Discover Costa Rica

15 days
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4.7/5 Excellent
100+ reviews  
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Small Group Tour
Experience the many wonders of Costa Rica, a country renowned for having proportionately more protected land than any other, making it ripe for wildlife tourism. The star attraction is the marvellous, often bizarre, animals that live here: from catatonic sloths and screaming howler monkeys to screeching toucans and nesting green turtles. Throw in visits to bo...
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$6,440
From$4,770
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Overview

Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

    • Head deep into the Esquinas rainforest to stay in our much-loved lodge
    • Take a guided boat ride through the wildlife-rich waterways of Tortuguero
    • Swim under the beautiful spout of La Fortuna waterfall
    • Experience the cloud forest with a walk around Santa Elena
    • Search for monkeys in Manuel Antonio National Park
    • Visit the Copey Valley and enjoy snacks made by a local family

What's this trip about?

    Experience the many wonders of Costa Rica, a country renowned for having proportionately more protected land than any other, making it ripe for wildlife tourism. The star attraction is the marvellous, often bizarre, animals that live here: from catatonic sloths and screaming howler monkeys to screeching toucans and nesting green turtles. Throw in visits to both the Caribbean and Pacific coastlines, plus the expert guidance of our highly rated tour leaders, and it’s easy to see why this adventure is among our most popular. This trip includes a few of our Citizen Science Departures. These special departures offer you the opportunity to be involved in the collection of freshwater samples during the trip. The environmental DNA information derived from this sample will contribute directly to the eBioAtlas; the world’s largest repository of flora and fauna species data, contributing to the conservation and restoration of biodiversity both locally and globally. To book onto one of these special departures, see the Dates & Prices tab. For more information on these departures and the eBioAtlas, click here.Join eagle-eyed guides for a wildlife-watching trip through mountains, rainforest and the Caribbean and Pacific coasts

Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeSmall Group - max of 16 people
Age range16 years and up
Flights and transport
Start CitySan José
End CitySan José

Travel Themes

  • Cultural
  • Nature & Wildlife
  • 50 Plus
  • Birding
  • National Parks

Destinations

Attractions

  • Manuel Antonio National Park
  • Monteverde

Activities

Min Group Size

  • Min Group Size: 4

Max Group Size

  • Max Group Size: 16

Trip includes

    • All breakfasts, eight lunches, six dinners
    • All accommodation
    • All transport and listed activities
    • Tour leader throughout
    • Arrival and departure transfers

Popular Trips

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1 Start San José

Our adventure begins with a free transfer to our hotel in San José, the busy capital of Costa Rica. Read the Joining Instructions in the Trip Notes for more information on booking your seat. There’s a welcome briefing at the hotel this evening or tomorrow afternoon i...

Day 2 To Tortuguero National Park

Our adventure begins early this morning, leaving San José as we travel to Tortuguero National Park in northeast Costa Rica. Accessible only by boat or light aircraft, Tortuguero has a vast network of waterways, canals and swamps that is remarkably tranquil, unspoiled ...

Day 3 Boat tour around Tortuguero waterways

A morning boat trip enables us to discover  the extraordinary flora and fauna of Tortuguero, passing serenely along the waterways. We’re joined by our tour leader and the keen-eyed boat captain, who knows this area inside out and has a well-honed skill for spotting th...

Day 4 To La Fortuna, near Arenal Volcano

We leave Tortuguero by taking a small boat to the pier. Our bus is at the pier waiting to drive us to the Arenal region, passing huge banana, pineapple and sugarcane plantations on the way. Arenal was the most active volcano in Costa Rica until 2010, when it entered ...

Day 5 Visit Arenal Volcano; La Fortuna Waterfall hike

This morning we take a short scenic hike within Arenal National Park, walking through secondary rainforest and seeing some of the lava fields from past eruptions. The high vantage points on this walk allow great views overlooking Lake Arenal, and the birdlife is plent...

Day 6 To Monteverde in the Tilaran Mountains

From Arenal, we travel to the Tilaran mountain range in the central highlands for our first taste of a Costa Rican cloud forest. The journey provides breathtaking views of the Gulf of Nicoya and the islands below as we ascend the hills towards Monteverde, a forest-clo...

Day 7 Visit Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve

This morning, we have a guided walk (around two hours) in Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve, one of the first community-managed reserves in Costa Rica and an area celebrated for its biodiversity. To this day, the reserve is managed by the Santa Elena High School with f...

Day 8 To Manuel Antonio

Our journey takes a southeasterly turn today as we follow the Pan-Am Highway along the coastline to Manuel Antonio, passing African oil palm and teak plantations on the way. Manuel Antonio National Park consists of a vast marine reserve as well as 1,700 acres (690ha) ...

Day 9 Discover Manuel Antonio National Park

A guided tour of Manuel Antonio National Park this morning should enable us to have close wildlife encounters. White-faced capuchin monkeys play in the trees and are frequently sighted on the beaches, while noisy howler monkeys are usually heard moving through the tre...

Day 10 To Esquinas Lodge in Piedras Blancas

Travel four hours south towards Golfito, a relatively wild and undiscovered region. The dense jungle here has hardly been explored or researched. The next two nights are spent in the beautiful Esquinas Rainforest Lodge set in the heart of primary rainforest and border...

Day 11 Hike on trails in Esquinas Rainforest Nature Reserve

Hike through the rainforest this morning with our tour leader and experience all the sights and sounds of the jungle. During this activity, which lasts around two hours, we are likely to see snakes, frogs, birds and if we're lucky, monkeys and sloths too. This hike ca...

Day 12 To Savegre Valley Cloud Forest

Our journey takes a northwesterly turn through San Isidro and up and over the Cerro de la Muerte mountain range to our next destination, the Savegre Valley, around a 4hr 30min drive (not including stops) from Golfito. The cloud forest of Savegre is said to be one of t...

Day 13 Free day to discover walking trails in the Savegre Valley

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 you can discover the t...

Day 14 Visit the Copey valley; to San José

Visit the Copey valley this morning to step momentarily into the agricultural lives of those living in the highlands of the Central Mountain Range. We take a short walk through this picturesque area stopping for a typical lunch prepared for us by a local family, which...

Day 15 End San José

A final breakfast at the hotel is your chance to say goodbye to the group, swap numbers, and perhaps start planning your next adventure. For those joining our post-trip extension to Tamarindo Beach, the wait won’t be long. No matter what your future plans are, though, there’s a free transfer to San José airport for onward flights.

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Dates & Availability

Price From $4,770
Price per day$318
Last Updated: 5/22/2024
Departure Date
Finish Date
Shared Room
Single Room
Availability
31 May 2025
14 Jun 2025
$5,100
$6,300
07 Jun 2025
21 Jun 2025
$4,950
$6,150
14 Jun 2025
28 Jun 2025
$5,100
$6,300
14 Jun 2025
28 Jun 2025
$5,100
$6,000
14 Jun 2025
28 Jun 2025
$5,100
$6,000
14 Jun 2025
28 Jun 2025
$5,100
$6,000
14 Jun 2025
28 Jun 2025
$5,100
$6,000
14 Jun 2025
28 Jun 2025
$5,100
$6,000
14 Jun 2025
28 Jun 2025
$5,100
$6,000
14 Jun 2025
28 Jun 2025
$5,100
$6,000

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

Check current availability, prices, specials & more.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Exodus Travels Reviews & Ratings

4.7/5  Excellent
Excellent
13,508
Great
3,271
Average
609
Disappointing
146
Terrible
190
A

Anonymous

Aug 2018

Provided byExodus Travels

Discover Costa Rica review

This was our first Exodus trip, which, to be honest I viewed with some trepidation, as I walk with crutches, and so wondered how it would be. I cannot praise Exod...

A

Anonymous

Aug 2018

Provided byExodus Travels

Totally superb experience.

Our Guide & tour leader-Johnny [Villalobos] made this trip the best we have experienced; with his expertise, knowledge & general manner. Superior to simi...

A

Anonymous

Aug 2018

Provided byExodus Travels

Discover Costa Rica

I would highly recommend this trip. The trip is very wildlife oriented, so if that is not your main interest, it may not be for you. However, I wouldn’t say that i...

A

Anonymous

Aug 2018

Provided byExodus Travels

Discover Costa Rica

This trip was one of the best holidays that my wife and I have ever taken. . Costa Rica is a beautiful country but the attention to detail provided by Exodus and t...

A

Anonymous

Aug 2018

Provided byExodus Travels

Discover costa rica

An excellent taster of the country. Well planned with good locations Meeting the owner michael Schnitzler of esquinas lodge. Such a wonderful work, he is passinate...

Write a Review

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Logistics

What's excluded

    • Travel insurance
    • Single accommodation (available on request)
    • Visas or vaccinations

Accommodation

14 nights spent in hotels and eco-lodges, all with en suite facilities and most properties with swimming pools Travel by minibus, sometimes on dirt roads, and by boat Some dates accompanied by a specialist birdwatching guide
On this wildlife-watching trip in Costa Rica, we spend 14 nights in hotels and lodges, most of which have swimming pools. We’ve aimed for properties surrounded by nature, so we typically stay in wooden lodges within tropical gardens or within the heart of the rainforest. We have also been careful to avoid chain hotels where possible. The normal accommodations used on this trip can be found on the day-to-day itinerary; however, below are a few of the notable places we stay. Tortuguero: Laguna Lodge (nights 2-3) Constructed on a strip of land between the main lagoon and Caribbean Sea, Laguna Lodge is an away-from-it-all place to stay that’s ideal for disconnecting. There’s no road access, so we get there by boat, while the estate itself combines several wooden lodges within beautifully kept gardens. Look out for the freely roaming sloths and monkeys! There’s also a restaurant with river views and a bar on the water’s edge.  Esquinas Rainforest Nature Reserve: Esquinas Rainforest Lodge (nights 10-11) A highlight of this trip will no doubt be our stay at Esquinas Rainforest Lodge, next to Piedras Blancas National Park. We stay in cabins, each of which has a covered porch where you can sit and look for monkeys, raccoons, coatis and the 300-plus bird species that live here. Elsewhere, the restaurant serves modern Costa Rican cuisine with produce from local farmers. There’s also an outdoor pool and walking trails to enjoy.  Savegre: Savegre Hotel & Spa (nights 12-3) In the middle of a natural forest reserve, Savegre Hotel is the ideal place to immerse in nature. It has plant-filled gardens, multiple walking trails, and a lookout point with views over forested slopes. We sleep in wooden lodges, while Las Bromelias restaurant dishes out international and local cuisines (made with seasonal, indigenous produce) and Los Robles, a bar-lounge, serves cocktails and Savegre coffee.   Worth knowing  Some of the properties have ceiling fans rather than air conditioning.  One or several of the named properties might be substituted for similar alternatives to secure hotel availability. Please discuss with your customer operations executive if you require more details regarding your specific departure date.
Cancellation policy

The cancellation policies of this trip when booked through Travelstride are determined by the stated policies of the tour operator - Exodus Travels.

If you or any other member of your party decides to cancel a confirmed booking you must notify Travelstride in writing. Your notice of cancellation will only take effect when it is received in writing by Travelstride and will be effective from the date on which we receive it.

If You Cancel Your Holiday
You, or any member of your party, may cancel your travel arrangements at any time. Written notification from the lead name or your travel agent must be received at our offices. 

Since we incur costs in canceling your travel arrangements, you will have to pay cancellation charges as follows (see also the exceptions below): 

  • More than 42 days - No cancellation fee. Deposit can be transferred to a new booking departing within 2 years of date of travel of original booking. Any remaining balance will be refundedThis excludes all non-refundable costs as set out in clause 4 above (for example international and domestic flights and local services).
  • Between 41 and 21 days (inclusive) - No cancellation fee. Balance and deposit can be transferred to a new booking departing within 2 years of date of travel of original bookingThis excludes all non-refundable costs as further explained in clause 4 above (for example international and domestic flights and local services).
  • Between 20 and 15 days (inclusive) - 80% of the holiday cost
  • 14 days or less; or failure to join the holiday (inclusive) - 100% of the holiday cost

Certain trips may involve different cancellation charges; you will be advised if this is applicable to your holiday during the booking process.For Polar holidays, the following cancellation charges will be made for all Polar holidays. Period before departure in which you notify us: 

Cancelation charge

  • More than 133 days - Deposit only
  • 133 days or less (or failure to join the holiday) (inclusive) - 100% of the holiday cost

Notes (i) Your deposit is non-refundable, even if the cancellation charge calculated is lower than the deposit amount paid; (ii) If the reason for your cancellation is covered under the terms of your insurance policy, you may be able to reclaim these charges; (iii) certain travel arrangements may be subject to higher cancellation charges and could incur a cancellation charge of up to 100% of that part of the arrangements from the moment the booking is confirmed.

If You Change Your Booking

If, after our Booking Confirmation has been issued, you wish to change your travel arrangements in any way, for example your chosen departure date or accommodation, we will do our utmost to make these changes but it may not always be possible. Any request for changes to be made must be in writing from the lead name or your travel agent. You will be asked to pay an administration charge of $60, and any further cost we incur in making this alteration (including those charged by third party suppliers who provide the component parts of your booking).  You should be aware that these costs could increase the closer to the departure date that changes are made and you should contact us as soon as possible. Note: Certain travel arrangements may not be changeable after a reservation has been made and any alteration request could incur a cancellation charge of up to 100% of that part of the arrangements.

You can transfer your booking to another person, who satisfies all the conditions that apply to this booking, by giving us notice in writing at least 7 days before departure provided that the new lead passenger accepts the transfer and these Terms and Conditions. Both you and the new traveler are responsible for paying all costs we incur in making the transfer. Please bear in mind that certain airlines and other transport providers treat changes as a cancellation and charge accordingly, up to 100% of the cost for that part of the arrangement. Where applicable these charges will be passed on to you.

If We Cancel Your Booking

Exodus reserves the right to cancel an itinerary before departure for any reason whatsoever, including too few participants ,logistical problems, a Force Majeure Event (as defined in Section 8), or any other circumstances that may make operation of the trip inadvisable. All trip payments received will be promptly refunded, and this refund will be the limit of Exodus’s liability without any further obligation on Exodus’s part. Exodus is not responsible for any expenses incurred by trip members in preparing for the trip, including non-refundable or penalty-carrying airline tickets, special clothing, visa or passport fees, or other trip-related expenses.

If We Change Your Booking

  1. Changes to the price. We can change your holiday price after you’ve booked, only in certain circumstances. Changes in the price of the carriage of passengers resulting from changes to the cost of fuel or other power sources, the level of taxes or fees imposed by third parties including tourist taxes, landing taxes or embarkation or disembarkation fees at ports and airports, or exchange rates mean that the price of your travel arrangements may change after you have booked.

  2. Changes other than the price. It is a term of your booking that we are able to make changes to any aspect of your booking. If the change is insignificant, we will ensure that you are notified about it. Examples of insignificant changes include alteration of your accommodation to another of the same or higher standard. If we are forced by circumstances beyond our control to alter significantly any of the main characteristics of the travel services that make up your package you will have the rights set out below.

    2.1 - We will contact you and you will have the choice of accepting the change or having a refund of all monies paid. You can also accept an alternative holiday, where we offer one (we will refund any price difference if the alternative is of a lower value). We will tell you the procedure for making your choice. Please read any notification of changes carefully and respond promptly as if you do not respond to us within the timescale given your booking may be canceled.

    2.2 - If you choose to accept a refund then that is the only liability we have and we will not be liable for any further sums, compensation or otherwise and you are advised to adequately insure yourselves against cancellation for any reason

Please note that insurance premiums and amendments charges are not refundable in any circumstances. 

Once you have put down a deposit for a tour, you are unable to cancel and re-book within a promotional period and we reserve the right to amend the pricing on any new booking you make within that time. If you cancel a tour and book the same tour under a promotional code, we reserve the right to decline the booking.

Important Note: Certain arrangements may not be amended after they have been confirmed and any alteration or cancellation could incur a cancellation charge of up to 100% of that part of the arrangements in addition to the charge above.

If the reason for your cancellation is covered under the terms of your insurance policy, you may be able to reclaim these charges.

Where possible, we will deduct the cancellation charge(s) from any monies you have already paid to us.

For more additional details, see the booking conditions of TruTravels at the following web address: https://www.exodustravels.com/us/about-exodus/exodus-booking-conditions.

Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Meals Included
All breakfasts, eight lunches and six dinners included. Hotel breakfasts are normally buffet style, and lunches and dinners at Tortuguero and Esquinas Rainforest Lodge are also buffet style. Vegetarians are well catered for but please inform us before departure of any special dietary requests. Costa Rican specialities include gallo pinto, a black bean and rice dish that forms 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.
Age Requirements
16 years and up
Additional Information
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Trip ID
exodus-WUC

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