovado National Park, Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica
Corcovado National Park, Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica

Wild Costa Rica

Home to 2.5% of the world’s biodiversity and dubbed one of the most biologically intense places on earth by National Geographic, the Osa Peninsula’s varied landscapes of coastline, mangroves and rainforest are home to some incredible wildlife. Making up almost half of the peninsula is Corcovado, a National Park rich in species from sloth to big cats and the endangered giant anteater as well as one of the largest populations of scarlet macaws in the country. A short boat ride also leads to Isla del Cano, a marine biological reserve plus an archaeological site that suggests the existence of a Pre-Columbian cemetery.

Accommodation

Below you can see some of the wonderful places we have recommended for this journey.

Grano de Oro £££££

  • Costa Rica
  • City

Grano de Oro is the most upscale hotel it the city centre providing a true oasis in the heart of the bustling capital. Converted from a Victorian mansion, this 40-room hotel maintains the warmth and comfort of a private house.

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Tortuga Lodge £££££

  • Costa Rica
  • Safari and Wildlife Lodge

Nestled along the bank of Tortuguero River, on Costa Rica’s Caribbean Coast, lies Tortuga Lodge, the only hotel in the area with a private nature reserve.

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Pacuare Lodge £££££

  • Costa Rica
  • Wilderness

Pacuare Lodge is a stunning jungle hideaway that combines exquisite luxury with thrilling adventure in the most discreet way. The accommodation at Pacuare Lodge includes five categories of room, from delightful garden bungalows and river-view suites to the outstanding Jaguar Villa with 350 square metres of jungle luxury.

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Trogon Lodge £££££

  • Costa Rica
  • B&B, Motel and Guesthouse

Surrounded by 205 acres of private cloud forest reserve at an altitude of 2,200 metres above sea level, Trogon Lodge provides 25 rooms in 12 log cabin units dotted around the gardens.

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Lapa Rios £££££

  • Costa Rica
  • Safari and Wildlife Lodge

Set in a private nature reserve spread over a 1000-acre tropical lowland primary rainforest, Lapa Rios is a deluxe jungle hideaway overlooking the point where Golfo Dulce meets the Pacific Ocean.

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Playa Cativo £££££

  • Costa Rica
  • Safari and Wildlife Lodge

Playa Cativo is a luxury eco-lodge offering excellent accommodation comprising of deluxe, luxury and premium rooms. Accessible only by boat, its 1,000-acre private rainforest reserve is surrounded by the Piedras Blancas National Park; a natural corridor between La Amistad and Corcovado National Parks. The waters in front of the lodge are also part of the protected area. All bedrooms are just steps away from the beach and all have views of the ocean. They have an open style allowing good ventilation, with king beds and ceiling fans. The property also has a freshwater pool with impressive views when the sun sets over the Gulfo Dulce.

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How does this holiday make a positive impact?

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.

A stay at Lapa Rios Ecolodge directly contributes to ongoing support they offer to local communities. A previous project set up the Carbonera school which educates children, and teaches adults about conservation practices. A recent, ongoing project encourages remote villages to grow organic produce which the lodge can then purchase and use, thus encouraging their sustainable development.

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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
  • 1 800 571 2985

Clare Higginson

It was my passion for languages that first encouraged me to leave the UK behind and grab my rucksack. Since then, it’s been a mixture of intriguing cultures, jaw-dropping landscapes and the wonder of seeing animals in their natural habitat that sees me continuously extending my travel wish list.

Talk with our experts
  • 1 800 571 2985

Rachael Tallents

Adventure, discovery and my curiosity for people and the natural world is what drives my love of travelling.  I am grateful for my parents’ desire to explore, and from an early age my eyes were open to diverse landscapes, cultures, and underwater worlds.

For the last 16 years, I have worked for a leading luxury tour operator designing incredible journeys for discerning clients and travelled to some magical places. I am excited to have joined Steppes Travel, and to be working for a company with such strong ethical and sustainable values.

Talk with our experts
  • 1 800 571 2985

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 $10,256 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.

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