Avila Travel Costa Rica laparios 257

Costa Rica trip | Luxury trip unique Costa Rica

  • Signature
  • 16-day trip
  • From €12,595 p.p.
route-map

Costa Rica trip | Luxury trip unique Costa Rica

Discover Costa Rica on a 17-day luxury and exclusive tour through the jungle, past volcanoes and along the coast. This trip is entirely tailor-made and combines exceptional lodges with private transfers and carefully selected excursions. You’ll start in Bajos del Toro, where you’ll stay in a lodge in the heart of the cloud forest. Here, you’ll go on a coffee tour and explore the lush surroundings with a guide. You’ll then travel to the Pacuare River and stay in a secluded jungle lodge. You’ll hike through the rainforest and can take part in activities such as river rafting. You’ll then travel on to the Arenal region, where you’ll go kayaking and hiking through the impressive volcanic landscape. The journey continues to Origins Luxury Lodge, where you’ll enjoy refined dinners and special activities, such as a night-time nature walk. You’ll take a domestic flight to Piedras Blancas National Park. Here, you’ll discover unspoilt nature and go on coastal excursions, including snorkelling. You’ll round off your trip in Uvita on the Pacific coast. Depending on the season, you may spot humpback whales here. Throughout the entire trip, everything is taken care of for you, so that you can experience Costa Rica at your own pace, with every comfort and personalised service.

Travel programme

Travel overview

  • Day 1 Arrival in Costa Rica
  • Day 2 Coffee tour and tasting
  • Day 3 – 4 Pacuare Lodge
  • Day 5 – 6 Arenal Volcano
  • Days 7–9 Origins Luxury Lodge
  • Day 10–12 Corcovado National Park
  • Days 13–15 Beach party in Uvita
  • Day 16 Departure from Costa Rica
  • Day 17 Arrival
Day 1
Arrival in Costa Rica
Day 2
Coffee tour and tasting
Days 3 to 4
Pacuare Lodge
Day 5 to 6
Arenal volcano
Days 7 to 9
Origins Luxury Lodge
Days 10 to 12
Corcovado National Park
Days 13 to 15
Beach exit Uvita
Day 16
Departure from Costa Rica
Day 17
Arrival

Accommodations

Destinations

Bijagua

Bijagua de Upala is a lush green valley nestled between the Miravalles and Tenorio volcanoes. Bijagua is a small farming community situated on the border between the provinces of Guanecaste and Alajuela. This remote little village in the rustic countryside is the ideal place to visit the famous Tenorio National Park. Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy a lovely hike with stunning views along the way of the Rio Celeste waterfall and the Blue Lagoon, with its incredibly blue-green waters. After hours of wandering through the woods, you’ll be rewarded with a lovely dip in the thermal hot springs. Don’t forget to visit the Heliconas Rainforest Lodge, where visitors can walk along a network of paths and bridges through a lush rainforest.

133530980 Waumans Costa Rica 12

Corcovado National Park

Corcovado is the crown jewel of Costa Rica’s many nature parks. National Geographic once described the park as the most biologically diverse place on earth. Its ecological diversity is rivalled only by the richest areas of the Amazon. It is one of the best places in Costa Rica for wildlife spotting. As well as its wildlife-rich forests, the park also boasts kilometres of deserted golden sandy beaches and a few small islands off the coast. There are lovely snorkelling spots, and between July and April there is a good chance of spotting whales.

Shutterstock 414444526 Shutterstock 378211888

Costa Rica

Limon Province

Limon province stretches across the lowland Caribbean coast and is one of seven provinces in Costa Rica. This beautiful region is considered one of Costa Rica's most pristine natural wilderness areas. Known for its palm-fringed beaches, majestic mountains, mangrove forests, lush tropical jungles and its extensive network of waterways, Limon is a nature-lover's paradise. Adventure lovers can look forward to exploring the magnificent mountain range known as the Cordillera de Talamanca. Visitors can spend lazy days on a series of picturesque white sand beaches lined with coconut palms, sample an array of local Costa Rican specialities and enjoy the vast array of bird species that inhabit the mangrove swamps. Other highlights include: watching giant sea turtles lay their eggs on the sandy beaches of Tortuguero, snorkelling on the colourful coral reefs at pristine Cahuita or Punta Uva and surfing at Puerto Viejo de Talamanca.

La Fortuna

The small Costa Rican town of La Fortuna is just a 2-hour drive northwest of San Jose, at the foot of the majestic Arenal volcano. La Fortuna offers an excellent base to explore the beautiful surroundings and serves as a gateway to the scenic Arenal Volcano Park. Enjoy a comfortable stay in a wide range of guesthouses and lodges with stunning views of the volcano towering over the city. You can also enjoy some spectacular views from scenic vantage points and hike across hanging bridges through the rainforest. Don't miss the beautiful La Fortuna waterfall and natural pool, the shimmering Lake Arenal and the forest-covered slopes of Chato volcano. Known for its wonderful combination of adventure and nature, La Fortuna is bound to captivate you.

Arenal2 Etienne delorieux e5sp18o40ya unsplash

Arenal Volcano National Park

Surrounding the Arenal volcano is a paradise. Arenal National Park is a wonderful place for hiking and horseback riding. Along slopes, through forests and across streams, you are likely to encounter wildlife while the volcano provides a beautiful backdrop at all times. The further you descend the slope, the greener it gets until you find yourself at the foot of the mountain in the middle of the tropical rainforest. West of the volcano is Lake Arenal, where you can hire kayaks and admire the volcano from a different angle. Be sure not to miss the la Fortuna waterfall, which can be reached by car up to the viewpoint but by foot or on horseback you can reach the waterfall itself and take a refreshing dip if you wish. In the process, you can visit hot springs. For example, visit the famous Tabacón hot springs.

Shutterstock 4092951821 Delphine beausoleil ysrzamwkxrk unsplash

Northern Plains

The Northern Plains are situated in the north of beautiful Costa Rica and are a unique region with a spectacular mountainous landscape. This popular destination is renowned for its cultural and ecotourism adventure opportunities and its breathtaking natural beauty. The landscape features volcanic terrain dotted with waterfalls, rivers, lakes, lagoons and lush forests. This area is home to a variety of mammals, reptiles and birds.
Visitors can observe the spectacular wildlife in one of the many nature reserves, such as the biodiverse Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge, enjoy a visit to the stunning Tenorio Volcano National Park and explore Lake Arenal, the largest lake in Costa Rica. Popular activities include kayaking, white-water rafting, birdwatching, horse riding, cycling, boat trips, canopy tours and ziplining.

Millergruppe Central America 2668328 Joseph Rivera Hamm Os ONC Pzuu Kw Unsplash

Uvita

Here you can spend a few days enjoying a quiet beach. This area is not yet very touristy, making it a unique destination! Between May and October, you can see giant tortoises coming ashore here to nest. You’ll also have a good chance of spotting humpback whales here during the season; the best time to witness the whales’ migration is between July and October.
The sunsets visible from this spot are moments you’ll never forget! Outside the accommodation, there are various activities to enjoy, with snorkelling/diving, kayaking, horse riding and birdwatching being just a few of them.
Uvita is also an excellent base for excursions to Corcovado National Park, the jewel in the crown of Costa Rica’s many nature reserves. It is no coincidence that National Geographic calls the park the most biologically diverse place on earth. Its ecological diversity is rivalled only by the richest areas of the Amazon. It is one of the best places in Costa Rica to spot exotic wildlife.

Marino Ballena National Park1 Bernd Dittrich v0qm7bfqzis Unsplash

Dominical

Dominical is situated in southern Costa Rica, on the beautiful south-western Pacific coast. Dominical is a picturesque beach village best known as an ideal spot for surfing. It boasts big waves, making it a popular destination for surfers from all corners of the world. The village is surrounded by the lush jungle slopes of the Talamanca Mountains and offers picturesque landscapes featuring various marshes, mangroves and steep cliffs.
Here you can enjoy the vast sandy beaches, spot dolphins in the surf and visit Marino Ballena National Park, where you can spot whales.
Don’t miss the chance to hike to the stunning Nauyaca Waterfalls. Other activities in the area include thrilling canopy tours, hiking, horse riding, surfing, fishing, sea kayaking and birdwatching and wildlife spotting.

Osa Peninsula

The Osa Peninsula lies between the Pacific Ocean and the Golfo Dulce in south-western Costa Rica. This virtually unspoilt corner of the world is home to almost half of Costa Rica’s many animal species and offers nature lovers the chance to see exotic mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians in the rainforest of Corcovado National Park.
Corcovado is the jewel in the crown of Costa Rica’s many nature parks. National Geographic once described the park as the most biologically intense place on earth. Its ecological diversity is rivalled only by the richest areas of the Amazon. It is one of the best places in Costa Rica for wildlife spotting. As well as its wildlife-rich forests, the park also boasts kilometres of deserted golden sandy beaches and a few small islands off the coast. There are lovely snorkelling spots, and between July and October there is a good chance of spotting whales at Drake Bay and Caño Island.

13042013 img 2322 13042013 img 2733

Golfo Dulce

Situated in the Puntarenas Province, the Golfo Dulce is a gulf in Costa Rica. Stretching from the Pacific Ocean, this inlet separates the Osa Peninsula from the mainland. Visitors venture to the magnificent Golfo Dulce to experience one of the last remaining frontiers for authentic adventure in one of the most biologically diverse corners of the world. Explore the palm-fringed beaches, adventure through Cost Rican rainforest jungle, or snorkel and dive through the clear gulf waters to catch a glimpse of an abundance of marine life including the magnificent whale shark. The Gulfo Dulce creates the perfect habitat for birthing humpback whales and its protected waters provide an ideal home for dolphins, eagle spotted rays, stingrays, sea turtles and a variety of exotic tropical fish.

Pacuare River

The Pacuare River runs through the Talamanca mountain range, through dense rainforest, until it finally reaches the Caribbean Sea. Despite being mostly known for its fast currents that are perfect for rafting, the river also has beautiful babbling sections where the landscape is characterised by the impressive rainforest and high waterfalls. This pristine nature along the river banks is home to many animals such as river otters, jaguars, the pardel cat, howler monkeys, capuchin monkeys, sloths, iguanas, coatis and raccoons. Bird lovers can also indulge here, with Swainsons toucan, macaws, motmots, white cranes, kingfishers and herons to be spotted daily.

Pacuare river Screenshot 18 9 20251711rioslodge.com

Bajos del Toro

Located in Costa Rica's northern Central Valley, the small town of Bajos del Toro is an ideal base for nature lovers, hikers and bird watchers. The town lies at the foot of the towering Poas volcano and is surrounded by a number of protected natural areas including the Poas Volcano National Park, Juan Castro Blanco National Park and the Bosque de Paz Rain / Cloud Forest Biological Reserve. The climate in this area is humid, making the vegetation very lush and you can find beautiful waterfalls, streams and lakes This spectacular natural environment offers plenty of opportunity for outdoor adventure, including: trout fishing, horseback riding, rafting, mountain biking, hiking, or soaring between the treetops on a zipline tour. Don't miss the impressive Cataratas del Toro waterfall, a 100-metre-high waterfall in a volcanic crater.

Bajos del toro Koffiebonen2

Southern Costa Rica

Southern Costa Rica is known for its remote, pristine landscapes with the towering Cerro Chirripo at 3820 metres, the jungle-clad Osa Peninsula and the beautiful La Amistad International Park. Visitors can see an array of wildlife, including monkeys, sloths and coatis. Explore the rugged shores of the Golfo Dulce - a wild, scenic and incredibly biodiverse gulf; and immerse yourself in the local Bribrí, Boruc, Cabecar and Ngobe cultures. Don't miss a visit to Corcovado National Park, with its network of scenic hiking trails, long stretches of golden coastline and a variety of diverse ecosystems.

Piedras Blancas National Park

Piedras Blancas National Park is part of the Osa Nature Reserve and is located in Puntarenas province, close to the Golfo Dulce on Costa Rica's southern Pacific coast. Known for its pristine beaches, shimmering bays and lush rainforests, the park makes Piedras Blancas popular with nature lovers. Visitors can look forward to a wide range of activities, including exploring the rugged mountains, discovering rare tropical trees and spotting wildlife. Most notably, the park is one of the last remaining habitats for the Jaguar in all of Costa Rica.

Costa Rica trip | Luxury trip unique Costa Rica

During this exclusive tour, you’ll discover Costa Rica at a leisurely pace, with a strong focus on nature, comfort and special experiences. You’ll stay in small-scale, luxury accommodation and go on excursions accompanied by local guides.

We offer this itinerary from €12,595 per person.
The tour price is indicative and is subject to factors including availability and travel dates.

Included

• Private domestic flight
• 15 nights’ accommodation in excellent, stunning properties in unique locations
• All meals as specified in the itinerary
• All necessary private transfers mentioned in the itinerary
• All excursions as mentioned in the itinerary, including a coffee tour, the Arenal Sunset tour and activities in Corcovado National Park
• National park entrance fees for scheduled excursions
• Meet and greet on arrival
• Booking fees (worth €50)
Positive impact of your trip:
• A contribution of €100 per person towards positive impact via the Avila Foundation
• Accommodation at the Pacuare Lodge, ORIGINS Lodge, Playa Cativo Lodge and Kura Design Villas

Not included

• Intercontinental flights
• Room category upgrade
• Travel and/or cancellation insurance
• Seat reservations
• Personal expenses/tips
• Meals not specified and optional excursions
• Calamity Fund contribution (€2.50 per booking)
• SGR contribution (€5 per person)

View other sample Costa Rica itineraries here

Discover Costa Rica