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Wildlife in Costa Rica

Embark on a 15-day journey to Costa Rica’s top wildlife-spotting destinations, where you’ll encounter the country’s most abundant and diverse fauna in their natural habitats.

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Spot playful Capuchin monkeys in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica, as they swing through the trees and explore the lush forests of this tropical paradise, offering a memorable wildlife experience.

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Sloth, Costa Rica"Encounter the charming sloths of Costa Rica in their natural habitat. These gentle creatures, known for their slow movements and adorable faces, are a highlight of the country’s lush rainforests.

Experience The Incredible Wildlife Of Costa Rica

One of the most ecologically diverse places on earth, Costa Rica has a vast array of ecosystems, including tropical rainforest, cloud forest, canals, beaches, lakes and mountains. These habitats are home to an incredible variety of wildlife, including monkeys, sloths, tapirs and coati, not to mention hundreds of species of colourful birds and butterflies. This 15-day itinerary includes some of the best wildlife-spotting destinations in the country to where the fauna is most abundant.

Route
Multi-stop Tour

Visit rainforests, beaches, lakes & mountains

Bed
13 Nights

Accommodation detailed in itinerary

Dining
18 Meals

13 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 2 dinners

Compass
7 Excursions

See details in itinerary below

Plane
Flights & Transfers

Transfers and domestic flights as per itinerary

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ATOL Protected

Our holidays are ATOL Protected

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Travel Specialists

We will help you plan your holiday

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Rated Excellent

Customers rate us highly on Trustpilot

Highlights
  • Opportunities to spot the elusive resplendent quetzal
  • Witness turtle nesting or hatching on Tortuguero’s beaches
  • Discover Turrialba on horseback
  • Spot whales and dolphins on a boat trip from Uvita
  • Visit one of the most biologically diverse regions in the world, the Osa Peninsula
  • Go snorkelling in Cano Islands abundant waters
What's Included
  • International flights
  • 13 nights’ accommodation as detailed
  • 18 meals; 13 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners
  • Canaland walking toursin Tortuguero National Park
  • Horseriding in Turrialba and a Quetzal Walking Tour in San Gerardo
  • Go whale and dolphin spotting in Marino Ballena
  • Hike in the wildlifefilled Corcovado National Park on the Osa peninsula
  • Discover the abundant reefs on a snorkelling tour around Cano Island
  • Transfers & domestic flights as per itinerary

Prices from £5,149 pp*

 

Excludes:

  • Meals not indicated in your itinerary
  • Local departure taxes payable locally
  • Items of a personal nature such as laundry and drinks etc
  • Tips for guides and drivers (discretionary)
  • Camera or video fees at any sites
  • Travel insurance

Quick Itinerary

Self Drive Costa Rica
Day Description
Day 1 UK - San Jose View
Day 2 - 3 Tortuguero View
Day 4 - 5 Turrialba View
Day 6 - 7 San Gerardo de Dota View
Day 8 - 10 Uvita View
Day 11 - 13 Drake Bay, Osa Peninsula View
Day 14 - 15 San Jose - UK View

Wildlife in Costa Rica 13-Day Itinerary

Day 1 UK - San José

On arrival, you will be greeted and transferred to your hotel in the heart of downtown San Jose.

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Flight
International Flight
Days 2 - 3 Tortuguero

This National Park is located on the Northern Caribbean Coast and is only accessible by boat or light aircraft. The area is diverse as it has canals, rivers, lagoons and even beaches in dense rainforest. It is one of the rainiest areas in Costa Rica and home to abundant wildlife as you can observe monkeys, sloths, jaguars, and of course turtles, such as hawksbill and leatherback sea turtles.

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Excursion
Day 2 - Tortuguero Canals and Wildlife Lodge Activities
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Excursion
Day 3 - Tortuguero Canals and Wildlife Lodge Activities
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Days 4 - 5 Turrialba

Departing Tortuguero by boat and continuing by road, arrive at Turrialba for a two-night stay. Turrialba is one of the lesser known and more off the beaten track regions in Costa Rica, offering splendid opportunities for nature lovers. Turrialba is still an important centre for agriculture but also for tourists seeking a peaceful retreat in aless touristic part of the country surrounded by pristine nature and famous volcanoes. Take a tour of Turrialba's landscapes on horseback, you'll have the opportunity to spot a variety of birds such as orioles, black turkeys and animals such as sloths andiguanas.

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Excursion
Turrialba Scenic Horse Riding
Turrialba WaterfallVolcan Turrialba From the Summit of Cerro Chirripo at Sunrise
Days 6 - 7 San Gerardo de Dota

Transfer to San Gerardo de Dota – a small mountain village surrounded by lush cloud-forested hills. The region is a little paradise for nature lovers and birdwatchers, as it is home to the Quetzales National Park. This national park is the natural habitat of hundreds of bird species, such as tanagers, trogons and hummingbirds, and has one of the largest populations of the resplendent Quetzal in Costa Rica. Take a guided walk through the park with an expert guide who will point out some of the many species of flora and fauna.

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Excursion
In search of the Quetzal Walking Tour in San Gerardo de Dota
Costa_Rica_Quetzel_Cloud_ForestLandscape in San Gerardo de Dota
Days 8 - 10 Uvita

Travel overland to coasta lUvita, home to Marino Ballena National Park, dedicated to preserving the underwater habitats of the majestic humpack whales and variety of fish, dolphins and turtles. Seabirds such as pelicans, boobies and frigate birds are also abundant there. Take a boat trip to discover these rich waters with opportunities to snorkel or swim.

We support Kids Saving the Rainforest, a wildlife NGO that operates near Manuel Antonio National Park. Over the years, the organisation has rescued greatnumbers of orphaned, abandoned and injured animals. Add an optional visit or ask us about volunteering for the day.

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Excursion
Whale and Dolphin Watching Marino Ballena National Park
Aerial Drone View of the Whale's Tail at the Marino Ballena National Park in UvitaHumpback whale in Marino Ballena National Park, Uvita
Days 11 - 13 Drake Bay, Osa Peninsula

Take a boat from Uvitato Drake Bay on the Osa Peninsula. This wild region is one of Costa Rica’s most remote destinations and was declared ‘one of the most biologically intense places on earth’ by National Geographic. Its pristine rainforests and the rugged natural beauty shelters Costa Rica’s largest remaining population of jaguars and tapirs and a wide range of other species can be observed here, including seasonal whale watching.You’ll have an included hike within Corcovado National Park to spot many of the diverse species found here. The following day the adventure continues with a snorkelling tour from Cano Island, where the reef and rock formations are teeming with exotic sea life.

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Activity
Hiking and Wildlife Tour Corcovado, Osa Peninsula
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Activity
Cano Island Snorkelling
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Days 14 - 15 San Jose - UK

In the morning morning you will take the short flight back to San Jose to connect with your onward international flight.

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Flight
Domestic Flight
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Flight
International Flight

Why book a holiday to Costa Rica with Latin Routes?

Truly Individual and Trusted

  • Truly individual holidays – every holiday we create is designed around you, the places you want to see and the things that are important to you.
  • Dedicated Travel Specialists – your dedicated Specialist will have firsthand knowledge of the destinations and experiences we offer, enabling us to make perfect recommendations.
  • First-class service – all our excursions and transport partners have been hand-selected to ensure they provide the best quality, experience and value.
  • 100% financial protection – our holidays are ATOL protected and we’re an assured member of the Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO).
  • My Routes Rewards programme – as a thank you for being our trusted customer, we offer one of the most generous and flexible reward programmes in the industry.
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What makes our Wildlife in Costa Rica holiday Truly Individual?

Award-winning UK tour operator

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Award-winning

An award-winning and leading UK tour operator providing Truly Individual holidays across Latin America

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Holidays Tailored To You

Every holiday we create is designed around you, the places you want to see and the things that are important to you.

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Latin America Specialists

Our passionate team of knowledgeable Latin America Travel Specialists are ready to help you plan the trip of a lifetime.

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We consistently achieve 5-star ratings on Trustpilot, reflecting our first-class service and premium holiday experiences.

What Our Clients Say About Us

Thank you to Sarah at Latin Routes for creating a seamless itinerary for our trip to North Argentina. Everything was thought of and well planned in advance.

Helen R
Stayed August 2024

Look no further if you are planning to go to South America. The trip to Chile was clockwork. The guides were excellent, and we felt really pampered in the beautiful hotels.

Sarah M. B
Stayed August 2024

Our bucket list trip to Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands had been looked forward to for a very long time. We were not disappointed! The highlight of our trip, without a doubt, was our five-day eastern cruise on the beautiful yacht La Pinta.

Mr Hughes
Stayed March 2023

This is an excellent company. I worked with Paul, who was very knowledgeable and patient when organising my itinerary. There is no pressure selling. Recommend them for South America trips!

John
Stayed March 2024

Speak to a Costa Rica Holiday Specialist

All our Costa Rica itineraries can be tailored to your unique requirements. Enquire about our Wildlife in Costa Rica holiday and let us plan your perfect Latin American adventure.