Costa Rica Safari Vacation

Costa Rica Safari’s sample route opens with a night in San José before the journey to Tortuguero. Leaving the city behind, the road gives way to a boat journey through the Caribbean lowlands. Forest-lined waterways lead to Mawamba Lodge, where the surrounding canals and lodge grounds bring the rainforest close to your stay.

The Day 2 Tortuguero town visit adds village life to the wildlife experience. Day 3 explores two different sides of Mawamba: an easy morning walk on the lodge’s private property, with two butterfly habitats, river turtles, frogs and a bio-composter, followed by an afternoon boat safari through the Tortuguero Canals. These are two included outings, giving you time to discover both the smaller details on land and the forest along the waterways.

Arenal changes the setting from canals to rainforest trails and suspension bridges. The Day 5 Arenal Mistico hanging-bridges hike brings you among the treetops, with an afternoon to explore La Fortuna’s shops and restaurants at your own pace. Day 6 reaches Tenorio Volcano National Park for the guided Río Celeste waterfall hike: turquoise-blue water set against deep green rainforest, with the landscape’s unusual color adding another dimension to the safari.

The journey across Lake Arenal introduces the move into Monteverde’s highlands. Here, misty old-growth cloud forest replaces the lowland waterways. The Day 8 Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve hike follows a bilingual guide into a world of tall trees, orchids, bromeliads, vines, fungi and lichen, where learning about the forest’s relationships is as much a part of the visit as looking for wildlife.

You can shape the trip around the kind of nature experience you enjoy. In Arenal, discuss a Río Peñas Blancas safari float or birdwatching at Mistico; in Monteverde, ask about Curi Cancha Reserve or the El Cafetal San Luis coffee and cultural tour. Hotel preferences, travel dates and pace can be discussed alongside those requests. Pacific Trade Winds confirms which choices fit your route and prepares the price for your custom itinerary.

• Who will enjoy this safari? Travelers drawn to guided nature walks, rainforest waterways and cloud-forest wildlife. The sample program combines an easy Mawamba property walk with more demanding waterfall steps at Río Celeste, so tell your planner about your walking comfort and preferred pace.
• How do the three wildlife areas differ? Tortuguero explores Caribbean forest and canals by boat and on lodge trails; Arenal pairs rainforest canopy walks with the Río Celeste waterfall outing; Monteverde focuses on misty highland cloud forest. The San José night gives the sample route a place to settle in before the journey to Tortuguero.
• What can I ask to change? Tell Pacific Trade Winds about your hotel preferences and the activities that appeal to you. Arenal birdwatching or a Río Peñas Blancas safari float, and Monteverde’s Curi Cancha Reserve or El Cafetal San Luis coffee tour, are specific requests to discuss.
• How should I plan for the boat connections? The listed transportation combines private airport transfers with shared regional travel, including Tortuguero boat access and the Lake Arenal land-boat-land crossing. For a rental-car request, your planner needs to arrange Tortuguero boat access and vehicle parking or handoff; a car cannot reach Mawamba or use Lake Arenal’s passenger boat.

Pacific Trade Winds can help tailor the vacation to you. When you inquire, tell us about:

• Your interests
• Your travel dates
• Your preferred pace

Wildlife sightings vary with conditions and season. Río Celeste involves strenuous waterfall steps, and swimming is prohibited inside the park. The listed Río Celeste tour includes lunch. Tour transportation is provided as described in the included services.

The displayed price is per person, based on double occupancy. In order to provide the lowest prices possible, we work with a combination of contract and dynamic rates. These rates fluctuate daily based on the season and available rooms and are often lower than our list rates, so inquire to find out if you can save on your travel dates!

*Your vacation will be 100% customized to your needs. After inquiring with us, you will receive an exact price based on your custom itinerary. Please include special requests in the comments section. The rates listed here include current taxes, hotels, tours and transfers as described unless otherwise indicated. Rates may vary based on your travel dates, room occupancy, and type of transportation selected. Prices are subject to change at any time and do NOT include international airfare, travel insurance or any other services that are not expressly mentioned.

• How long is the starting vacation? 9 days and 8 nights. The starting route visits San Jose, Tortuguero, La Fortuna and Arenal Volcano, Monteverde; arrival, interregional travel and departure arrangements are shown in the day-by-day itinerary.
• Which hotels are included? The starting stays are Hotel Presidente; Mawamba Lodge; Los Lagos Hotel Resort and Spa; Sibu Boutique Hotel. Hotel comparisons are requests for different arrangements, and your planner confirms the room, meal plan, available rooms and revised quote.
• Which guided experiences are included? The selected starting outings are Tortuguero Town Tour - Mawamba Lodge; Tortuguero Canal Tour - Mawamba Lodge; Tortuguero Guided Hike; Arenal Mistico Hanging Bridges Guided Hike Through the Canopy & Rainforest; Rio Celeste Rainforest Hike to the Magical Blue Waterfall; Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve Guided Hike. Alternatives replace a selected activity when confirmed; they are not extra inclusions. Wildlife sightings and natural conditions vary.
• How can I change the pace? Keep the displayed day-by-day route or tell Pacific Trade Winds which destination deserves more time. Additional guided outings, nights and transportation changes require confirmation and an updated quote.
• What determines the final price? Travel dates, occupancy, room and meal plans, transportation and requested changes determine your personal quote. The displayed starting price is an example rather than a confirmed booking for every departure; review the page’s specific price basis and exclusions.