Costa Rican Cobalt, 09 days, 08 nights

This charming tour through Costa Rica packs all the best of this little country’s remarkable variety: rainforests, wetlands, cloud forest, volcanoes and rivers!
Starting near your arrival airport in the friendly capital of San Jose, we move through lush Braulio Carrillo National Park to the Caribbean Rainforest of Tortuguero. Famous for its turtle conservation, Tortuguero consists of a maze of jungle rivers to explore.

On an included excursion, you’ll encounter a variety of animal and bird species hidden between the mangrove roots. Our jungle lodge boasts a great variety of wildlife you can explore at your leisure.
Between July and October, an optional excursion allows you to witness turtles laying their eggs on the beach!

From Tortuguero we travel by land through the farmlands of Heredia to reach the fertile lands of Arenal, where a true nature paradise lodge awaits you underneath the namesake volcano. The perfectly-shaped volcanic cone commands nearly every view at the hotel, from the panoramic windows of the restaurant to the guest rooms. There is also plenty of wildlife in the area, including monkeys, anteaters, coatis, raccoons, deer, and more than 500 species of birds!

From here we visit the Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge, an area of about 10,000 hectares near the border with Nicaragua. The wildlife is truly spectacular, especially the birds! It’s one of the few places in Costa Rica where one can catch a glimpse of the exotic Jabiru Stork, the tallest flying bird found in Central and South America. You may also encounter wood storks, cormorants and other varieties of birds—this tour is a must for avid birdwatchers!
In addition, there are some great opportunities to spot sloths, howler monkeys, caimans and other wildlife. In the evening, one of world´s best thermal springs can be visited, all set in tropical gardens, each one naturally heated.

We continue the journey to Monteverde, the wonderfully preserved Cloud Forest region. Raccoons, armadillos and other wildlife can be found while following the easy hiking trails winding through the fairy-tale-like trees and ferns of the Reserve. You’ll most likely see a great variety of bird species as well, with the Resplendent Quetzal being the star of the show! Many birdwatchers visit Monteverde specifically to find this rare, beautifully coloured bird, whose feathers were used to adorn ancient kings.

Monteverde also has some of the best night tours for wildlife spotting. Unlike other night tours throughout Central America, the Monteverde trails are easily accessible, and you are guaranteed to see a great variety of species. It’s a truly magnificent experience!

From Monteverde we return to San Jose via the Pacific highway through the dry forest, once famous for its gold panning. On your last day, we can take you to the airport or provide a wonderful beach extension!

Summarized Itinerary

Days 1–3: San Jose arrival, Tortuguero National Park
Days 4–6: Arenal, Cano Negro Boat safari, Monteverde night wildlife watching
Days 7–9: Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, San Jose departure or beach extension

Gallery of our latest tour

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