Costa Rica Rainforest Wildlife holiday Pacific Caribbean Marine Life Cloud Forests Arenal Volcano holidays travel osa- Aqua-Firma

Wildlife, Rainforests, Marine Life & Volcanoes

Accommodation in the Southern Corcovado

From the Pacific Ocean to the Caribbean Sea, this experience combines Costa Rica's most abundant lowland rainforest habitats, its best marine life and a huge variety of ecological zones from the coast to cloud forests on the edge of Arenal Volcano.

Expert local guides will help you to explore six of the countries most important protected areas. Three of these are in the highlands of Costa Rica comprising the Monteverde National Park, the inspiring community owned cloud forest reserve of Santa Elena, and cloud forests of the Arenal Volcano National Park. On the Pacific coast we take you to the Corcovado National Park where primary rainforest runs unbroken down to the sea for 30 long miles. On the Caribbean Coast, the similarly rich Tortuguero National Park forests are bisected throughout by a system of waterways which allows you to explore by small boat or kayak if you prefer. At Caño Island Biological Reserve we find the country's most abundant marine life, which almost always includes dolphins and regularly includes whales, above the water, and turtles, sharks, rays and coral reefs beneath.

The Corcovado National Park in the Osa Peninsula is undoubtedly a wildlife highlight for any visit to Costa Rica. The area has been described by National Geographic magazine as '..the most wildlife intense place on earth', both because of its primaeval forest and abundant offshore life. The western side of the Corcovado provides more than 30 miles of beach where the rainforest meets the Pacific Ocean. This is where terrestrial and marine ecosystems combine with coatis, macaws, and tapir coming out of the forest and onto the beaches, whilst turtles and even bull sharks coming in from the sea, swimming into the Corcovado's tidal streams. Flocks of pelicans look like pterodactyls as they glide low over the Pacific waves and float in formation above your head. This coastline feels truly primordial.

17 kilometres from the coast, close to Osa's northern Drake's Bay, is the Caño Island Biological Reserve. Aside from Cocos Island way out in the Pacific, this is where you will find the country's best marine life, both on the surface and beneath it. Dolphins are a regular sight, but you may also be lucky enough to see Humpback Whales. These can be seen both on northwards and southwards migrations along the coast. Olive Ridley turtles and manta rays are also often seen at the surface and below. The coral reefs and steep drop-offs provide excellent snorkeling if you wish, with some huge shoals of fish and pelagic visitors such as sharks and barracudas. We can pre-arrange diving for certified divers.

The Tortuguero National Park on Costa Rica's north eastern Caribbean coast is another excellent place to see lowland rainforest wildlife and birdlife. There are 309 species of bird here and between July - October it is one of the best places in the world to see green turtles laying their eggs on its beaches. From late March to early June, Tortuguero can also be a good place from which to see giant leatherback turtles nesting. Many of your explorations here will be by boat, but for those keen to experience the forest in paddled tranquility we can incorporate a ½ day of forest wilderness kayaking.

Of Costa Rica's cloud forests, Monteverde is probably the most famous. Costa Rica's national bird, the Resplendent Quetzal, is an important draw here, as well as its abundant hummingbirds, insects and cloud forest flora. We make use of almost 3 km of aerial walkway to explore at canopy level, as well as the option of an exhilarating descent along 15 canopy zip lines. As an alternative, we can take you by horseback to the 200ft La Fortuna Waterfalls. Another alternative is to explore the self-guided cloud forest trails around one of the ecolodges we use here.

For some focused guided natural history and scenic treks we take you to the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve, pathways in the cloud forests of the Arenal National Park and the edges of the Arenal volcano itself. Alternatives we can incorporate at Arenal are horseback riding or mountain biking for a more energetic experience of the fantastic landscapes here. Whichever way, we will take you to the higher slopes of the volcano at night and for a restful swim in springs heated from beneath by the volcano itself.

Like any of our Costa Rica experiences, this one can be tailor to meet your timings, preferences and special interests. We can easily add in or swap locations to incorporate more relaxation, adventure, a higher standard of ecolodge where available or allow for a more intensive look at certain birdlife, wildlife or marine life. Other locations you may be interested to consider might include:

the Manuel Antonio National Park on the Central Pacific coast
for additional marine life: the Gulf of Papagoyo and the Bat at Catalina island for additional

Photographs kindly provided by Natalia Lizano, ICT, Casa Corcovado, Lapa RIos, Ralph Pannell, David Older

Responsible Travel - Natural History - Travel Experts - Canopy Walkways Zip Lines and Tours - Poas Volcano – Whale Sharks – Manta Ray - Hanging Bridges of Arenal Volcano Cloud Forest - Santa Elena non-profit reserve - Children's Eternal Rain Forest of Costa Rica (Bosque Nuboso de Los Ninos) - Tropical Science Center - Bajo del Tigre (Jaguar Canyon) – Shoals of Fish - Marlin

Day 1
Arrive San Jose where you will be met and transferred to your hotel close to San Jose's Central Plaza
(If you wish, we can upgrade you to a quiet boutique hotel, to a hacienda in the highlands, or one of the cloud forest lodges closest to San Jose).

Day 2
(B)
Day to acclimatise in San Jose. One of the local highlights is to visit the Gold Museum which is open most days except Mondays. It is situated in the Central Plaza close to the old theatre.

Day 3
(B,L,D)
You will be collected early from your hotel and transferred from San José overland through the Brauillo Carillo National Park to the Tortuguero Canal. Here you will meet a motor canoe from where you will be taken north to your jungle lodge in the Tortuguero National.

You will have lunch soon after your arrival and begin your exploration of the forest and waterways of Tortuguero National Park.

Day 4
(B,L,D)
Tortuguero National Park.

Day 5
(B)
After breakfast on the Caribbean coast of the Tortuguero National Park, you will be transported by motor canoe and overland to Guapiles, and from here privately overland to your mountain lodge overlooking Arenal Volcano. You will have time today to join some walks from the lodge on the slopes of the mountain.

Day 6
(B,D)
In the morning your guide will pick you up to take you on a trek within the cloud forests of Arenal, including its impressive hanging bridges through the canopy.
Alternatively, we can arrange for you to go mountain biking in the area, or explore on horseback.

Towards the end of the afternoon we will take you to the higher slopes of the volcano to walk and to enjoy a dip in spring baths heated by the volcano. Arenal volcano is famous for its lava flows which are best observed on a clear night.

Day 7
(B)
Transfer from Arenal to Monteverde.
You will have time for some self guided walks in the cloud forest.

Day 8
(B)
AM: You will be collected from your cloud forest ecolodge and be taken on a guided visit of the cloud forest by means of a 3km aerial walkway.
PM: If you wish to experience a higher adrenaline zip line through the canopy (a rainforest experience really invented in Costa Rica), then we can arrange this for the afternoon. Otherwise, you might like to consider horseback riding to a waterfall or enjoying self guided trails around your Ecolodge.

Day 9
(B)
AM: You will be taken on a guided exploration of the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve. Santa Elena has a similar cloud forest environment to Monteverde, but with considerably fewer visitors.
PM: You will join a transfer back to San Jose and your hotel there.

Day 10
(B,L,D)
You will be collected from your hotel and taken by private transfer to San Jose airport.

Fly San Jose to the Osa Peninsula.

Upon arrival at Palmar Sur you will be transferred by land and boat to your lodge at the northern end of the Corcovado National Park. The rainforests of the Corcovado N.P have been described by National Geographic magazine as '… the most wildlife intense place on Earth'. There are excellent opportunities here to see monkeys, scarlet macaws, tapir, coatis and more inside the forest and on the beaches. Out to sea pelicans glide in formation above the waves.

Day 11
(B,L,D)
Early AM: Guided birdwatching.
After breakfast, a boat visit to the Caño Island Biological Reserve, some 17 kilometres offshore. Here you can find some of the country's best marine life, both at the surface and below it. Dolphins are a regular sight, but you may also be lucky enough to see Humpback Whales which can be seen both on the northwards and southwards migrations along the coast. Olive Ridley turtles and manta rays are also often seen at the surface and below. The coral reefs and steep drop-offs provide excellent snorkeling if you wish with some huge shoals of fish and pelagic visitors such as sharks and barracudas. Snorkelling can be pre-arranged if you wish with equipment provided, as can diving for certified divers (at an additional cost).

Day 12
(B,L,D)
Full day visit to the magnificent lowland rainforests of the Corcovado National Park.

Day 13
(B)
After breakfast you will be transferred to the airstrip for your flight back to San Jose.

You will met upon arrival and taken to your hotel.

Day 14
(B)
You will be transferred to the airport for your flight home.

Accommodation in the Northern Corcovado