Short Escape: Costa Rica

Touchdown in San José, the nation’s small leafy capital ringed by jagged mountains and volcanoes on all sides. Meet your local A&K representative and transfer to your peaceful accommodation, named after the “golden bean”. Ease into local time and get your first taste of Costa Rica. Stroll out on your own and immerse yourself in the Costa Rican culture in this wonderfully walkable and friendly city. Alternatively spend time in the courtyard sipping speciality cocktails before retiring for a restful night’s sleep.

Hotel Grano de Oro

Spend the morning with rescued wildlife at the Toucan Rescue Ranch. Meet orphaned baby sloths, woodpeckers and parrots, before a tour of the wildlife reserve and rehabilitation centre. Afterwards return to the city and accompanied with your private guide head to the fascinating pre-Columbian Gold Museum and seek out treasures and then discover why the National Theatre was built in the late 19th century by the ruling coffee barons.

Hotel Grano de Oro | Meals: B

Private transfer to the local airport for the flight northeast to Tortuguero on the Caribbean coast, and on arrival, proceed for a five-minute shared boat ride to your jungle retreat. From rainforest and swamps to mangrove forest and lagoons, Tortuguero National Park boasts vast biological diversity – the headline act being protected beaches where sea turtles’ nest and lay their eggs. Drop your bags and join your local naturalist for a private expedition into the park’s backwater lagoons and creeks. Look out for egrets, tiger herons, keel-billed toucans and the ever-mischievous white-faced capuchins catching the last sunlight. Return to the lodge in time for bocas (Costa Rican hors d’oeuvres) to the music of chirping tree frogs in the dimming twilight.

Tortuga Lodge & Gardens | Meals: BLD

Take off on another private expedition in the park, one of the last large areas of tropical rainforest in Central America. Start with a guided river excursion through creeks alive with wildlife in search of breakfast. Watch troops of howler monkeys searching for figs and look out for river otters and caimans waiting for their next meal to swim by. Return to the lodge for lunch and an afternoon relaxing. Later this evening, feast on local cuisine in your own private garden setting on the banks of the river surrounded by tropical rainforest.

Tortuga Lodge & Gardens | Meals: BLD

Return to the airstrip by shared boat across the canal and board your flight to La Fortuna in the Arenal Volcano National Park, home to the infamous Arenal Volcano, among the world’s ten most active volcanoes. Surrounding the volcano is 500,000 acres of rainforest, rivers, lakes and lava fields just begging to be explored.

Arrive at your remote eco-lodge, set against a panoramic backdrop of the Arenal Volcano and enveloped by acres of pristine rainforest and lush tropical gardens where you may be greeted by sloths lazing in Cecropia trees.

Later, discover the Danaus Private Reserve rich in both flora and fauna. Keep your eyes open for prolific birdlife including tanagers, honeycreepers, toucans, manakins and many more. Your visit ends with the chance to be part of the reserve’s conservation legacy by planting your own tree. This evening you may like to join a hands-on cooking demonstration and discover more about Costa Rican cuisine.

Nayara Resort Spa & Gardens | Meals: B

Venture closer to Arenal Volcano and wander high above the forest canopy on hanging bridges. Covering three kilometres, the network of bridges is located high above the forest floor. Led by your naturalist guide, you will observe a significant diversity of plants, spy birds and wildlife unseen from the ground and glimpse views of the nearby volcano. Continue on with a forest hike down to the impressive Arenal Waterfall and a chance for a refreshing dip in the cool waters. After a traditional Costa Rican lunch return to your hotel where you can slip into the naturally heated waters of the private thermal pools surrounded by lush foliage and the sounds of the jungle.

Nayara Resort Spa & Gardens | Meals: BLD

Today enjoy a 2.5-hours volcano hike that takes place along the base and flanks of Arenal Volcano in the Arenal 1968 Park. The trail takes you to the lava fields of the 1968 eruption, which are now in regeneration, and over rocky terrain. You will feel the power of nature and enjoy impressive views of Lake Arenal and the mountains of Monteverde. While observing the local flora and fauna, you may be lucky enough to spot birds and other animals. Before relaxing and embracing the Pura Vida lifestyle in the afternoon.

Nayara Resort Spa & Gardens | Meals: BLD

Journey back to San Jose airport, where your journey ends. Connect with your onward international flight.

Meals: B