Why should you travel to Costa Rica with us?

Back in the early days of 2005, we found ourselves in these heady jungles almost by chance. Now we can’t tear ourselves away.

When you’re located between two gigantic continents, you might be considered a bridge; a place of transit, a place for moving through rather than into. As long ago as 2005, we began – after a chance trip found us in its hushed jungle depths – the patient work of finding out every detail and part of this staggering country; of seeing it as a destination in its own right, rather than a point between. We spent time with the Marimba musicians of Nicoya. We talked with restauranteurs and hoteliers in San Jose. We joined tribal guides and trekked through from the Caribbean coast. We searched for the ruins of ancient civilisations and came eventually to Arenal Volcano. Today, our itineraries are the product of our curiosity and the contacts we’ve made since those early days. So, Xavier, Victor, Eva and Sara (just some of our favourite guides), this one is for you.

Key facts

  • Population Population 4,800,000
  • Capital Capital San Jose
  • Currency Currency Costa Rican Colon 
  • Language Language Spanish
  • Time Difference Time Difference GMT - 6 | ET - 1
  • Best time Best time Nov - Apr

Example Itineraries

These are simply suggestions for the kind of holiday you might have. Yours will be tailored, altered, and refined until it matches you completely.
Luxury Holidays in Costa Rica

Ultimate Costa Rica: A Jungle to Beach Adventure

It’s often a struggle to find a holiday destination that really ticks all the right boxes. Powder white beaches, tropical climate, high octane adventure and secluded lodges, the list goes on … Luckily for those who w...

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Luxury Holidays in Costa Rica

Pacuare to Papagayo: A Luxury Conservation Adventure in Costa Rica

Costa Rica has always been a favourite destination of ours, whether for a burst of adventure or the chance to lose ourselves in the natural world. Covered by dense rainforest and fringed by wild coastlines, a countrywide...

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Luxury holidays to Central America

Nicaragua, Costa Rica & Panama: Central American Highlights

A region of startling geographical wonders, colonial heritage, and fascinating people, it's no wonder we're lusting over Central America right now. So we've put together this 15-night luxury adventure holiday that takes ...

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Luxury Holidays in Costa Rica

Tortuguero to Nosara: A Luxury Beach Holiday in Costa Rica

Costa Rica is a country bubbling over with diversity, allowing you to traverse through the densest rainforest one day, and relax on white sandy beaches the next. We want to unearth the untouched side to Costa Rica, so fo...

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What to see & do in Costa Rica

If you can’t see it here then we can still plan it for you.

Costa Rica wildlife

A PLAYGROUND FOR THE SENSES

Whilst it may be bordered by gorgeous beaches, we love Costa Rica for the adventure playground it lays before us. It’s...

Whilst it may be bordered by gorgeous beaches, we love Costa Rica for the adventure playground it lays before us. It’s the times when we have surrendered ourselves to this wild environment that we have felt most alive, as we’ve ziplined over volcanoes and peered into the lives of ancient tribes. A place to push yourself, a tailormade holiday in Costa Rica makes for an unmissable adventure.

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Corcovado National Park Beach in Costa Rica

A LUXURY ADVENTURE IN CENTRAL AMERICA

The jungles are dense, the beaches luxurious, and the culture utterly magnetic – this is Costa Rica. This country ...

The jungles are dense, the beaches luxurious, and the culture utterly magnetic – this is Costa Rica. This country draws you in and pulls you close, from the Pacific to the Carribean and everything in between. Were convinced that no other Central American country currently specialises in luxury like Costa Rica does, and we’re fully invested. From the tree tops of the rainforests to the treasures of the oceanside, a multitude of surprises are in store while vacationing in this country.

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Costa Rica waterfalls

RAISING THE PULSE

A destination fit for daredevils, the captivating country of Costa Rica is best unearthed from soaring ziplines, crushin...

A destination fit for daredevils, the captivating country of Costa Rica is best unearthed from soaring ziplines, crushing white rapids, and volcano summits. A tailormade tour of this phenomenal region can be customized to include the region’s most pulse-racing thrills, including meet and greets with exotic animals, treks through the misty rainforest, and overnight stays to remote resorts. In such an intrepid and glorious land, it’s only right to fuel your adrenaline in what’s nicknamed ‘the adventure capital of Central America.’

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A VIVACIOUS VOYAGE

Home to endless stretches of postcard-worthy beaches, the glistening waters on both the Pacific and Carribean side attra...

Home to endless stretches of postcard-worthy beaches, the glistening waters on both the Pacific and Carribean side attract travellers from all corners of the globe. Needless to say, only a lucky few experience it with the Black Tomato treatment. Head to Arenal for a dose of life on the cusp of Manuel Antonio National Park, a paradise of crystal clear waters and dreamy resorts. Alternatively, Puerto Jimenez offers guests easy access to both pristine beaches and one of the country’s most vivacious rainforests.

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CONSERVATION IN COSTA RICA

Costa Rica is a country synonymous with ecotourism. In all of its lush, green splendour, it proudly boasts a collective-...

Costa Rica is a country synonymous with ecotourism. In all of its lush, green splendour, it proudly boasts a collective-array of luxury options for those interested in sustainability and conservation. The local mangroves and rainforests are showered with properties that offer guests intimate opportunities to interact and give back to the country’s quaint villages and exotic wildlife. Whether seeking to learn more about reducing your carbon footprint or interested in minimizing the negative impact humans have on the planet’s biodiversity, Costa Rica serves as a mecca for the curious and philanthropic.

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Puerto Jimenez in Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica

OSA PENINSULA

Feel what it truly means to experience the ‘pura vida’ (pure life). Wild, untamed and visually flawless, the Osa pen...

Feel what it truly means to experience the ‘pura vida’ (pure life). Wild, untamed and visually flawless, the Osa peninsula is a playground for adventure and discovery. Go zip-lining through the expansive jungle that envelops Drake Bay and allow one of our expert guides to talk you through the wildlife that inhabits Corcovado Park. Take up the challenge of a two-day hike through the rainforest lowlands, where you’ll be rewarded with hidden lagoons, secret beaches and a romantic picnic courtesy of us.

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Manuel Antonio National Park, Capuchin Monkeys

MANUEL ANTONIO NATIONAL PARK

With close to 680 hectares of pristine tropical utopia to explore across Manuel Antonio National Park, falling in love w...

With close to 680 hectares of pristine tropical utopia to explore across Manuel Antonio National Park, falling in love with Costa Rica’s rich, rugged, and biodiverse jewel is easy. Find your groove as we take you on a hike around its mangrove swamps and lagoons, listening to stories of the Quepoa tribe that roamed the land in the pre-Colombian era. Head out to sea, where a romantic champagne dinner for two awaits, before heading back to Manuel Antonio Beach in time to observe a vibrant sunset you’ll never forget.

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Nicoya Peninsula at sunset, Costa Rica

NICOYA PENINSULA

Loosen up and relax on the laidback Nicoya Peninsula, where barefoot luxury awaits. The Florblanca Resort will steal you...

Loosen up and relax on the laidback Nicoya Peninsula, where barefoot luxury awaits. The Florblanca Resort will steal your heart, whether you’re there for the honeymoon suite with its own private beach or the legendary surf house where your world-class instructor is on hand to sharpen your skills on Santa Teresa Beach. If breaking waves is not on your agenda, then you can explore the Pacific coast by horseback or simply enjoy an exclusive yoga session.

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Pacuare Lodge, Costa Rica

LIMÓN PROVINCE

White water rafting? We’ll take you down Costa Rica’s scenic Río Pacuare, where you’ll zip through forests home t...

White water rafting? We’ll take you down Costa Rica’s scenic Río Pacuare, where you’ll zip through forests home to jaguars, ocelots, and countless wild birds before you arrive at the romantic Pacuare Lodge for a spot of downtime. Go all-out here in the canopy suite and get closer to nature with your own dining platform complete with river views and a private hammock. We love the true sense of serenity the views here impart on you. Work worries? No worries.

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More than anything, our clients love the rush of entering Pacuare Lodge in the mountains of Talamanca. Why? Because the only way to get there is by white water raft.

Tom Pyman, Costa Rica Travel Expert

Top Locations in Costa Rica

If we were asked to choose our top three places in Costa Rica, we’d go for these.
Arenal volcano, Costa Rica

Arenal

A gigantic, brown-black volcano, and the epicentre of Costa Rica’s more adventurous side.

This is a big, riveting place; from the huge shores of Laguna de Arenal to the peak which gave it its name. Deep forests, banana and coffee plantations, and charming settlements are the order of the day, as is the continent’s longest zip line – running between the craters of two (dormant) volcanoes. Horse-back riding, biking, and hiking are – in these picture book surrounds – an utter joy. In a word: adventurous.

San Jose architecture

San Jose

A city built on beans.

Charming, eccentric, and incredibly easygoing, San Jose – or Chepe, as it’s locally known – is not big. Not at all. But it has a certain, unshakable grandeur; with neoclassical columns and baroque ornaments framing such necessities as Barrio Amón, home to its coterie of contemporary art galleries, or the indulgent food hub of Barrio Escalante. In a word: fun.

Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica

Tortuguero

Explore the kingdom of the tortoise.

This region of Caribbean coastline – palm-thronged, and caressed by unbelievably warm waters – is a destination for turtle spotting and conservation programmes. Night walks during nesting season are unmissable, as is the discrete charm of Hotel Manatus and the rivers which flow, eventually, to the sea. In a word: calming.

Best Hotels in Costa Rica

Nothing but the best. Browse the hotels that can feature in your bespoke Costa Rica itinerary.
Nayara Tented Camp | Luxury Hotels, Lodges & Resorts in Costa Rica
Pacuare Lodge
Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo | Luxury Hotels and Resorts in Costa Rica
Origins Lodge, Tenorio National Park | Luxury Hotels & Lodges in Costa Rica
playa cativo
Andaz Costa Rica Resort at Peninsula Papagayo
Hacienda AltaGracia, Perez Zeledon | Luxury Hotels & Resorts in Costa Rica
Nayara
Manatus hotel | Central America
Florblanca Resort, Santa Teresa | Luxury Hotels in Costa Rica
Punta Islita, Guanacaste | Luxury Hotels in Costa Rica
Lapa Rios
Harmony Hotel
Arenas del Mar
Hotel Grano de Oro, San Jose | Luxury Hotels in Costa Rica

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Voted the world’s third best specialist tour operator in the Conde Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards 2021

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