Name: Costa Rica Eco Tour: Off the Beaten Track
Brand: Zicasso
Price: 234 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.8 (213 reviews)

What to expect on this itinerary

This luxurious, 10-day eco-adventure leads you from coffee plantations to an active volcano and immersive rainforest. Venture off the beaten track in Costa Rica, which is the home of eco-adventures and lazy days of exploring the rainforest in a variety of different ways. In addition to experiencing some of the very best natural landscapes, you will be immersed with the monkeys and sea turtles of the Caribbean coastline. Including organic spa treatments, luxurious eco-lodges, and intimate connections with both culture and nature, this will be ten days of active highlights away from the tourist crowds.

Countries Visited

Costa Rica

Places Visited

San Jose, Heredia, Irazu Volcano, Bajo Tigre, Tortuguero National Park

Suggested Duration

10 Days

Day 1

Heredia – Natural Spa Treatments

After you are picked up from San Jose’s international airport, you will have a short but private transfer to your luxurious lodge that will be located on an organic coffee plantation. You can check-in and check out the views from your room before easing into your eco-tour with two hours in the spa. Minerals from the ground are used to rejuvenate, and you can choose a treatment style that suits your mood. The spa is centered upon a connection with the landscape, and this theme will continue at sunset. With purple colors that paint the sky, you will dine on a feast of organic produce. From farm to table, almost every ingredient will not have traveled more than 20 miles.

Transfer

Accommodation

Tour

Breakfast

Day 2

Heredia – Coffee and Cacao Plantations

With a local guide, you will spend the morning hiking through the plantations. The cooler, morning hours will be perfect for a stroll, especially in the elevated highlands. After lunch back at your lodge, you will spend the afternoon trusting your senses. Smell and appearance come before taste when you are guided through the production process of coffee, and your guide will lead you from bean to cup in a series of experiential steps. Your guides will show you how to inspect and grade the beans as part of a cupping session that will end with a gourmet tasting of as many different blends as you want. With a full day on the plantation, you will also learn how organic practices impact the final result.

Accommodation

Tour

Breakfast, Lunch

Day 3

Bajo Tigre – Rafting to an Eco-Lodge

After breakfast on the plantation, a guide will escort you to iconic vistas for the chance to peer into an active volcano. Irazu is a neat spot on your route to rural Costa Rica. Descending from the volcano, you will enter the Limon province and complete today’s journey by raft. Reaching your next lodge will be part of the attraction: you will drift down a river, twist deeper into a private forest reserve, and toward a lodge that is completely hidden and private. The eco-lodge is a member of the leading lodges of the world and illustrates how guests can enjoy complete luxury while remaining carbon-neutral and completely sustainable.

Transfer

Accommodation

Tour

Breakfast, Dinner

Day 4

Bajo Tigre – Talamanca Mountain Hike

Your stay in Bajo Tigre will be inclusive of all meals, and almost every ingredient that will be in your meals is grown on the reserve. The lodge even brews its own beer. Your bungalow will feature a private infinity pool, a lazy hammock, and epic views of the rainforest, where monkeys and sloths are among the residents. This morning, you will hike into the Talamanca Mountains for a half-day experience with a local Cabecar community. Eco-tourism is helping them to preserve their ways, and after a two-hour hike to a remote community, you can share many moments with the people. While you are here, you will learn about their customs and connect to the rainforest.

Accommodation

Tour

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5 - 6

Bajo Tigre – Culture and Nature

Two days in Bajo Tigre will provide you with a bit of downtime. This is a destination for relaxing in nature and escaping the world. Short and long hiking trails extend from the lodge, so you can indulge in a personal wildlife expedition or take a guide who knows better where to look. These two days will be completely customizable, and you can arrange different activities after you arrive. All the lodge’s activities will be included in your stay, and a private guide will tailor each day to your moods and interests. Some trails can lead you to hidden waterfalls, while others provide idyllic spaces to watch the reserve’s birds. On a canyoning adventure, you can abseil down rock faces, jump into pools, and feel the sheer force of waterfalls.

Accommodation

Tour

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7

Tortuguero National Park – Cruising the Canals and Tracking the Monkeys

Your final morning in Bajo Tigre will be a morning to savor. During breakfast, you can sip on organic coffee and sample fruits that have been plucked fresh from the reserve’s organic garden. When you leave the lodge, you will travel by raft, which will be your final chance to look out for monkeys and feel the forest’s seclusion. You will be traveling to Tortuguero National Park and the Caribbean Sea. A network of waterways twists through this national park, making for an incredibly easy wildlife safari. All you have to do is sit back in the boat and be treated to an eclectic array of sounds and smells. After cruising the canals to the coast, you will arrive at your lodge, where the atmosphere will be as serene as in Bajo Tigre.

Transfer

Accommodation

Tour

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8 - 9

Tortuguero National Park – Sea Turtle Conservation

Tortuguero is a haven for sea turtles. Three turtle species arrive as early as March, giving Tortuguero an eight-month window to nest. You will spend these two days with conservationists who are working on a sea turtle project. On a single day, you can witness hundreds of nests and will probably encounter some of the hatchlings. Both afternoons will be flexible, and what you do will probably depend on what is happening with the sea turtle conservation. Snorkeling is an excellent option each afternoon, and you can usually swim alongside different turtles. You can also venture inland to explore more of the rainforest.

Accommodation

Tour

Lunch, Breakfast, Dinner

Day 10

Tortuguero National Park – Departure

Trip Highlights

Raft through the jungle to a luxurious eco-lodge escape, where you can spend four days away from the bustle of a major metropolis
Learn about sea turtle conservation during two days on the Caribbean beaches of Tortuguero
Hike through organic coffee and cacao plantations before tasting your way through the local, artisanal produce
Stand on top of an active volcano and be amazed by its spectacular crater pools
Gasp at monkeys and strange reptiles when cruising through the forest canals of Tortuguero National Park
Immerse yourself in an indigenous Cabecar community for a day deep in the Talamanca Mountains
Zipline through a rainforest canopy, abseil down a waterfall, and feel the adventure of a Costa Rican eco-tour
Snorkel along the Caribbean coast and come face to face with many exotic marine creatures
Indulge in spa treatments that make organic use of Costa Rica’s rich, natural resources

Detailed Description

If you were to dream of the classic Costa Rican experience, it would probably include a volcano, some beautiful beaches, and exploring a rainforest canopy. The country is dominated by volcanos and a cloud forest, so you do need to follow a standard route to enjoy these iconic images. Most visitors venture to the Pacific Ocean beaches along the Pan-American Highway, but there is a spectacular Caribbean coast that mostly goes unnoticed. With this Costa Rican tour, you will venture off the beaten track to discover nature without the crowds. The attractions and experiences will be just as impressive as the landmarks, except they will feel more authentic because they remain so unexplored.

Eco is a buzzword in the travel industry, especially in this Central American nation. Almost everything and everywhere claims to be eco, which can be inspiring given that Costa Rica aims to become the world’s first carbon-neutral country. This adventurous ten days handpicks Costa Rica’s best eco-experiences, including staying at a luxurious lodge that is hidden deep within its own reserve, organic spas and plantations, and activities that will help you to preserve sea turtle and monkey populations for future generations. You will also hike to meet an indigenous, Cabecar community, where you will actively support their continued traditions. With the rafting, canyoning, hiking, and snorkeling, the focus will be on sustainable operators that can use tourism to preserve Costa Rica’s special and unique places.

Instead of rushing around the country, you will have a leisurely ten days that features three different overnight locations. You will land in San Jose, where you will spend your first two days in Heredia at a charming lodge that will be located on an organic coffee plantation. Here, you can enjoy Costa Rica’s natural resources from coffee and cacao to spa treatments and organic gastronomy. On day three, you will peer inside Irazu Volcano to get a feel for the country’s volcanic allure before drifting down a river to one of the world’s ultimate eco-lodges. This haven away from home is off the grid, completely sustainable, and rustically luxurious. You will have four nights hidden inside this lodge’s private reserve, and your days can be customized to your interests.

During a stay at this Bajo Tigre lodge, you will meet with the Cabecar people in the Talamanca Mountains, zipline through the rainforest canopy, explore nature on hikes and water-based activities, and discover how an eco-lodge can be one of the leading lodges of the world. Tortuguero National Park will complete your tour, and here, you can bask in the beauty of the Caribbean coast for three days at a lodge that is hidden within a forest but also overlooks the ocean. Here, you will cruise the Tortuguero canals in search of monkeys and reptiles, snorkel at pristine reefs, and spend a day helping with sea turtle conservation. Just like in Heredia and Bajo Tigre, you will enjoy exciting, Costa Rican experiences that do not need to be shared with others.

Starting Price

$2,400 per person (excluding international flights)

Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.

What's Included

The starting price is based on travel during the low season for a minimum of two travelers staying in shared 3-star accommodations. Please inquire for a custom trip quote based on your travel preferences and travel dates.

4.8

Verified Traveler Reviews

Based on 213 reviews

Costa Rica Travel Review: Monte Verde, La Fortuna, San Jose, Manuel Antonio, Tortuguero National Park, Arenal Volcano, Ziplinging

Our travel agency organized the perfect tour of Costa Rica. Our small group of 4 were treated as VIPs from the moment we arrived at San Jose airport, until the day we flew home. We even received a "welcome to Costa Rica" call and special "goodbye" call from our agency. Every transfer and guided tour was on time and the drivers were good. There were no worries or concerns, each day was perfectly organized and each hotel was informed of our itinerary. Our travel agency provided us with a free cell phone for local calls as well as walkie-talkies to stay in touch with each other. This added an even higher level of security to our trip.

We wanted to experience an environmental tour that would introduce us to the rain forest, the flora, fauna, birds, reptiles & animals of Costa Rica. We were amazed by the scenery and the knowledge of our guides on each of our tours. Costa Rica is truly magical. All of the hotels were interesting and clean, the staff friendly and efficient. We stayed in bungalows & cabins in the heart of the rain forest! The food was very good and served in more than ample quantities. Our last few days were spent at the Belmar Hotel in Monteverde and the luxury of that small inn and stunning views of the Pacific Ocean, were a great way to end our stay.

Our only disappointment was that our internal flight with Nature Air from Tortuguero National Park turned out to have a connection at San Jose airport with a 3.5 hour wait for the second flight to Arenal. We were expecting a direct flight, and more time to explore the village of La Fortuna.

We would definitely recommend this travel company and will use Zicasso Handcrafted Travel to help us book holidays in the future.

Travel Review: Luxury Costa Rica Tour, Osa Peninsula, Tortuguero, Dominical, Bajos del Toro, Arenal, Coffee Plantation Tour

From their first response to our enquiry, we had confidence that this travel agency had understood what we were looking for, from our trip to Costa Rica. They worked with us to fine-tune our itinerary and hotel choices, and made valuable suggestions when we were unsure of the best options. They responded promptly to all of our emails and phone calls before we left England, and were equally available throughout our time on Costa Rica. When they say that they are contactable 24/7, they really mean it.

On arrival in Costa Rica, we were met by the co-owner and his wife as well as our driver - this was a truly personal touch and showed their commitment to looking after us. They kept in contact throughout our trip - for example, speaking to us during internal transfers between the different places we visited. We felt confident that our travel agency would be there to solve any problems that may arise, and as with any extended trip, we did have a couple of problems. When we both picked up local virus, our travel agency arranged for the hotel to take us to a local clinic for treatment.

They offered an outstanding service when we missed an internal flight, due to heavy traffic, by arranging a private charter flight to ensure that we could reach our next destination. We were extremely happy with the standard of all of the vehicles and drivers that our travel agency used and felt completely safe on the roads. We enjoyed all of our destinations and the accommodation was excellent (with only one exception: our cloud forest lodge in the Bajos del Toro area which was very cold at night, as there was no heating. It really needed some).

In summary, this company are the best agents that we have ever used and we have no reservation in recommending them most highly.

Costa Rica Luxury Vacation Review: Monteverde, Tortuguero, Flora & Fauna, Wildlife, the People

We had a great trip and really enjoyed our time in Costa Rica. Everyone was kind and helpful. The guides were without exception terrific -- always well-informed and engaging. The drivers were courteous and helpful. The food was almost uniformly of high quality and tasty. The hotels and lodges were, while of differing quality, always clean and comfortable. The adults only hotel at the Arenal volcano was absolutely gorgeous, both grounds and villas. It has to be one of the loveliest places we've ever stayed. We also very much enjoyed the Lodge in Tortuguero and the luxury hotel in Monteverde. The food in the restaurants at all three places was very good, fairly priced (for hotel restaurants), and the service was great.The place we stayed in San Jose the night we arrived and the night before we departed was very nice as wellnear Jaco was OK, but of much lower quality than other places we stayed. Its decor is pretty dated and our suite was so poorly lit that it was difficult to read at night. The people at the front desk weren't very service oriented and the service in the restaurant was so so. So we would put it at the bottom of the list of places we stayed -- fantastic views, but not the kind of investment in customer care as the other places we stayed.Our travel planner, of this travel company was wonderful to work with. We were particular grateful for her accessibility and quick responses to questions and a few itinerary changes that we made during the trip itself. We wish you every success!

I should add that Costa Rica is beautiful. Its a lovely country with astounding wildlife and plants, and warm, friendly people.

Travel Review: Luxury Costa Rica Vacation, Arenal Volcano, Guanacaste, Zip Lining, River Rafting Experience, Trekking, 7-Day Trip

Very very positive. Both locations, the Arenal Volcano region and Guanacaste were great. The hotels, tours, transportation all were terrific. The travel company tour folks were attentive and extremely professional.

Travel Review: Costa Rica Vacation, Arenal, Puntarenas, Tortuguero Jungle Boat Tour, Monteverde Skywalk, Ziplining

When we first contacted our travel agency I gave them a list of places we wanted to see. They quickly e-mailed us a preliminary itinerary with pictures and an assortment of activities. We then changed the schedule a little (we added a flight back to San Jose from Tortuguero) and included some more activities. Our travel agency was supportive and considerate. They gave suggestions and comments when asked but were never dominating. We asked for private transportation as much as possible. They accommodated this with only one bus trip down to Tortuguero. All of our hotels highlighted Costa Rica's natural beauty. Our favorite was El Castillo in Tortuguero. During the trip we called them once to add an activity. This was acompIished within five minutes and we had a new activity for the next day. The whole trip ran smoothly. We never had a problem with activities or transportation. It all ran like clockwork. They met us at the airport when we arrived and called to see how the trip ended when we left. We can recommend this company without reservation and wish them well as individuals and in business.

Costa Rica Vacation Review: Luxury Family Trip, Arenal Volcano, Monteverde, Manuel Antonio, Sloth Walking Tour, Canyoneering

Costa Rica is the place to go now! Just returned from a first-time visit to this great destination. The key measurement for our family is: will we go back again?...and the answer is a resounding yes.We stayed for eight days. This is a good time frame, but a couple of extra days would have been good to add. We flew into San Jose and was greeted by our travel planner and his wonderful wife, then introduced to a long-time company driver who drove us the 3 hours to Arenal Volcano area. Didn't seem that long, especially since we stopped for lunch along the way.Our stay at the hotel in Arenal was the best hotel that we have been to in Central/South America. The view of the volcano in the morning was picturesque (search up Arenal Volcano pics, and that is literally what you saw when you woke up). The hot springs-fed pools were a welcome relaxation each evening. We did several activities in the area and these were the best of our Costa Rica visit...see details below. After three nights in Arenal, we headed across the lake to meet our ride to Monteverde. More of a local road trip through the hills. Adding the lake portion not only broke up the drive, but it also saved a little time overall. Monteverde has a cooler climate, so bring a light jacket or sweater. A nice place to visit if you have a couple of free days, otherwise I would say spend the time in Arenal and/or Manuel Antonio.Another couple of hour drive to Manuel Antonio. Did stop for zip lining at Los Suenos. Another recommended item to break-up the drive. Manuel Antonio was smaller and more quaint of a beach town than I expected. The larger town is Quepos, about 5-6 miles away. Here is another part where I wish we had a extra day to hang out at the beach and explore the local shops and establishments.Overall, the people of Costa Rica were friendly and welcoming. Felt safer than any US city. Never had a problem communicating...most locals spoke pretty good English. Food was fine, but nothing especially memorable...in fact, the best food was the local casado (look up on youtube). Can say that everything tasted fresh...from farm to table.Most important tip/recommendation: Go Now! The crowds were non-existent since post-pandemic travel is just now starting to gear up. Highly recommend you get to Costa Rica before it gets re-discovered. It's such a great place that I am convinced it will soon be the go-to Latin American destination.Finally, use this travel company. Since it was our first time and didn't know the lay of the land, our travel planner was very helpful during the course of our several Zoom calls and answered all of our questions. The itinerary went smoothly and really appreciated another planner checking in with us along the way, just wanting to make sure we were taken great care of...which we were. Can't wait to get back again to Costa Rica.

Zicasso in the News

Costa Rica Eco Tour: Off the Beaten Track

What to expect on this itinerary

Countries Visited

Places Visited

Suggested Duration

Customizable Itinerary

Heredia – Natural Spa Treatments

Heredia – Coffee and Cacao Plantations

Bajo Tigre – Rafting to an Eco-Lodge

Bajo Tigre – Talamanca Mountain Hike

Bajo Tigre – Culture and Nature

Tortuguero National Park – Cruising the Canals and Tracking the Monkeys

Tortuguero National Park – Sea Turtle Conservation

Tortuguero National Park – Departure

Trip Highlights

Detailed Description

Starting Price

What's Included

Verified Traveler Reviews

Customizable Itinerary

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