Costa Rica's Coastal Secrets
Costa Rica's Coastal Secrets
Costa Rica's Coastal Secrets
15 Days Starting and ending in San José, Costa Rica
Visiting: San José, Tortuguero National Park, Tortuguero, Cahuita, Cahuita National Park, Turrialba Valley, Savegre Valley, Drake Bay, Caño Island, Corcovado National Park, San Jose, Cartago
Tour operator:
Tour code:
WUR
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
5 - 16
Age range:
16-99
Special diets catered:
Please inform Exodus of specific dietary requirements
Tour operated in:
EnglishInterests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Embark on an unforgettable journey with "Costa Rica's Coastal Secrets," a wildlife tour that takes you through the heart of Costa Rica's most pristine natural habitats. Explore the unparalleled biodiversity of Corcovado National Park, often hailed as the "most biologically intense place on Earth," and navigate the tranquil waterways of Tortuguero, a crucial nesting site for Green turtles. Experience the best of both the Caribbean and Pacific coastlines, with three nights in the remote Drake Bay, a gateway to premier wildlife destinations. Enjoy unrivaled wildlife viewing opportunities, from monkeys and sloths to dolphins and seasonal whales, all while staying in comfortable hotels and lodges with swimming pools. This adventure promises a deep dive into Costa Rica's rich natural beauty and vibrant ecosystems.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Arrival In San Jose
Location: San José
Accommodation Name: Presidente Hotel or Park Inn (or similar)
The group flight usually arrives into San Jose this evening. Land Only clients should aim to arrive at the hotel this afternoon/evening. Free transfers are available for all clients. This evening is the perfect opportunity to meet your guide and get to know your fellow travellers.
Day 2 : San Jose To Tortuguero National Park
Location: Tortuguero National Park
Accommodation Name: Evergreen Lodge (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Our adventure begins early this morning, leaving San Jose behind as we travel to the north-east of Costa Rica to Tortuguero National Park. Accessible only by boat or light aircraft, Tortuguero's vast network of waterways, canals and swamps are remarkably tranquil, unspoilt and devoid of noise pollution. On reaching the pier we board a small motorboat for the one hour fifteen minute journey to our lodge, which is nestled on a small strip of land between the Caribbean Sea and the main lagoon. Our afternoon is spent in Tortuguero village, where it’s possible to visit the Sea Turtle Museum (a donation will be requested at the entrance). Tortuguero is probably most famous as a nesting site for the endangered Green turtle, which can be seen arriving onto the beach to lay eggs from late July to October (as part of an optional excursion). Hawksbill, Loggerhead and Giant Leatherback turtles also nest in this region, and during November to January baby turtles start to hatch and make their way towards the ocean. Today's travel time will be in the region of six hours including a break for breakfast.
Day 3 : Exploring Tortuguero
Location: Tortuguero
Accommodation Name: Evergreen Lodge (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Just after sunrise we board a small boat, enabling us to discover the extraordinary flora and fauna of Tortuguero as we pass serenely along the waterways. At this time of day wildlife is usually at its most active and with the help of our expert guide we are likely to encounter monkeys, caiman, iguanas, butterflies and many of the 300+ bird species recorded here. We return to the lodge for a hearty breakfast near the river. The lodge is a tranquil spot to relax this afternoon if you want to take some time out to enjoy the facilities, or alternatively you can join a second boat trip (included).
Day 4 : Tortuguero To Cahuita
Location: Cahuita
Accommodation Name: Ciudad Perdida or Villas del Caribe (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
We leave Tortuguero the same way we arrived, by taking a small boat to Siquirres pier. Our bus will be at the pier waiting to drive us to the region of Cahuita on the Caribbean coast, where we check into our hotel. Caribbean culture pervades this part of Costa Rica and is reflected in the music, food and laid-back lifestyle. Cahuita’s famous white-sand beach is fringed by tall palms, behind which the dense, wet tropical forest of Cahuita National Park can be found.
Day 5 : Cahuita National Park
Location: Cahuita National Park
Accommodation Name: Ciudad Perdida or Villas del Caribe (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast
Cahuita National Park has 2711 acres of land and an impressive 600 acres of coral reef, forming Costa Rica's largest reef system. Today we visit the national park, taking a 7km walk from the southern entrance of the park which follows the coastline, leads through rainforest and passes impressive Caribbean beaches. Although a fairly small park in terms of size, there is plenty of diversity here. The rest of the afternoon is yours to explore the beach, join an optional snorkelling excursion to discover the underwater world or simply relax.
Day 6
Location: Cahuita
Accommodation Name: Ciudad Perdida or Villas del Caribe (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today is free to relax into the Caribbean pace of life and enjoy some free time around Cahuita. It is possible to join an optional excursion to the indigenous communities of Kekoldi & Bri Bri Reserve, where you'll learn about the properties and uses of native plants, as well as the process of making artisan chocolate. Chocolate is very important in Bri Bri culture and used for purification rituals, food and medicine.
Day 7
Location: Turrialba Valley
Accommodation Name: Villa Florencia or Guayabo (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast
Our next destination is Turrialba Valley, a rich agricultural region located in the Central Highlands. On the way to Turrialba we visit La Marta Wildlife Refuge, an area of both primary and secondary forest within La Amistad Biosphere (recognised as a UNESCO World Patrimony of Humanity). The topography of this region is mountainous, with waterfalls, rivers and caves - the varied elevation supports a wide range of plants (such as orchids, bromeliads, lichens and mosses) and animals (such as anteaters, ocelots and tapirs).
Day 8
Location: Savegre Valley
Accommodation Name: Savegre Hotel, Nature Reserve & Spa or Trogon Lodge (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast we depart towards San Gerado de Dota and Savegre Cloud Forest. This is said to be one of the best places in the whole of Costa Rica to see the beautiful, colourful and notoriously shy Resplendant Quetzal and we have two nights here to discover the region. These endangered birds rely on the cloud forest for their habitat - the males in particular are striking with a green crest, red breast and tail feathers that can reach a metre in length. A good pair of binoculars will be helpful for quetzal spotting as these birds camouflage themselves well amongst the wet leaves of the forest! After lunch we take a short walk into the cloud forest.
Day 9
Location: Savegre Valley
Accommodation Name: Savegre Hotel, Nature Reserve & Spa or Trogon Lodge (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today is free to relax and explore Savegre Valley. Bring your binoculars to spot some of the 170 bird species, trek through the tropical cloud forest or simply enjoy the incredible view from the lodge. Your leader will suggest walks for today so that you can discover the tropical cloud forest and sub-Alpine vegetation of the area. Birds that may be seen in this area include hummingbirds, colibri, tanagers and trogons, whilst tapirs and Squirrel monkeys may also be seen.
Day 10
Location: Drake Bay
Accommodation Name: Drake Bay Wilderness Resort (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Our journey continues towards the small town of Sierpe, where we board a small motorboat to Drake Bay on the Osa Peninsula. Passing the huge mangrove swamps that line the Sierpe River, our boat crosses the ocean before arriving into Drake Bay. This region is very remote and with extremely limited road access, which means the majority of supplies, as well as visitors and locals, must arrive by boat. Originally discovered by Francis Drake, getting here is part of the adventure! The bay is spectacular, with just a handful of lodges scattering the horizon and the rest thick verdant forest and rocky coves as far as the eye can see. Our next three nights will be spent at the Drake Bay Wilderness Resort, a family run property positioned close to the 'town' of Drake Bay and with ocean views from every corner.
Day 11
Location: Caño Island
Accommodation Name: Drake Bay Wilderness Resort (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Board a small boat to Caño Island, located 12 nautical miles from Drake Bay. During this 45 minute boat ride there may be opportunities to spot migrating whales or playful dolphins in the surrounding waters (Orca whales might be seen between approx. December to April and Humpback whales might be seen between approx. July to November). The interior of the island is thought to have been a burial ground for the indigenous Daquis tribe during pre-Columbian times, and many perfectly spherical man-made stones have been found here. But it's the marine life that is the biggest highlight of Caño Island, with Hawksbill and Olive Ridley turtles, Manta rays and White-tipped reef sharks being just some of the likely encounters on today's snorkelling excursion. This area has been rated as having the best snorkelling in the whole of Costa Rica, with excellent water visibility and a huge marine diversity awaiting beneath the waves in the protected reef. Enjoy a picnic lunch on nearby San Josecito beach, where Capuchin monkeys, Coatimundi and lively Scarlet macaws may make an appearance.
Day 12
Location: Corcovado National Park
Accommodation Name: Drake Bay Wilderness Resort (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
When National Geographic describes an area as ‘the most biologically intense place on earth’ it has to be worthy of investigation! This morning we board a small boat for a 30 minute journey to San Pedrillo Ranger Station, our entrance point to Corcovado National Park. This is undoubtedly Costa Rica's most secluded and tranquil region. Protecting around one third of the Osa Peninsula (some 164 square miles), Corcovado is Costa Rica's largest national park and encompasses 13 major ecosystems across various elevations, with montane forest, cloud forest, freshwater and mangrove swamps being just some of these. Scientists have recorded half of all of the species in Costa Rica on this peninsula alone. On today's hike along the parks trails we may see all four of Costa Rica's monkey species (Squirrel, Howler, White-faced Capuchin and Spider monkeys), tamandua (anteater), two and three-toed sloths, peccary, tapirs (including the endangered Baird's tapir) and of course many reptiles, insects and amphibians. Puma and jaguar are known in this area but very difficult to see. With over 500 tree species, the bird count stands at an impressive 365 and the park protects the largest population of Scarlet macaws in the country, which can frequently be seen and heard flying overhead.
Day 13
Location: San Jose
Accommodation Name: Presidente Hotel or Park Inn (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast
After breakfast, we board another boat to depart from Drake Bay and return to Sierpe town. On the way our boat will take a short tour of the huge mangrove forest that lines the Sierpe River. Delving into the network of tributary rivers and streams is fascinating and a chance to learn more about the role of mangroves in the eco-system and the numerous creatures that depend on them, such as fish, crabs, birds, molluscs and shell fish. In Sierpe town we transfer to our private minibus and commence our journey to San Jose.
Day 14
Location: Cartago
Accommodation Name: Presidente Hotel or Park Inn (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today begins with a trip to the Irazu Volcano National Park in the Cartago province of Costa Rica, located within the Central Mountain Range around a 1.5 hour journey from San Jose. Passing different types of vegetation from coffee plantations to ferns, we'll drive towards the summit and then follow a path that leads to a wonderful view across the huge crater, overlooking the mystical green lagoon and jagged rocks. Irazu is one of Costa Rica's most active volcanoes, though it has recently entered a dormant phase which has brought great relief to the farmers and property owners who make their living on its fertile slopes. On a clear day, both the Caribbean and Pacific coastlines can be seen from the summit. Remember to bring a jacket as it can be windy and cold at the viewpoint of this elevation (Irazu summit is 3,432m). Following this we continue to the city of Cartago with its famous Basilica, and the Orosi Valley, an area of natural beauty. After lunch in one of the many traditional restaurants, we join the Orosi Coffee tour to learn about the ancient techniques used to produce some of the best coffee in the world! This involves understanding the cultivation, harvesting and roasting of coffee beans, before you have a chance to savour the end product yourself. Afterwards we return to San Jose for our last night of the holiday.
Day 15
Location: San Jose
Meals Included: Breakfast
Our adventure comes to an end today after breakfast and it's time to bid Costa Rica and the rest of the group goodbye. Free transfers to San Jose airport are available to all clients today.
What's Included
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Accommodation
14 nights in comfortable hotels and lodges, most with swimming pools.
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Meals
All breakfasts, 8 lunches, and 7 dinners are included.
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Transport
All transport and listed activities are included.
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Tour Leader
Tour leader throughout the trip.
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Arrival and Departure Transfers
Free transfers are available for all clients.
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Activities
Boat tours, wildlife walks, and visits to national parks and research centers.
What's Not Included
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Visas or vaccinations
Visas or vaccinations are not included.
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Travel insurance
Travel insurance is not included.
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Single accommodation
Single accommodation is available on request but not included.
Food
All breakfasts, eight lunches and seven dinners are included.
Hotel breakfasts are normally buffets, and lunches and dinners at Tortuguero are also buffets. Vegetarian and vegan options are limited but food is plentiful and tasty – please inform us before departure of any special dietary requests.
Costa Rican specialities include gallo pinto, a black bean and rice dish, which is a staple part of the local diet. Soups and stews are also common, and fresh fruit is abundant and will no doubt be one of the highlights of your time in the tropics.
Accommodation
On this Costa Rican adventure, we spend 14 nights in comfortable hotels and lodges. Make sure to bring your swimwear, as most have swimming pools. Notable stays include Evergreen Lodge in Tortuguero, Savegre Hotel & Spa or Trogon Lodge in Savegre, and Drake Bay Wilderness Resort in Drake Bay.
Mode of Transport
Transportation includes a mix of private minibus, small motorboats, and public transfers. The journey to Tortuguero involves a motorboat ride, while travel to Drake Bay includes a boat crossing the ocean. The tour also features a variety of boat trips for wildlife viewing.
Check out our Q&As
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What type of accommodation can I expect during the tour?
During the Costa Rica's Coastal Secrets tour, you will stay in comfortable hotels and lodges for 14 nights. Most accommodations have swimming pools, and notable stays include Evergreen Lodge in Tortuguero, Savegre Hotel & Spa or Trogon Lodge in Savegre, and Drake Bay Wilderness Resort in Drake Bay. Some properties may have ceiling fans instead of air conditioning, and there might be substitutions for similar alternatives to secure hotel availability.
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What wildlife can I expect to see during the tour?
You can expect to see a diverse range of wildlife including monkeys, sloths, dolphins, whales (in season), caimans, iguanas, butterflies, and over 300 bird species in Tortuguero. In Corcovado National Park, you may encounter all four monkey species in Costa Rica, tamanduas (anteaters), two- and three-toed sloths, peccaries, tapirs, and many reptiles, insects, and amphibians. The park also protects the largest population of scarlet macaws in the country.
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What activities are included in the tour?
The tour includes a variety of activities such as boat tours around Tortuguero waterways, wildlife walks in Cahuita National Park, a visit to the CATIE research center, snorkelling near Caño Island, hiking to secluded Cocalito Beach, and a boat trip to Corcovado National Park. Additionally, there are opportunities for optional excursions like snorkelling in Cahuita and visiting the indigenous communities of Kekoldi & Bri Bri Reserve.
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What should I bring for the tour?
You should bring your swimwear as most accommodations have swimming pools. A good pair of binoculars will be helpful for spotting wildlife, especially birds like the resplendent quetzal in Savegre Valley. It's also advisable to bring a jacket for the visit to Irazu Volcano National Park as it can be windy and cold at the summit.
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Are there any optional excursions available during the tour?
Yes, there are optional excursions available during the tour. In Cahuita, you can join a snorkelling excursion to explore the coral reef or visit the indigenous communities of Kekoldi & Bri Bri Reserve to learn about native plants and artisanal chocolate making. Additionally, during the turtle nesting season in Tortuguero (late July to October), you can opt for an excursion to see the turtles arriving on the beach to lay eggs.
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What meals are included in the tour?
The tour includes all breakfasts, 8 lunches, and 7 dinners. Hotel breakfasts are typically buffet style, and lunches and dinners at Tortuguero are also buffet style. Vegetarians are well catered for, but it's recommended to inform the tour operator of any special dietary requests before departure.
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What is the best time to see turtles in Tortuguero?
The best time to see turtles in Tortuguero is from late July to October when endangered green turtles arrive on the beach to lay eggs. Hawksbill, loggerhead, and giant leatherback turtles also nest in this region, and from November to January, baby turtles hatch and make their way towards the ocean.
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What kind of transportation is used during the tour?
The tour uses a combination of private minibus, small motorboats, and light aircraft for transportation. For example, the journey to Tortuguero National Park involves a small motorboat ride, and the transfer from San José to Tortuguero is not private for Exodus clients.
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
If you wish to make any changes to your booking, particularly if you need to alter any flights booked through us, please let us know as soon as possible. There is a booking or flight amendment fee of £40 per change and flight amendments often incur extra airline costs depending on the changes to be made and if the ticket has been issued or not.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Exodus has been trading since 1974
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Your final joining instructions and flight details, if booked with us, will then be sent out 2 to 3 weeks before departure. If you would like a hard copy posted, or if you require these any earlier, please contact the customer operations team. We advise that if you are booking connecting travel before receiving these, please ensure you leave plenty of time.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Travellers are welcome to opt to share a room with a tour member of the same gender for no additional charge. If you'd like your own room, we can request a single supplement so that you will have your own room throughout.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
You are welcome to meet the group after the tour has departed however there is no reduction in rate for joining a tour after the departure date.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Exodus Adventure Travels allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform exodus adventure travels, 43 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Exodus Adventure Travels requires a minimum deposit of 25% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of exodus adventure travels charges.
Up to 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.