Download a PDF of
this itinerary (474Kb)

Classic Costa Rica

Costa Rica Holidays - Braulio Carrillo National Park

Click on the name of the hotel for details

14 days from £2485

excluding international flights

Explore Costa Rica's top national parks, followed by lazy days on the Pacific coast

DAY 1 – Arrival in San José.

On arrival at San José's Juan Santamaría International Airport you will be met by a representative of World Discovery outside immigration and customs. You will then be taken by private car direct to your hotel. Recommended flight from London: British Airways and American Airlines from London Heathrow via Miami (see below). If you are travelling from a country other than the UK we would be happy to give you guidance on your flight options.

DAY 2 – Doka Coffee Plantation.  Poás Volcano.  La Paz Waterfalls.

Your World Discovery Costa Rica holiday begins with an early wake up call, after which you will be collected from your hotel by your private English-speaking guide. Your first stop will be at Doka, a third‐generation coffee plantation where you will learn how coffee is picked, milled, ground and roasted.  Breakfast is included here.  Continue towards the Poás Volcano (pictured), one of the most spectacular volcanoes in Costa Rica, with its enormous crater measuring a kilometre in diameter and 314m in depth.  Marvel at the crystal blue sulphur pools with steam rising from the various volcanic vents.  You will also hike to the beautiful Botos Lagoon.  Continue to the scenic La Paz Waterfall Gardens, where you will walk through some spectacular trails, have lunch, and also visit the large butterfly observatory, hummingbird gallery, serpentarium, bird house and frogs’ exhibit.  In the afternoon head back to San José.
Meals included: Full breakfast, lunch. 

DAY 3 - Braulio Carrillo.  Tortuguero National Park.

Heading off to the north east of the capital, you will pass through Braulio Carrillo National Park, renowned for its astonishing biodiversity due to its range of altitudes, from steamy cloud forest to humid lowlands.  A stop will be made for breakfast en route.  Continue through banana plantations to the pier for Tortuguero.  Here you will board a comfortable boat and travel along the Tortuguero canals, arriving in time for a refreshing cocktail and a delicious lunch.  In the afternoon visit the Sea Turtle Information Centre, where work for the conservation of endangered sea turtles has been carried out since 1959. Tortuguero hosts the largest green turtle rookery in the Western Hemisphere and also important nesting populations of leatherback and hawksbill turtles.
Meals included: Full breakfast, lunch, dinner.

DAY 4 – Tortuguero National Park.

A day to explore Tortuguero National Park, located on the caribbean coast of Costa Rica.  Although mainly known for its turtles, Tortuguero hosts a great deal of wildlife including sloths and howler monkeys, tiny frogs and green iguanas, and the endangered manatee, often seen swimming in the waters.  Depending on weather conditions, you will explore the canals in small, open boats to allow better visibility and an even closer look to the flora and fauna, or you may take a hiking tour in the park.  From July to September there is the option of taking a night tour (for an additional cost) to observe the turtles nesting.
Meals included: Full breakfast, lunch, dinner.

DAY 5 – Drive to Arenal.

In the morning return by boat to the pier, where your driver will be waiting to take you by road to Arenal, stopping for lunch en route.  Your hotel is located beneath the perfect cone of the awesome Arenal Volcano (1,633m/4,700ft).
Meals included: Full breakfast, lunch.

DAY 6 - Arenal.

If you like bird-watching then this morning's walk on the trails of Arenal's 'Hanging Bridges' project will be an unforgettable experience.  Located within the corridor followed by birds migrating between North and South America, the trails and bridges of this project will take you through the lush rainforest, with superb views of Arenal Volcano.  More than 200 species of birds have been observed in this area.  In the afternoon get closer to the volcano itself with a gentle walk along the lower slopes; this 2 and a half hour hike will take you through the forest to the reach the area destroyed by the volcano's eruption in 1968.  Although currently in a resting phase, Arenal remains Costa Rica’s most active volcano.
Meals included: Full breakfast.

DAY 7 - By road to Monteverde.

Today your driver will take you on a scenic 4 hour journey to your lodge in the famous cloud forest of Monteverde, Costa Rica's premier nature reserve.
Meals included: Full breakfast.

DAY 8 - Monteverde.

Today enjoy a guided visit to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve.  Costa Rica is one of the most biologically diverse countries in the world and Monteverde is one of its richest regions. There are over 500 bird species in the reserve, including the majestic quetzal (Costa Rica's national bird) and the three‐wattle bellbird, 120 species of reptiles and amphibians and more than 3,000 plants, including the highest diversity of orchids in the world.  In the afternoon, enjoy a fascinating guided tour of a nearby farm that will give you insight into the traditional ways of cultivating sugar cane, coffee, bananas, arracache (a local legume), avocados and macadamia nuts. You will have the opportunity to take a short trip by ox-cart from the sugar cane plantation to the mill (the extraction of sugar cane juice is done with the help of the oxen).  You will also be invited to taste some of the products produce in the farm.
Meals included: Full breakfast.

DAY 9 - Drive to Tamarind Beach on the North Pacific Coast.

You will be driven today down to the Pacific coast for a stay at Tamarind Beach, one of Costa Rica's top resort areas.
Meals included: Full breakfast.

DAYS 10 to 12 - Tamarind Beach.

At leisure at your beachfront hotel, the Tamarind Diría Resort.
Meals included: Full breakfast each day. 

DAY 13 - Fly back to San José.

This morning you will take the short flight back to San José.  You will be met and taken to your hotel for an afternoon at leisure.
Meals included: Full breakfast.

DAY 14 – Depart.

Private transfer to Juan Santamaría International Airport for your departure flight.
Meals included: Full breakfast.

International Flights

There are no direct flights to Costa Rica from the UK. We recommend the daily services of British Airways and American Airlines via Miami. Current timings (subject to possible change) are as follows:
Heathrow/Miami. Depart at 11.15; arrive Miami at 15.20
Miami/San José.  Depart at 19.10; arrive San José at 19.50
San José/Miami.  Depart at 07.00; arrive Miami at 11.50
Miami/Heathrow. Depart at 17.25; arrive Heathrow at 06.40 (next day)
Iberia also have daily flights from London Heathrow via Madrid.

Costa Rica Holidays: Classic Costa Rica (Reference: WDCR002)
2018 Departures
Price per person based on a minimum of two persons travelling together:

* Supplements will be applicable during the Easter, Christmas and New Year periods. 

Single Room Supplement on request.

The price includes:

• Scheduled domestic flight from Tamarind Beach to San José, including local airport taxes.
• Hotel accommodation as listed above in twin-bedded or double rooms with private facilities.
• 13 full breakfasts, 4 lunches and 2 dinners as shown in the itinerary.
• Private transfers in San José with English-speaking driver. Private transfers between the destinations.
• The guiding and transportation within the reserves will be shared with other passengers.
  
• All sightseeing as shown (unless indicated as ‘optional’), including entrance fees.

Not included in the price:

• International flights (see our recommendation above). We are happy to discuss the flights with you and give you further guidance.
• International airport taxes.  When leaving Costa Rica you must purchase a Departure Tax at the airport prior to check in.  Payment is only accepted in cash, and the current cost is US$29.
• Optional sightseeing.
• Tipping. We will be pleased to give guidance in this often sensitive matter.

A deposit of £250 per person is required at the time of booking. The balance of the price for your Costa Rica holiday must be paid at least 8 weeks before your departure date.