Costa Rica Wildlife 8 Night Sample Package

This trip is a wildlife lover’s dream! Visit the remote Osa Peninsula, Monteverde Cloud Forest, and Tortuguero, home to an impressive variety of flora and fauna. This itinerary is customized for your independent travel in Costa Rica. Any portion of it may be modified according to your preference.

Day 1 – San José
Arrive at San José’s Juan Santamaría International Airport, where you will be met by our representative after clearing customs, then transferred to your hotel in San José. Overnight at San José area hotel.

Day 2 – San Jose/ Tortuguero
In the early morning, your guide will pick you up at your hotel in San José, and take you east through the mountains toward the Caribbean coast. You’ll stop along the way for breakfast, then later on, visit a banana plantation and learn how this important export crop is cultivated and processed. Upon arriving at the boat dock, you will embark on a one hour boat ride to the lodge. After lunch, explore the neighboring village of Tortuguero. Overnight at Tortuguero area hotel (B, L, D).

Day 3 - Tortuguero
In the early morning, your naturalist guide will take you on a two-hour boat trip to observe wildlife in the area’s canals. After lunch, you will visit Tortuguero National Park on foot, hiking on trails through the rainforest with your guide. From July – October, for an additional cost you might opt for a late-night expedition to search for nesting turtles along the beach. Overnight at Tortuguero area hotel (B, L, D).

Day 4 – Tortuguero / Osa Peninsula
Just after breakfast, take a five minute boat ride to Tortuguero airstrip. You will then, fly to San José & connect with a flight to Palmar Sur. From there, after a quick transfer to Sierpe boat dock, you will ride a boat ride down the river to the open ocean. Along the way, your guide will point many things out to you. By lunchtime you will arrive at the dock of your hotel. The afternoon is yours to hike the trails on the grounds of the hotel, take a swim, or just relax. Overnight at Osa Peninsula hotel (B, L, D).

Day 5 – Osa Peninsula/ Corcovado National Park
After a delicious breakfast your adventure begins. Starting out from the lodge with your naturalist guide, you’ll journey into Corcovado National Park. Along the trail your guide will tell you some of the fascinating stories about life in the rainforest and point out an amazing variety of birds and wildlife. Spider monkeys, howler monkeys, scarlet Macaws, owls, herons, parrots, and poison dart frogs are just a few of the animals you might see. Afterwards, you wind your way down a river until reaching the park ranger station at San Pedrillo. There under shade trees on the beach you will enjoy a picnic lunch. After lunch there will be time to explore the beach. In the afternoon it’s a short distance along the coastal trail to return to the lodge. Overnight at Osa Peninsula hotel (B, L, D).

Day 6 – Osa Peninsula/ Caño Island Biological Preserve
Your excursion starts after breakfast when your guide will help you select snorkeling gear (SCUBA diving upgrade is available for an additional fee.) A half-hour boat ride will take you to Caño Island. Along the way, it’s possible to see dolphins, whales, and even orcas. The boat will anchor and you’ll have a chance to snorkel above coral reefs, seeing fish, rays, and sometimes turtles. Afterward, you will make landfall on a beautiful beach sheltered by coconut palms, which has picnic tables where your guide will spread out a tablecloth and lay out your lunch. There will be time to hike up to the burial grounds in the interior of the island or to contemplate a while at the "viewpoint". There will also be plenty of time to take a swim, beach-comb or to try your luck at snorkeling in the cove in front of you. Around mid-afternoon we’ll pack-up and head back to the lodge where you’ll have a chance to rest up before drinks and dinner. Overnight at Osa Peninsula hotel (B, L, D).

Day 7 – Osa Peninsula/ Monteverde
After breakfast, return to Sierpe boat dock for a taxi transfer to Palmar Sur, followed by a short flight to San José. From here you will transfer by private van to Monteverde, enjoying the gorgeous mountain scenery along the way. After arriving and settling in to your hotel, your afternoon is free to relax, or explore the area. You may wish to check out the area’s art galleries and shopping, local cheese factory, frog farm, or serpentarium (at extra cost.) Overnight at Monteverde area hotel (B).

Day 8 – Monteverde
In the morning, enjoy a guided walk through the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. The Reserve extends down both sides of the Tilarán mountains, encompassing six different ecological life zones. It is home to 100+ species of mammals, 400 species of birds, and 1,500 plant species. You might see the endangered Resplendent quetzal, three-wattled bellbird, or Emerald toucanet, as well as many other plants and animals. In the afternoon, get ready for adventure! Visit the Selvatura canopy tour and zip between platforms on a series of cables high up in the trees. Then, enjoy walking a circuit of trails and suspension bridges at a more leisurely pace, viewing plant life such as tree ferns and native orchids and bromeliads as you go. Overnight at Monteverde area hotel (B).

Day 9 – Monteverde/ San José
Transfer by private van to San José international airport for departure (B).