Rainforest Retreats & Beach Adventures in Costa Rica
A country famed for its pristine nature reserves, incredible biodiversity and ‘pura vida’ attitude, Costa Rica is a family-friendly adventure playground, where days are spent enjoying the great outdoors, up-close wildlife sightings, climbing active volcanoes, riding pacific waves or swimming with dolphins.
Here, a few of our favourite destinations to fit into a ten-night trip across Costa Rica; for those with a more generous time scale, two weeks is perfect to allow for a more leisurely pace, or to add a few nights in another spectacular region.
This itinerary is merely a suggestion to inspire your adventures; we tailor-make each and every journey from the ground up to ensure it’s a perfect fit.
Enquire NowHIGHLIGHTS
- Rafting, jungle trekking, horse riding and birdwatching at a luxury rainforest eco-lodge on the banks of the Pacuare River
- Stay at a private villa on a coastal wildlife reserve on the Osa Peninsula, spending days snorkelling, sea kayaking and yachting
- Surfing and yoga on the Pacific Coast in Santa Teresa
SAN JOSE
One night near the airport is usually necessary due to the flight arrival time. Grano de Oro is our favourite hotel in San Jose with a high standard of service, luxury rooms and the best restaurant in the city. The menu is really creative, with a range of traditional Costa Rican dishes & European-influenced cuisine. This is the perfect treat after a long flight & PSA clients enjoy early check-in and a complimentary upgrade (subject to availability).
PACUARE LODGE, THE CENTRAL VALLEY
Raft down a crystalline river, flying over rapids & steering through thick jungle, spotting monkeys & toucans swooping through the trees, to arrive at your secluded riverbank lodge; a luxury eco-retreat in the heart of Costa Rica’s Central Valley. The Pacuare River is considered the fifth-best rapid in the world for white-water rafting, and the journey to the lodge is thrilling.
Pacuare Lodge features luxury eco-retreat treetop suites immersed in primary rainforest. With netted windows, you always feel connected to nature, enjoying incredible sights and sounds high up in the sky. Suites are spacious and private, with thatched roofs to blend into the forest and large wooden decks outside each room, where hammock siestas and listening to whimsical birdsong are highly encouraged.
Rise early to sit on your deck with binoculars and witness the most exciting bird activity as the dawn breaks. Each suite includes a comfortable four-poster curtained bed, hardwood floors, hand-crafted wooden furnishings, deep baths & a private plunge pool.
Explore Pacuare Lodge
Pacuare is all about sustainability. Whilst there’s limited electricity, the experience is far from basic, with rooms lit magically each evening with hanging lanterns and candles. Pacuare has fine-tuned its offering of rustic luxury and every guest is treated to the most spoiling service from the charming owners and their long-serving team.
Naturalist guides take hikes into the rainforest; birdwatching, discovering exotic flora & fauna & reaching hidden waterfalls for cooling swims. A list of outdoor adventures includes canopy walks, rappelling and horse riding.
Fine dining adds to the indulgence of a stay at Pacuare. Enjoy traditional Costa Rican breakfasts & delicious fresh coffee out on your deck watching the forest come to life. The fruits, vegetables & herbs served in the restaurant are plucked right from Las Nubes de Tuis, the hotel’s organic farm. For PSA guests, we arrange special private dinners on the riverbank with a campfire – the atmosphere is spectacular.
Pacuare teaches guests to love and respect the rainforest and leads by example with its program of sustainable tourism and efforts to minimise environmental impact.
Don’t Miss: Hike to a nearby indigenous community, Cabecar, to learn about their traditions & beliefs & meet the ‘medicine man’ who creates natural remedies from forest plants. The Cabecar people built the thatch palapa roofs at Pacuare Lodge and they have a very positive relationship with the owners, working together on initiatives to conserve the rainforest that is their home.
Discover The Central Valley
COPA DE ARBOL, OSA PENINSULA
Hop aboard a private plane for a short flight to the Osa Peninsula. Internal flights in Costa Rica are an experience in themselves, taking you across the treetops for sensational views over the jungle & coastline (far more exciting than domestic flights in most other countries!). On arrival, catch a boat ride along the pristine coastline to Copa de Arbol, a luxury eco-retreat & beachfront property, nestled into the primary rainforest.
Copa de Arbol is located within a wildlife-rich 70-acre reserve on a remote stretch of coastline, close to Corcovado National Park. Just steps from the shore, one and two-bedroom private villas provide a real sense of privacy and interaction with the wild. Villas are rustic in style, made from wood and thatch to be in keeping with the natural environment, yet with modern features, each enjoying air-con, large comfortable beds, walk-in showers and private balconies. Sit out in peace, listening to the birds & taking in the inspiring scenery of the ocean lapping against the shore.
The resort’s four-level infinity pool and jacuzzi are surrounded by a tropical paradise and make for the perfect spot to relax and sunbathe. Why not try a deep-tissue massage to the sound of the ocean? A superb restaurant is set right on the beach, serving fresh fruits and vegetables, seafood caught that day, home-baked bread, delicious smoothies and speciality coffees. Private champagne dinners are arranged above the restaurant with amazing ocean views.
Expert local guides run an array of adventures both inland and off-shore. Journey into the rainforest along miles of hiking trails to discover a variety of colourful butterflies, tropical flowers and amazing birdlife, such as the rare scarlet Macaws.
Horseback ride along the beach for a picnic by a freshwater lagoon, kayak through untouched mangroves spotting caiman and turtles, snorkel with dolphins and try your hand at sport fishing (it’s a great spot for both beginners and experts). We arrange private yacht charters to explore the untouched coastline and enjoy free-diving, scuba-diving or snorkelling amongst tropical fish and indulging in fresh ceviche prepared onboard. For adventure lovers, take a hair-raising canopy tour; zip-lining, rappelling and Tarzan-swinging through the rainforest – the views are incredible and the feeling of soaring with the birds is sensational. Travel from August to November for a chance to spot Humpback whales.
Keen scuba divers must visit Caño Island, a biological and archaeological reserve 45 minutes away, abundant with coral reefs, marine life and breathtaking underwater landscapes. Accompanied by an expert scuba-diving guide, a delicious beach picnic will be prepared for lunch, with plenty of time to relax before returning home.
Don’t Miss: One of the most exciting excursions at Copa de Arbol is a night-time rainforest walk to discover amazing nocturnal creatures and the fascinating sounds that can only be experienced in the forest after dark.
Explore the Osa Peninsula
LA CASONA, SANTA TERESA
A short, scenic flight along the Pacific coast takes you to the Nicoya Peninsula for a stay in the bohemian, beachfront village of Santa Teresa. Accessible only by 4×4 or ATV down a dirt track, Santa Teresa is an offbeat, Pacific paradise. The surf is fantastic, sunsets are stunning and fresh seafood is caught daily, to be eaten barefoot in shaded beach shacks. The handful of bars dotted along the coast are bustling with laid-back yoga and surf lovers, who can’t get enough of these remote shores, far removed from the tourist resorts further up the coast. An escapist’s dream, there’s no wonder the elite make Santa Teresa their secret hideaway.
Our favourite luxury eco-retreat, right on the beach, is La Casona. Set in a beautiful private estate, La Casona sleeps ten guests* in a colonial-style mansion made of teak wood floors & beams. Spacious and beautifully designed with high ceilings to let in the ocean breeze, La Casona’s interiors feature hand-carved wood furnishings, tropical colours and extremely comfortable four-poster beds.
A spacious veranda provides plenty of outdoor living and dining space, shaded from the heat of the sun. The property overlooks a private swimming pool flanked by palm groves and mango trees, leading straight onto the beach, with views to the ocean. We’ll arrange a private chef, masseuse, surf and yoga instruction on request.
Explore La Casona
Rise with the sun, step straight onto golden sands & spend the day however you please. Laze in a hammock, peacefully watching the tide roll in, take a yoga class under the shade of a towering palm tree, or horseback ride along the beach, splashing through the shallows. Surf lessons for all levels can be arranged, as well as deep-sea fishing with local fishermen. Return to cook your catch on a beach BBQ, washed down with chilled Champagne.
Privately guided adventure experiences are also available in the nearby national parks, from volcano hiking to spotting sloths, jaguars and armadillos in a beautiful eco-reserve and scuba diving in Cabo Blanco National Park.
STAY A LITTLE LONGER…
For an extended trip in Costa Rica, spend a few days on a private, family-owned coastal ranch, with morning yoga, beautiful horseback explorations into the primary rainforest and delicious fresh produce from the farm.
A trip to Costa Rica also combines well with neighbouring Panama to see its famous canal, folk culture and spectacular San Blas Islands that are home to the indigenous Kuna Yala tribe.
Discover More Costa RicaIntrigued by this adventure through Costa Rica? Speak to our travel specialists about designing your own bespoke journey.
