The Grand Costa Rica Trip: The Complete Wildlife Route

After your international arrival, your private guide will welcome you to start the trip near San José. Transfer to a hotel surrounded by tropical gardens, where you can settle in and relax after your flight.

Among heliconias, orchids and butterflies, you'll have your first contact with the country's nature. A stroll through the gardens offers excellent photography opportunities and a gentle introduction to Costa Rica's biodiversity.

After breakfast, departure to the Sarapiquí region, where the landscape transforms into lush rainforest.

During your stay, you'll walk trails in search of monkeys in the canopy, toucans, trogons and brightly colored frogs. You'll also take a boat ride along the Sarapiquí River, ideal for observing wildlife from the water.

You'll also have the opportunity to visit active research and conservation projects in the area. With its combination of forest, rivers and bird feeders, this stage marks your first deep immersion in the country's biodiversity.

Continuation to Boca Tapada, a remote, privileged region for wildlife watching and photography.

From the lodge's feeders, you'll be able to photograph toucans and numerous birds at close range. You'll also visit a specialized hide to observe the king vulture in exceptional conditions.

A boat ride along the San Carlos River is included, where it's possible to observe herons, otters and kingfishers. At night, you'll take part in a multi-flash photography session focused on nectar-feeding bats, a unique experience for capturing nocturnal species in action.

Departure to Caño Negro, one of the most important wetlands in Central America.

During your stay, you'll take boat rides through lagoons and flooded forests, where you can observe herons, spoonbills, ibises and the six kingfisher species found in Costa Rica.

Caimans, iguanas, turtles and river otters are also frequently found. In the dry season, the concentration of wildlife in the lagoons offers exceptional opportunities for observation and photography.

Transfer to the Arenal Volcano area, where the landscape opens up to spectacular views of the volcano.

During these days, you'll explore rainforest trails in search of trogons, motmots and monkeys, and observe hummingbirds and oropendolas in the lodge's gardens.

You'll walk hanging bridges for a unique perspective of the canopy, ideal for photography. At night, a guided walk to discover frogs, snakes and insects. You'll also have time to enjoy natural hot springs.

Departure to the central Pacific coast.

You'll take a boat ride along the Tárcoles River, where you can closely observe large crocodiles, as well as birds and wildlife associated with the mangroves.

Afterwards, you'll explore the trails of Carara National Park with a guide, in search of monkeys, deer and forest birds. The combination of mangrove, forest and coast makes this one of the most complete stages of the trip.

Continuation to the Uvita region and Marino Ballena National Park.

During your stay, you can walk trails in areas such as Hacienda Barú, where it's possible to observe monkeys, sloths and colorful birds. The nearby wetlands are also home to herons, trogons and antbirds.

Depending on the season, an outing will be arranged to observe humpback whales and dolphins. Outside the season, the area offers excellent options for snorkeling, waterfalls and pristine beaches.

Departure to Drake Bay, on the remote Osa Peninsula.

Upon arrival, after settling into the lodge, you'll take a guided walk along the coast and forest edge, ideal for birdwatching. In this area it's possible to find scarlet macaws, hawks and tanagers, in a setting where the jungle meets the ocean directly.

Boat departure to Corcovado National Park, one of the most biodiverse ecosystems on the planet.

During the journey along the Pacific coast, there's the possibility of observing humpback whales, dolphins and seabirds. Upon arrival at Sirena Station, you'll begin exploring the primary rainforest, in a completely isolated setting surrounded by nature.

During the day, you'll take guided walks along the park's trails in search of emblematic wildlife such as Baird's tapir, Costa Rica's four monkey species (including the squirrel monkey), coatis, peccaries and a great diversity of birds.

At nightfall, you'll head into the forest once again for a night walk, where you'll discover a completely different world: tree frogs, owls, armadillos, tarantulas and a great variety of insects active in the dark.

Transfer to the Talamanca mountains, where the climate changes to a cool cloud-forest environment.

During your stay, you'll take early-morning outings in search of the resplendent quetzal, one of the region's most emblematic species. Around the lodge, you can observe hummingbirds, warblers and silky-flycatchers in well-preserved gardens and trails.

The mountain landscapes, the cloud forest's characteristic mist and the presence of high-altitude species make this stage an especially scenic and memorable close.