Ecotourism in Costa Rica; rainforests, coffee & coastline

In this Costa Rica eco tour, you will watch the wonderful wildlife in Quetzales, Corcovado & Marino Ballena National Parks. Tour a local Organic Coffee Farm and taste their product. Snorkel off the Pacific South Coast to enjoy its marine life. All while stating in 4* hotel accommodation. This costa rica wildlife holiday is one you will never forget.



Squadrons of pelicans swoop down from a ‘Jurassic Park’ volcano backdrop and glide unsteadily across the silvery water of a sandy bay. Walking beneath the high cathedral of the jungle canopy, it's lime green light streaming down, you hear howler monkeys whoop and bark. Armoured iguanas clattered up thick trunks as a rare Quetzal bird darts in a turquoise flash through the cloud forest: The ‘Rich Coast’ of Costa Rica derives its name with good reason.



When José Figueres Ferrer became provisional president of Costa Rica in 1948, he abolished the national army and set the country on a path to prosperous stability, and therefore an increasingly popular tourist destination amid the tumultuous region of Central America. It has since become the ‘poster child’ for sustainable ecotourism throughout the world, and an active example of how linking tourism with a growing protected area network can lead to the simultaneous growth of both its socioeconomic and environmental sectors.



By 2015 Costa Rica was able to produce 99% of its electricity from renewable sources, and with millions of trees continuing to be planted every year, it has literally doubled its forest cover over the last 40 years. This fantastic and relaxing adventure avoids some of the more heavily visited areas, allowing you to immerse yourself in Costa Rica’s wondrous natural biodiversity and culture, whilst also learning about the country’s successes in ecotourism, which offer a path to recovery for the rest of the world. We fully believe in, and practice, Responsible Tourism and are using hotels run by locals. The accommodation on this adventure really accentuates your experience. We put time and effort into building our relationship with accommodation suppliers to ensure you have a great trip. We choose accommodation based on cleanliness, comfort, safety, proximity to our route (to avoid unnecessary extra travel) and a warm client welcome, as well as reliability in their service to us.

Wherever we can we will choose smaller, more characterful, individual hotels, but in areas where tourism is still developing, or in remote areas (like the mountains), we may not have a wide range of options. An aspect of our adventures is to escape the ‘trappings’ of modern Western lifestyles and to experience new things with are exciting and memorable and reflects the countries we are visiting.

The list below gives information on our first choice of accommodation for this adventure. Where hotels and refuges are fully booked or unavailable, we will use an alternative of a similar standard, and equally well situated. We will provide you with an accurate list of accommodation, with contact information to leave with relatives, prior to departure on your adventure.

San Jose (Day 1): 4* Hotel President, Family owned, centrally located hotel. Ensuite rooms with Wifi, bar & restaurant

San Gerardo de Dota (Day 2 & 3): Saverge lodge; rustic 4* spa hotel set in a nature reserve. Ensuite rooms, wifi & bar & restaurant

Marina Ballena National Park (Day 4 & 5): Hotel Cristal Ballena: 4* boutique hotel & spa situated on a hill between the Pacific Ocean and the rainforest covered mountains. Pool, bar, park & spa. Ensuite rooms with wifi.

Drake Bay (Day 6 - 8): Jinestes de Osa 3* Hotel just off the water in Drake Bay, Osa Peninsula. Spectacular bay views, ensuite rooms with wifi. Bar & restaurant

Alajuela (Day 9): Buena Vista Chic 4* Boutique Hotel in a relaxed colonial Spanish style. Small pool. Ensuite rooms with wifi. Bar & Restaurant