The Corcovado National Park has been described by National Geographic as ‘..the most biologically intense place on Earth’.  It is sometimes referred to as the Amazon of Central America, which is accurate in that its forest and intensity of wildlife can compare with the best the Amazon can offer, but what this forgets is that this wilderness is bounded on one side by the Pacific Ocean.

Corcovado has almost 30 miles of protected coastline, along which you are sure to see wildlife which, depending upon your luck, may include tapir, dozens of coatis, crocodiles, bull sharks entering a tidal river, and more than 400 species of bird including Central America’s highest concentration of scarlet macaws.  A hour’s walk  inside the forest might reveal more than a dozen groups of all four species of Central America’s monkeys.

On the Caribbean coast you can explore a vast network of natural waterways within the Tortuguero National Park.  Tortuguero means ‘place of turtles’ in Spanish which refers to the hundreds of turtles that visit its beaches each year to lay their eggs.  Tortuguero is best known for Green Turtles for which it is the best nesting site in the Western Hemisphere!  July to October is the season, whilst April and May provides the best opportunities to see the Giant Leatherback Turtle, although you may also be lucky in March and June.

Towards the end of each turtle species season you have the opportunity to see hatchlings racing a gauntlet of predators as they try to reach the sea.  Among the predators of the adult turtles are jaguars which are sometimes spotted emerging from the forest on the beaches.

Our 9 day recommended itinerary provides the opportunity to visit these two coastal wilderness locations and then add any number of tailor-made opportunities into your schedule.  Call us to discuss what options might best suit your needs.

Price 9 days from £995 per person based on twin sharing (single supplement from £215). Price includes All accommodation. Flights between San Jose Corcovado. Boat transfers - group and private. Land transfers - group and private. Guiding. National park entry fees. Contributions to non-governmental organisations. All meals when outside of San José. Breakfasts in San José. These prices are subject to availability of accommodation proposed and seasonal pricing variations. Excludes: international flights and insurance. Some flights to Costa Rica can be completed in the same calendar day – others travel overnight which means that your journey will take one more day than the number of days quoted in the itineraries. Dates:  Available throughout the year Activity Level: Medium to low depending upon what specific activities you choose to take part in during this trip.  Activities may include trekking, diving, snorkelling and sea kayaking. Comfort level: Good quality lodges and hotel in San Jose. Variations: This itinerary below has been designed to stay in the north of the Corcovado National Park from where you can visit Caño Island Biological Reserve.  An alternative is to stay at the southern end at what is probably Costa Rica’s finest coastal rainforest lodge: Lapa Rios. As an alternative to the Tortuguero National Park, the opportunity exists to explore the Indio- Maíz National Park in Nicaragua.  Refer to the Nicaragua page for further details about the Indio-Maíz National Park and the Rio Indio Adventure Lodge. .

Draft Itinerary

Day 1

arr San Jose, Costa Rica.  Transfer to hotel.

Day 2

Transfer from San Jose to Casa Corcovado Lodge on the Osa Peninsula.

Days 2 - 5

Explore the Osa Peninsula and one trip to Cano Island Biological Reserve.

Day 5 

Transfer to hotel in San Jose.

Day 6

San Jose through Reserva Nacional Brauillo Carillo.  Boat trip up the Tortuguero Canal to Mawamba Lodge in the Tortuguero.

Days 6 - 8

Explore Tortuguero National Park.

Day 8

Transfer back to San Jose.

Day 9

dep San Jose

Photographs kindly provided by Grupo Mawamba, Lapa Rios

Costa Rica country page