Costa Rica - A Tailormade Holiday
COSTA RICA TAILOR-MADE HOLIDAYS
Craft your ideal Costa Rican escape with a tailormade holiday. Hike misty cloud forests, surf legendary waves, or soak in volcanic hot springs. Spot elusive wildlife, kayak bioluminescent waters, and delve into vibrant culture. From rainforest lodges to beachfront havens, your personalized itinerary awaits. Pura vida, your way.
When it comes to traveling, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Our Costa Rica Tailormade Holiday options understand that everyone has their unique preferences, interests, and budget. This is why a tailor-made tour can be an excellent option for those seeking a more personalised travel experience. In Costa Rica, there are countless benefits to a tailor-made tour, from customised itineraries to personalised attention from local guides.
One of the biggest advantages of a tailor-made tour is flexibility. With a pre-packaged tour, you're often stuck with a fixed itinerary, which may not include all the destinations or activities you're interested in. With a tailor-made tour, you have the freedom to design your itinerary based on your preferences, whether you want to explore off-the-beaten-path destinations or focus on a specific theme, such as wildlife, culture, or adventure.
A Costa Rica Tailormade Holiday can offer a personalized and unforgettable travel experience, tailored to your unique interests and preferences.
Day 1 - San José
Welcome to Costa Rica! At the airport you will be met by a representative of our agency, who will give you a detailed explanation of the selected itinerary, hand you your welcome packet and coordinate the seat-in transfer to your selected hotel in San José.
Accommodation in San José
Included meals today: None
Included activities/fees: None
Day 2 - San José - Braulio Carrillo
After breakfast, you will drive to the Rainforest Adventure Park, which covers 475 hectares of private reserve and borders directly on the Braulio Carrillo National Park. Your visit begins with a gondola ride of approx. 1 h 10 min through the treetops. Afterwards, you will experience a guided jungle walk and the butterfly and hummingbird garden. The tiny nature of orchids, their colours and thousands of details make us fascinated by these plants. This park has dedicated a session to the rescue of orchids that have been recovered from the same forest where the park is located. If you are lucky, you will have the opportunity to see the orchid bloom, which is an event that happens only once a year. A few species bloom twice a year or more. On the trails of the park, you will find terrariums where it is possible to see some species of the local amphibians and reptiles.
Accommodation in Braulio Carillo - Tapirus Lodge
Included meals today: Breakfast, lunch
Included activities/fees: Tour at the Rainforest Aerial Tram and walk along the Rainforest Adventure trails
Day 3 - Braulio Carrillo - Tortuguero
Early in the morning, you will be picked up by the guide of your Tortuguero Lodge. On the way, you will stop at a local restaurant where a typical Costa Rican breakfast will be served before heading to the boat landing at La Pavona/Caño Blanco. From here you will travel by boat through the canals of the Tortuguero National Park. Let yourself be enchanted by this exotic paradise, which offers a variety of flora, fauna and beautiful landscapes. Upon arrival, you will enjoy a refreshing cocktail and a delicious lunch. You will have a couple of hours to recharge your batteries and in the afternoon an excursion to the small and picturesque village of Tortuguero, where you have the possibility to visit the Sea Turtle Conservancy Museum (entrance fee USD 2, not included) or take a walk to get to know the village and finish with a walk along the beach to watch the sunset. A delicious dinner will be served upon arrival at the lodge.
Accommodation in Tortuguero - Tortuguero Aninga Lodge
Day 4 - Tortuguero
This day starts very early in the morning, and you will be able to enjoy the most hidden corners of the innumerable network of secondary canals; you will have a good chance to observe the awakening of the fauna and with a bit of luck you will have the possibility to see spider, white-faced and howler monkeys, crocodiles, red frogs and toucans. We will return to enjoy breakfast and talk with our family and/or friends about the experiences we have had during this first excursion. If you prefer, you can enjoy the hotel facilities and book one of the spa treatments or the complementary excursions. In the afternoon, the natural history adventure continues with a hike through the lodge's private trail, where your guide will give you information about the forest that makes up the national park and where the lodge facilities are located. A delicious dinner will be served in the evening in the lodge's restaurant as you enjoy the amazing scenery on your Costa Rica tailormade holiday.
Accommodation in Tortuguero - Tortuguero Aninga Lodge
Included meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Included fees/tours: Walk on the lodge's private trail & boat trip through the canals of Tortuguero National Park (including the entrance fee)
Day 5 - Tortuguero - La Fortuna/Arenal Volcano
After a delicious breakfast, you will start your trip to the next destination of your journey, La Fortuna. First, you will travel by boat back to the pier and then by bus to Guápiles, where lunch will be served. From here, you will continue to La Fortuna in a ‘seat-in’ transfer. The main attraction of the village is the Arenal Volcano, with its almost perfect conical shape. Although it has not shown any increased activity for years, it remains the highlight of the region with its imposing presence.
Accommodation in La Fortuna - Arenal Springs Resort & Spa
Included meals today: Breakfast, lunch
Included activities/fees: None
Day 6 - La Fortuna/Arenal Volcano
After breakfast, you will be picked up around 07:30 and then start your excursion day with a visit to the Místico Hanging Bridges. The total of 15 bridges in the Místico Park have a length of 5 - 100 metres, the hike across the bridges covers a distance of approx. 3 km. The maximum height of the bridges is about 60 metres. From here you have a spectacular view of the primary forest with all its inhabitants such as birds, plants, reptiles, mammals and insects. Afterwards, you will return to the village and make an excursion to the La Fortuna waterfall. If you like, you can cool off in the waterfall's natural pool, but this reward has a challenge ahead, as there are 530 steps to descend to reach the base. Once finished, you have the task of climbing back up the steps for a delicious lunch that awaits you in a typical restaurant in the village. Later in the afternoon, the programme includes a hike to the foot of the Arenal Volcano. From the lookout point, you can enjoy a beautiful panoramic view of the volcano and Lake Arenal, provided the weather is on our side. Finally, you will finish the day in the hot springs of the area, ending with a delicious dinner in the facilities of the complex.
Accommodation in La Fortuna - Arenal Springs Resort & Spa
Included meals today: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Included activities/fees: Místico Hanging Bridges walk, La Fortuna Waterfall, hike in Arenal Volcano National Park, El Silencio Trail or 1968 Trail, and Ecotermales Hot Springs
Day 7 - La Fortuna and Sloth Walk
Today you will take a walk to watch one of Costa Rica’s most iconic residents, the sloth! Walk with your English-speaking guide and learn about these wonderful creatures and view them in their natural habitat. (1 hour 30 mins) The rest of the day is free to relax or explore further.
Accommodation in La Fortuna - Arenal Springs Resort & Spa
Included meals today: Breakfast.
Included activities/fees: Sloth Walk - 1 hour 30 mins with English speaking guide. Time to be arranged.
Day 8 – La Fortuna/Arenal Volcano - Monteverde
Breakfast and at the agreed time collective transfer from La Fortuna/Arenal Volcano to Monteverde. (3 hour 30 mins) This area is a destination for nature lovers, where its main attraction is the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve, which is world-renowned for its great biodiversity, its contribution to conservation and scientific research. The mystical forest is covered by a haze produced by the high humidity trapped in the infinite branches of the tallest trees and is home to the elusive quetzal and the vibrant bellbird.
Accommodation in Monteverde - Monteverde Country Lodge
Included meals today: Breakfast.
Included activities/fees: Combined transfer from La Fortuna/Arenal Volcano to Monteverde
Day 9 - Walking Monteverde Cloud Forest Tour and Coffee, Sugar Cane & Chocolate Tour
The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is one of the main attractions in the area of Monteverde. The reserve offers a system of 13 km of well-kept trails and invites you to enjoy a hike through lush vegetation. This walking tour starting at 8am includes a local English-speaking guide, who will tell you all about the flora and fauna of the region, considered by most Costa Ricans as one of their seven wonders. Your guide will watch out for animals - birds mainly. Over 300 species can be seen here, and the famous Quetzal is among them. The walk can take up to 3 or 4 hours, depending on the interest the participants show. Hikers, birdwatchers, and peace-seekers will love it! On returning to the lodge, you can rest and have lunch (not included) before we begin the second excursion of the day (about 3pm).
Don Juan, the founder of this coffee tour, was born in 1937 to one of the first pioneering families that arrived in the Monteverde area. As they were farmers, so was the son. They grew sugarcane and coffee and additionally some cacao trees. But most of his life Don Juan dedicated himself to coffee: cultivation, processing and sharing the history and culture of his country with many visitors. Therefore, this coffee tour is a real experience of family history and tradition and offers a warm welcome. You will be invited to look into the world of coffee and be introduced to the history of coffee in Costa Rica and its socio-economic development. And you will learn a lot about chocolate as well as sugarcane, as both contribute to Costa Rican culture. For about 30 minutes during the tour, you will immerse in chocolate - but don't take it too literally! The guide will tell you about the history and the value of cacao beans in the past. You can taste the raw beans and observe how they magically convert into a rich and tasty chocolate drink. At the end of the session, you will enjoy the taste of the chocolate you have made in a variety of forms like liquid chocolate, plain chocolate, spiced chocolate and, of course, coffee chocolate. In the past, many farmers in the country had their own sugarcane mill. You will get to know the historical reason why and learn about the history of sugarcane. Watch how it is extracted mechanically and do it on your own by chewing it. And then taste a glass of pure juice. At the end of the tour, you will be invited to enjoy a delicious cup of coffee, accompanied by a typical home-made Costa Rican snack.
Accommodation in Monteverde - Monteverde Country Lodge
Included meals today: Breakfast.
Included activities/fees: Walking Monteverde Cloud Forest Tour (approx. 4 hours) and Coffee, Sugar Cane & Chocolate Tour (approx. 2 hours)
Day 10 – Monteverde - North Pacific Beaches
After breakfast, the journey continues to the beaches of the North Pacific (approx. 4 hours 30 mins). This area covers more than 200 km of coastline and offers a pleasant climate as well as a variety of sandy beaches ranging from white to dark grey shades contrasting with crystal clear waters in a variety of blue tones.
Accommodation in the North Pacific - Tamarindo Diria Beach Resort
Included meals today: Breakfast.
Included activities/fees: Shared transfer from Monteverde to North Pacific Beaches
Days 11 & 12 - North Pacific Beaches
Free days to discover the natural wonders of this place. Enjoy the sun, the waves, the cool and warm breeze of the sea, which will relax you and allow you to escape the stresses of daily life. Among the many offered activities you find fishing, canopy tours, visits to national parks, biological reserves, swimming, diving, surfing or just taking a sunbath lying on the warm sand. Accommodation in the North Pacific.
Included meals today: Breakfast.
Included activities/fees: None.
Day 13 - North Pacific Beaches - San José
Breakfast and at the agreed time, transfer from the North Pacific beach area to San José. We recommend you make the most of your last day in Costa Rica. If you wish, a good option is to take a walk through the capital and enjoy the essence of the Ticos.
Accommodation in San José
Included meals today: Breakfast.
Included activities/fees: Transfer from the North Pacific beach area to San José
Day 14 - San José International Airport
Breakfast and at the agreed time transfer to Juan Santamaría International Airport in San José for your flight back home. Thats is the end of your Costa Rica tailormade holiday. Have a good trip back!
Included meals today: Breakfast
Included activities/fees: Transfer to Juan Santamaría International Airport
This tour is an example of what our travel experts can arrange for a Costa Rica Tailormade Holiday.
Prices for this tour range from £2345 to £2845 per person depending on the season
Get in touch with us and we can discuss options depending on your preferences and budget.
Government Travel Safety Advice
We strongly recommend that you check your government's travel advisory for up-to-date information and advice about your destination: safety and security, entry requirements, health, local laws and customs. For UK citizens, check the latest Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office advice. Please refer to the COVID-19 entry requirements page for any country-specific conditions of entry.
Visa and Passport Information
Costa Rica: Citizens from the UK, US, Canada and most EU countries do not require a visa for a stay up to 90 days. Citizen of Australia, New Zealand and the Republic of Ireland do not require a visa for stays up to 30 days. Other nationalities should consult the relevant consulate. You should confirm all visa related issues with the relevant Embassy prior to departure.
USA: (including those in transit) Citizens of the UK, New Zealand, Australia, Canada and passport holders from several EU countries can enter the United States without a visa under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) - where you apply for an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorisation), which applies if you enter the country by sea or by air. This must be done on line - https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov no later than 72 hours prior to travel. Travellers who have not registered before their trip are likely be refused boarding.
You must have an electronic passport with a digital chip containing biometric information about the passport owner. UK passports which are biometric feature a small gold symbol (camera) at the bottom of the front cover.
If you have visited Iraq, Syria, Iran or Sudan since 2011 or are dual nationals of these countries, you cannot travel with an ESTA and instead you will need to apply for a visa from the nearest US Embassy or Consulate. If you are unable to provide a valid visa before boarding flights to the US, or entering via another method, you may not be permitted to travel.
Please note for your ESTA application you will be required to supply Point of Contact information. This will be listed on your final documentation which you will receive approximately 3 weeks before departure. If you are leaving for the USA before this, please call our team to get this information. (Not necessary if in transit)
For further information please check out the US embassy website. Visa applications - http://london.usembassy.gov/niv/apply.html
Canada: An electronic travel authorisation (ETA) is required by British citizens transiting via Canada. For more information see the official Canadian government website: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/eta.asp
Other nationalities should consult their local embassy or consular office.
Vaccinations
There is nothing compulsory for the escorted tour of Costa Rica. However, we do recommend protection against typhoid, infectious hepatitis and polio. Please consult your travel clinic for the latest advice on Malaria, Dengue and Zika Virus. Please take preventative measures to avoid mosquito bites - these include mosquito repellent as well as long trousers and long sleeve shirts to cover up when necessary.
Please note many countries in Central America, South America and the Caribbean require a yellow fever vaccination certificates if travelling from infected areas. A detailed list of these countries can be found on the NaTHNaC website - http://travelhealthpro.org.uk/countries. Please check the latest requirements with your travel clinic or doctor prior to departure.
Travel Insurance
It is a condition of booking with Our Local tour that you have adequate valid travel insurance. It is your responsibility to arrange appropriate travel insurance and ensure you have read and understood the full terms and conditions of your travel insurance policy to ensure that you are covered for all activities you intend to undertake whilst on the tour, including all optional activities.
Your Insurance Policy must fully cover you for medical expenses and emergency repatriation to your home country. Please ensure your policy includes medical emergency helicopter evacuation in the event of illness or injury and covers the entire duration of your holiday. If you are trekking at altitude please ensure that there is no upper altitude limit which may limit or exclude cover for your trip. Please ensure that you are covered for the full amount of your holiday cost, as insufficient cover could invalidate a claim under the policy.
What to bring on your Costa Rica Tailormade Holiday
Clothing
Lightweight clothing is essential in midsummer however a warmer jumper is advisable for cooler evenings in the highlands (especially in Monteverde). A good waterproof is essential, and you should consider waterproof trousers. The jungle lowlands are hot and muggy, and it can rain at any time of year. Long trousers and long-sleeved shirts are recommended on jungle walks. There is a laundry available in most hotels..
Footwear
Lightweight trail/walking boots for jungle walks, comfortable shoes/trainers and sandals. Waterproof footware is recommended.
Luggage while on your tour
Please allow yourself one main piece of luggage and a day-sack. Remember, you are expected to carry your own baggage, so don't overload yourself, a soft wheely bag may be easier to manage than a suit case.
Equipment
We recommend a sunhat, sunscreen, a torch, insect repellent and a waterbottle. Binoculars are essencial for bird and animal spotting. A solar charger for your phone and other electronics is a good idea.
Tipping
Tipping isn't compulsory, and we work hard to ensure that our local guides all receive a fair wage. However, you might want to recognise if your guide has done a great job or really added to your trip by giving them a tip. We're often asked about the recommended amount. It's a tricky one, and down to personal preference, but we'd recommend between £15 to £20 per person per week as a guideline.
Tour Kitty
Although entirely voluntary, tipping is a recognized part of life in this region of the world. Some local staff will look to members of the group for personal recognition of particular services provided. In order to make things easier for you, your guide may organise a group tips kitty for included activities and meals and if this is the case, they will account for it throughout the tour. Accordingly, you should allow US$ 30 , approx. 18'000 Colones for this. For all non-included services and meals on your trip please tip independently at your discretion.
Local currency in Costa Rica
Costa Rican Colon (CRC) - for an idea of exchange rates, please see www.xe.com
You can choose to either change your money in advance or on arrival at the airport, where there are both ATMs and Bureau de Change. USD are accepted in some shops and restaurants. We recommend you take some emergency cash in USD as the GBP exchange isn’t very good. Notes should be in good condition otherwise they may not be accepted.
ATMs can be found in the major towns and cities for cash withdrawals in Colones. Always have some cash back up as they are not always reliable.
Credit card are widely accepted in many shops and restaurants but some may be subject to a service charge.
Food and drink
The costs for meals may vary depending upon location, type of restaurant and number of courses eaten and so the prices given are an average guide. Local restaurants located off the beaten track may be less expensive, whereas an upmarket restaurant located in the centre of a major city may charge more.
Lunch price - £13 / Dinner price - £13 / Beer price - £3 / Water price - £1.3
