Compare Wildlife of Costa Rica by Audley Travel

Day 1 : International outbound flight

Today you begin your journey by boarding your international outbound flight to San Jose.

Day 2 : San Ramon

On arriving in Costa Rica you're met at the airport by an Audley representative and driven to your lodge by private transfer. The drive takes around an hour. After arriving at your lodge in the Los Angeles Cloudforest Reserve, you may wish to spend the rest of the day relaxing in your hotel after your flight. If you're feeling more energetic, you could try out one of the reserve's canopy zip lines.

Day 3 : San Ramon

This morning, you head off on a birdwatching tour with a specialist guide in search of hummingbirds and a variety of other species, many endemic to the region. You have the afternoon free to relax or keep exploring the area under your own steam. We suggest getting out on one of the forest's walking trails or taking a trip to the nearby arty town of San Ramon with a local guide.

Day 4 : Arenal Volcano

Today take a private transfer to your next destination, Arenal Volcano. The drive takes around three hours, passing through mountain ranges, pasture land and several volcanoes before reaching your accommodation. After arriving, relax in your hotel's grounds or start exploring: we can help you to arrange hikes around Arenal Volcano, or a visit to the cyan blue Rio Celeste waterfalls.

Day 5 : Arenal Volcano

This morning you're woken early to depart on a shared group tour to the Arenal Hanging Bridges - a beautiful canopy walkway through the cloudforest, where your guide will point out the flora and fauna that grows in this habitat. This afternoon, explore the geology of Arenal National Park, followed by an evening soak in the secluded hot springs at Eco Termales. Dinner is included as part of this trip, after which you'll be dropped off back at your hotel.

Day 6 : Arenal Volcano

Today enjoy a group trip to the Caño Negro Wildlife Reserve. You're picked up from your hotel by bus and take a four hour journey to Los Chiles near the Nicaraguan border. Here you'll take a rainforest boat safari in search of sloth, caimans, monkeys and turtles. Keep an eye out for Jesus Christ lizards (so-called because they can walk on water), among other species. This full day return trip includes drinks, snacks, and a traditional Costa Rican lunch.

Day 7 : Manuel Antonio

Take a private transfer to Manuel Antonio on the Central Pacific Coast, where jungle meets beach. The journey takes about five hours as you leave the mountains behind and descend through cloudforest via pasture land to the warmer Pacific coast. The final part of the drive follows the coast road southeast. After arriving you're free to relax in your hotel for the rest of the day.

Day 8 : Manuel Antonio

Enjoy a private three hour guided tour of Manuel Antonio National Park. Explore some of the coastline walking trails leading to beaches, and keep an eye out for wildlife such as white-faced capuchin monkeys, racoons and tropical birds. Many trips end with some time to swim in the ocean. After your tour is over, you're free to explore on your own. We recommend bringing a picnic lunch and taking a private transfer back to your hotel in the late afternoon.

Day 9 : El Remanso

Journey by private transfer to Puerto Jimenez, the gateway to Costa Rica's Osa Peninsula. Here you're met by your hotel representative and take a shared transfer to your lodge. The first part of the journey takes four hours, then you continue to your lodge on unpaved roads which may take up to an hour. On arriving, you'll meet with lodge guides who will run through the activities and experiences taking place over the next couple of days.

Day 10 : El Remanso

A day at leisure. To make the most of your time in the wildlife-rich Osa Peninsula, we recommend spending as much time as possible on the forest trails with your lodge's specialist naturalist guides. They help you to spot toucans, macaws, squirrel monkeys and the many local species of butterfly. Enthusiastic birders with a head for heights can take a zip line to a special birdwatching platform, allowing you to immerse yourself in the canopy.

Day 11 : El Remanso

Another day at leisure in the Osa Peninsula. In addition to wildlife walks, we can also help you arrange horse riding, surfing lessons and sea kayaking, or even waterfall rappelling for the more adventurous. Dolphin watching, tree climbing and yoga sessions are also on offer.

Day 12 : International return flight

Take a shared 4x4 transfer back to Puerto Jimenez where you'll catch a domestic flight back to San Jose, in time for your international flight home.

Day 13 : International return flight

Arrive home today to complete your journey.