COSTA RICA: ULTIMATE INVITATION

Excursion to the Poás Volcano National Park to explore the crater and cloud forest.

Transfer to the Doka Coffee Estate on the slopes of the Poás Volcano for lunch followed by a guided tour to learn about the history and processes of Costa Rican coffee growing and brewing. Dinner under own arrangements.

Transfer by road to La Pavona Dock and from there by boat to the Tortuguero National Park adjacent to the Caribbean Sea with its prolific wildlife, vast network of canals and dense rainforest. Check in at Manatus Lodge where three nights are spent. Manatus is a small friendly lodge on the edge of a river adjacent to the national park with just 12 stylishly decorated airconditioned rooms. There is a good restaurant serving regional and international dishes and a small but refreshing swimming pool.

Lunch at the lodge. Afternoon guided boat tour through the canals of Tortuguero National Park which shelters a fabulous array of wildlife, including more than 309 bird species, among them the great green macaw, 57 species of amphibians, 111 species of reptiles, 3 species of marine turtles, 30 species of fresh water fish and 60 mammal species. Dinner at the lodge.

Early morning boat tour through the canals of Tortuguero National Park. A naturalist guide will accompany you and will help you to spot the animals and explain the functions of the rainforest ecosystem.

Lunch at the lodge. Afternoon at leisure with the option to relax by the pool. There are a number of additional activities available from the hotel (some at an additional cost) including fishing and a canopy tour. Visit Tortuguero Village. Dinner at the lodge.

Morning kayaking tour through the canals of Tortuguero National Park.

Lunch at the lodge. Afternoon at leisure. Optional twilight walk through the forest trails behind the lodge, a great place to look for howler monkeys and colourful poison-arrow frogs. Dinner at the lodge.

Transfer to Tortuguero airport for a charter flight to La Fortuna. Transfer to the Amor Arenal Canyon Casitas where three nights are spent. Set in the foothills of the Arenal Volcano, on the edge of a virgin forest canyon, the hotel offers spacious, air-conditioned cabins made from precious tropical hardwoods overlooking the rainforest with direct views to Arenal Volcano and each with a spa plunge pool. The hotel has its own hot spring pools and spa treatment rooms. The restaurant serves an organic menu using only fresh, local produce.

Lunch under own arrangements. Afternoon at leisure with optional walks around the surrounding nature trails. The hotel has two of its own jungle trails through lush vegetation, streams, and waterfalls. Horse riding is also available at an additional cost. Dinner under own arrangements.

Morning walking tour of the ‘Hanging Bridges’ through the rainforest canopy which bring you as close as possible to the birds, flowers and lush vegetation.

Lunch at a local restaurant. Afternoon visit to the beautifully landscaped hot springs on the Hidalgo family’s private farm Ecotermales. Dinner at Ecotermales.

Morning canopy tour of the rainforest by Sky Tram which takes you by gondola up to an Observation Platform to observe the volcano, Lake Arenal and the surrounding rainforest canopy. Take a short hike from the Observation Platform and option to descend either by zip line (at an additional cost) or Sky Tram. Return to the hotel via the Butterfly Conservation Centre.

Lunch under own arrangements. Afternoon at leisure. Dinner under own arrangements.

Transfer to La Fortuna Airport for a charter flight to Puerto Jimenez Airport. Transfer by boat to Playa Cativo where three nights are spent. The lodge is only accessible by boat and is nestled in the tranquil waters of Golfo Dulce, near the Osa Peninsula in southern Costa Rica. Unique in its native beauty and seclusion, Playa Cativo is a beachfront boutique hotel offering an unparalleled experience set on 1,000 acres of private tropical rainforest reserve surrounded by the Piedras Blancas National Park; a former extension of the Corcovado National Park. It is not unusual to see and hear howler and white-faced monkeys and scarlet macaws around the lodge.

Lunch at the lodge. Afternoon at leisure or optional activities at the lodge (some at an additional cost). These include self-guided walks, nature tours, fishing, sea kayaking, snorkelling and stand up paddle boarding. There is a wonderful sandy beach by the lodge or an inviting fresh-water swimming pool. Alternatively, there are gardens, or a yoga platform surrounded by the sights and sounds of the jungle and the lapping ocean. Dinner at the lodge.

Birdwatching tour in Playa Cativo’s Protected Nature Reserve. The variety of eco-systems, including mangroves, is home to a large and diverse selection of birds and animals in a relatively small area with over 390 species of birds recorded.

Lunch at the lodge. Afternoon at leisure or optional activities at the lodge. Dinner at the lodge.

Whale and dolphin watching excursion on the tropical fjord of Golfo Dulce which is home to a variety of marine animals and mammals. With large mangrove areas and many rivers flowing into the gulf from the surrounding rainforests, the ocean is rich in minerals and provides a healthy food source for dolphins (spinner, bottlenose, and spotted), manta rays, whale sharks, and sea turtles.

Lunch at the lodge. Afternoon at leisure or optional activities at the lodge. Dinner at the lodge. Nocturnal rainforest expedition to see the many animals which become active at night especially amphibians, reptiles, arthropods, night mammals, and birds.

Transfer to Puerto Jimenez airport for a morning flight to San José. Transfer to the Finca Rosa Blanca lodge and coffee farm where a further night is spent.

Lunch under own arrangements. Afternoon at leisure. Optional activities at the lodge (at an additional cost) including river rafting, ziplining and hiking. Or relax by the pool and enjoy a massage. Dinner under own arrangements.

Arrive London Gatwick at 10.55 hrs.

Important: The domestic airlines in Costa Rica impose a luggage restriction of 18 kg / 40 lbs per person and 5 kg / 10 lbs hand luggage, for safety reasons. The same situation applies to boat trips. You can store any excess luggage in San Jose with our ground agents.