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Discover Costa Rica’s cloud forests, coral reefs, and volcanoes in new and exciting ways on these four incredible tours
Each week our Christmas hero Neil Simpson takes a deep dive into a brilliant Christmas theme and does all the legwork so you don’t have to. This week: Four new ways to see Costa Rica.
Cloud forests, coral reefs, and volcanoes top a long list of Costa Rican attractions. And this year there are new ways to see them, in addition to the country’s turtles, toucans, sloths and colorful iguanas.
One of the best trips for families is the eight-night Costa Rica Family Adventure with Responsible Travel. Each holiday accommodates up to 16 guests and includes a crocodile safari, boat tours, canopy walks through the jungle, whitewater rafting, and climbs to view crater lakes inside smoking dormant volcanoes.
As the group crosses the country with guides on hand, thrill-seekers can try zip-line rides (Costa Rica has some of the longest in the world) while others can visit butterfly farms or swim in the pool of a hotel.
The minimum age is five and costs from £1,760pp plus flights (viajeresponsable.com).
Responsible Travels offers an eight-night Costa Rica family adventure where you can go whitewater rafting. Above is a rafting team on the country’s Pacuare River.
Just You’s 11-night Real Costa Rica tour takes you on a hike through a tropical forest to swim at the base of La Fortuna Waterfall (pictured)
There’s a lot to offer solo travelers on trips like Just You’s 11-night Real Costa Rica.
Visits to coffee plantations and tastings of locally made chocolate are included, as tour managers take up to 20 guests from across the country to the best spots to see monkeys, herons, hummingbirds, and more. You will stay in hotels and lodges in the jungle on the coast, in national parks and next to the Arenal Volcano.
A hike takes you through a tropical forest to swim at the base of La Fortuna Waterfall, and boat tours in Cahuita and Tortuguero National Parks are the perfect place to spot nesting sea turtles. From £4,124pp including flights and with exclusive occupancy of double or twin rooms throughout (justyou.es).
If you prefer to be behind the wheel, a self-guided 13-night Costa Rica adventure is new with Luxtripper this year, where flights, car, route, accommodations, and activities are arranged in advance. Trips begin with snorkeling over coral reefs before taking boat tours of the nearby national park.
Then drive along the planned route to hotels and lodges along the best beaches and cloud forests in the country. Extras include spas, yoga, night safaris, jungle treks, and candlelit hot spring baths. The vacation ends on the Pacific Ocean with a stay at a luxury lodge.
From £7,700pp including flights (luxtripper.es).
Arguably the last private tour of the year is Abercrombie & Kent’s Rustic Luxe Adventure, a five-star 14-night vacation that can be customized with longer stays in the places that most capture the imagination.
Abercrombie & Kent’s Rustic Luxe Adventure, a 14-night, five-star vacation, includes a stay in Nayara Springs (pictured)
Soak In: At Nayara Springs, each villa’s private pool is fed by local hot springs
Guests on the Rustic Luxe Adventure tour end their trip at the Four Seasons Resort (pictured)
Horseback riding through lava fields and helicopter rides over the rim of dormant volcanoes can be arranged, along with sand bike rides on empty beaches and cooking classes.
Stays include Nayara Springs, where each villa’s private pool is fed by local hot springs, and Origins Lodge, with its own Michelin-starred chef offering tours to forage for dinner ingredients.
Guests end their retreat at the Four Seasons Resort, a private peninsula with beaches on either side. Tailor-made two-week holidays from £13,100 per person including flights, accommodation and transfers (abercrombiekent.com).