Costa Rica packs an extraordinary amount into a small country, and this private journey is built to feel it from both coasts. You begin in the Caribbean lowlands at Tortuguero, a maze of jungle canals reachable only by boat, then cross the country with your own bilingual naturalist guide and private driver: the volcano country of Arenal, the misty cloud forests of Monteverde, a stretch of Pacific coast to slow down on, and finally the high cloud forest of San Gerardo de Dota, one of the best places on earth to see the resplendent quetzal. It is the full sweep of our Costa Rica holidays in one unhurried, tailor-made route, the pace is yours, the wildlife is the headline act, and every transfer and park fee is taken care of. For help choosing your month, see our guide to the best time to visit Costa Rica.
RAINFOREST · VOLCANOES · QUETZALS
Costa Rica: Coast to Coast
A private, tailor-made wildlife journey from the Caribbean rainforest to the Pacific shore, 12 days, your own naturalist guide, both of Costa Rica’s wild coasts.
Begin where the jungle meets the sea
Your first days are spent in the rainforest canals of Tortuguero on the Caribbean coast, reachable only by boat, and all the quieter for it. You explore the backwater waterways by private launch with your guide, watching for caiman, river otters, herons and, in season, sea turtles coming ashore to nest. Two nights here let the rhythm of the river set in before you turn west.
Volcano country and misty cloud forests
Crossing the cordillera, you settle beneath Arenal, Costa Rica’s most photogenic volcano, for nature-trail mornings and a visit to a sloth sanctuary, before climbing into the cloud forests of Monteverde and Santa Elena, alive with birdsong and hanging bridges. It is the heart of our volcanoes and cloud forests holidays in Costa Rica, and the contrast with the Caribbean lowlands could not be sharper.
THE JOURNEY
Your route across Costa Rica
WHAT MAKES IT SPECIAL
Highlights
DAY BY DAY
Your Itinerary
Day 1, Arrival in San José
Met at the airport and transferred privately to your hotel for a relaxed orientation and a welcome dinner.
Day 2, Into the Tortuguero canals
Your guide joins you for the journey to the Caribbean coast, finishing with a boat ride through the rainforest to your lodge. Afternoon private boat tour of the national park’s backwater canals, watching for caiman, river otters and herons.
Day 3, Tortuguero National Park
A visit to the village and its sea turtle museum, plus a second private canal tour to explore deeper into the waterways.
Day 4, To Arenal & the volcano
Boat and private vehicle to the Arenal region, stopping at a butterfly and chocolate farm for a tasting along the way. Settle in beneath the volcano.
Day 5, Arenal trails & sloths
A private morning on the Observatory’s nature trails, then a guided walk at a nearby reserve and sloth sanctuary.
Day 6, Up to the cloud forest
Scenic drive to Monteverde, with time to settle in and explore.
Day 7, Monteverde
A full day in the cloud forest: a walk through Curi Cancha Reserve, a hike at Santa Elena, and the viewpoints of Cerro Pinocho.
Day 8, Down to the Pacific
Travel to the coast, with a jungle boat safari on the Tárcoles River (famous for its crocodiles and birdlife) en route. Afternoon at the beach.
Day 9, Marino Ballena & free time
Morning at Marino Ballena National Park, then a free afternoon to enjoy the coast at your own pace.
Day 10, Into the high cloud forest
A beautiful drive up to San Gerardo de Dota, with a private coffee tour and birding stops along the way.
Day 11, Quetzals & hummingbirds
An early guided search for the resplendent quetzal and the valley’s hummingbirds, then a free afternoon and a farewell dinner.
Day 12, Departure
Private transfer to San José airport for your flight home.
A grand finale in the high cloud forest
The journey ends high in the Talamanca mountains at San Gerardo de Dota, where the dawn search for the resplendent quetzal is one of wildlife travel’s great moments, joined by fiery-throated hummingbirds and a valley made for slow mornings. Time your trip with our Costa Rica wildlife calendar to line up quetzals, turtles and whales.
YOUR LODGES
Where you’ll stay
San José, Balmoral Hotel (1 night)
Tortuguero, Evergreen Lodge (2 nights)
Arenal, Arenal Observatory Lodge (2 nights)
Monteverde, Fonda Vela Hotel (2 nights)
Pacific coast, Villas Riomar (2 nights)
San Gerardo de Dota, Dantica Cloud Forest Lodge (2 nights)
Comfortable, characterful lodges chosen for their settings; exact properties confirmed at booking.
WHAT IT COSTS
Your price
We price this trip to your exact party and dates, with your UK flights booked and ticketed by us, so the whole holiday is ATOL protected. Four travelling together costs less per person than two sharing, because the private guide and vehicle are shared across a larger party, and larger groups bring it down further.
If you are travelling alone, ask us about the single supplement when you enquire. For routes and airlines from the UK, see our guide to flights to Costa Rica from the UK. Prices are held in GBP and confirmed at the time of booking.
What's Included
- Private bilingual naturalist guide throughout the journey
- Private air-conditioned vehicle and driver
- 11 nights’ accommodation as listed, with daily breakfast
- All meals shown in the itinerary (most lunches and dinners included)
- All listed tours, excursions and national park entrance fees
- Boat transfers to and from Tortuguero
- Airport meet-and-greet and all private transfers
- Bottled water and snacks in the vehicle
- Local taxes and staff gratuities at hotels and for included meals
What's Not Included
- International flights (we can arrange these for you, ATOL protected)
- Travel insurance (a condition of travel)
- Tips for your guide and driver
- Any meals, drinks or activities not listed
- Personal expenses and the single supplement, if travelling solo
Frequently Asked Questions
We price this trip to your dates and party size, with your UK flights included, so the whole holiday is ATOL protected. Four travelling together costs less per person than two sharing, and larger groups bring it down further. Tell us your dates and we will send you a quote.
Start planning your Costa Rica journey
Tell us your dates and party size and our Latin America specialists will tailor this two-coast journey to you, and prepare a precise, ATOL-protected quote with flights.
No commitment, we respond within 24 hours
No commitment, we respond within 24 hours
Real reviews
What our customers say
From travellers who visited Costa Rica with us
We've wanted to visit Costa Rica for years and Travelfab put together a brilliant two-week trip. Arenal Volcano with the hot springs was the perfect start. Tortuguero's canals were teeming with wildlife, monkeys, sloths, caimans, an incredible variety of birds. The Caribbean coast around Puerto Viejo had a completely different vibe, reggae, jerk chicken, and lovely reef snorkelling. Pura vida indeed.
Graham & Pat D.
Costa Rica was pure magic. Monteverde cloud forest was eerie and beautiful, we saw a resplendent quetzal on our first morning which our guide said was rare. The hanging bridges walk was thrilling. We finished at Manuel Antonio where the white-faced monkeys came right up to our sun loungers. The biodiversity is staggering. Travelfab arranged everything including an excellent local driver-guide.
Victoria & Mark P.
Perfect family holiday. The kids loved the zip-lining and wildlife spotting, and we loved the volcanic hot springs and beautiful beaches. Costa Rica has something for everyone.
Natalie J.
More holidays in Costa Rica
Costa Rica Honeymoon — Arenal Volcano & the Pacific
Costa Rica Wildlife: Turtles, Whales & Dolphins
Costa Rica Northern Explorer
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Tailor-made · ATOL 10898
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