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Humpback whale breaching off Costa Rica's South Pacific coast

TURTLES · WHALES · DOLPHINS

Costa Rica Wildlife: Turtles, Whales & Dolphins

Coast to coast, Tortuguero's canals, cloud-forest quetzals and the whales of Marino Ballena

Your trip

Your 8 days in Costa Rica

An eight-day wildlife odyssey that crosses Costa Rica from the Caribbean to the Pacific. Cruise the jungle canals of Tortuguero, the "Little Amazon" and a key green-turtle nesting site, climb into the cloud forests of Cerro de la Muerte in search of the resplendent quetzal, then descend to the Marino Ballena National Park for humpback whales, dolphins and the famous "whale-tail" sandbar.

We arrange it as a private, tailor-made holiday with return UK flights, eco-lodges and boutique hotels, all land and boat transfers and expert naturalist guides, ATOL protected from the moment you book.

At a glance

  • 8 days7 nights
  • Private tripJust your own party
  • Easy to ModerateActivity level
  • Flights includedATOL protected
  • Flexible datesYou choose when you go
  • Costa RicaOur destination guide
Pair of dolphins leaping from the sea off the Costa Rican coast

WHAT YOU'LL SEE

Holiday Highlights

  • The Little Amazon

    Tortuguero canals, boat safaris through the Caribbean "Little Amazon", with monkeys, caimans and toucans

  • Turtle nesting walks

    Green sea turtles (seasonal), night nesting walks on Tortuguero's beaches (July–October)

  • Cerro de la Muerte

    Resplendent quetzals, cloud-forest birding at Cerro de la Muerte and the Paraíso del Quetzal

  • Marino Ballena

    Whale & dolphin watching, Marino Ballena humpbacks (Antarctic Jul–Oct, Alaskan Dec–Apr) and resident dolphins

  • Scarlet macaws

    Sierpe mangroves, a boat safari through Central America's largest mangrove system, home to scarlet macaws

  • The Osa region

    Diquís stone spheres, the mysterious UNESCO-listed pre-Columbian spheres of the Osa region

  • Flights from the UK

    ATOL protected & flight-inclusive, return UK flights and full financial protection (licence 10898)

Day by day

Your itinerary

  1. Day 1Fly from the UK · Arrive San José

    Fly from the UK to San José (typically via Madrid or a US gateway). Your private driver transfers you to your hotel for an evening welcome briefing with your guide.

  2. Day 2To Tortuguero, the "Little Amazon"

    A land-and-boat journey to the Caribbean coast and Tortuguero National Park, with a canal cruise and village visit; in nesting season (July–October) join a guided night walk to watch green turtles come ashore.

  3. Day 3Tortuguero National Park

    A morning rainforest and garden walk, then an afternoon canal boat safari spotting monkeys, caimans, toucans and an extraordinary variety of birds.

  4. Day 4Into the highlands, Cerro de la Muerte

    Leave Tortuguero by boat, then drive high into the cloud forest above 3,000m for quetzal and highland birdwatching, with an evening owl walk.

  5. Day 5Quetzals & down to Dominical

    An early birding tour at the Paraíso del Quetzal in search of Costa Rica's most dazzling bird, before descending to the Pacific surf town of Dominical on the Ballena coast.

  6. Day 6Sierpe mangroves & stone spheres

    A boat safari through the Térraba-Sierpe mangroves, squirrel monkeys, crocodiles and scarlet macaws, followed by a visit to the UNESCO-listed Diquís stone spheres.

  7. Day 7Whale watching at Marino Ballena

    A boat tour in Marino Ballena National Park for humpback whales and dolphins, and a walk on the Punta Uvita "whale-tail" sandbar at low tide, before returning to San José.

  8. Day 8Fly home

    Transfer to San José International Airport for your flight back to the UK, arriving home the following day.

Fiery-throated hummingbird perched on a branch in the Costa Rican cloud forest

Your price covers

What's included

  • Flights

    Return international flights from the UK to San José

    We can also book other airlines, including flights with one stop, to suit your dates and preferences.

  • Accommodation

    7 nights' accommodation across city, jungle, cloud-forest and Pacific-coast properties (B&B; full board in Tortuguero)

  • Transport

    All private land and boat transfers and a bilingual naturalist guide

  • Boat trips

    Tortuguero canal safaris, quetzal birding, Sierpe mangrove boat safari and Marino Ballena whale-watching tour

  • Entry fees

    National park entrance fees as per the itinerary

  • ATOL protection

    24/7 in-destination support and ATOL financial protection (licence 10898)

Not included: Travel insurance (required; check your policy covers the activities on this trip) · Meals and drinks not specified, and optional excursions · Gratuities, personal expenses and single-room supplements

Where you stay

Your accommodation

A coast-to-coast mix of city hotel, jungle lodge, cloud-forest lodge and a Pacific-coast hotel (or similar), with full board in remote Tortuguero.

San José (1 night)

A comfortable city hotel for arrival and your welcome briefing.

Tortuguero (2 nights, full board)

A jungle lodge on the canals, with guided boat excursions and meals included.

Cerro de la Muerte (1 night)

A cosy cloud-forest lodge famous for its quetzals and hummingbird feeders.

Ballena Coast / Uvita (2 nights)

A boutique hotel above the Pacific, perfectly placed for whale watching and the mangroves.

San José (1 night)

A final city night before flying home.

Your next step

Dates and price

Tailor-Made Holiday
Guide price from£5,199
per personATOL protected (10898)
Flights Included
Private holiday
Flexible dates
8 days / 7 nights (suggested)
Fully customisable

No commitment, we respond within 24 hours

Call us

Before you book

Frequently Asked Questions

Humpback whales visit Marino Ballena from the Antarctic roughly July–October (peak August–September) and from Alaska December–April, so whales are possible much of the year. Green turtles nest in Tortuguero July–October. Tell us what you most want to see and we'll time the trip accordingly.

Timing is everything for wildlife, see when to visit for the turtles and whales in our month-by-month Costa Rica guide.

Plan your Costa Rica wildlife holiday

Speak to one of our Latin America specialists for a tailored quote and your preferred dates. Flights, lodges, transfers and guides all arranged, ATOL protected from the moment you book.

Enquire About This Holiday
We typically 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.

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Tailor-made · ATOL 10898

Want to customise this trip?

Every Travelfab holiday is tailor-made, extend a leg, swap a hotel, combine with another country. Tell us the shape you want and a specialist will redesign it around you.

Customise this trip with a specialist
Guide price£5,199pp
ATOL protected