Costa Rica - From Coast to Cloudforest

Tour Code: CRI04

An 11-day birdwatching and wildlife tour to Costa Rica including time exploring the Talamanca Mountains and Tortuguero National Park.

11 days from
£4,995 (Inc flights)
Land only price from
£4,195
book now

Highlights

Summary

Summary

Costa Rica occupies just 0.1% of the world’s landmass, but is home to over 5% of its biodiversity! And there are good reasons for this superb richness of fauna and flora. This small country lies within the tropics, the most ecologically diverse region of our planet. Furthermore, one quarter its land has been protected within national parks and reserves (one of the largest percentages in the world) and Costa Rica's topography is incredibly varied, ranging from lush lowland rainforests on both Caribbean and Pacific coastlines to the moss-draped cloudforests and high volcanic peaks of the interior. On this exciting 11-day tour we will go in search of this abundance of wildlife, focusing in particular on the birdlife of the Talamanca Mountains to the south of San José and the forests, waterways and coastal mangroves of Tortuguero National Park in the Caribbean Lowlands.

  • Look for Resplendent Quetzals in the cloudforests of the Talamanca Mountains
  • Explore the lowland rainforests of Tortuguero National Park by boat and on foot
  • Numerous colourful tanagers, trogons, hummingbirds, toucans and motmots
  • Wander the lowland rainforests of La Selva, one of the biologically richest reserves in the country
  • Mammals including Mantled Howler Monkey, Geoffroy’s Spider Monkey and perhaps Northern Tamandua
  • Small group of only 10 people 
  • Led by a expert naturalist guide

Grading

Grade A/B. Easy to moderate day walks only.

On the 18th September 1502, on his final voyage to the New World, Christopher Columbus landed on a rainforest-edged sandy beach on the shores of the Caribbean. He, and the conquistadors who came after him, were so dazzled by the gold jewellery worn by the native peoples that they christened this new land ‘Costa Rica’, Spanish for ‘rich coast’. Although these early explorers failed to find the golden cities they had dreamed of, today this beautiful Central American country offers wealth of a different kind to those who visit its shores and, for the naturalist, Costa Rica’s riches lie in its wonderful diversity of wildlife.

Occupying just 0.1% of the world’s landmass, this little country contains 5% of its biodiversity! And there are good reasons for this superb richness of fauna and flora. Costa Rica lies within the tropics, the most ecologically diverse region of our planet. Furthermore, one quarter of the country has been protected within national parks and reserves and its topography is incredibly varied, ranging from lush lowland rainforests on both Caribbean and Pacific coastlines to the moss-draped cloudforests and high volcanic peaks of the interior. On this exciting tour we will go in search of this abundance of wildlife, focusing in particular on the birdlife of the Talamanca Mountains to the south of San José and the forests, waterways and coastal mangroves of Tortuguero National Park and the Caribbean lowlands.

We begin our holiday with a flight to San José. From there, after a night spent on the edge of the city, we drive to Cano Blanco and then journey by boat into the canals and waterways of Tortuguero National Park for a 3-night stay at a lodge deep within the forest. Tortuguero National Park is a remote wildlife haven on Costa Rica’s northern Caribbean coastline covering over 310 square kilometres and is only accessible by water or plane. Over 370 species of bird have been recorded here, plus 57 species of amphibian, 60 species of mammal and a staggering 400 species of tree! We will explore Tortuguero by boat and on foot over the coming days in search of the abundance of birds and other wildlife that lives here, including Sun Grebe, Agami Heron, American Pygmy Kingfisher, Keel-billed Toucan, Collared Aracari, Mantled Howler Monkey, Geoffroy’s Spider Monkey, White-faced Capuchin and the rare American Crocodile.

Retracing our steps back to Cano Blanco, we will spend the next two nights at a comfortable lodge located close to the rainforest-lined Sarapiqui River. From here we visit the nearby La Selva Biological Station, a research and education centre operated by the ‘Organisation for Tropical Studies’ surrounded by an extensive tract of primary rainforest, one of the most biologically rich forests in the country. Highlights may include Great Curassow, Great Green Macaw, Bare-necked Umbrella Bird, Snowy Cotinga, Great Antshrike, Golden-hooded Tanager and the beautiful Sunbittern, plus Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth, Collared Peccary and perhaps even Northern Tamandua. A wide variety of hummingbirds, manakins, trogons, tanagers and ‘New World’ wood warblers live around the lodge itself, whilst the colourful Green-and-black Poison-dart Frog and Strawberry Poison-dart Frog can both be found along the river’s edge.

Moving on, we leave the Caribbean lowlands behind and climb into the cool, moss-draped cloudforests of the Talamanca Mountains for a 3-night stay at a comfortable mountain lodge. Here we can continue to enjoy the staggering variety of birdlife that abounds in Costa Rica. A kaleidoscope of hummingbirds such as Talamanca, Fiery-throated, Volcano and White-throated Mountain-gem zip to and fro between flowering shrubs and hummingbird feeders. Mixed tanager and warbler flocks often include such stunners as Collared Whitestart, Flame-throated Warbler and Spangle-cheeked Tanager, whilst Long-tailed Silky Flycatchers and Emerald Toucanets perch in the treetops and elegant Swallow-tailed Kites glide overhead. The Talamanca Mountains are also home to the spectacular Resplendent Quetzal, often touted as the most beautiful bird in the world!

Finally, after a last look at the lodge’s busy hummingbird feeders, we must make our way back to San José from where we leave the rainforests, beaches and mountains of Costa Rica and begin our journey home. You might like to consider extending your stay, however, with a few nights exploring Carara National Park on the Pacific coastline or perhaps time wandering the forests and beaches of Corcovado National Park in the south. Please call for further ideas and advice.

DETAILED INFORMATION
Itinerary

Outline Itinerary

Day 1
Fly San Jose and stay overnight.
Day 2/4
Tortuguero National Park.
Day 5/6
Sarapiqui and La Selva.
Day 7/9
Savegre and Talamanca Mountains.
Day 10
Depart San Jose.
Day 11
Arrive London.
cloud_downloadDownload Full Itinerary
What's Included

What's Included?

  • Flights
  • Accommodation:

    We stay in comfortable rainforest lodges and hotels, all rooms with private facilities.

  • Food:

    All included in the price except for dinners in San Jose (allow £30).

Reviews
Dates & Prices

Dates & Prices

2025

Departures Availability Cost
Thu 6th Mar – Sun 16th Mar FULL £4,995
Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Regional Departures:
On certain tours it is possible to depart from a regional airport (rather than London). If a regional departure is possible, we indicate that here.
Regional Departures are available. Call 01962733051
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£4,195
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£695
Thu 27th Mar – Sun 6th Apr FULL £4,995
Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Regional Departures:
On certain tours it is possible to depart from a regional airport (rather than London). If a regional departure is possible, we indicate that here.
Regional Departures are available. Call 01962733051
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£4,195
Room sharing options:
If a customer on this departure has already expressed an interest in sharing a room it will be flagged here. We will identify if there are sharing options for male, female or both.
Female sharing available
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£695 
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Birding Tours Led by Expert Naturalists


The majority of our wildlife tours focus primarily on birds, allowing us to offer a huge choice of bird holidays. On most of our birdwatching tours we aim to see a wide variety of species, while taking time to enjoy other wildlife as well as cultural highlights and architecture.


Naturetrek Birdwatching Tours


We have one of the largest selections of professionally organised, small group birdwatching holidays around the world and all of our birdwatching tours are accompanied by at least one professional ornithologist leader with detailed knowledge of the area.


The majority of our bird tours have a relaxed, flexible approach which allows more time for photography, detailed wildlife exploration, leisure time and the region’s people, culture, history and architecture, while allowing the group to see a wide range of bird species.

Here is a small selection of our many bird holidays:



Our Bargain Birdwatching Selection


Our Bargain Bird Tours are intensive birdwatching holidays suitable for the serious birder. They are led by expert English-speaking local guides (and not accompanied from the UK by a tour leader). You can expect a higher-paced tour and to spend long hours in the field.


 




Our specialist recommends...






"Try Coto Doñana & Extremadura for an excellent introduction to Europe's wetland and steppe birds. I would recommend our bargain holiday, 'Nepal – A Birdwatching Tour' for those interested in Siberian rarities and Ibisbill, while Costa Rica offers a chance to search for arguably the world's most beautiful bird, the Resplendent Quetzal."

Byron Palacios - Tour Leader




  


 


All Birdwatching Tours

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Mammal Watching Holidays


Many of the world’s mammals are instantly recognisable to us. Animals such as Lions, Tigers, elephants and bears capture our imaginations from an early age. At Naturetrek, we take great pleasure and pride in helping people to fulfil their lifelong dreams of seeing these iconic species in the wild. We also enjoy introducing our clients to some of the world’s more unusual mammals, many of which are just as fascinating.


Naturetrek Mammal Watching Tours


Many of our tours have a primary focus on mammals and we offer the widest choices of mammal-watching holidays across the globe, from the poles to the tropics. Our holidays are guided by at least one professional naturalist tour leader and usually benefit from additional guiding by expert local naturalist guides. We have holidays to see an incredible range of the world’s most sought-after mammals, such as orangutans, lemurs, bats, polar mammals, big cats, and mammals of the African savannah. A significant number of tours also targets some of the planet’s more unusual and elusive species, from pottos and pangolins to slender lorises and obscure cetaceans.


Here’s a selection of our mammal tours:



Bargain mammal selection


We offer a range of action-packed bargain holidays for the dedicated mammal enthusiast, which are exceptional value for money, from Belize to Zambia.




Our specialist recommends...







"Africa is perhaps the greatest continent for mammal-watching. I would recommend 'Botswana’s Desert & Delta (Mammals)' for combining stunning scenery and wildlife. We also offer a tour to Uganda which includes a chance to see Mountain Gorillas. And India, along with Tigers, has a superb variety of mammals. Closer to home, short breaks to Spain in search of Wolves and Iberian Lynx are hard to beat.”

Paul Stanbury - Operations Manager




  


All Mammal Watching Tours

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Prefer to Travel in a Private Group?

For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.

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Why Naturetrek?

Why Naturetrek?

At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:

  • The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
  • Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
  • Outstanding value and exceptional customer service

Furthermore, as a Naturetrek client, our office team are always to on hand to help you – so if you have any queries about your holiday, whether before or after you have booked, we will be delighted to answer them on the phone. Please just give our team a call!