Costa Rica
Find your Sanctuary!
Audley Travel
At Audley, we’ve been creating meaningful tailor-made travel experiences all over the world for 25 years.
From the very first conversation, you can rely on our specialists as the dedicated experts who’ll craft your plans into the trip you’re imagining. We won’t just ask you how you want to explore, we’ll ask you how you want to feel and create experiences that will stay with you long after you return home.
Our specialists have all travelled extensively in their regions and they return each year to learn more to find new and different ways for you to experience your destination. That means that we can arrange immersive tours and off-the-beaten-path activities to help you get at the authentic soul of a place. We also work with the best local guides, some of whom are long-time friends of Audley, and can suggest the most interesting hotels, homestays and lodges.
Why Audley
“Specialist’s expert local knowledge”: Our specialists have travelled extensively around the country and their expert local knowledge is invaluable when planning your bespoke tour. Your own route will be tailored to your interests, perhaps combining Costa Rica’s well-known highlights with more unusual experiences to make your trip that bit more special.
“Trusted and sustainable DMC/GHA”: We work with one of the most trusted and sustainable DMC (Destination Management Company’s) in Costa Rica, who are firmly committed to responsible tourism and have been awarded the “elite” category – the highest level in Costa Rica’s national CST (Certificate of Sustainable Tourism) accreditation scheme. They have received the carbon-neutral plus certification across all their operations in Costa Rica, the first DMC in the country so far to have achieved this.
“Best handpicked local guides”: We work with the best guides in Costa Rica, handpicked by us or our local partners, which make the difference between a good trip and an outstanding one. They’re passionate about their work and strive to offer real insight into their country. They’ll help you identify bird species by their song, monkey species by their region, and tree species by the local environment.
Our Pura Vida Pledge
Responsible travel is part of Audley’s DNA. Since the beginning, we’ve strived to work with local people and businesses in our destinations.
We work with one of the most trusted and sustainable DMC (Destination Management Company’s) in Costa Rica, who are firmly committed to responsible tourism and have been awarded the “elite” category – the highest level in Costa Rica’s national CST (Certificate of Sustainable Tourism) accreditation scheme. They have received the carbon-neutral plus certification across all their operations in Costa Rica, the first DMC in the country so far to have achieved this.
Audley are committed to carbon reduction and mitigation, wildlife protection and animal welfare, preserving habitats and landscapes, encouraging green transportation options where possible and reducing plastic usage, waste and energy consumption, which is outlined in our Sustainability Policy. In country we provide clients with their own reusable water bottle to help cut down on single-use plastic and we also provide clients with the opportunity to carbon offset their flights.
Audley's top tips for Costa Rica
- Costa Rica has the longest humpback whale season in the world, which gives whale watchers a lot of flexibility as humpback whales can be seen nearly year-round on the Pacific side, particularly in Uvita.
- A visit to the Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica’s jewel in the crown for wildlife – one of the most unique and remote areas and the most biologically intense place on earth, housing 2.5% of the world’s biodiversity.
- A stay at Pacuare Lodge – a unique eco-jungle lodge best accessed by exhilarating white water raft, providing real immersion into the Costa Rican rainforest.
- The resplendent quetzal is Costa Rica’s most colourful bird and one of the best places to spot it is in the quieter cloudforests of San Gerado de Dota, where it’s possible to catch a glimpse of this beautiful bird year-round.
- Hike through Tenorio National Park, rich in flora and fauna and abundant in beautiful rivers, hot springs, lakes and waterfalls. Visit striking Rio Celeste, one of Costa Rica’s hidden gems.
Travel with Audley
Wildlife of Costa Rica
A wildlife-focused trip taking in the wonderfully diverse regions of the central volcanic range, Manuel Antonio’s tropical coastal forests and the beautiful Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica’s jewel in the crown for wildlife. Start in the cloudforests of San Ramon for birdwatching without the crowds. You’ll also visit the handicrafts village of Sarchi, known for its distinctive arts and crafts, especially painting and decorating of traditional ox-carts, that have been made here for over a century. Visit Caño Negro, an excellent waterbird viewing area as well as a key spot for caiman, monkeys and sloth. From there, head to the wildlife-rich tropical forests of Manuel Antonio National Park. Your trip ends on the Osa Peninsula, where you’ll go in search of toucans and macaws, amongst many other creatures. This tour includes a mixture of private and shared guided activities, while all wildlife guides are highly experienced and passionate naturalists.
Birdwatching in Costa Rica
This two-week trip staying in well-appointed birding lodges explores four key habitats in lesser visited regions to maximise birdwatching. Your tour will begin in the Central Valley at a coffee farm, where you’ll experience Finca Rosa Blanca’s organic sustainable coffee plantation and learn the process of organic cultivation and harvest. Next, it’s Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui, one of the last remaining areas of primary lowland rainforest in Costa Rica. A guided tour of the nearby La Selva tropical research station allows you to explore the forest trails where 448 species of bird have been recorded, including the chestnut woodpecker and snowy cotinga. Next you travel to the Turrialba region where you can hire an expert guide to assist your birdwatching. Your trip continues to the San Gerardo de Dota Cloudforest, where the prize is to try and catch a glimpse of the shimmering turquoise wings of the resplendent quetzal, finishing off in the Osa Peninsula.
Costa Rica self-drive family adventure
This self-drive tour is great for families who love animals and the outdoors. Your journey starts in the capital, San José, for a night, before moving on to Tortuguero National Park, skimming along its canals by motorboat to spot wildlife in the jungle. Enjoy a guided tour of the main beach and colourful town of Tortuguero, where your guide will explain the culture and way of life on the Caribbean coast.
Pick your car up and drive to Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui for white water rafting, birdwatching and cacao plantations. Explore Arenal, the country’s most famous volcano, before moving onto the lesser known area surrounding Rio Perdido and it’s 600-acre private nature reserve set deep in the Costa Rican dry forest. Spend the last few days relaxing on the Pacific coast.
Discover Costa Rica
Packed full of excursions this itinerary takes in some of Costa Rica’s best known adrenaline activities. You’ll go white water rafting, zip lining, horseback riding, meet an indigenous community, trek along hanging bridges and stay in jungle lodges all surrounded by the country’s abundant wildlife. During your stay at Pacuare Lodge you’ll have the opportunity to meet one of the largest indigenous groups in Costa Rica, the Cabécars through a guided hike, which offers a wonderful opportunity to discover many secrets of the forest, interact with the ecosystem, visit the Cabécar village and hike the same trails the Cabécar have for centuries. You’ll travel onto Arenal, where you’ll explore the canopy of the forest by sky tram, trek and zip line, before finally enjoying some time on the Pacific coast.
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