Costa Rica
Tropical canals where green turtles are born, then dry tropical forest and Pacific beaches
Costa Rica
A journey between two opposite sides of Costa Rica: Tortuguero, a network of tropical canals reachable only by boat, where the western hemisphere's largest population of green turtles comes to nest on the beaches each year, then Guanacaste, a dry tropical forest region with a radically different climate, whose Pacific beaches rank among the most sought-after in Central America.
When
July to Oct
Price
From 3 500€ excl. flights
(based on 2 people sharing)
How long
7 nights
Ideal length
Days 1-2
The first chapter unfolds in Tortuguero, nicknamed Costa Rica's "little Amazon," reachable only by boat through a network of natural and artificial canals lined with dense jungle. Tortuguero beach hosts the western hemisphere's largest annual green turtle nesting, a nighttime spectacle strictly supervised by park rangers to protect the females.
Day 1
Navigating the canals of Tortuguero
A silent boat trip through the canals of Tortuguero, in search of caimans, howler monkeys, and the rich birdlife populating the banks, before checking in at a lodge reachable only by river.
Day 2
The nesting of the green turtles
A guided night outing on Tortuguero beach to witness, from a respectful distance, the nesting of green turtles, overseen by park rangers who limit visitor numbers and the use of light.
Days 1-2
A flight to Guanacaste, a dry tropical forest region with a climate radically different from the rest of the country, where rain falls only a few months of the year. Rincón de la Vieja National Park, dominated by an active volcano, complements Pacific beaches such as Playa Conchal, made entirely of shell fragments ground down by centuries of surf.
Day 1
Rincón de la Vieja volcano and its hot springs
A hike in Rincón de la Vieja National Park, between volcanic fumaroles and natural mud baths, then relaxation in hot springs fed by the volcano's geothermal activity.
Day 2
Playa Conchal and sunset over the Pacific
A beach day at Playa Conchal, made entirely of crushed shells, with the chance to snorkel in translucent water, before one last sunset over the Pacific.
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