Discover Costa Rica

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.