Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Costa Rica - Central - Volcano Region - Pacific Coast
100% customisable for you
Arrival in San Jose in the late afternoon. Airport reception and private transfer to Alajuela, in the Central Valley. Overnight stay in a hotel set in the rainforest, on the outskirts of the Poas Volcano. This retreat is entirely dedicated to wellness, ideal for relaxing. On site there are 12 rooms with elegant decor built around a spa with four treatment and relaxation areas, as well as a meditation pavilion. As for massages, you can choose between volcanic earth or mango body wraps. The restaurant serves detox foods that are also bio-energetic, prepared with produce grown on the farm.
Things to see and do - Take a short walk through nature to Laguna Botos, a beautiful deep blue lake.
Pick up your rental car and drive to the north-west of the country, travelling due west first to El Roble and then along the sandy shores of the Colorado Gulf through more rural landscapes. Off the beaten track, and barely visited, the misty, leafy landscape is cut through by an intense, blue river. Two-night stay in an intimate eco-lodge in the forest. It sits in the valley of a river, giving it the feel of a charming oasis. The bungalows are dotted among the forests, a beautiful example of an eco-project. The restaurant has a spherical architecture and is open-air, so there is no need for air conditioning. The best part of the resort is its spa river, nestled in a canyon. Bathing at dusk is a delight with waters heated by the Miravales volcano ranging in temperature from 32°C to 40°C.
Things to see and do - Tenorio Volcano National Park, jungle, waterfalls and natural hot springs. The Rio Celeste waterfall sounds like a deafening thunder. The river is renowned for its surreal turquoise blue colour caused by the minerals in the waters contrasting with the intense green of the tropical vegetation - or, according to tradition, the colour is due to the fact that God washed his brushes after painting the sky blue.
Option - A rainforest hike at night.
Leave the forests of the north for the beautiful Pacific coast. Boat transfer from Nicoyana Beach to Isla Jesusita, then set up camp for two nights in your tent. Camping? No, it's glamping, the chic and more comfortable version. Spend two days in the clear water or stretched out on a lounger on the private terrace.
In your itinerary - A kayak ride at dusk to observe a rare natural phenomenon: bio-luminescent plankton. When you get back, it's time for a romantic dinner on the beach.
Option - Tour of the Curu Reserve.
Arrive at the quay in Paquera. The ferry crossing among pelicans and frigates offers a moment of great serenity, and after an hour in the sun you land in Puntarenas where freshly prepared coconuts await. Head for the Central Valley, then follow the southern Pacific coast to Playa Palo Seco, a hidden treasure of the Central Pacific coast and away from the more touristy beaches. Although close to Manuel Antonio National Park, Palo Seco beach is often deserted. There are long stretches of sand, ideal for romantic walks. The estuary is the ideal place to discover the flora and fauna of the mangrove. The grey sand, contrasting with the blue Pacific Ocean, is a nesting ground for sea turtles from August to November.
Spend the night in a small guesthouse, very close to the ocean and a stone's throw from Palo Seco beach. The building, which has been restored and beautifully furnished, is set on an island between ocean and mangrove. It's the ideal place for visitors looking for tranquillity and nature - the hosts are always on hand to offer good advice. A special mention for the beautiful swimming pool and excellent French cuisine served in the evening.
Already included in your itinerary - Entry tickets to Manuel Antonio National Park, one of the most beautiful in the country. Walking along the forest trails, you'll find capuchins and squirrel monkeys, sloths and raccoons, who come to the beach to steal a mango or a piece of chocolate from swimmers. The forest is surrounded by beautiful beaches, where you can bathe in warm water before setting off into the forest to look for stick insects and chameleons.
Three-night stay in a hotel overlooking the rainforest. Located 984ft above the Pacific Ocean, the hotel is surrounded by vegetation. From your villa, one of 12 in the hotel, you overlook the tangled rainforest stretching away towards the horizon with, on all sides, an endless sea of misty hills. With its natural walls, huge floor-to-ceiling windows and Indonesian furniture, your villa is open to its surroundings. We love the infinity pool following the curves of the hotel. It's a real luxury retreat.
Option - A relaxing massage for two - a boat trip to Ile del Cano.
Head to Naranjo de Alajuela in the Central Valley and spend the night in a stunning location surrounded by coffee fields and green pastures some 4,090ft above sea level. The luxury is all in the detail, and in being immersed in the heart of local history, local traditions and coffee growing. The spacious and comfortable rooms are furnished with local pieces and numerous references to coffee. And then there's the view - panoramas of volcanoes, of the Central Valley and even of the Pacific Ocean when the weather is clear.
Option - A private yoga class.
Included in your itinerary- A local chef invites foodie you to discover Costa Rican culture by preparing some traditional dishes such as gallo pinto (rice, beans, coconut), cheese tortilla, fried plantain bananas or even chayote picadillo, green plantain banana, green papaya, arracacha, peach palm and breadfruit. You watch, you learn, you have a go... and then you taste it!
Then drive to San Jose and the airport where you return your hire car. International flight back; overnight flight, arriving the next day.
Everything in this itinerary is entirely customisable, down to the smallest details. Here are some more suggestions of what could be included
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
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We work with you to build an ultra-personalised holiday itinerary with your choice of accommodation, experiences and activities
All of our holidays include little extras designed to make a big difference to your trip, from fast-tracking you through airport check-in and security to our network of local Concierges
