Costa Rica Wildlife & Birding Holidays: Tortuguero + Arenal + Osa Peninsula
Costa Rica wildlife & birding holidays offer a wonderful combination of nature, activity and beach - from the turtles of Tortuguero and Ostional Beach, to the sloths and hanging bridges of Arenal Volcano, the cloud forests of Monteverde and the monkeys, tapirs, peccaries and other rainforest wildlife of the Osa Peninsula and Manuel Antonio.
It is easy to get around Costa Rica, as self-driving is easy and the roads are good making this a popular option. There is also a network of tourist shuttles that link all key destinations, as well as light aircraft flights if preferred. Accommodation of all styles and prices is available, the guiding is excellent and English is widely understood.
Politically stable, Costa Rica has looked after its wildlife well, with over 25% of its land protected by national parks and a bio-diversity that rivals some of its much larger South American neighbours. With both a Caribbean and Pacific coastline, this small country also has an incredible diversity of colourful tropical bird life, with over 900 different species – including 52 hummingbirds - making it one of the top birding destinations in the world.
Costa Rica wildlife & birding holidays will take you deep into rainforests and cloud forest sloped volcanoes, as well as to wild untouched coastlines. You will discover acrobatic monkeys, exquisite hummingbirds, frogs in all colours and shades and pristine beaches where sea turtles come to nest. Outdoor activities also abound, whether you like gentle pursuits or want an adrenalin fix. You can float down the Corobicà River looking for kingfishers, otters and howler monkeys, or grab a paddle and go white water rafting on the Reventazón or Pacuare Rivers. Specialist birding itineraries can be found in each sub-region (see side navigation).
You will find the best sandy beaches on the Pacific coast on the Nicoya Peninsula. Experience Costa Rica's famous ‘pura vida’ (simple life), as you lie in a hammock beside a palm-fringed beach, watch sea turtles nesting or climb Cerro Chirripo, the highest peak in the country.
Combine your ideas with our expertise and let us help you create a holiday of a lifetime. We offer a wide range of options at different price points, all of which can be tailor made to your needs.
We have been arranging Costa Rica wildlife & birding holidays to Tortuguero, Arenal & Osa Peninsula for over 20 years.
ALL OUR COSTA RICA WILDLIFE & BIRDING HOLIDAYS TO TORTUGUERO, ARENAL & OSA PENINSULA ARE FINANCIALLY PROTECTED wherever in the world you live.
>
More information on Costa Rica wildlife & birding holidays, including visits to the turtles of Tortuguero Park, the sloths of Arenal Volcano, the monkeys & other rainforest wildlife of the Osa Peninsula, Monteverde & Manuel Antonio:
Costa Rica wildlife & birding holidays usually start in the capital city of San Jose in the Central Highlands, where the country is divided down the middle by a range of volcanoes – including the impressive Poas Volcano.
One of the best known national parks in Costa Rica is Tortuguero on the Caribbean coast, where a system of tranquil canals and rivers make exploring by boat the best way to get up close to nature. On its untouched beaches, green turtles nest between June and November. Ostional Beach on the Pacific coast is another important turtle nesting site.
In the foothills of Arenal Volcano you can luxuriate in warm thermal springs, view wildlife from hanging bridges, ride the Sky Tram cable car, or take a thrilling eight-stage zip-line down the mountain, with stunning views of the lake and volcano. The cloud forests of Monteverde are popular with birders wanting to spot the resplendent quetzal. Small Manuel Antonio National Park has an incredible diversity of wildlife, with over 100 mammals and 184 recorded bird species.
Some of the very best wildlife opportunities on Costa Rica wildlife & birding holidays are found walking in Corcovado National Park on the Osa Peninsula in the southwest.
Filter by Interest:
FEATURED HOLIDAY
Costa Rica: Arenal + Tortuguero + Caribbean Beach
12 NIGHTS FROM:
$2,695
Per person sharing
Scheduled flights quoted separately
RRB12S
|
• Costa Rica Beach Holidays, Caribbean
|
|
• Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
|
|
• San Jose
|
|
• Arenal Volcano
|
|
• Hot Springs
|
|
• Sky Tram & Zip Lines
|
|
• Hanging Bridges
|
|
• Caribbean Beaches
|
|
• Sea Turtles, Tortuguero
|
|
• Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge
|
From May to October Costa Rica beach holidays are best on the warm Caribbean coast, staying in the town of Puerto Viejo de Talamanca. You can also visit the dramatic Arenal Volcano with its hot springs, sloths & other wildlife, hanging bridges, zip lines & sky tram and view sea turtles nesting & hatching in Tortuguero National Park. Bird life is also outstanding. All transfers included.
FEATURED HOLIDAY
Classic Costa Rica: Caribbean to the Pacific
14 NIGHTS FROM:
$3,210
Per person sharing
Scheduled flights quoted separately
RRA14S
|
• Holiday to Costa Rica
|
|
• Tortuguero National Park
|
|
• Sea Turtles
|
|
• Thermal Hot Springs
|
|
• Arenal Volcano
|
|
• Hanging Bridges
|
|
• Sloths & Monkeys
|
|
• Birds & Reptiles
|
|
• Manuel Antonio
|
|
• Esterillos Beach, Pacific
|
You do not need to drive on this holiday to Costa Rica that, from November to April, combines the birdlife of the Tortuguero Wetlands with the wildlife & hot springs of the Arenal Volcano, Monteverde Cloud Forest & rainforests of Manuel Antonio, with many optional adventure activities. Afterwards relax on the beach on the Pacific Coast. All transfers & specified sightseeing included.
FEATURED HOLIDAY
Costa Rica Beach & Wildlife: Arenal + Monteverde + Tamarindo
14 NIGHTS FROM:
$3,211
Per person sharing
Scheduled flights quoted separately
RRC14S
|
• Costa Rica Beach Holiday
|
|
• Costa Rica Wildlife Safari
|
|
• San Jose
|
|
• Arenal Volcano
|
|
• Sloth Trail & Sky Tram
|
|
• Hot Springs
|
|
• Hanging Bridges & Waterfalls
|
|
• Pacific Beaches
|
|
• Tamarindo
|
|
• Monteverde Cloud Forest
|
This wonderful Costa Rica beach holiday & wildlife safari combines the rainforests and hanging bridges that surround the Arenal Volcano, with the cloud forests of Monteverde with their hummingbirds and many walking trails, and the wonderful beaches of Tamarindo on the Nicoya Peninsula. All shuttle transfers & specified activities included.
FEATURED HOLIDAY
Walking in Costa Rica: Arenal + Monteverde + Dominical (self drive)
15 NIGHTS FROM:
$3,214
Per person sharing
Scheduled flights + car hire quoted separately
8RCW15S
|
• Self Drive Holiday, Costa Rica
|
|
• Hanging Bridges
|
|
• Diamante Waterfall Hike
|
|
• Monteverde Cloud Forest
|
|
• Manuel Antonio Reserve
|
|
• Arenal Volcano Hike
|
|
• Nauyaca Waterfalls Hike
|
|
• Hike, Dominical, Self Drive
|
|
• Walking Holiday, Costa Rica
|
|
• Bagaces
|
This self drive walking holiday in Costa Rica explores the cloud forests & rainforests of this beautiful country, included a guided Arenal Volcano hike, Diamante Waterfall hike in Guanacaste, Monteverde Reserve & Nauyaca Waterfalls hike near Dominical on the Pacific Coast. Self drive can be replaced with transfers on request. Guided hikes included.
FEATURED HOLIDAY
Costa Rica Highlights + Panama Holiday
14 NIGHTS FROM:
$3,343
Per person sharing
Scheduled flights quoted separately
RRJ14S
|
• Holiday: Panama Canal & Costa Rica
|
|
• Monteverde Cloud Forest
|
|
• Sky Tram & Zipline
|
|
• Sloths, Birds & Sea Turtles
|
|
• Arenal Volcano
|
|
• Hanging Bridges & Hot Springs
|
|
• San Blas Islands
|
|
• Manuel Antonio
|
|
• Coast to Coast Railway
|
|
• Panama Canal & City Tour
|
This holiday to the Panama Canal & Costa Rica combines the pristine rainforest wildlife of Cost Rica with the engineering marvels of the amazing Panama Canal. Enjoy a tour of Panama City & the opportunity to ride the Coast to Coast Railway. You can also take day trips to visit local tribes or the beautiful San Blas Islands. All transfers & specified sightseeing included.
FEATURED HOLIDAY
Costa Rica Adventure: Arenal + Rincon + Tamarindo Beach
14 NIGHTS FROM:
$3,470
Per person sharing
Scheduled flights quoted separately
RRF12S
|
• La Fortuna
|
|
• Skytram & Ziplines
|
|
• Rincon de la Vieja
|
|
• Catalinas Islands
|
|
• Tamarindo
|
|
• Hanging Bridges & Hot Springs
|
|
• Arenal Volcano
|
|
• Waterfall Hikes
|
|
• White Water Rafting
|
|
• Cost Rica Holidays
|
This adventurous Costa Rica holiday combines the ziplines, hanging bridges, rainforests & hot springs of Arenal Volcano with the waterfall hikes, river tubing & white water rafting found in the dramatic landscapes of volcanic Rincon de la Vieja. Afterwards relax on beautiful Tamarindo Beach on the Pacific Coast, with easy access to snorkelling & diving around the Catalinas Islands.
FEATURED HOLIDAY
Costa Rica: Arenal + Monteverde + Osa + San Gerado (self drive)
16 NIGHTS FROM:
$3,596
Per person sharing
Scheduled flights + car hire quoted separately
RCC14S
|
• Self Drive Holidays, Costa Rica
|
|
• Costa Rica Tailor Made Holidays
|
|
• Manuel Antonio
|
|
• Arenal Volcano
|
|
• Hot Springs
|
|
• Hanging Bridges
|
|
• Osa Peninsula
|
|
• Corcovado National Park
|
|
• San Gerardo de Doto
|
|
• Tortuguero Wetlands
|
Our self drive holidays to Costa Rica can be tailor made to your needs. Visit Arenal Volcano with its hot springs, hanging bridges, zip lines, birds & rainforest wildlife then take the boat to the Tortuguero wetlands where sea turtles nest. Continue to San Gerardo de Doto in the Central Highlands, home to the iconic respendent quetzel bird, and the wildife-rich Corcovado National Park on the Osa Peninsula, returning to San Jose via Manuel Antonio on the Pacific Coast.
FEATURED HOLIDAY
Active Costa Rica: Arenal + Rincon + Tamarindo (self drive)
14 NIGHTS FROM:
$3,596
Per person sharing
Scheduled flights + car hire quoted separately
RCE14S
|
• Self Drive Holidays, Costa Rica
|
|
• San Jose
|
|
• Arenal Volcano
|
|
• Hanging Bridges
|
|
• Waterfall Hike + River Tubing
|
|
• Catalinas Islands
|
|
• Tamarindo Beach
|
|
• Rincon de la Vieja
|
|
• Sky Tram & Ziplines
|
|
• White Water Rafting
|
We offer many adventurous self-drive holidays in Costa Rica, with car hire. From San Jose, drive to the magnificent Arenal Volcano with its Sky Tram, zip lines & hanging bridges. Then drive to volcanic Rincon de la Vieja with its optional waterfall hikes, exciting river tubing & waterfall canyoning, before ending your holiday relaxing on gorgeous Tamarindo Beach, with easy access to snorkelling & diving around the Catalinas Islands.
FEATURED HOLIDAY
Costa Rica (Turtles): Arenal + Nosara + Osa Peninsula (self drive)
14 NIGHTS FROM:
$3,665
Per person sharing
Scheduled flights + car hire quoted separately
RCU14S
|
• Self Drive Costa Rica Wildlife Holidays
|
|
• Sloths & Birds of Rainforest
|
|
• Manuel Antonio
|
|
• Nosara Beach
|
|
• Turtles: Ostional Beach
|
|
• San Gerardo de Doto
|
|
• Osa Peninsula
|
|
• Corcovado Mational Park
|
|
• Arenal Volcano
|
|
• Hot Springs & Hanging Bridges
|
Our tailor made self-drive Costa Rica wildlife holidays will give you the opportunity to see sloths & colourful neotropical birds in the rainforests around the Arenal Volcano, which also has wonderful hanging bridges & hot springs. Also visit Nosara and Ostional Beach, where sea turtles nest, Corcovado National Park on the wildlife-rich Osa Peninsula, Manuel Antonio National Park on the Pacific Coast & San Gerardo de Doto in the Central Highlands.
FEATURED HOLIDAY
Costa Rica Highlights + Bocas Del Toro + Panama Canal
16 NIGHTS FROM:
$3,853
Per person sharing
Scheduled flights quoted separately
RRK16S
|
• Sloths
|
|
• Panama Canal Holiday
|
|
• Hot Springs
|
|
• Tropical Birds
|
|
• Monteverde Cloud Forest
|
|
• Hanging Bridges
|
|
• Arenal Volcano
|
|
• Bocas del Toro
|
|
• Manuel Antonio
|
|
• Costa Rica and Panama Holiday
|
This Costa Rica and Panama holiday combines the tropical rainforests, hanging bridge & hot springs of Arenal Volcano, with Monterverde cloud forest & Manuel Antonio, with its sloths & wonderful birdlife. Afterwards fly to spectacular Bocas Del Toro island in the Caribbean, with snorkelling & diving. End in Panama City, with a tour of the canal. All transfers, light aircraft flight & sightseeing included.
FEATURED HOLIDAY
Costa Rica (Turtles): Tortuguero + Arenal + Nosara
14 NIGHTS FROM:
$4,239
Per person sharing
Scheduled flights quoted separately
RRT14S
|
• San Jose
|
|
• Costa Rica Wildlife Holiday
|
|
• Tortuguero Turtles
|
|
• Palo Verde Wetlands
|
|
• Sloths & Tropical Birds
|
|
• Arenal Volcano
|
|
• Hanging Bridges & Hot Springs
|
|
• Nosara & Ostional Beaches
|
|
• Monteverde Cloud Forest
|
|
• Olive Ridley Turtles
|
This Costa Rica wildlife holiday combines the Tortuguero turtles on the Caribbean coast (green turtles nest from July to Oct), with the rainforests & hanging bridges of Arenal Volcano, where you can see sloths, monkeys & colourful birdlife. Continue to Monteverde Cloud Forest, Palo Verde Wetlands, Nosara & Ostional Beaches, where Olive Ridley turtles nest (June to Dec). All transfers & sightseeing included.
FEATURED HOLIDAY
Birding Costa Rica: Caribbean + Highlands + Osa Peninsula
14 NIGHTS FROM:
$4,497
Per person sharing
Scheduled flights quoted separately
7RRB14S
|
• Birding Holiday, Costa Rica
|
|
• La Selva Biological Station
|
|
• Tortuguero National Park
|
|
• Bird, Sloth & Turtle Watching
|
|
• Playa Nicuesa, Golfo Dulce
|
|
• Bird Watching
|
|
• Sarapiqui Rainforest
|
|
• Osa Peninsula corridor
|
|
• Maquenque Rainforest
|
|
• Piedras Blancas National Park
|
This lodge-based birding holiday to Costa Rica includes bird watching in the Sarapiqui lowland rainforest, in the Maquenque reserve near the border with Nicaragua, in the highlands around San Gerardo de Doto & in Piedras Blancas National Park on the Golfo Dulce, adjacent to the Osa Peninsula. All transfers, light aircraft flights & specified bird watching included.
FEATURED HOLIDAY
Costa Rica by Air: Tortuguero + Arenal + Osa Peninsula
12 NIGHTS FROM:
$5,886
Per person sharing
Scheduled flights quoted separately
RRX12S
|
• Tortuguero Wetlands
|
|
• Sloths & Monkeys
|
|
• Sea Turtles
|
|
• Puerto Jimenez
|
|
• Osa Peninsula
|
|
• Corcovodo National Park
|
|
• Arenal Volcano
|
|
• Hanging Bridges
|
|
• Costa Rica Wildlife Holiday
|
|
• Hot Springs
|
Explore Costa Rica by light aircraft on this wonderful wildlife holiday. Fly to Tortuguero, where green sea turtles nest, and Arenal Volcano with its rainforest wildlife, hanging bridges & thermal hot springs. Then fly to Puerto Jimenez, the gateway to Corcovado National Park on the spectacular Osa Peninsula. All transfers, park fees & light aircraft flights included.
FEATURED HOLIDAY
Costa Rica Birding (guided): Caribbean + Pacific + Highlands + Osa (guided)
14 NIGHTS FROM:
$7,456
Per person sharing
Scheduled flights quoted separately
7RPB15S
|
• Birding Holidays Tours, Costa Rica
|
|
• San Jose
|
|
• Boca Tapada
|
|
• Sarapiqui
|
|
• Pacific Coast
|
|
• Carara National Park
|
|
• San Gerardo de Dota
|
|
• Resplendent Quetzal
|
|
• Osa Peninsula
|
|
• Scarlett Macaws
|
Our privately guided bird holidays & tours to Costa Rica can be tailor made to visit the main birding regions, as well as travelling to the wildlife-rich Osa Peninsula, which is home to magnificent scarlett macaws, as well as much other wildlife. Also visit the Caribbean Lowlands, Carara National Park on the Pacific Coast, and San Gerardo de Dota in the Central Highlands, home to the iconic resplendent quetzal. All transfers & park fees included.
FEATURED HOLIDAY
Costa Rica Highlights + Galapagos Cruise
18 NIGHTS FROM:
$8,356
Per person sharing
Scheduled flights quoted separately
RRL18S
|
• Holiday, Wildlife of Costa Rica
|
|
• Costa Rica & Galapagos Islands
|
|
• Tortuguero Wetlands
|
|
• Quito Vacation
|
|
• Arenal Volcano
|
|
• San Jose
|
|
• Hanging Bridges & Hot Springs
|
|
• Sloths, Turtles & Tropical Birds
|
|
• Galapagos Islands Cruise
|
|
• Manuel Antonio
|
This wonderful holiday combines the turtles, sloths, tropical birds & rainforest wildlife of Costa Rica, with a Galapagos islands cruise & the colonial city of Quito. Visit the Tortuguero wetlands; impressive Arenal Volcano & the rainforests of Manuel Antonio. Then fly to Ecuador & complete your vacation with a once-in-a-lifetime cruise in the Galapagos Islands. All transfers, park fees & sightseeing included.
|