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Costa Rica Wildlife Walk

0044 1606 720199

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  • Holiday code
    W11RC
  • Holiday type
    Guided walking
  • Duration
    11 nights
  • Accommodation
    hotel-to-hotel
    and
  • Activity level
  • Call usfor dates and prices
  • Departure months
    JFMAMJJASOND
  • What your holiday price includes
  • 11 nights hotel-to-hotel accommodation in a mix of and hotels
  • Continental breakfast, 10 lunches and 10 evening meals. Snack on arrival
  • Services of an experienced walking guide
  • Standard transfers at the start/end of the trip (if booking inclusive flights)
  • Boat trip included
  • Air-conditioned vehicle
  • Optional Upgrades
  • Suitable for
  • Couples
  • Excellent choice for
  • Flora & fauna, bird spotting opportunities, coastal routes

Costa Rica

Costa Rica Wildlife Walk

This trip is currently unavailable. Please call us on 0044 1606 720199 for further details.

  • Land of contrasts: dramatic volcanoes, emerald lagoons, world famous Monteverde Cloud Forest, masses of rare flora
  • Perfect spot to relax: tiers of waterfalls, thermal springs, sandy beaches, sweeping ocean views
  • Mountain lodge hotels, all with private swimming pools
  • Superb wildlife: tree frogs, iguanas, spider monkeys and over 850 species of birds

This exciting holiday explores Costa Rica's most dramatic contrasts: cloud forests, volcanoes, lakes, waterfalls and the Pacific coast. You'll be amazed at the amount of wildlife you'll encounter. From quetzals and tree frogs to agoutis and iguanas, each day is memorably different.

Our local guides have an expert knowledge of Costa Rica's flora and fauna and are passionate walkers. With them, our tour is even more remarkable as we learn about Costa Rica's unique natural inheritance. Walking on forest paths and some country tracks, you'll spot wildlife along the way with agoutis and coatis scrambling across the path in Monteverde and monkeys swinging through the trees at Rincon de la Vieja. Awe-inspiring panoramas abound with balcony views to the distant Pacific Ocean and sweeping vistas over Lake Arenal and to the magnificent volcano.

The hotels you stay in are typically mountain lodge style with separate small buildings or bungalows. All have beautiful tropical gardens and swimming pools. Highlights include Arenal, where you look out at the volcano and the Bosque del Mar and Margaritaville on Playa Hermosa and Playa Flamingo respectively. Lunches are a mix of picnics and local restaurants, whilst dinners are taken in the hotels. One evening is spent at Eco Termales in Arenal where dinner is enjoyed after relaxation time in the hot springs!

This varied walking holiday is mainly on jungle trails and country tracks. Rainforest trails can be slippery and steep in sections, so walking boots are essential.



We're here to help

If you have any questions about this holiday call our sales team on 0044 1606 720199, use our live webchat or email sales@headwater.com



We're here to help

If you've any questions about this holiday call our sales team on 0044 1606 720199 , or email sales@headwater.com

Day 1: Arrive in Costa Rica

Arrive at your hotel in Santo Domingo, just outside San Jose, where you will receive a snack upon arrival.

Day 2: Monte de Barva 12km/7.5mi/3.5hr

Today we head to Monte de Barva, a private property in the mountains where we explore forests with views over the Central Valley. Our walk ends with a typical Costa Rican lunch cooked on a wooden stove. We return to the hotel via the town of Barva, one of the oldest settlements in Costa Rica, famous for its colonial architecture and its dedication to retaining its culture. There's time to explore the hotel gardens and have a swim before dinner.
Breakfast, lunch and evening meal included

Day 3: Monteverde Cloud Forest 12km/7.5mi/3hr

It's on to Monteverde, where we follow a forest trail through soaring ridge oak decked with bright orange clusia, in search of the resplendent quetzal, then onwards through the emerald forest canopy to the Continental Divide where the Caribbean and Pacific meet. Our next 2 nights are spent here.
Breakfast, lunch and evening meal included

Day 4: Canitas & Cebadillas 15km/9.5mi/3.5hr

Walking through lush pastures with balcony views over curving Nicoya Peninsula, we soon reach the hamlet of Canitas. A gradual climb through forest then brings us to the pretty mountain village of Cebadilla. Before dinner, we take a fascinating stroll through the cloud forest spotting tree frogs and hummingbirds.
Breakfast, lunch and evening meal included

Day 5: To Arenal Volcano 18km/11mi/5hr

We wind through farmsteads bright with blue-flowered St Lucia trees overlooking the western shore of Lake Arenal. We'll pass cattle ranches, stud farms and dairies before continuing along the shore, spotting scarlet tanagers flitting through the reeds. We then take a boat to the western side of the lake for superb views over Arenal Volcano.
Breakfast, lunch and evening meal included

Day 6: Cano Negro Boat Tour

Today's tour takes us first by road then by boat through the Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge close to the Nicaraguan border. It's a birdwatcher's paradise and is also home to a number of endangered mammals and reptile species - look out for caimans, turtles and tapirs.
Breakfast, lunch and evening meal included

Day 7: Exploring Arenal and La Fortuna Waterfall 9km/5.5mi/5hr

Today we visit the Arenal butterfly and frog gardens and stop off at an indigenous Malecus village. It's then on to the famous La Fortuna Waterfall before continuing on to relax in the hot springs at Eco Termales!
Breakfast, lunch and evening meal included

Day 8: Rincon de la Vieja National Park 8km/5mi/3hr

We move onwards to Rincon de la Vieja, beginning our walk through rainwood and Spanish cedar, maybe spotting turkey vultures flitting above us. We reach Las Chorreras and Victoria Falls, a 35m high torrent thundering through a verdant gorge. There's time for a paddle before going on to our hotel for dinner. We spend two nights here.
Breakfast, lunch and evening meal included

Day 9: Blue Lagoon & Thermal Springs 10km/6.5mi/3hr

Look out for toucans and white-fronted amazons, as we descend to La Cangreja Waterfall. Its blue lagoon is so inviting we have to take a dip before our picnic. Then we walk through woodland, where violet guaria morada (Costa Rica's national flower) grows, to Las Pailas, an eerie landscape of bubbling mud and geysers.
Breakfast, lunch and evening meal included

Day 10: Santa Rosa National Park 10km/6.5mi/4hr

Today we walk through Central America's largest protected dry forest. We may spot coatis, tapirs and iguanas as we descend to continue along the Indio Desnudo Trail - there are superb photo opportunities here! Then it's on to the coast, where our final two nights are spent overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
Breakfast, lunch and evening meal included

Day 11: Free Day

Relax on the beach - the perfect end to our tour. There's the option to stay on here for extra nights.
Breakfast, lunch and evening meal included

Day 12: Leave Costa Rica


Where you stay

During your holiday you stay at the following hotels. If you'd like to extend your time at any of these or, if you'd like to enhance your stay with an upgraded room, just let us know at the time of booking.

To find out more call our sales team on 0044 1606 720199, use our live webchat or email sales@headwater.com


Find out more on the hotel website.
Read customer reviews on Tripadvisor.

Hotel Bougainvillea, Santo Domingo

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The Bougainvillea Hotel is in Santo Domingo, just 25 minutes from San Jose international airport and about 15 minutes from the centre of San Jose.

The hotel is built in extensive gardens where you can take a stroll and start your discovery of all the flora and fauna Costa Rica has to offer. Headwater customers are allocated the spacious mountain view rooms and the hotel facilities include pool, sauna, fitness centre and gift shop.


Find out more on the hotel website.
Read customer reviews on Tripadvisor.

Hotel Poco a Poco, Monteverde

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The well appointed 4* Hotel Poco a Poco has a picturesque setting in the centre of Monteverde, and not far from the frog pond.. It comes with a heated pool and superb spa facilities.

Headwater customers stay in the spacious Quetzal rooms which all come with views to the village and surrounding forest, as well as coffee maker and free wifi.


Find out more on the hotel website.
Read customer reviews on Tripadvisor.

Hotel Fonda Vela, Monteverde

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The Hotel Fonda Vela is one of the nicest hotels in Monteverde. Set back from the town, it is one of the nearest hotels to the entrance to the nature reserve that has made Monteverde famous. The park entrance is no more than a 5 minutes drive from here.

The hotel is made up of nine different buildings that house different rooms. The majority of the rooms are standard, but Headwater guests normally stay in junior suites. The junior suites are larger and also have telephones, mini bars and satellite televisions. They also have ensuite shower and bathrooms with hairdryers.


Find out more on the hotel website.
Read customer reviews on Tripadvisor.

Eco Arenal Hotel, La Fortuna

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The Eco Arenal Hotel is surrounded by lush vegetation and overlooks the volcano of the same name.

The spacious rooms are situated in 2 storey wooden cabins; all are ensuite with shower.


Find out more on the hotel website.
Read customer reviews on Tripadvisor.

Hacienda Guachipelin, Rincon de la Vieja

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The Hacienda Guachipelin is located right on the edge of the Rincon de la Vieja National Park. The lodge started up as a cattle ranch, and is still owned by one of Costa Rica's most famous horsemen, Don Tomas.

The lodge is made up of five separate rows of rooms each with a veranda. All rooms are en suite with shower and have 2 queen size beds as well as a table and chair. They are reasonably spacious and are all built in traditional Latin American style.


Find out more on the hotel website.
Read customer reviews on Tripadvisor.

Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal

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The Arenal Observatory Lodge is one of the most historical hotels in Arenal in that it was originally the observatory lodge for the scientists that first came to study the volcano in 1987. The lodge is surrounded by hectares of parkland and it is the only hotel in Arenal that is within the Arenal National Park.

The best thing about the lodge is the balcony views of Arenal that you get from pretty much every bedroom window, the pool and the restaurant. The volcano is just 1.7 miles from the lodge but the hotel is perfectly safe as the gorge of the Agua Caliente River separates it. Nowadays however, its strategic position makes the hotel a great place to experience the volcano. The view is ever present when you are in the pool, strolling through the gardens or having breakfast in the restaurant.

All rooms are ensuite with ceiling fan.

The hotel also has a large swimming pool as well as an outdoor Jacuzzi.

There are a number of way-marked trails through the gardens that you can follow if you fancy a stroll.


Find out more on the hotel website.
Read customer reviews on Tripadvisor.

Bosque del Mar, Playa Hermosa

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The Bosque del Mar hotel is a beachfront property on the grey sand Playa Hermosa (beautiful beach). The hotel is set in beautiful gardens and surrounded by tropical forests.

Rooms here are spacious and all have terrace or balcony with views of the garden or pool. Some rooms make you really feel you are part of the gardens as the structure of the building has been done in such a way to avoid cutting down trees where possible to cause less environmental impact.


Find out more on the hotel website.
Read customer reviews on Tripadvisor.

Hotel Margaritaville, Playa Flamingo

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The Margaritaville Hotel has a superb location on the pristine golden sands of Playa Flamingo. It comes with lovely tropical gardens and spa facilities.

Rooms here are spacious and have pool view. They are prettily decorated with bright colours to replicate the sun, sea and sand of the hotel's setting.

Travel

Transfers can be arranged at a supplement from San Jose airport at 20:25 and back to Liberia airport for the 14:20 flight.

Call now to speak to our specialist team at 0044 1606 720199 or email us at sales@headwater.com for enquiries or to book your trip.

Reviews

Here at Headwater we thrive on feedback and pride ourselves on our excellent customer service. Below is a small selection of reviews we've received from our satisfied customers.


Christopher Cooke, 02/03/2024

Efficient and friendly service


14/11/2023

Excellent Megan was helpful and kept us informed during the booking


Alexander Sutherland, 08/06/2023

process handled very well.

Dates and prices

You can be confident that our pricing includes all the standard requirements of your holiday and many additional extras. Always ensure that you are comparing like for like when booking your holiday.

This 11 night guided walking holiday includes:

Hotel-to-hotel accommodation in a mix of and hotels

Continental breakfast, 10 lunches and 10 evening meals. Snack on arrival

Services of an experienced walking guide

Standard transfers at the start/end of the trip (if booking inclusive flights)

Boat trip included

Air-conditioned vehicle


How to book:

To book this holidays speak to our sales team on 0044 1606 720199 or click on the appropriate 'book now' or 'check availability' button below.

To book this holiday call our sales team on 0044 1606 720199 or click on the appropriate 'Book now' or 'check availability' button below.

Departure date Tour only Prices Single supplement  

Please call for prices

We do not currently have departure dates and prices available on-line. The season may have ended for this tour, or we are still in the process of adding these details to our website. Please contact us for further details.

Holiday details

Minimum group sizes
A minimum of 6 people (in total) are required for each departure.

Solo travellers
Please call for details and prices

Children
This holiday is unsuitable for children.

Holiday type
Guided walking Managed locally by Headwater appointed agent.

Departures

Meals
Continental breakfast, 10 lunches and 10 evening meals. Snack on arrival

Tailor-made travel

Tour only

Transfers can be arranged at a supplement from San Jose airport at 20:25 and back to Liberia airport for the 14:20 flight.

If you choose to book your own flights please check with us first that your chosen departure date is definitely operating as our guided holidays are subject to minimum group sizes.

How to book

To book this holidays speak to our sales team on 0044 1606 720199 or click on the appropriate 'book now' button above.

If you need further information before you book simply complete our Holiday Enquiry Form and a member of our sales team will get back to you.

To book this holiday call our sales team on 0044 1606 720199 or click on the appropriate 'Book now' or 'Check availability' button below.