Costa Rica is renowned for having proportionately more protected land than any other country, making it ripe for wildlife tourism. What is less known is the marvellous, often bizarre variety of animals from catatonic sloths, screaming Howler monkeys, screeching toucans and nesting Green turtles. Throw in the Caribbean and Pacific coastlines and it is easy to see why so many return.





  • Visit the beaches and waterways of Tortuguero, an important nesting site for Green turtles
  • Stay in comfortable eco-friendly lodges and hotels
  • Wonderful naturalist guides who will share their love of Costa Rica with you!
  • Verdant rainforest, lush mangroves, lava fields and serene cloud forests
  • Relax on idyllic Pacific coast beaches 
  • Unrivalled wildlife viewing — Howler monkeys, caiman and sloths 

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 simple 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 gastronomy 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.  



Please note: On some departures, we stay at the 24-room Trogon Lodge instead of Savegre Hotel. It’s equally idyllic, with a farm-to-table restaurant, a river-view bar and two nature trails. 



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.