Costa Rica - Nature's Paradise with 7 night Beach Extension - The heart of Central America

The heart of Central America

Fly direct from Gatwick to join this unforgettable small group tour - an incredible opportunity to experience Costa Rica's amazing natural beauty. Explore the canopy of Monteverde's majestic cloud forest, see the brooding mass of the Arenal volcano, spend blissful days relaxing in a luxury hotel in Manuel Antonio, and encounter some the rarest and most colourful wildlife on the planet.

Highlights

Return direct flights from Gatwick to San Jose with British Airways
Journey through the rainforest, by boat, to Tortuguero National Park
Encounter Tortuguero's wildlife from Mawamba Lodge
Late-summer visitors may see Green Turtles nesting
Enjoy dinner at a floating restaurant
Journey back through the jungle to La Fortuna, close to Arenal's 'perfect' volcano
Visit the hot springs at Eco Termales
See amazing birdlife on a Cano Negro marshland cruise
Selvatura's spectacular Hanging Bridges through the rainforest
Spend four idyllic nights on the edge of the Pacific

Inclusions

14 nights' bed and breakfast accommodation at a series of carefully chosen hotels in San Jose (1 night), Tortuguero (2), La Fortuna (2), Monteverde (2) and Manuel Antonio (7)
Four lunches and three dinners (including a floating-restaurant dinner in Tortuguero)
Comfortable, air-conditioned coach travel and transfers
Fully escorted by a friendly, experienced Tour Manager
Single rooms are available for a supplement

Day 1

Fly to San Jose, the friendly, cosmopolitan capital of Costa Rica. Meet your Tour Manager and transfer to your hotel, then rest and relax after your journey.

Day 2

Very early this morning, we'll board the coach and head east, through the spectacular jungle landscapes of Braulio Carrillo National Park, towards the Caribbean. After an en-route stop for breakfast, you'll arrive at the pier in Cano Blanco or Pavona, and board a canal boat for the last part of the journey, to the very edge of the Caribbean Sea. Spend two nights in Tortuguero National Park, at Mawamba Lodge. The park is a treasure trove of biological diversity - it's home to land turtles, monkeys and manatees, and some 375 species of bird - criss-crossed by canals and navigable lagoons.

Day 3

Early this morning you'll have the chance to see the astonishing wildlife of Costa Rica come to life as a new day begins on an optional canal tour in the company of an expert guide. Return to the lodge for breakfast, then head out once more for a full-day tour of the park. Hidden within the landscape of waterways and tropical forest you may spot monkeys and manatees, sloths and caimans, tiny turtles and toucan, as well as macaws, iguanas and water-walking 'Jesus Christ' lizards. The park is also a vital nesting site for both green and leatherback turtles, and visitors in September will have the opportunity to visit the hatching site where (with luck) newly hatched turtles will be emerging! Complete your stay in this amazing place this evening with dinner at the lodge's floating restaurant.

Day 4

Leaving Tortuguero behind, we'll travel across the Costa Rican lowlands to La Fortuna for a two-night stay with views of majestic Arenal. After 40 years, the eruptions of this exceptionally active volcano have finally died down, but the region is blessed with hot springs and thermal baths, including those at Eco Termales that you'll visit this evening.

Day 5

Learn about the secrets and history of chocolate production, from cacao pods to ceremonial drinks and confectionery bars, on a fascinating Rainforest Chocolate Tour. And, this afternoon, burn off any samples you may have indulged in on a gentle hike through the volcanic landscape to the El Silencio look-out point where you'll be rewarded with spectacular views of the volcanic slopes. We'll return to the hotel in La Fortuna this evening.

Day 6

Today, we'll head around Lake Arenal and make our way to into the cloud forests of Monteverde, where private conservation sites and reserves protect wildlife communities quite unlike those elsewhere in the country. Our base for two nights, the El Establo Hotel, boasts extensive hillside grounds and offers spectacular views across the forested hills and - on clear days - all the way to the Nicoya Gulf.

Day 7

Today we'll follow the 1.9km trail over eight bridges through the lush rainforest canopy of Selvatura Park. Visit the Hummingbird Garden, and Butterfly Garden for a close encounter with these sparkling creatures, and perhaps dare to ride Selvatura Park's 15 zip lines (the longest of which is one kilometre long!) through the cloud-forest canopy on an optional excursion.

Day 8

Stunning Manuel Antonio National Park, at the edge of the ocean on Costa Rica's central Pacific Coast, provides the perfect background for a relaxing pause in your travels as you enjoy the facilities of a secluded luxury hotel just a short walk from the beach and close to the park entrance.

Days 9-14

Relax beside your hotel's delightful pool, head into Manuel Antonio National Park on an excursion or visit the nearby town of Quepos. The choice of how little or how much to do on these three days is entirely yours.

Day 15

Today you'll return to San Jose and head to the airport to board your flight home.

Day 16

Arrive back in the UK after an overnight flight.

Further Information

Small group tours

Group sizes on each departure on this tour are restricted to a maximum of 24 people. The usual group size is between 16 and 20. As a result you'll be able to travel in smaller vehicles, enjoy experiences and encounters (and in some cases even stay in wonderful little places) that are denied to larger groups.

Hotel transfer times

The transfer time from the airport to your hotel is approximately 30 minutes.

Turtle hatching time in Tortuguero

Departures in September may have the chance to see baby green turtles hatching at the nesting sites along Tortuguero's 22 miles of beaches.

Passports and visas

British citizens do not require a visa to visit Costa Rica. Passports must be valid for one day beyond your stay in Costa Rica.

Foreign Office Travel Advice

Visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice to find out the latest Foreign And Commonwealth Office travel advice for your holiday destination, as well as information about passports and visas.

Departure tax

A departure tax of $29 US per person is included in your airline ticket price. Payment on departure from San Jose is not required.

Luggage allowance

You are permitted to take one suitcase per person on the aircraft, which should not exceed 23kg. Please take an overnight bag, though, as luggage is limited to 11kgs for nights two and in Tortuguero National Park.

Special requirements

If you have notified us of any special requirements, please check that they have been noted and acknowledged. This is especially important with any dietary needs you may have.

Disabled access

The majority of our tours involve a certain amount of walking, including a short walk from the coach stop to the town, attraction or venue you're visiting. If you are bringing a wheelchair, please let us know at the time of booking so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

Travel vaccinations

Requirements and advice can vary over time, and from person to person, so please contact your GP about eight weeks before your trip to check whether you need any vaccinations or any other preventive measures.

Itinerary changes

Occasionally, for operational reasons, we may have to change the order of the excursions on your holiday. The final day-by-day itinerary will be confirmed on your Final Travel Documents, which you will receive approximately three weeks prior to your departure.

Changes to your hotels

Should circumstances require, we reserve the right to accommodate you in alternative hotels, of a similar standard, nearby. Full details of your hotels will be sent with your Final Travel Documents.