Costa Rica wildlife holiday, Coastal Secrets
Minimum age 16.
Late availability on these dates: 03 Jan, 10 Jan, 17 Jan, 24 Jan, 31 Jan, 07 Feb, 14 Feb, 28 Feb, 07 Mar
Description of Costa Rica wildlife holiday, Coastal Secrets
This two-week Costa Rica wildlife holiday, travelling with a small group and expert wildlife leader, takes you from one stunning Costa Rican coast to the other, with a cornucopia of creatures in between. Even though it is a small country, it is bursting with biodiversity, and this trip covers many of its most beautiful spots, visiting national parks, cloud forests and islands.
It is also superbly set up for tourism, allowing us to stay in small and locally owned accommodation along the way, from ecolodges located in tropical gardens to a waterfront accommodation on the Osa Peninsula only accessible by boat.
The trip starts inland, in the capital San Jose and then, using private minibus, we head to the Caribbean Coast to explore two amazing national parks, with two days in each. First, we go to Tortuguero National Park, which we travel through by boat as this is the only way to access it and see its eponymous turtles, otters, caiman and manatees. On land, we hope to see monkeys, caiman, iguanas, butterflies and myriad birdlife. From here to Cahuita National Park, where you can hike on trails that dip in and out of coast and jungle, or take an optional snorkelling trip out on the reef. One more inland idyll before hitting the Pacific coast is Savegre Cloud Forest, where we have two nights to enjoy, in particular, its extraordinary birdlife. The forest is most famous for being home to the elusive and exquisite resplendent quetzal.
There are few things more resplendent, however, than the final few days of this trip which are spent on the Osa Peninsula and Corcovado National Park. This is home to about 50 percent of Costa Ricas incredible wildlife, from scarlet macaws to manatees, tayras to tapirs. We take a trip to Caρo Island, where we hope to see dolphins and, in season, humpback or even orca whales. The former come here between July-November and the latter December-April. Osa Peninsula is one of the best ways to end a wildlife holiday, with plenty of beach time too so that you can chill out before your return home.
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Minimum age 16.
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13 Reviews of Costa Rica wildlife holiday, Coastal Secrets
Reviewed on 16 Nov 2025 by Joanna Fraser
Excellent. Great range of different environments visited. Good guide. Read full reviewReviewed on 10 Apr 2023 by Frances Davies
[ ] tapirs, sloths, quetzels, forests, fellow travellers, brilliant guide. Read full reviewReviewed on 21 Feb 2022 by Karen Ashenden
Excellent guide who shared his loved of Costa Rica and supported us to be environmentally aware everywhere we went. Read full reviewReviewed on 13 Feb 2020 by Rosie Morgan
The most memorable part of the holiday was the wild life and diversity of the country. Read full reviewReviewed on 03 Feb 2020 by Robert Lisney
The most memorable part of the holiday was seeing the country Read full reviewReviewed on 10 Nov 2019 by Jane Bailey
Great/ fantastic wildlife. Country is stunning and trip well organised with very knowledgeable guide. Read full reviewReviewed on 06 Oct 2019 by Linda Rockliffe
The moat exciting part of the trip was the walks. Read full reviewReviewed on 18 Aug 2019 by Julia Calvert
I loved the boat rides and seeing the humpback whales, and also the humming bird garden. Read full reviewReviewed on 05 Feb 2019 by Jenny Abbott
A full-on trip! Wildlife galore. I will definitely be back in Costa Rica soon. Read full reviewReviewed on 24 Jan 2019 by Alison Pelikan
I loved the Cloud forests and the rainforests especially being able to walk some of the trails on my own as then I can experience the forest more quietly and directly... Read full reviewReviewed on 13 Mar 2019 by Maryanne Roach
Didn't see as many birds as I expected; one needs to be interested in lichen, lizards, termites, ants, spiders etc as well! And I was also disappointed by the lack of mountain scenery. Read full reviewResponsible Travel
Planet
Accommodation and Meals:We spend two weeks in a combination of hotels and eco-lodges around Costa Rica. We use fairly small, family run and locally staffed establishments which ensures that we are benefiting local communities. Our local operator is a leading member of the Rainforest Alliance and has been awarded a "4 Leaf" award from the Costa Rican Tourism Institute for their sustainable tourism practice & dedication to improving standards. An example of eco-friendly accommodation on this trip is the Drake Bay Wilderness Resort, a family run business in a stunning location on the Osa Peninsula the first resort of its kind in the area.
Activity:
Being a wildlife based tour, we are very conscious of our effects on the environment and how we can reduce negative impact and aid conservation. On this trip we visit national and private parks, including Tortuguero and Corcovado, where entrance fees directly support conservation efforts. We also visit Aviarios del Caribe, the sloth sanctuary, an educational visit to increase awareness of the dangers that sloths face and the rehabilitation process for those injured animals coming into the centre.
UK office:
It all starts at home so we have first worked at reducing our carbon footprint in our UK offices. Through energy conservation measures and recycling policies, we are proud to be actively reducing the waste produced and our impact on the environment. We support various projects all over the world to try and give something back to the places we visit.
People
Local Craft and Culture:Although this is a largely nature based trip, we incorporate as much benefit to local people as possible. One of the ways to support local people and boost the economy is to buy crafts in some of the remote regions that we visit, such as Tortuguero and Cahuita. Having the opportunity to purchase locally made handicrafts encourages cultural exchange and provides a significant form of alternative income. Guides are careful to explain that any souvenirs on sale over the duration of the trip which are made from animal parts, shells or local hardwoods should not be purchased.
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