Costa Rica has a huge amount to offer in terms of marine life and terrestrial wildlife, volcanic scenery and rainforest. The main focus of this trip is the south western Pacific coast of Costa Rica, where we find the Osa Peninsula and Corcovado National Park - once described by National Geographic magazine as '… the most wildlife intense place on Earth'. They really should have said 'wildlife and marine life'.

Marine Life

The marine life highlight of Costa Rica is the Caño Island Biological Reserve which one of the easiest places in the world to see dolphins - something which is an almost daily affair in travelling out to the island. Humpback whales are also a regular sight since both northern and southern Pacific populations migrate through, extending the period over which they are likely to be seen.

Sharks such as white tips are a common sight, in amongst some very large shoals of fish which are protected within a 5,800 hectare marine reserve. Barracuda and manta rays can make an appearance, with the latter sometimes seen breaching high out of the water and landing with a tremendous splash. Marine turtles usually come in the form of olive ridleys which can be seen year round when snorkelling or diving.

Lowland Rainforests

Above the water, the Osa Peninsula and Corcovado National Park are often great places to see all four species of monkey found in Costa Rica (black howlers, spider monkeys, squirrel monkeys and white faced capuchins), large mammals such as tapir and peccary (a type of wild pig), 367 species of bird such as scarlet macaws, colourful toucans and more.

There is a wonderful fusion of terrestrial wildlife and marine life along this coastline. Mammals such as coatis are regularly seen on the beach in search of food. Squadrons of pelicans fly up and down the coast; crocodiles are often seen at river mouths; and small bull sharks sometimes swim in and out on the tide.

We can take you to see birdlife and wildlife and three locations on this trip. Surrounding your lodge is a private reserve, always on hand for a self-guided walk. We can also take you by boat to the northern most ranger station in the park at San Pedrillo; and to the Sirena Ranger Station right in the very heart of its western coastline.

Poas Volcano

On your first full day in Costa Rica, we will take you to see the famous Poas Volcano (2644m) which is one of the most active in Latin America having erupted some 40 times since the mid 1800s. An earthquake in the area at the end of 2008 prevented us from visiting the area for a few months that year, but activity soon settled back down enabling us to head to the area once again.