Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Costa Rica – Alajuela – Monteverde – La Fortuna – Bijagua – Nosara
100% customisable for you
Your adventure in Costa Rica starts today. Gather the youngsters, charge up their tablets and make sure some fun films are downloaded for your 11-hour flight to San Jose. The flight leaves mid-morning (ideal timing with children in tow) and is scheduled to land mid-afternoon, thanks to a six-hour time difference. Do you have some fidgety travellers in your crew? Make use of our family fun packs to keep little ones entertained.
Once you've cleared immigration and customs, you’ll be privately transferred half an hour to your hotel in Alajuela for a two-night stay. Known as the ‘city of mangoes’, Alajuela lies in the shadow of the Poas volcano in Costa Rica’s beautiful Central Valley, surrounded by lush landscapes dotted with sugar and coffee plantations. Spend the rest of today settling into your hotel and soaking up your new surroundings, before dinner and an early night.
Rise and shine – your hire car is ready and waiting at the hotel, so it’s time to go exploring. This morning, you’re visiting La Paz Waterfall Gardens, one of the country’s must-see attractions. It’s an hour’s drive away, so fire up our Latin American music playlist to get everyone in the mood for their first full day in this tropical paradise.
The gardens have five stunning waterfalls and are also home to an animal sanctuary with over 100 species, from swinging capuchin and spider monkeys to slinking jaguars, pumas and ocelots. There are also aviaries, a hummingbird garden, serpentarium and petting zoo, so there’s no chance of the little ones getting bored. Lunch is included, so while munching away, they could also tick off their creature checklists.
Hit the road this morning for a two-night stay in a family-run lodge, surrounded by lush rainforests, near the Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve.
En route you’ll pass the Poas Volcano National Park – it’s well worth visiting to break up the three-hour journey as it’s one of the few places in the world where you can see an active volcano up-close; the mighty Poas Volcano has been active since the 1700s and the last eruption was in 2017. After a 20-minute walk to the viewpoint, peer into its vast crater (a whopping 1,050ft deep and almost one mile in diameter), which is filled with a turquoise lake that’s heated to 40°C by volcanic activity.
Later, continue to Monteverde, then settle into your comfortable lodge, listening to the sounds of rustling leaves and creatures bounding around in the trees. Come evening, devour a feast of local dishes in the restaurant and admire its far-reaching views.
Today’s all about exploring the Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve. Whether you’d rather wander the trails at your own pace or set out on guided explorations for budding natural history buffs, we can help you make the most of your time, depending on your interests and fitness levels.
Along the trails, experience different sides of the forest, taking in beautiful waterfalls, towering trees and sweeping canopies as you stroll above on suspended walkways. Amid shifting light in the heart of the forest, spot tropical flora and fauna (3,000 species and 750 tree species have been recorded here), including quetzals, the striking emerald birds that live here.
After a day’s exploring, head back to the lodge to feed rumbling bellies and swap notes on your favourite plant life seen today, be it the striking orchids, tree ferns, wild avocados or spiky bromeliads.
Who wants to see another volcano? The good news is you’re driving to the Arenal Volcano National Park today for a two-night stay near La Fortuna. It’s a three-hour drive to your charming resort that has a restaurant and pools fed by a thermal spring. After a splash about, then a tasty dinner, turn in for an early night as you’ve got a full day of exploring tomorrow.
Grab your binoculars because there’s creatures galore waiting to be spotted at Arenal National Park on a guided walk. From 1968 until 2010, Arenal Volcano was active, producing ash and glowing molten rock, but these days it’s dormant and there’s over ten miles of well-marked trails that follow the old lava flow into the rainforest.
Along the way, look for foraging anteaters, sleepy sloths and delicate hummingbirds, along with howler monkeys and white-faced capuchins leaping around. For panoramic views of the forest and volcano, pop into the observation tower or take a guided walk on suspended bridges that stretch above the tree canopy.
Fancy canyoning down a sparkling waterfall? Or hopping aboard a float for a river safari? We can also arrange watersports activities and a relaxing dip in the hot springs.
You’re back on the road this morning for a two-hour drive to Bijagua, a laidback village nestled between dramatic volcanoes and tropical rainforests. Home for the next couple of nights will be an eco-lodge, perched on a mountain pass, amid misty, leafy landscapes – it’s the perfect base for exploring the natural wonders nearby. After settling in, enjoy the stillness and unwind, before tucking into gourmet dishes at the estate’s restaurant.
Outdoorsy adventures continue today with a trail walk in the Tenorio Volcano National Park. Taking photographs here is a dream, with backdrops of lush, emerald-green vegetation, hot springs and the magnificent Celeste waterfall –?where the Rio Celeste plunges over the rocks into an azure-blue pool. Explore at your own pace or opt for a guided tour of the park that’s dedicated to protecting over 18,000 acres of rainforest. Keep those eyes peeled and cameras ready for monkeys, tapirs, sloths, colourful toucans and dart frogs, and if you’re very lucky, pumas.
Back at the eco-lodge, relax before dinner after a busy day’s wildlife spotting. Ready for more? We can also arrange an evening walk to spot nocturnal creatures as they begin to stir at sunset (listen out for the croaking frogs).
Today sees you travelling to Nosara, for a three-night stay in this small coastal town known for its beautiful beaches and world-class surf.
Kicking off your journey, drive one hour and 20 minutes to Palo Verde National Park. Part wetland, part dry tropical forest, both landscapes are teeming with wild birds.
During the wet season around 250,000 birds live here, though it's easier to access the trails in the dry season, especially with youngsters in tow. As well as our feathered friends, you might also catch a glimpse of bristly peccaries, lounging monkeys, white-nosed coatis and elusive deer.
Afterwards, continue for two and a half hours to Puntarenas and catch the one-hour ferry to Paquera that crosses the Gulf of Nicoya (look out for pelicans and frigate birds). From here, it’s a three-hour drive to Nosara, where your peaceful lodge lies in a private nature reserve by the ocean.
After breakfast, today’s all yours to spend as you like. Nosara is a popular destination thanks to its laidback feel and relaxed vibes, drawing surfers from far and wide for its pristine beaches and consistent waves. If you like, we can organise surf lessons with a private instructor.
Or how about trying scuba diving? An open-air yoga session in the jungle? Or kayaking through the mangroves? This little corner of the Nicoya Peninsula is perfect for outdoorsy types and those seeking R&R on stunning beaches.
And as it’s your last full day in Costa Rica, why not enjoy a blow-out feast? Although it’s a small town, Nosara has family-friendly restaurants that serve up everything from local specialities to wood-fired pizza (ask our Concierge for their recommendations for the best in town). Later, pop into the resort’s panoramic bar to admire the jaw-dropping views and take snaps of the breathtaking sunset.
Sadly, it’s your last day in Costa Rica. Fully rested after a couple of days by the ocean, take one last stroll along the beach before the five-hour drive to Juan Santamaria International Airport in San Jose. Drop off your hire car here, before flying home to the UK. Most direct flights take around 11 hours, touching down the following day.
Everything in this itinerary is entirely customisable, down to the smallest details. Here are some more suggestions of what could be included
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
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