Costa Rica Holidays
Rainforest, Mountain Scenery and National Parks
10 Night Itinerary from £2,857
Tanager Tour
Explore National Parks, home to exotic bird and wildlife in dense tropical rainforest. Stay in excellent hotels and character jungle lodges where our expert guides will bring the incredible natural wonders to life.
Select your preferred departure date
Tour Route
- San Jose & Irazú Volcano - 2 Nights
- Tortuguero National Park - 2 Nights
- Arenal Volcano - 3 Nights
- Monteverde Cloud Forest - 3 Nights
- Transport to San Jose Airport & Overnight Flight Home - 0 Nights
Travel Highlights
- Be immersed in this beautiful natural habitat away from civilisation
- Admire towering volcanoes, tropical rainforest and abundant birdwatching
- Explore the backwaters and lagoons of Tortuguero National Park
- Experience the hanging bridges and rainforest canopy of Arenal National Park
- Choose to go horse-riding, hike around the volcano or cruise through wetlands
- Spot exotic birds and mammals in Monteverde Cloud Forest
- View the smoking green crater lake of a volcano up close
- Choose to extend your trip on the golden Pacific beaches of Manuel Antonio
This itinerary can be tailored to your preferences by our specialist advisors, who can provide a guaranteed price based on your choice of route, duration, flights, hotels, transport and excursions.
Tour Itinerary

San Jose & Irazú Volcano - 2 Nights
Day 1 - Departure from UK
Day 2 - Irazú Volcano
- Full Description
- Accommodation
Monday, 30 January 2023
Departure from UK
Take a daytime direct BA flight to San Jose, arriving the same evening, where you will be met by our representative and taken to your hotel for 2 nights. This is also the opportunity for our guide to provide you advice, explain your programme and answer any questions you may have.
Tuesday, 31 January 2023
Irazú Volcano
With our local guide visit the Irazú Volcano, with its impressive green crater lake rising out of a desolate grey moon landscape. Continue to the stunning Orosí Valley, where the Reventazón River cuts through the surrounding mountains. We visit the Lankester Botanical Gardens, housing thousands of species of plants endemic to Costa Rica.
Buena Vista Hotel
San Jose - First Hotel
Buena Vista hotel is a Spanish colonial style resort located just outside San Jose, at the top of a mountain offering panoramic views of three volcanoes in the Central Valley - Poas, Barva and Irazu. It is a super place to stay when you arrive in Costa Rica.
The hotel has 30 air-conditioned and comfortable rooms. Deluxe standard rooms have private bathroom, TV and mini-bar.
Public facilities include the Quetzal Grille restaurant, of international and typical cuisine, a bar, an outdoor pool, gift shop, masseuse, free WiFi, and lush gardens ideal for walks.

Finca Rosa Blanca
San Jose - First Resort
Finca Rosa Blanca Country Inn is situated above the beautiful Central Valley of Costa Rica, offering amazing views of volcanoes, cloud forests and coffee plantations and nestled amongst 10 acres amid hundreds of fruit trees and tropical flora. It offers luxurious rooms including mini bar, Jacuzzi bath and private verandas overlooking the Valley. Each room has its own decoration allowing its unique atmosphere.
The hotel provides lots of amenities such as games room, large swimming pool, TV and reading area and 2 large dinner tables for group dining. The restaurant offers a spectacular view of the coffee plantation and serves delicious local cuisine with fresh products.

Hotel Presidente
San Jose - First Hotel
The Presidente Hotel is located in the heart of San José in the pedestrian zone of Central Avenue, 2 blocks from the National Theatre and the Cultural Square. The hotel has over 100 comfortable and spacious rooms, which all include cable TV, air conditioning, safety box and en-suite bathroom. The hotel offers amenities such as a restaurant-bar, a casino, and a spa with beauty treatments.


Tortuguero National Park - 2 Nights
Day 3 - Transfer to Tortuguero National Park
Day 4 - Boat tour of Tortuguero National Park
- Full Description
- Accommodation
Wednesday, 01 February 2023
Transfer to Tortuguero Park
Morning transfer through the mountains to the pier where we take a river journey to our lodge deep in the Tortuguero National Park, staying for 3 nights.
Thursday, 02 February 2023
Boat tour of Tortuguero Park
Accompanied by guides, we explore the backwaters and lagoons by boat, observing the abundance of bird species and wildlife in this glorious jungle setting, home to spider monkeys, macaws, three toed sloths, toucans, caiman, otters and many other species.
Tortuga Lodge
Tortuguero - First Lodge
Overview and location
Tortuga Lodge and Gardens was the first upscale lodge built in Tortuguero National Park on Costa Rica's Caribbean Coast and remains the most comfortable place to stay in the area. Facing the Tortuguero River in its own 146 acre estate, the lodge offers a quiet, eco-friendly experience with solar powered energy, locally sourced ingredients and attractive and wooden buildings with a laid-back, tropical, yet classic design. The lodge has 20 hectares of attractively landscaped gardens with ornamental tropical trees, palms, shrubs, orchids, and other flowers that attract birds, lizards and butterflies.
Why stay here?
In a remote place like this, running a quality eco lodge with comfortable accommodation and a high standard of service is not easy, but Tortuga Lodge has got it right. Rustic elegance in the jungle.
Rooms
The 2 storey room blocks are set among the tropical gardens, with 11 downstairs terrace rooms, 12 upstairs balcony rooms, 1 large Penthouse suite and 2 family junior suites - all facing the river. The spacious rooms have quality beds, large en suite bathrooms with shower, ceiling fans and rocking chairs and hammocks in the outside terrace. There is a no smoking policy, no air conditioning or television - you will appreciate the sounds of the tropical rain forest - including a wake up call from a local howler monkey!
Food and drink
The reception, bar and superb restaurant are located in the main building built on the riverside, with veranda dining next to the water. The chef delights the guests with local and international dishes served in creative ways. All meals are served at your table. Veloso Tours recommends the full meal plan. An a la carte menu is available for all meals.
Facilities and activities
The lodge offers free Wi-Fi throughout. The stunning infinity pool features an environmentally-friendly purification system so the water does not irritate the eyes - a perfect place to relax after adventures in the jungle and the lodge's gardens. Expert-led excursions by boat exploring Tortuguero National Park are available from the lodge. These can be arranged in advance with your Veloso Tours UK travel advisor.
From July to October, the highlight in Tortuguero is standing a few feet from a 300-pound Green Sea Turtle while she lays 80-100 eggs, covers up her nest, perhaps digs a false nest to throw off predators, and finally, after more than an hour, returns to the sea.
Prices
Veloso Tours prices include room, local taxes and all meals. Packages including flight transfers from San Jose and excursions are also available. The National Park entrance fee is not included (USD $15.00 per person).
Families
Families with teenagers will appreciate the hotel's partnership with a local school where they can help teach local children with their English. Must be pre-arranged with our travel advisor. Families stay in a junior family suite with 2 beds (1 king) sleeping up to 4. Younger families benefit from up to 2 children aged 10 or younger staying FREE if sharing a room with 2 adults. The lodge offers a special 3 night family expedition package including transfers, room, meals and full excursion programme.
Please call us for a quote - 0208 762 0616

Pachira Lodge
Tortuguero - Tourist Lodge
The Pachira Lodge is located only five minutes away from the entrance to Tortuguero National Park. This wild and remote area is only accessible by boat or plane and it takes 5 to 6 hours by land and boat from San Jose. Pachira Lodge offers 96 comfortable rooms with bamboo furniture and ceiling fans. The lodge has a nicely decorated restaurant, a bar, a refreshing turtle-shaped swimming pool, beautiful gardens, ranchos with hammocks to enjoy the jungle and canal views.

Mawamba River Lodge
Tortuguero - First Lodge
Nestled in the lush rainforest, the lodge is the ideal hideaway for nature lovers and the perfect place to discover the wonders of the Tortuguero National Park. All the spacious and comfortable rooms are built in wood to blend in with the exuberant jungle vegetation and all feature a private bathroom with hot water and ceiling fans and offer tranquil garden views. There is a family style restaurant where you eat 3 meals a day, a pool area, games room and palapas with hammocks tucked away in the gardens - perfect for relaxing!
Every evening, there are lectures on the Tortuguero area in the conference room and you are always free to investigate the 15-acres of private nature trails, featuring an open sky butterfly farm. The Lodge provides the transfer in & out by bus and boat, all meals, regular tours and taxes; But Entrance Fee to the National Park is not included.


Arenal Volcano - 3 Nights
Day 5 - Transfer to Arenal
Day 6 - Arenal National Park
Day 7 - At leisure
- Full Description
- Accommodation
Friday, 03 February 2023
Transfer to Arenal
Our journey continues with a drive to Arenal, in the northern tropical lowlands, dominated by the picture-perfect cone of Arenal volcano. Transfer to your chosen hotel or lodge. In the evening, weather permitting, witness the colourful lava flows from the volcano, quite a spectacle.
Saturday, 04 February 2023
Arenal National Park
Today enjoy a boat ride on Arenal Lake and a guided trek in Arenal National Park, exploring the lush rainforest and admiring the volcano. You will witness the incredible lava flows and understand the flora and fauna of this unique part of Costa Rica. Birdwatchers will enjoy today as Arenal National Park is home to over 500 species of birds.
Sunday, 05 February 2023
Trekking, horse riding, hot springs and the volcano
You have the full day to enjoy optional activities in the park, go horse riding through the forest, walk on the hanging bridges trails through the rainforest canopy, relax in the hot springs, or take optional excursions, including a hike around the volcano to see the lava flows.
Arenal Nayara Resort
Arenal National Park - Deluxe Resort
Located in the outskirts of the Arenal Volcano, Arenal Nayara Hotel & Gardens provides a uniquely natural experience. Surrounded by lush tropical rainforest, each one of its 24 spacious casitas provides an exclusive retreat in which you can relax amidst the breathtaking view of the volcano. Interwoven with rich gardens its tropical grounds create the perfect setting to rest and enjoy nature. A large Jacuzzi and wet bar provide a place to rest after enjoying the various guided activities, including white water rafting, hiking, mountain biking, volcano treks, and hot springs. Arenal Nayara Hotel & Gardens offers a full service restaurant, where local ingredients blend with a world-class cuisine to provide an incomparable dining experience. The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and boasts a direct view of the active volcano.
Every (room) casita at the Arenal Nayara Hotel & Gardens has been designed to provide the utmost in comfort and style while maintaining a close connection with the natural surroundings. With the guests' experience in mind, Arenal Nayara offers a unique concept of individual casitas separated by lush tropical gardens. Each one of its large suite-size casitas provides independent space and privacy that includes a private backyard with an outdoor shower and a front balcony overlooking the volcano. For a full pampering experience select the Nayara Suites featuring in-room breakfast, bathrobe, and the best panoramic volcano view. Each of the casitas is equipped with a King or two full size beds, Plasma 27" Cable TV, DVD / CD Player, IPod Stand, Internet Access, Safe Box (Laptop capacity), Air Conditioning, private bathroom with hot water and rain shower, backyard with outside shower, in room "mini" bar service, coffee maker, front balcony overlooking the volcano with jacuzzi for two, high speed internet connection. Accommodation includes room and breakfast.

Arenal Springs
Arenal National Park - First Resort
Arenal Springs Resort is the ideal combination of modern comfort and exuberant tropical surrounding. The rooms are all in semi-detached bungalows spread over a wide area directly facing Arenal Volcano. Each room has a patio with seating, as well as air conditioning. The hotel also has its own hot springs, which feed into a number of hot tubs and pool of different temperatures, all of which guests can enjoy at their leisure. There is also a spa, a yoga studio, and two restaurants.


Monteverde Cloud Forest - 3 Nights
Day 8 - Arenal to Monteverde
Day 9 - Monteverde Cloud Forest
Day 10 - At leisure
- Full Description
- Accommodation
Monday, 06 February 2023
Arenal to Monteverde
We take a scenic drive from Arenal to the Monteverde area, passing the Arenal Lake Dam. Here you will board a very comfortable boat for a 40 minute journey to Río Chiquito, a small town at the other side of the lake.
The Arenal Lake we cross is the largest and the most important lake in Costa Rica; it was man made in 1974 to provide hydroelectric energy for the country. It is also a place where you can find different kinds of resident and migratory birds. Once at Río Chiquito, we disembark and take short break to stretch our legs before, continuing for around 1 1/2 hours by microbus to your chosen hotel or lodge in Monteverde.
Tuesday, 07 February 2023
Experience the Cloud Forest
A fascinating and beautiful half-day excursion, accompanied by expert local guides, in the surrounding Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. The variety of climes is home to a fascinating number of birds and mammals, including the noisy howler monkeys and the resplendent quetzal. We explore the cloud forest from the forest floor and on treetop hanging walkways to obtain a birds eye view of this unique reserve. In the afternoon we visit the Butterfly Garden, a living laboratory of butterflies, snakes and frogs.
Wednesday, 08 February 2023
At leisure
A further day to relax and experience Monteverde Cloud Forest at your leisure.
Fonda Vela
Monteverde Cloud Forest - First Hotel
The Fonda Vela Hotel is located in beautiful Monteverde, featuring six buildings within a 35 acre property and just a 15 minutes walk away from the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. The views of the Gulf of Nicoya from the hotel's 1400 meters elevation are spectacular. All rooms have large windows with views of the forest, private bathroom and telephone. All 20 junior suites have a small refrigerator, table, king and queen-size beds, a comfortable sofa and 14 also have a TV. There are two restaurants, La Chimenea perfect for a relaxing evening meal.

Monteverde Lodge
Monteverde Cloud Forest - Deluxe Lodge
The Monteverde Lodge is located in the Tilarán Mountain Range at 4,600 ft above sea level on the edge of the world's best known mid-elevation cloud forest. All designing with a nature theme, and all whilst protecting from mist and strong wind familiar to the area, rooms provide all the amenities for a perfect stay such as an in-room safe, coffee maker, ceiling fan, Wi-Fi and large bathroom with toiletries and hair dryer.
The lodge offers daytime and night-time’s experiences such as guided hikes with experienced local naturalist guides, horseback riding for everyone, visits of the Butterfly Garden, the Bat Jungle and the surrounding Coffee Plantations. Guests can also experience the gastronomic delights of El Jardin Restaurant & Bar, which features a variety of cuisine and has its unique cloud forest mural, as well as enjoy the Jacuzzi in an enclosed atrium and let the Monteverde Lodge staff take care of everything.

Hotel Belmar
Monteverde Cloud Forest - First Hotel
Nestled in the mountains adjacent to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, the Hotel Belmar, offers 22 rooms with spectacular views. With personalized service in a comfortable rustic atmosphere, the hotel has a distinctly Alpine style with its wooden panelling, and is still managed by the family of the original owners. The spacious rooms have all private balconies with seating, and large windows overlooking the valley: On a clear day you can also see the Pacific Ocean.
The restaurant/ bar is decorated with wooden sculptures with balconies for al fresco dining and serves modern Costa Rican food, as well as homemade artisan cocktails. The hotel takes great pride in its environmentally friendly credentials: all of the food that they serve comes either from local farms or their own organic garden. There is a small spa for treatments, and a glass gazebo with a Jacuzzi in the garden.


Transport to San Jose Airport & Overnight Flight Home - 0 Nights
Day 11 - Journey to San Jose Airport. Fly back to the UK
Day 12 - Arrive in the UK
- Full Description
- Accommodation
Thursday, 09 February 2023
Fly back to the UK
Transfer to San Jose Airport for your overnight British Airways flight back to the UK.
Friday, 10 February 2023
Arrive in the UK
Finca Rosa Blanca
San Jose - First Resort
Finca Rosa Blanca Country Inn is situated above the beautiful Central Valley of Costa Rica, offering amazing views of volcanoes, cloud forests and coffee plantations and nestled amongst 10 acres amid hundreds of fruit trees and tropical flora. It offers luxurious rooms including mini bar, Jacuzzi bath and private verandas overlooking the Valley. Each room has its own decoration allowing its unique atmosphere.
The hotel provides lots of amenities such as games room, large swimming pool, TV and reading area and 2 large dinner tables for group dining. The restaurant offers a spectacular view of the coffee plantation and serves delicious local cuisine with fresh products.

Grano de Oro
San Jose - First Hotel
Situated on a shady street just off Paseo Colon, San Jose's main street, the Hotel Grano de Oro is a welcome retreat in the heart of this bustling city. Converted from a tropical Victorian mansion, the hotel preserves the warmth and comfort of a private home, with its atrium terrace and corridors of sparkling fountains and lush tropical plants.
There is a rooftop deck ideal for sunbathing and also featuring a Jacuzzi. The hotel's restaurant is one of the best in San Jose and offers continental cuisine in an intimate and cordial atmosphere.

Xandari Resort
San Jose - First Boutique
Xandari Resort and Spa is perfectly located for excursions to Poas Volcano, La Paz waterfall gardens, and Doka coffee plantation, and is only 30 minutes’ drive from San Jose International airport. Over 3km of scenic trails through coffee and fruit orchards lead into a lush natural tropical setting with a year-round river and five beautiful waterfalls.
The hotel consists of 24 comfortable and spacious villas, decorated in bright colours and adorned with original works of art. Set on top of a hill on a 40 acre coffee and fruit plantation, all the rooms are overlooking the Costa Rica's Central Valley, featuring private terrace. Each room has a bar kitchen and a private bathroom with toiletries. The resort has 3 swimming pools, with one overlooking the valley, as well as a spa offering a variety of treatments.

Price Guidelines
Season | Low Season | High Season | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Travel Dates | 31 Dec -19 Jul, 22 Aug-13 Dec | 20 July - 21 Aug, 14 Dec- 30 Dec | ||||
Room Arrangement | Tourist | First | Deluxe | Tourist | First | Deluxe |
Multiple Travellers - Twin Room | £2,857 | £3,845 | £3,797 | £3,125 | £4,285 | £4,092 |
Multiple Travellers - Own Room | £3,271 | £5,020 | £5,020 | £3,598 | £5,239 | £5,314 |
Single Traveller - Own Room | £4,065 | £6,242 | £6,844 | £3,576 | £6,351 | £7,100 |
Prices are a guideline and per person. Please request a quote for Special Events, Christmas, New Year's Eve & Easter.
What's Included
- 12 Days / 10 Nights
- International flights (1 overnight)
- Accommodation as shown on the itinerary
- Breakfast everyday and meals as described on the itinerary
- Transfers to and from airports
- Transport throughout the itinerary
- Excursions listed, all with expert, English-speaking guides
- Prices are per person
- Prices for Special Events, Christmas, New Year's Eve, Easter on request
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