World Class Travel & Tours

Costa Rica Nature Tour

(Pictures Optional)

Volcanoes, cloud forests, monkeys, birds, and butterflies.

Described as the Switzerland of the Americas.

Tours

We use the best tour operators to book all kinds of tours to Costa Rica, including independent tours and packages. If you have a group we can design a tour for your group. Check with us for details or for other information. First an overview of Costa Rica is presented. This is followed by an example of an escorted tour. Contact us to book your travel. We book travel worldwide. Check out our Special Promotions.

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Costa Rica Overview

Costa Rica is a country with one beautiful view after another, and it has been described as the Switzerland of the Americas. There are volcanoes, cloud forests, monkeys, tropical birds, butterflies, and much more. When you go there take your camera with lots of film. There are many photo opportunities.

Everything is found in an area smaller than the state of West Virginia. Yet the variation in flora and fauna is phenomenal. Costa Rica is a perfect place for ecotourism.

San Jose, the capital, is located at about 10 degrees latitude in the tropics. But, because of its' elevation the climate there is like eternal spring. On each coast it is like summer at all times. But go into the rain forests in the mountains and you will need a jacket, especially at night, throughout the year.

With such a variety of things to see and do within such short distances it is no wonder that so many Americans have chosen to retire there. In fact, many Americans went there at a young age and never left; they now own many of the hotels and restaurants.

The country has a very stable political system. There is no military. They have chosen to spend their money instead on education and health care. So it is not surprising that so many Americans go to Costa Rica for medical treatment. The care is good and the costs can be much lower than in the United States. Some of your friends may have gone there for a face lift.

The people of Costa Rica, called Ticos, are very friendly and eager to offer help. They are largely of Spanish descent; there is very little Indian population. In this respect the country is very different, for example, from Mexico and Guatemala. It is a great place to learn or to practice Spanish. However, the guides and many of the Ticos are fluent in English.

One way to see Costa Rica is to do it on your own. In fact, this is my preferred method of travel when visiting much of Europe, the Caribbean, or Bangkok, Thailand, to name a few places. But I personally do not recommend this independent mode of travel for Costa Rica. You will not know what to look for or where to look. Naturalist guides make the tour much more enjoyable since they show you and explain to you the great variety of animal and plant life that is found there. Also, it is really nice to let someone else do all the driving, especially when the roads are poorly marked or in bad condition in the more remote locations. In Costa Rica I recommend touring with guides in small groups.

Poas Volcano and Sarchi

Most tourists use San Jose as a base of operations while taking short tours of one or more days. North of San Jose is an area rich with things to see and do. One morning Rebecca and I were on a tour to the Poas Volcano National Park. This volcano has a very large impressive crater. The volcano is mildly active, and in the main crater we could see bubbling action with steam. There is a nice walk through the woods to an older crater that is now an attractive lake. Along the way between San Jose and the Poas Volcano you see fields of coffee. The coffee, which is very good, is one of the big export products of Costa Rica. In the afternoon we went to nearby Sarchi where they make beautifully painted wooden oxcarts. These carts were once the main means of transporting goods in Costa Rica. At the factory you can buy miniature size oxcarts in kit form to take home.

Arenal Volcano and Tabacon Hot Springs

A highlight for many visitors to Costa Rica is seeing volcanic eruptions from Arenal Volcano. Scientists from all over the world go there to study the volcano, which has been very active with numerous eruptions over the last few years. During an eruption red hot boulders are thrown into the air. When this happens at night, with no cloud cover, it is spectacular! But even if the volcano is not active when you are there, you can still visit old and new lava flows and the rain forest near the majestic volcanic cone. If you spend the night in a lodge in the rain forest, you will probably wake up to the sounds of howler monkeys in the morning.

Close by to Arenal Volcano is Tabacon Hot Springs which is a wonderful place for swimming and relaxation. Hot water is fed from the volcano. We found an evening swim to be a great way to end the day.

Monteverde Cloud Forest

West of Arenal Volcano is Monteverde, which was founded by Quakers from the U.S. in the 1950s when they immigrated there. The private reserve contains rain forests, cloud forests, and transitional forests. The vegetation is lush with abundant wildlife. More than 400 species of birds have been recorded. Hummingbirds are readily seen at feeding stations. You can also visit a butterfly garden. Late in the day look for the beautiful sunsets over the western lowlands and the Gulf of Nicoya.

We spent nearly an entire day in the Monteverde cloud forest which is magnificent. There were many things to photograph including a family of howler monkeys high in the trees above us. A very special outing occurred when our guide took us back into the cloud forest after dark. It was much different than during daytime. Many insects and animals only come out after dark when they are better able to avoid predators. We had a friendly encounter with a coatimundi. It was exciting to be there.

Palo Verde National Park

West of Monteverde is La Pacifica near the town of Canas where we had gone for another tour. In the morning we were taken to the Palo Verde National Park. The drive through the farm country, with extinct volcanic cones scattered here and there, was beautiful. Once we reached the Tempisque River we boarded a small boat for a trip into the park with our guide. This river is at the head of the Gulf of Nicoya, and the trip by boat is one of the best ways to see the wildlife along the banks of the river. Including the usual monkeys and iguanas we saw crocodiles and many birds. The park is an important marsh and wetlands, and birds are found there that are not found elsewhere in the country. This was a great day tour.

Carara Biological Reserve and Jaco Beach

We did a day tour from San Jose to the Carara Biological Reserve located near the Pacific Coast. This reserve is a forest in a transitional zone between wet and dry tropical forests. There are lots of animals and plants, and I was able to photograph a pair of beautiful scarlet macaw birds. In the afternoon we visited a resort at Jaco Beach where it was possible to swim in the large Pacific Ocean waves.

Tortuga Island

One day we took a boat trip from Puntarenas to Tortuga Island off the Pacific Coast. The boat trip afforded some spectacular views of the coastline. This Island is a prime example of a dry forest.

Quepos and Manuel Antonio National Park

We spent a couple of nights near the town of Quepos. From our hotel room there were stunning views of the rocky Pacific Coast. This was a great place to unwind after the treks through the jungle. Nearby is the Manuel Antonio National Park, which is one of the most popular of all of the national parks. Close to the park are nice beaches for swimming. At the hotel restaurant each evening, wild squirrel monkeys came out of the jungle looking for handouts of bananas. They were so cute.

White water rafting

For a totally different experience we went white water rafting in the Reventazon River east of San Jose. We had never rafted before, and what at first appeared to be very scary turned out to be exciting and a lot of fun. Much credit goes to our guides who taught us all how to paddle in the swift river currents. We want to do that again.

Tortuguero and the Caribbean Coast

We were headed for Tortuguero on the east coast. Along the way we stopped to tour a banana plantation, where lots of bananas are grown and prepared for export. For the last part of our journey to Tortuguero we transferred to a boat for a trip of several hours through rivers and canals. This was most enjoyable. Once you get to the Caribbean Coast you discover that it is much different from the rugged and majestic Pacific Coast. Nevertheless, it is beautiful in its own way. In this part of Costa Rica there is a lot of rain, more than 15 feet (4.6 meters) per year.

We took several boat tours through parts of the Tortuguero National Park. There was lots of wildlife including monkeys, toucans, iguanas, and bats. Bless the bats. Because of predators, mostly bats, mosquitoes are not a nuisance in much of Costa Rica. In this country there are more bats than any other animal. We also went trekking through the jungle. It was raining, so they provided us with rain gear. We had lots of fun.

A high point of our visit to Tortuguero was the opportunity to see a nesting green turtle. It was September, and at this time of the year, these turtles come from great distances through the ocean to lay their eggs on the beach. We were hoping to see this, and our guide took us out to the beach in a pouring rain. It was so dark we had to hold on to the person in front to keep from being separated from the group. It was necessary to be very quiet and to not use flash lights so as to not scare the turtles. Without a guide you are not allowed on the beach after dark. They protect the turtles. So where was mama turtle? Finally, our guide found one. She was digging a hole where she would lay about one hundred eggs. Of those, only about one would reach adulthood. But suddenly the turtle was spooked and she started back to the water. I think that she had been scared by the lighting. It was a struggle for her to drag herself across the sand. Her shell was more than three feet long. She would return later to lay her eggs. I would not have missed this for anything.

To leave Tortuguero we were taken by boat to a lonely airstrip without buildings in the jungle where a small two motored plane landed to pick us up and take us to San Jose. The trip by air only took about thirty minutes.

The trips to Costa Rica always come to an end much too soon. It is so easy to feel at home there. I cannot wait to get back. Do you want to come along?

Example of an Escorted Tour - 9 days/8 nights

Tour dates: The dates can be chosen to satisfy your group. If you do not have a group the tour operator can place you with a small group to keep the price down.

Tour includes: All transfers/transportation in Costa Rica, hotels, 20 meals, reception, entrance fees, and expert guides.

Cost of tour. The cost of the tour depends upon the size of the group and the time of the year when you go. Round trip airfare may be available at bulk rates. There can be substantial savings for booking early. Also, by booking early you have a greater selection of accommodations.

Itinerary: There are many photo opportunities. Those interested in photography can request special instructions on what kind of film to bring and how to photograph scenes like erupting volcanoes at nighttime.

Day 1 - Arrive in San Jose, Costa Rica and transfer to the Hotel Puesta De Sol. This hotel is a grand colonial hacienda which was formerly the home of a European ambassador. The hotel has a number of amenities including large private baths, a swimming pool, and tropical gardens. There will be an evening reception to get acquainted and for a preview of the tour. Refreshments will be served.

Day 2 - Morning visit to the Poas volcano, which has a very large impressive crater. Continue on to Arenal Volcano. Visit nearby Tabacon Hot Springs for swimming and relaxation. Overnight at Arenal Observatory Lodge at the base of the volcano. Scientists from all over the world come here to study the volcano, which has been very active with numerous eruptions over the last few years. During an eruption red hot boulders are thrown into the air. When this happens at night, with no cloud cover, it is spectacular! (Please note that we cannot guarantee volcanic eruptions, as Mother Nature has her own schedule.) Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (B,L,D)

Day 3 - Visit old and new lava flows and the rain forest surrounding the lodge. Overnight at Arenal Observatory Lodge. In the morning you will probably wake up to the sounds of howler monkeys. (B,L,D)

Day 4 - Transfer to Canas and La Pacifica Ecological Center. There is much wildlife including monkeys, anteaters, iguanas, water birds, and land birds with species not found elsewhere in the country. Overnight at the Hacienda La Pacifica, located in a tropical setting near the Corobici River. Take an evening walk along the banks of the river. (B,L,D)

Day 5 - Boat tour to Palo Verde National Park. This park is an important marsh and wetland for many birds. Animals found in the region include coatimundi, white-faced and howler monkeys, and crocodiles. Overnight at Hacienda La Pacifica. (B,L,D)

Day 6 - Midmorning transfer to Monteverde. See slide show on Monteverde ecology with pictures taken by professional nature photographers. Overnight at Hotel Fonda Vela. This hotel has spacious rooms and is surrounded by lush green fields and virgin rain forests with exotic birds. There are beautiful sunsets over the western lowlands and the Gulf of Nicoya. Take a night walk in the magnificent Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. (B,L,D)

Day 7 - Visit to the Monteverde Cloud Forest, with its lush vegetation and abundant wildlife. More than 400 species of birds have been recorded. Hummingbirds are readily seen at feeding stations. Afternoon visit to the butterfly garden. Overnight at Hotel Fonda Vela. (B,L,D)

Day 8 - Morning transfer to San Jose, stopping en route to visit the Carara Biological Reserve on the Pacific Coast. The very beautiful scarlet macaw is found here along with other birds, animals, and plants. Overnight at Hotel Puesta De Sol. (B,L)

Day 9 - Transfer to airport for return home.

Photo of erupting volcano by Jeff Otico. Remaining photos by Sunny Breeding. We sell prints and slides.

Acknowledgments.

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