Costa Rica Discovery

Itinerary

Days 1-2 San Jose

Take an orientation walk to uncover the best-known and little-known highlights of San Jose. Among the modern shops, galleries and theatres of the small city are wonderful reminders of an ancient past. Visit the Jade Museum to see pre-Colombian ornaments or the Galeria Nacional, which displays modern art in old prison cells.

Days 3-4 Tortuguero National Park

Travel by bus to the Caribbean lowlands. Enjoy the thick forests, waterways and beaches of the Tortuguero National Park, stretching out over 189 sq km. The park is best known as a nesting ground for green and leatherback turtles which can be seen between July and October. Explore the jungle by foot and travel by boat to see monkeys, birds, frogs, sloths and even crocodiles - Costa Rica has a weird and wonderful wildlife that is prolific and fairly easy to spot.

Day 5 Sarapiqui

Journey into the heart of Costa Rica's banana-growing region. See a different kind of wildlife at the Sarapiqui Insect Museum. There is plenty of free time to go hiking or mountain biking in the jungle surrounding the town or find a comfortable spot to watch the colourful birdlife glide by. Keep an eye out for toucans, which look like they've flown straight of the pages of a comic book.

Days 6-7 La Fortuna

Sitting next to the Arenal Volcano National Park, La Fortuna is an exciting outdoor base with endless opportunities for adventure. From here, the views are spectacular and the active volcano itself is reflected in Lake Arenal. There's chances to take a guided walk through the exotic plant life and lava formations of the national park or take to mountain bikes to explore. In the evenings, slip into some hot springs and soak up the views of glowing Arenal Volcano.

Days 8-9 Monteverde

Travel to idyllic Santa Elena, high in the Tilaran Mountains and discover hundreds of different plant and mammal species on a guided walk through the Cloud Forest Reserve. Lush, green and jam-packed with colourful butterflies, the cloud forest is a nature lover's paradise.

Days 10-13 Manuel Antonio National Park

Descend from the mountains to the perfect Pacific coast for a chance to relax on the white sandy beaches or hit the water for some sea kayaking, boating or snorkelling. Walk along the many trails in the national park to see more of Costa Rica's gorgeous tropical vegetation or just sit back with an icy cold beer and and soak up the vibe.

Days 14-15 San Jose

Return here for a final meander through the stalls of the Central Market and pick up some mementos of a fantastic Costa Rican experience. Home to over one third of all Tico's, San Jose offers a good insight into the character of the nation and is the perfect place to end this remarkable tour of discovery.