Explore Central America's eco-tourism success story on a journey through Costa Rica's natural wonderland.

The Journey

It's hard not to fall in love with Costa Rica. With its seductive laid-back vibe, stunning and varied topography and abundance of wildlife, this eco-tourism hot spot has something to offer every kind of traveller. This ten day trip takes in some of the country's most popular spots and other lesser-known gems, from lush rainforests and stunning shorelines to exploding volcanoes and carefree beachside towns.

Accommodation options en route include a boutique mountain retreat with just seven bedrooms, a modern eco-resort with its own private beach and nature trails, and a laid-back surfer-chic lodge that sits 40 miles from the nearest paved road. The diverse settings allow you the chance to experience the varied topography and wildlife of Costa Rica that make this country Central America's premier eco destination.

Trip Length

We recommend 10 days for this trip.

When to Travel

The tourist high season spans the dry months from mid-December to April but if you're keen to avoid the crowds then the early months of the rainy season (May to July) are also an excellent time to travel to Costa Rica. Travel can become more challenging during this period, however, and remote roads may not be accessible to public transport. Surfers will appreciate the big swells on the Pacific coast during the rainy season, in particular during the very rainy months of September and October.

Price

This trip starts from $1055 per person (based on two sharing); this includes accommodation and car hire but does not include return flights to San Jose.

What to Do

...in Manuel Antonio National Park (Days 1 - 4)

Set in 11 acres of pure tropical bliss is the Arenas del Mar, a modern eco-resort with its own private beach and nature trails. Monkeys, sloths and armadillos practically live on your doorstep here and the Manuel Antonio National Park and the country town of Quepos are just nearby.

Adventure enthusiasts will love the range of activities on offer at the hotel. Try your hand at white-water rafting down the Naranjo or Savegre Rivers or join a guided tour of the Carara National Park and spot for crocs in the Tarcoles River. The resort also offers cultural and historical tours of Queops and Manuel Antonio, horseback riding, ocean kayaking and jungle canopying surfing.

Once a banana shipping port, the town of Quepos is now more well-known for its sport fishing. It's a lively place busy with restaurants, bakeries, art galleries, shops and a buzzing nightlife. The Festival del Mar is held every year in February and involves a week of street fairs, fiestas, dancing and sporting events.

Manuel Antonio itself is a beautiful nature reserve where lush tropical rainforest spills onto hidden, jungle-lined beaches and coral reefs hide just below the ocean's surface. It's home to more than 350 species of bird and a plethora of wildlife including three-toed sloths. It's the most visited park in Costa Rica so time your visit carefully as it can get very crowded during the peak season (although the government has recently capped the number of daily visitors at 600 on weekdays and 800 on weekends and holidays).

Just 40km south along the coast from Manuel Antonio lies Hacienda Baru, a wildlife refuge covering 815 acres. The reserve offers an incredible variety of habitats, from wetland and secondary forest in the lowlands to primary forest on the highland coastal ridge. Dotted with 7km of hiking trails and swarming with wildlife, this lesser-visited park is an excellent alternative to Manuel Antonio.

...in Santa Bárbara de Heredia, near the Central Valley (Days 4 - 7)

Perched above the lush Central Valley of Costa Rica and surrounded by towering Higuerón tress and exotic flora is this boutique eco-retreat that simply exudes glamour. There are only seven rooms on offer at the Finca Rosa Blanca, each with spectacular views of volcanoes and cloud forests and each individually decorated with the works of local artists. Enjoy homegrown organic dinners in the quirky dining room, lounge in the hotel's spring-fed infinity pool and explore the on-site organic coffee plantation.

You can choose to be as active or lazy as you like here. The lodge has its own horses on the premises and an expert is on hand to guide you through the surrounding countryside. Some of the more popular trips include a 2-3 hour excursion through coffee plantations and up onto the slopes of the Barva Volcano. If you're happier exploring on two legs then Barva Volcano, on the western edge of Braulio Carrillo National Park, offers fantastic hiking opportunities through cloud forest to the Crater Lake where quetzals - a magnificent bird native to Mexico and Central America - have been sighted. Coffee aficionados will enjoy the "Adventura de Café Tour" which includes an educational tour of the coffee farm, roasting plant and tasting room.

The nearby city of Heredia, the provincial capital, is one of Costa Rica's larger cities but is more low-key than neighbouring San Jose. It's an elegant city with an abundance of green spaces (hence it's nickname 'City of Flowers') and something of a colonial feel to the heart of the town. The central plaza is a popular meeting spot and a great place to watch the world go by.

...in Nosara, Pacific coast (Days 7 - 10)

It's hard to imagine somewhere more laid-back than the Harmony Hotel in Nosara on the Pacific coast. Nestled among banana trees, coconut palms and ginger plants is this shabby-chic surfer resort that gives a whole new meaning to the word 'cool'. The simple but luxurious cluster of bungalows sits as close to Playa Guiones as Nosara's nature-protection regulations allow and is a haven for both expert and novice surfers alike.

Unlike some of the other surf hamlets in the north of Costa Rica, Nosara has escaped modernisation (to the extent that the nearest paved road sits 40 miles away) and as such retains an air of total escape.

Playa Guiones is one of Central America's best beach breaks and so not surprisingly, a lot of folk come here to try and catch the perfect wave. The beach is three miles long and there are peaks everywhere ranging from waist-high to overhead and it's a great place to catch lessons if you're something of a virgin surfer.

It's not all about the surf, however, and there are other pursuits here in Nosara. The Nosara Yoga Institute, situated in the jungle, offers several classes daily. If you time your visit right you may be fortunate enough to see an olive ridley turtle laying her eggs and at all other times you're sure to encounter giant grasshoppers, howler monkeys, ospreys and armadillos. Nature lovers can delve deep into the area's flora and fauna with a visit to the 125 acre biological preserve at the Lagarta Lodge.

How to Travel

The easiest way to get around Costa Rica is by hiring a car through us. That said, some of the roads can be very windy and driving at night, particularly in the mountains, is not recommended. During the 'green season' (late April - early November) a 4WD may be needed due to heavy rains.

Another option is to travel via public bus. The majority of Costa Ricans don't own cars so the public transport system is very efficient and you can catch buses to almost any part of the country. It's worth remembering that many of these buses stop very frequently to pick up passengers and because of the roads some of these rides can be very bumpy indeed. We've given both travel options below.

The Route

Day 1: Drive San Jose to Manuel Antonio National Park

Arenas del Mar is located on the Central Pacific Coast about 2km from the port of Quepos, in Manuel Antonio. Driving from San José takes about 3 hours. Head west out of San José towards the International Airport on the Interamericana and turn off at ‘Manolos’ (Atenas Exit) towards the beach town of Jacó. Continue to Jacó and then down the Pacific coast to Quepos. From Quepos, follow the signs to Manuel Antonio and later the signs to Arenas del Mar Beach & Nature Resort.

If travelling by bus, the Quepos bus departs from San José at the main Coca Cola bus terminal daily at 6am, 12pm and 5pm, and costs $5. If you're planning on travelling on a Friday or Sunday it is important to buy your ticket well in advance so that you can get a seat. Once in Quepos, it's a quick taxi ride to Arenas del Mar.

Day 4: Drive to Santa Bárbara de Heredia, near the Central Valley

Finca Rosa Blanca is located only 15 minutes from the San José International Airport. If driving, head back towards San José taking the same route you came from. Once you reach the airport, follow signs to Heredia and continue along this road until you see the Pacific gas station. Turn left here and continue for about 1km until you arrive at a fork where you should bear right and then right again at the next intersection. Continue straight for about 2km until you hit another intersection where you should turn left. Carry on up the hill towards Santa Barbara and turn right when you reach the traffic lights soon after which you should see a sign for the hotel. The Finca Rosa Blanca also arranges pick-ups from the airport.

If travelling by bus then catch a bus back to San José from Quepos, these depart daily at 6am, 12pm and 5pm and cost $5. From San José local buses run to Santa Bárbara de Heredia but it might be quicker getting a cab for the 15 minute journey.

Day 7: Drive to Nosara

Harmony Hotel is located in Playa Guiones, Nosara in the province of Guanacaste, roughly five hours by car from San José. From the capital take the main Interamerican Highway (Carretera Interamericana) north. The highway winds its way up and down the mountains from the Central Valley for several hours before evening out. After several hours of driving you will see signs for Puntarenas and then signs for the new Puente de Amistad bridge over the Tempisque River. Follow signs for the bridge and once across, you'll find that you're on the Nicoya Peninsula. Follow signs for Nicoya and head straight through the town southwards for approximately 30km. Just past the gas station turn right and head downhill onto a small dirt road which leads to Nosara. Although it's only 24km from here to Nosara, it can take 1+ hours owing to the nature of the road. You'll see signs for Nosara and once you arrive in town the Harmony Hotel, which is located on Playa Guiones, is easy to find.

If travelling by bus then catch the express bus which leaves San José daily at 6am and takes around 6 hours ($6).

Day 10: Drive to San Jose

Repeat the drive back to San José! The express bus Nosara to San Jose leaves at 12:30.