Monteverde Cloud Forest
The magical rainforests
Tamarindo
Visit the beautiful beaches
Diverse Wildlife
Costa Rica is home to the most interesting animals
Costa Rica is a nature lover’s paradise, and a geological wonder with an overwhelming range of scenery. Home to active volcanoes; misty cloud forests; and an amazing array of wildlife, from inquisitive monkeys to sleepy sloths, a holiday to Costa Rica is a truly unforgettable experience.
Find out about Costa Rica’s entry requirements here.
Arrive into the vibrant capital of San Jose. Relax for the rest of the afternoon before a welcome drink and dinner.
Making our way out of the city we head towards the fertile slopes of the Poas Volcano and the Doka Coffee Estate. Run by the same family for over 70 years, here we can gain an insight into the production and processing of these gourmet beans. At the La Paz Waterfall Gardens, we can explore some of the trails and take in the famous waterfalls. The private reserve also contains a Butterfly Garden and Hummingbird Garden with many beautiful species. The park is also a refuge for birds and wild cats who are now cared for by the centre.
Comfortable walking shoes (preferably with a thick tread for hiking the trails and hundreds of stairs), shorts or comfortable pants and a lightweight jacket or raincoat.
Please note: The Park ranges in altitude from 5,200 feet to 4,200 feet so it can get chilly when the clouds roll in.
After an early morning start, we will head to the docks and transfer by boat to Tortuguero. After lunch we visit Tortuguero village.
Please note: Luggage is limited to 25 pounds (12 Kg) per person.
Having had its boundaries extended three times, Tortuguero National Park is internationally recognised for its protection of the largest green turtle nesting beach in the Western Hemisphere. A place like no other, we glide along by small boats through a network of canals and freshwater lagoons, watched perhaps by curious monkeys, bright toucans, ancient iguanas, sedentary sloths and maybe even the glinting eye of a crocodile.
Please note: The order and logistics of the itinerary may change depending on weather conditions
After breakfast, we take the boat back to the port before transferring to Arenal.
This is a perfect opportunity to discover a tropical rainforest. Our walk takes in 15 bridges, 6 of them hanging bridges all built with amazing views of the forest and with the shape of the trees allowing us to observe many species more closely. The park has more than 700 species of flora and 350 species of fauna. Look out for the bell bird, the emerald tucancito, whilst keeping your eyes peeled for the elusive jaguar and tapirs.
We transfer to Monteverde today with a Trapiche Tour in the afternoon. This is a Costa Rican family project that offers visitors the opportunity to learn about traditional farming in the country, such as sugar cane, coffee, bananas, oranges, “arracacha” (a local vegetable) and macadamia. We will have the opportunity to ride in an oxcart and learn how to grow cacao to make chocolate. We can make our own “sobado”, a fudge-like candy and to try the “picadillo de arracache” (a traditional dish) with a delicious cup of coffee.
Today we take a hike in the famous Cloud Forest. One of the most famous conservation areas in Central America, it is tropical rainforest but because of its altitude (1,400 meters), it’s called a Cloud Forest. The cloud forest receives an incredible four meters of rain every year, and is home to rare and unusual wildlife.
Today we will transfer to Tamarindo, where we will spend 2 nights on the beach!
Located in Guanacaste, Costa Rica, Tamarindo is a truly exotic paradise, one that just happens to be the perfect landscape for a vacation. Tamarindo Beach is a white sand bay beach, part of Las Baulas National Park.
Surrounded by exotic tropical gardens, our hotel offers outstanding international cuisine with six different restaurants and the five bars. You can enjoy the four swimming pools and the outdoor Jacuzzi.
Today, we have a full day at leisure to chill out on the beach or take a dip in one of the swimming pools at our resort.
Final farewell as we head back to San Jose for our overnight flight home.
We stay in comfortable hotels throughout as detailed below (or similar);
The La Paz Waterfalls Gardens is located in a Park which ranges in altitude from 5200 feet to 4200 feet so it can get chilly when the clouds roll in.
A reasonable level of fitness/mobility is required as we include plenty of sightseeing/travelling, sometimes with early starts. Please refer to Medical Conditions in Important Information.
There is a luggage restriction in Tortuguero to 12 kg per person and you can travel with a small bag and leave the luggage at our partner’s office.
Costa Rica General Facts
The sunset in Costa Rica is between 5:45 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. all year around.
Drinkable bottled water available at every village.
The electrical current throughout Costa Rica is the same as US-110-volt AC. Outlets are generally 2 pronged. A voltage converter is necessary in order to use 240/250-Volt AC-powered items.
British nationals don’t need a visa to enter Costa Rica. You may stay as a visitor for up to 90 days under a tourist visa waiver, although the exact period is at the discretion of the immigration officer on arrival.
Your specific passport and visa requirements, and other immigration requirements are your sole responsibility and you should confirm these with the relevant embassies and/or consulates of the countries in which you are planning to travel.
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/costa-rica/entry-requirements
Your passport should have at least one day’s validity from the date you are leaving Costa Rica. If you hold a passport other than a British Citizen passport, different regulations may apply.
Entry to Costa Rica may be refused if you are unable to produce evidence of return or onward travel (for example a return air ticket).
Check whether you need a yellow fever certificate by visiting the National Travel Health Network and Centre’s TravelHealthPro website.
Vaccination against yellow fever is mandatory for all tourists coming from geographical areas considered at risk. All passengers should have received a vaccine at least 10 days before arrival and must show a valid certificate of vaccination to be allowed in the county.
The transfer time for the main tour between Juan Santamaria International Airport San Jose and the hotel is approximately 30 minutes, depending on traffic.
There may be optional activities available to you during the course of your holiday, full details of which will be given out at the Information Meeting by your Tour Leader. Your Tour Leader will arrange these for you but may not necessarily accompany you.
Costa Rican colón
Credit cards accepted: Visa, Master Card & American Express.
US$ are well accepted at restaurants and stores (Preferably $10 & $20 bills)
During the day when sightseeing, we recommend casual, lightweight cotton clothing, shorts or comfortable trousers. We recommend to bring at least 2 sets of clothes that dry quickly (jeans not recommended).
You will find that smart casual wear is acceptable, even in the best hotels during the evening. We would recommend a lightweight raincoat and an umbrella or hat for protection against rain or sun. Comfortable walking shoes are a “must” for sightseeing and for hiking trails and stairs (preferably with a thick tread). Please take a zip-lock plastic bags for personal belongings protection in case of rain, small day pack or fanny pack for hikes, sweater or light jacket, sunglasses and swimwear.
We suggest a Group Collection to cover guides, transfer drivers, and hotel staff. We recommend $ 10.00 per person per day for the guide and $ 5.00 per person per day for driver.
Your Tour Leader will collect this on your behalf and distribute it accordingly, thus relieving you of the burden of who, when and how much to tip. The tipping of housekeeping will be left to your individual discretion (a small amount left in your room on departure should cover this and would be much appreciated). As is customary, ‘the hat’ will be passed around for the driver and guide on all optional excursions. For any meals that are not included in your itinerary, or taxi fares, your Tour Leader can advise of an appropriate % to add on.
| Month(s) | Highest temperature | Lowest temperature |
|---|---|---|
| January | 26 °C | 17 °C |
| February - May | 29 °C | 18 °C |
| June - August | 28 °C | 18 °C |
| October - December | 25 °C | 18 °C |
I was so nervous about embarking on my first Solos Holiday, but I shouldn’t have been – it was the best thing I have ever done!
Wow! Got to see the famous shipwreck beach in Zakynthos with Solos. Can’t wait to discover more of their destinations!
Our tour leader Monica was exceptional! Had such a good time and will be rebooking with Solos. Thanks for a great holiday!
Had the best time with Solos! Discovered beautiful destinations and met some lifelong friends.
