Costa Rica Wildlife and Nature Self-Drive Holiday in 15 days

You’ll be met at the airport and driven to your hotel in Costa Rica’s capital, San Jose.

Today you’ll travel from San Jose to your lodge at Tortuguero. You’ll begin by being picked up from your hotel early in the morning to board a comfortable, shared tour bus. Breakfast is taken care of as you’ll enjoy this en-route to Tortuguero whilst you are driven through crops of pineapples and bananas in the fertile Limon Lowlands. After this you’ll complete your transfer by boat.The total transfer time by coach and boat is approximately 6.5 hours over a distance of 175 kilometres – an adventure from the start with plenty to see along the way!On arrival at the lodge in Tortuguero you’ll have lunch and then have a free afternoon to do your own thing. This buffet-style lunch is a culinary treat in itself and will set you up well for the afternoon.

Rise and shine! After your breakfast with that famous Costa Rican coffee, you’ll have some free time – maybe you’ll hire kayaks or go in search of wildlife on the nearby walking trails?In the afternoon you’ll join a guided motorised boat Canal Tour where you’ll experience the jungle from the water. Navigating through an infinite network of river canals and mangroves, your guide will give you an in-depth tour of the beautiful flora and fauna that surrounds you.Included: One guided boat tour of the Tortuguero canals and a visit to Tortuguero Village and Mawamba Park. Not included: Entrance fee to the park (US$15).

It’s time to leave Mawamba today – you’ll hop back on the transfer boat to the road landing point and board the coach to Guapiles where your hire car awaits.After lunch (included) you’ll drive to Bajos del Toro, which is still an undiscovered area among rainforests and dairy farms.

The Bajos del Toro area has awe-inspiring waterfalls with chilly swimming holes, plus excellent trout fishing if this tickles your fancy. Hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking and canopy tours are also popular activities to enjoy here!Perhaps the most spectacular waterfall in Costa Rica, Cataratas del Toro, is located within Bajos del Toro and should be a top priority if you want to appreciate the country’s terrific natural landscape. At the base of the waterfall you will be able to see plants that are often referred to as Sombrillas, or umbrella plants, and you will be able to view other incredible plant and animal species. If you are really lucky you might see the elusive puma.

Today you will drive to La Fortuna, where you will find the most iconic volcano in Costa Rica – Arenal Volcano.For many years the Volcano was just another dormant volcano surrounded by fertile farmland. Yet for around 42 years the volcano was an ever-active and awe-striking natural wonder, producing menacing ash columns, massive explosions, and streams of glowing molten rock almost daily. Although the fiery scenes are gone for now, Arenal is still a worthy destination thanks to the dense forest covering her lower slopes and foothills, and her picture-perfect conical top. This area is rugged and varied, rich with wildlife, and full of interesting nature trails.

Today you could either enjoy a day relaxing at the hotel, or you could do one of the many optional activities that are offered in the area. Here are some of our favourites:– Indulge yourself and soak in a volcano-heated hot spring at the Grand Spa at the Tabacon Resort, where treatments like the chocolate body wrap and the couples’ two-hour massage use locally-made products and end with champagne and fresh fruit. For a full day of pampering, request the spa package, which includes access to the thermal baths, lunch or dinner.– Hike down to Catarata de la Fortuna, a magnificent waterfall, plummeting nearly 250 feet into a freshwater pool.– Spot wildlife such as hummingbirds, macaws, toucans, howler monkeys, sea turtles, caiman and sloths in the 25,000-acre Cano Negro National Wildlife Refuge.– Visit the Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges, where a series of trails and bridges form a loop through the primary rain forest of a 250-acre private reserve. Great for birdwatching and volcano viewing.– Drink freshly brewed Costa Rican coffee whilst visiting a local coffee plantation.– See how chocolate is made on a visit to a local cocoa plantation.

Today you’ll drive to Manuel Antonio on the Pacific coast. This is a long drive but is absolutely worth it as you’ll be travelling through some amazing scenery, varying from cloud forests to coastal roads, to reach your destination.The energetic community of Manuel Antonio contains must-visit beaches and is close to the smallest National Park in Costa Rica, that also happens to be one of the most breath-taking.Manuel Antonio National Park is where the tropical rainforest meets the dazzling white sand of Playa Manuel Antonio – one of the most beautiful beaches in Costa Rica.The Park is home to one of the last sizeable populations of endangered Squirrel Monkeys in the region, as well as to white-headed capuchin and Howler Monkeys.The stunning beach – within walking distance from your hotel – is a half-mile long with a perfect white sand crescent bordered by deep green mangroves and palm trees.

From Manuel Antonio, you can experience whitewater rafting, guided rainforest waterfall walks, horseback riding, snorkelling and sports fishing.Our naturalist guides will help you to get the most out of your trip by explaining the history and geography of the area as well as pointing out wildlife such as iguanas, monkeys, sloths, and raccoons.

Your next stop, the Osa Peninsula, is quite possibly the highlight of this trip. Drive to Golfito where you’ll be met by one of our guides for the scenic 30-minute boat transfer to your accommodation.This hidden gem is bound on its northwest by Drake Bay, on its west by the Pacific Ocean, and on its east by the Golfo Dulce. It is home to the extensive Corcovado National Park, which covers two-thirds of the Peninsula with lush, undiscovered rainforest and an impressive diversity of flora and fauna.

During your stay, one guided tour with a naturalist will be included, and you will have the use of kayaks, stand up paddleboards, and snorkelling gear. There are also self-guided hiking trails around the lodge.

Today you’ll return to the mainland and drive the short distance to Uvita, a small town in the Puntarenas Province. Its main attraction is the Marina Ballena National Park, a marine reserve famous for its migrating pods of humpback whales.One of the highlights is a 1 km sand bar that resembles the shape of a whale’s tail, and is the result of converging currents. Don’t miss a visit to the nearby waterfalls Cascada Verde and the Catarata Pavon, where you’ll find great swimming holes with crystal clear waters!

Today you’ll return to Alajuela, not far from San Jose’s Juan Santamaria International Airport. With easy access and plenty of bus routes, getting in and out of Alajuela is simple. In the centre of the city is a huge impressive red-domed church that is just a few minutes away from the Parque Central. This park is lush and green, and is the ideal place to hang out and mix and mingle with the locals, who often come here in the afternoons.West of the park is Alajuela’s central market, which takes up an entire city block and is a great place to shop. Another tourist attraction in this city is the Juan Santamaria Cultural Historical Museum, which houses many historical maps, artefacts and portraits from the battle of 1856. To sample authentic Costa Rican cuisine, visit the Mercado Municipal or any of the local restaurants in the city.At 18.00hrs your hire car will be picked up from your hotel so you are free to enjoy the evening.

With a suitcase full of memories, you will be picked up by your driver and taken to the airport for your flight home.