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Luxury journey Costa Rica

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16 days - from € 9.800 per person

self-drive - active - jungle - wildlife – birds

  • Conquer the Pacuare River by boat and enjoy pristine rainforests along the way
  • Go horseback riding across coffee and cocoa plantations
  • Sip on a Coconut Lime Margarita on the tropical beach of Santa Teresa
  • Spot humpback whales and dolphins in the Marino Ballena N.P.

Travel itinerary

Day 1: Amsterdam - San José

Your special journey through Costa Rica starts today. You will depart by intercontinental flight from Amsterdam to San José. Once you arrive at the airport, you will be welcomed by our local staff who will take you to your accommodation in San José. You will stay in Grano de Oro, located in a Victorian style villa. The Victorian style can still be seen in the hotel. The hotel's restaurant is one of the best in town.
Overnight stay: Hotel Grano de Oro | bed & breakfast

Day 2: San José – Turrialba

Today you will be picked up at your hotel and taken to the Pacuare Jungle Lodge. You will stay in an eco-lodge and to reach this lodge you will go rafting. En route you will make a stop to experience typical Costa Rican breakfast. During this trip you will sail through beautiful mountains and you will slowly see the surroundings change into pristine rainforest. Here you will see beautiful birds or blue butterflies glittering in the sunlight. Once arrived at the lodge you will be brought to your suite which has a view of the river. In the afternoon you can participate in one of the activities offered by your accommodation such as birdwatching.
Overnight stay: Pacuare Lodge | full board

Day 3: Turrialba

This day you will enjoy your stay at the Pacuare Lodge. Take part in one of the excursions offered by the lodge. You can go rafting, kayaking, rock climbing, abseiling, bird watching, make walks or visit a native Cabécar family. In short, there is something for everyone. After a busy morning you can relax on the sun loungers by the pool. Order your favorite drink at the bar and get surprised with a delicious dish during dinner.
Overnight stay: Pacuare Lodge | full board

Day 4: Turrialba – San José – Liberia – Origins Lodge

Today you are already travelling on to your next destination. After breakfast you will leave the Pacuare Lodge by raft after which you will be taken to the airport of San José for a flight to Liberia, in the northwest of Costa Rica. Once arrived here you will pick-up a rental car and drive to your accommodation (approx. 120 km | 2,5 hour drive).
The next few days you will spend in the Origins Lodge, located high up on a mountain side with a 180o degree view over the valley in front of the majestic Lake Nicaragua, in the heart of the pristine mountainous rainforest in Northern Costa Rica. When the owner visited his estate for the first time, he was touched by the pristine beauty of the area and experienced the feeling of going back to the origins of life. The circle shaped buildings are inspired by the pre-Columbian indigenous cultures who believed that energy comes in with sunrise and goes out with sunset. The accommodation consists of only seven lodges, spread over the estate, allowing you to have lots of privacy. In the construction of the lodge a lot of wood, stone and iron was used. Luxury and comfort are designed here with a rugged natural ambiance. Culinary you won’t be short of anything at the El Salto restaurant run by Michelin star and "Meilleur Ouvrier de France" (M.O.F.) chef Jean-Luc L'Hourre. Although he comes from Brittany, he is a true explorer, also in the kitchen. Enjoy delicious dishes prepared with fresh ingredients from their own garden or from local farmers. With a good meal, a good glass of wine should of course not be missing, for this you can turn to the wine cellar, where you will find wines from all over the world.
Overnight stay: Origins Lodge| bed & breakfast

Day 5 and 6: Origins Lodge

During your stay you are invited to leave the daily grind behind you and dive into a spectacular adventure in the high rainforests of Costa Rica. Various activities offered by the lodge on the estate are included during your stay. Start your day with a yoga class or take a swim in the infinity pool with a stunning view. You could visit the coffee and cocoa plantation or explore the trails of Origins Lodge where you can spot special animals. During a walk along medicinal plants you will learn more about the existing trees, herbs and flowers that have helped the locals to cure various diseases and ailments throughout the centuries.  The lodge also has its own horse ranch, allowing you to explore the estate on horseback. If you want to look outside the lodge boundaries you could visit the Tenorio National Park. The impressive and still active Tenorio volcano rises over the similarly named national park. Take a walk to the volcanic top, walking along the Lago las Dantas path that winds its way up through the rainforest towards the cloud forest. This region is the living space of ocelots, jaguars and pumas, but also of tapirs, howler monkeys, toucans and sloths. Another beautiful sight is the turquoise water of the Celeste river, which owes its color to the volcanic activity of the Tenorio volcano and the sulfur it emits. A Costa Rican legend tells that gods dipped their paintbrushes in the river while painting the sky. End the day sipping a tropical cocktail on the porch while watching the sun disappear into the horizon. If you want to be active in the evening you could make a walk under the moonlight with one of the naturalist guides, where you will see different kinds of amphibians, luminous fungi, mammals and other creatures.
Overnight stay: Origins Lodge| bed & breakfast

Day 7: Origins Lodge – Santa Teresa

(approx. 300 km | 4 hour drive)
After breakfast you will continue to Santa Teresa on the Nicoya peninsula, one of the five blue zones in the world. Here you will stay in the Nantipa - a Tico beach experience. This is a beautiful small hotel with 15 detached luxury bungalows and suites overlooking the 150 meters long beach. The Manzu restaurant of Nantipa located on the beach is designed to remind you of the palm huts where the native chorotegans lived. Be surprised by the signature cocktails created by the Mulberry project, using local fruit and liqueur. 
Give your preferences and you'll be surprised with a delicious cocktail to enjoy while you relax and absorb the surroundings. On the menu you will find dishes inspired by Costa Rican cuisine (tacos, gallos and casados), made with local ingredients. If you are a fish lover, you should definitely order one of the ceviches or freshly grilled seafood.
Overnight stay: Nantipa | bed & breakfast

Day 8 and 9: Santa Teresa

These days are planned off to explore Santa Teresa. Here you will find one of the beloved beaches of Costa Rica, discovered by surfers who made other travelers curious with their stories. Many young travelers have fallen in love with this destination and have never left. That is why many international influences can be found in Santa Teresa. There is plenty to experience ashore as well as on water. The cosy town of Santa Teresa is within walking distance (150meters). Discover the pristine beaches, surrounded by forest and shady hideaways. You could also take part in various activities such as a sunset boat trip, snorkeling, horseback riding, or beach hopping by boat.
Overnight stay: Nantipa | bed & breakfast

Day 10: Santa Teresa – Monteverde

(approx. 215 km | 5 hour drive)
Today you will continue to Monteverde, where you will stay in Senda Monteverde. This accommodation is located in the cloud forest of Costa Rica. Here you will sleep in a comfortable mountain bungalow with an open-air veranda where you have a view over the Pacific Ocean or the cloud forest. After lunch you will be shown around the Monteverde institute, where a lot of research is done on the ecosystem of the cloud forest. You will visit the organic garden, where the ingredients of your lunch come from, and the medicinal garden. You will then visit the native plant nursery to learn more about reforestation techniques and tree species. Also you will be able to contribute by helping with maintenance work and creating a place where seeds can germinate.
Overnight stay: Senda Monteverde | bed & breakfast

Day 11: Monteverde

Today you will be picked up at the hotel and make a walk through the cloud forest of Monteverde. The area is about 10,500 hectares and has many hiking trails, which are open to the public who want to explore this environment. Your guide will guide you through this protected area along one of the many hiking trails, which are surrounded by high trees with colorful orchids, tropical bromeliads and velvet mosses. The mist here makes you feel as if you have ended up in a fairytale environment. In the trees and shrubs you can spot birds, monkeys, reptiles, amphibians and insects. Maybe you will see sloths, tree frogs and colorful butterflies. Afterwards you will be brought back to your hotel. The rest of the day you will have the opportunity to explore the area by yourself.
Overnight stay: Senda Monteverde | bed & breakfast

Day 12: Monteverde – Uvita

(approx. 255 km | 4,5 hour drive)
You will continue your journey to Uvita, where you will spend the last days of your wonderful journey. You will stay in Kurà Design Villas, an exclusive boutique hotel in the Uvita rainforest. All rooms have a terrace and offer panoramic views over the Marino Balleno National Park and Uvita beach. Uvita is known for its famous 'whale's tail', alias the sand formation on the coast that resembles a whale's tail.
Overnight stay: Kurà Design Villas | bed & breakfast

Day 13: Uvita

Today you will visit the highest waterfall of Costa Rica with breathtaking views over the valley surrounding it. Accompanied by a guide you will walk through the beautiful organic garden of the reserve. You will be served a delicious lunch in the cave behind the waterfall, a unique environment. Then you follow a steep but well maintained path and you will have a spectacular panoramic view. As you travel through the wilderness you will encounter an abundance of wildlife such as toucans, macaws, monkeys, sloths, armadillos and various reptiles. Also take a refreshing swim in the natural pristine water holes along the path.
Overnight stay: Kurà Design Villas | bed & breakfast

Day 14: Uvita

Today is scheduled off. You will have time to discover the surroundings. You could visit the national park Marino Ballena. Between December and April and between July and September you have a great chance to see the humpback whales swimming here. Dolphins are also present throughout the year. If you love nature, pay a visit to the Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Barú. Here you will find, for example, a beach where the hawksbill and the olive ridley sea turtles lay their eggs. In addition, more than 310 different species of birds and mammals live here. Of course you also have enough beautiful beaches in the area to relax, such as Playa Ventanas. At low tide, you can admire sea caves along the coast.
Overnight stay: Kurà Design Villas | bed & breakfast

Day 15: Uvita – San José – Amsterdam

Unfortunately your Unique Journey through Costa Rica is over. You drive to the airport of San José (approx. 215 km | 4 hour drive). Here you will board your intercontinental flight to Amsterdam where you will arrive the next day.

Day 16: Amsterdam

Today you will arrive in Amsterdam.

“ We compensate all our trips through the reforestation project of the Black Jaguar Foundation ”

Price

From € 9.800 per person

  • Based on 2 persons traveling together
  • Depending on time of booking, availability of the local flight and the accommodations, and the period of travel

Included:

  • domestic flight, economy class (14 kg hold luggage)
  • 12 overnight stays, meals as stated
  • 2 overnights in Pacuare Lodge on full board basis including offered excursions accompanied by professional guides
  • 12 days rental car (cat. SUV or similar) pick-up in Liberia and drop-off in San Jose, incl. basic insurance
  • all transfers and excursions as mentioned 
  • our backup 24/7; locally and in the Netherlands
  • extensive travel document package with a small attention

Not included:

  • international flights, if desired we can book these for you
  • early check-in / late check-out, based on availability, this is sometimes provided by the hotel. If you want to be sure that you have this, ask us about the additional cost
  • (Dutch) public contribution Calamity fund; € 2.50,- per booking 
  • SGR contribution of € 5,- per person per booking
  • travel and cancellation insurance

Request travel proposal

Would you like to make this journey too? Of course, we can arrange the above trip for you, but we are also happy to put together a programme based on your wishes and ideas. Feel free to contact us. Call +31 73 610 62 04, send an email to info@sapapanatravel.nl or request a customized quote below. We will be happy to help you. 

Request travel proposal

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