The Forests & Coasts of Affordable Costa Rica
Tour Introduction
Travel to the Caribbean lowlands and coasts on this excellent value, tailor-made tour. See a plethora of mammal, reptile, amphibian and bird species; learn about rainforest ecology; enjoy raft and boat trips through jungle-clad rivers; then head for the funky southern Caribbean coast to recharge your batteries with large doses of sun, sea and swimming before the long trip home. All these experiences await you in this keenly priced itinerary, whose price includes many meals, a wide variety of activities and tours, and good, tried-and-tested accommodation.
Best months for this itinerary vary from February to March and September to October which are the peak dry periods for the southern Caribbean lowlands, however, this trip can be taken at any time of the year.
Full Itinerary
Arrive San Jose, capital of Costa Rica. Met and transfer to your hotel, not far from the airport.
Staying at Bougainvillea Hotel. Includes In-flight Meals.
Morning pickup at your hotel and transfer through Braulio Carillo National Park to the Caribbean lowlands and the embarkation point for a boat transfer to Tortuguero. Arrive at your lodge and settle in. Afternoon visit to Tortuguero Town.
Staying at Laguna Lodge. Includes All Meals.
Morning boat trip through the jungle-fringed waterways and rivers of the Tortuguero region. It is possible to see howler, spider and white faced capuchin monkeys, three-toed sloth, river turtle, caiman, iguana, basilisk and many bird species. After lunch, venture out for a guided wildlife walk through the rainforest. Night time turtle watching trips are arranged in season.
Staying at Laguna Lodge. Includes All Meals.
Take a boat back to the original dock, then a road transfer to your next lodge, situated next to the mighty Sarapiqui River. Arrive and check in to your room. Rest of the day at leisure, perhaps to swim in the pool or visit the remarkable insect display.
Staying at La Quinta Lodge. Includes All Meals.
A visit to La Selva Biological Station for a shared wildlife walk in the famous rainforest reserve. See the wonderful work done to preserve the region’s forests and ecosystems
Staying at La Quinta Lodge. Includes All Meals.
After breakfast, depart for a half-day gentle (or white-water) rafting trip down the beautiful Sarapiqui River, lined with farms and forest. In the afternoon, perhaps visit the butterfly and amphibian houses.
Staying at La Quinta Lodge. Includes All Meals.
Morning pickup for your transfer to the Caribbean coast. Drive to the main town of Limon, then head southwards along the coast past Puerto Viejo to Cocles beach and your seaside hotel
Staying at Cariblue Resort. Includes Breakfast.
Day at leisure to relax by the pool or swim in the sea (check sea conditions as there may be rip currents).
Staying at Cariblue Resort. Includes Breakfast.
Day at leisure. Optional activities are available such as snorkelling at Cahuita, surfing, hire of car of motorcycle, visit to the town to dine, visit to KekoLdi Amerindian reserve, swimming in the warm Caribbean Sea (subject to checks), visit the Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge.
Staying at Cariblue Resort. Includes Breakfast.
Last day at leisure in the warm Caribbean coast.
Staying at Cariblue Resort. Includes Breakfast.
Pickup for your private transfer to San Jose airport for your flight out.
Includes In-flight Meals.
Tour Accommodation
Bougainvillea Hotel
Overview
The Bougainvillea Hotel is situated in a quiet location in Santo Domingo de Heredia, about 20 minutes from central San Jose. The hotel has elegant and spacious rooms with private hot water bathrooms, two double beds, flat-screen cable TV, ceiling fan, tea and coffee facilities and a safety deposit box. The rooms have been well designed with wide windows affording pleasant garden views.
There is a good restaurant and bar that serves a la carte international cuisine and caters well for special dietary requirements.
Other facilities include a gift shop, business centre, swimming pool, gym, sauna, tennis court and large, attractive tropical gardens.
The hotel’s location makes it ideal for a stopover before and after your international flights but it is far enough from the city centre to provide a peaceful and relaxing atmosphere.
Swimming Pool
Air Conditioning
Rooms
Facilities
Private bathrooms, hot water, restaurant, bar, lounge, sauna, tennis court, safety deposit box, ceiling fan, cable TV, free Wi-Fi, tea and coffee making facilities, room service, massage service, laundry service, luggage storage and currency exchange.
Local Wildlife
An array of tropical birds and insects
Optional Activities
Tennis, gym and sauna on site and bird watching excursions can be arranged.
Laguna Lodge
Overview
Founded in 1990, this pleasant wildlife lodge is located on a strip of land facing Tortuguero lagoon and only 200m from the main turtle nesting beach (no swimming allowed). The lodge sits within 14 acres of beautiful gardens and wooded grounds, home to an abundance of fauna and flora.
Laguna Lodge has 80 simple wooden bedrooms in small blocks scattered throughout the grounds and connected by an extensive path system. All are equipped with a private hot water bathroom, ceiling fan, reading light, safety deposit box and small veranda.
Much of the main lodge has been skilfully constructed using wood found on the beach. The open-sided buffet restaurant overlooking the lagoon serves tasty local and international cuisine, and tea, coffee and biscuits are available 24 hours a day. Other facilities include two bars, a swimming pool, small gift shop and communal lounge area.
The main attraction of the area is the fantastic Tortuguero National Park. The park is a heavily forested alluvial plain with many inland waterways. It contains a great abundance and variety of wildlife, especially monkeys, sloths and frogs and 309 bird species have been recorded. The local beach is an internationally important nesting site for green and hawksbill turtles which can be watched after sunset between mid-July and October.
Swimming Pool
Air Conditioning
Rooms
Facilities
Private bathrooms, hot water, ceiling fan, safety deposit box, 24 hour tea and coffee facilities, hammocks, restaurant, two bars, swimming pool, lounge, small gift shop, currency exchange and laundry service.
Local Wildlife
Green and hawksbill turtles nest between mid-July and October. Three- (diurnal) and two-toed (nocturnal) sloths, mantled howler and white-faced capuchin monkeys, crab-eating racoons, spectacled caiman, basilisk lizards, iguanas and a huge diversity of birds.
Optional Activities
Guided walks and wildlife watching in Tortuguero National Park, kayaking and boat trips on the waterways.
La Quinta Lodge
Overview
La Quinta Sarapiqui is a friendly, locally-owned lodge set close to the Sarapiquí River and not far from Braulio Carrillo National Park and La Selva Biological Station in Costa Rica’s Caribbean lowlands, just two hours’ drive from San Jose.
There are 28 en suite private guest bungalows spread throughout the tropical gardens. Each bungalow provides comfortable double or twin beds, ceiling fans, air-conditioning, safety deposit box, hot water private bathrooms and an attractive thatched roof porch with hammocks and rocking chairs for relaxing in. Facilities at the lodge include an open air restaurant serving local and international cuisine in a buffet style, a small but inviting swimming pool and hammocks dotted around the lodge. Outside the dining room are banana bird feeders attracting colourful tanagers and honeycreepers for entertainment while you dine.
The lodge is bordered by the Sarapiquí River and excellent patches of gallery forest where several species of toucan, parrot, grey-necked wood rail, and white-collared manakin can be spotted. Within the grounds of the lodge guests can access areas managed to benefit butterflies and amphibians as well as a small museum on the local cultural history. The lodge has a strong ecological ethic and has a reforestation project on site.
Swimming Pool
Air Conditioning
Rooms
Facilities
Private bathrooms, restaurant, bar, lounge, swimming pool,
Local Wildlife
The area is great for birding, and nearby Braulio Carrillo National Park and La Selva Biological Station are famous for their abundance and diversity of all wildlife including almost half of all the birds in the country, five species of cat, sloths, peccaries and howler and spider monkeys.
Optional Activities
Boat and rafting trips on the Sarapiquí River, excursions to La Selva Biological Station and cultural tours such as visits to a local school and a chocolate production tour.
Cariblue Resort
Overview
Set in 5 acres of lush rainforest close to the beach in the southern Caribbean area, the hotel has 45 rooms and bungalows, each with private bathroom, hot water, ceiling fans and mosquito nets. The rooms are individually designed and have comfortable beds with special orthopaedic mattresses, satellite TV, direct dial telephone, safety deposit box, and air-conditioning and there is free Wi-Fi available throughout.
The hotel has an excellent full-service spa, an outdoor pool and Jacuzzi. There are two restaurants at Cariblue hotel and all packages include breakfast. For bars there is great choice with a separate beach, poolside and swim up all to choose from. Other facilities include adult and children’s pool, games room, souvenir shop, snack shop, onsite parking and complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi.
Swimming Pool
Air Conditioning
Rooms
Facilities
Private bathrooms, air-conditioning, safety deposit box, satellite TV, direct-dial telephone, ceiling fan, mosquito net, 2 restaurant, 3 bars, swimming pools, laundry service, currency exchange, luggage storage and on-site parking.
Local Wildlife
The forest here is home to sloths, monkeys, poison dart frogs and over 120 species of bird. From here you can also visit the nearby Jaguar Rescue Centre plus arrange guided tours to the Gandoca-Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge. Nature walks, canoeing, rafting, horse-riding, bicycle rental and scuba diving are all available in the local area.
Optional Activities
One of the better hotels in an area popular with backpackers and with a decidedly Rastafarian feel.
Route Map
Departure Dates
Travel Information
Are International Flights Included?
No. Please contact us for a quote if required.
Best Visited:
August to October
Are you ATOL Registered?
Yes. This means we are legally able to book your international flights in conjunction with your ground arrangements so you can book with us with complete confidence. Read more about our ATOL license here.
John Melton
Area Specialist
*Green and hawksbill turtles are best seen in Tortuguero from June to September; leatherbacks and loggerheads nest from March to May.
This tour is also ideal for an active, adventurous family with older children.
At Selva Verde, look for two colourful species of poison dart frog – one called “blue jeans” because of its red body and blue legs – in the lush borders lining the walkways. In Corcovado National Park, try to spot the helicopter damselfly, a particular favourite of clients of ours who are members of the British Dragonfly Society. If seen, it will become clear as to how it got its name.
If you have any questions regarding this Tour, please feel free to contact me on +44 (0)1803 866965
You will be pleased to hear that [our] party returned safely from Costa Rica… We had a most wonderful holiday. All the arrangements made for us came up trumps. The drivers always arrived early [and] were keen to stop and show us any wild life they spotted as we travelled, also were able to identify any bird we had pointed out. All guides were excellent and eager to share their knowledge. As for rain we did not see a drop and had two days of being able to see the top of Arenal…We were impressed by [your representatives], and I found [them] to be most helpful.
