Wildlife at the centre of every day

ANaturalist'sCostaRica

Regions

Caribbean, Monteverde, Osa

Suggested length

Around 12 to 14 nights

Pace

Full, with early mornings

Plan this journey

TheShapeOfANaturalist'sCostaRica

Ideal for birders
Ideal for wildlife photographers
Ideal for families with curious children
Ideal for return visitors

For travellers who measure a trip in sightings, this journey crosses the country to visit three of its richest habitats: the canals and beaches of Tortuguero, the cloud forest of Monteverde and the lowland rainforest of the Osa Peninsula.

It's a longer trip with more travel between regions, and it is designed around the hours when wildlife is most active: early starts, rests in the heat of the day, and guided walks after dark.

An illustrative route, not a bookable package. Stays, timings and transport are chosen with you and confirmed only in your own proposal.

Tortuguero:Thecanals
About Caribbean
Suggested: 2 to 3 nights. By boat into a world of water and forest. Dawn trips along the canals, and, in nesting season, a guided night on the turtle beach.
Caribbeanfoothills:Thelowlands
About Monteverde
Suggested: 2 nights. A pause in the lowland forests between the coast and the mountains, rich in birds, frogs and the sounds of the night.
Monteverde:Thecloudforest
About Osa
Suggested: 3 nights. Cooler days in the cloud forest, looking for quetzals, hummingbirds and the smaller lives of the forest floor.
OsaPeninsula:Corcovado
Suggested: 4 nights. The finale: guided days in Corcovado and on the wild coast, where scarlet macaws, monkeys and much more are part of daily life.

A sloth with her baby hanging among leaves

MakeItYourOwn

Adapt this journey

GoodToKnow

Lodges chosen for where they are rather than how they look: on the canals, inside the forest, and on the edge of Corcovado. Comfort varies by region, and we'll always be clear about what to expect.

Typical stays: Canal-side lodges · Forest lodges · Remote eco-lodges

Experiences along the way: Dawn canal trips in Tortuguero · Turtle nesting, in season · Birding with specialist guides · Night walks · Guided days in Corcovado. Nothing is included by default; we choose with you.
Getting around: This journey involves several regional transfers, some by boat or small plane.
Before you go: Wildlife sightings can never be guaranteed; good guides and patience improve the odds considerably.
Timing: Turtle nesting in Tortuguero is seasonal, peaking from around July to October.

Start planning this journey

TheRegionsOnThisRoute

All regions

RegionLimón province
The Caribbean Coast
Canals and coastal lagoonsTurtle-nesting beachesReef and shoreline forest
Another rhythm entirely.
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RegionTilarán mountains
Monteverde and the Cloud Forest
Cloud forestRidges and wind-shaped elfin forestPastures and farmland on the lower slopes
Mist, moss and the cool air of the continental divide.
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RegionSouth Pacific
The Osa Peninsula
Primary lowland rainforestWild Pacific beachesThe sheltered Golfo Dulce
Remote, raw and astonishingly alive.
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MoreJourneys

All journeys

JourneyBalanced
Rainforest to the Pacific
Around 10 to 12 nightsArenalMonteverdeCentral Pacific
Volcano and hot springs, a few cool days in the cloud forest, then down to the coast where the forest meets the sea.
View
JourneyActive, with room to rest
Volcanoes and Cloud Forest
Around 9 to 11 nightsGuanacasteArenalMonteverde
The volcanic north, from bubbling mud on Rincón de la Vieja to the pale blue Río Celeste, Arenal's cone and the cloud forest of Monteverde.
View
JourneyUnhurried, with long days outdoors
The Wild South
Around 9 to 12 nightsCentral PacificOsa
Whale coasts near Uvita, then on by boat to the Osa Peninsula and the deep forest of Corcovado, with quiet days on the Golfo Dulce.
View
JourneySlow
Slow Days on Nicoya
Around 9 to 10 nightsGuanacasteNicoya
A short stay in Guanacaste's dry forest, then two unhurried bases on the Nicoya Peninsula, each with its own character.
View