Our Costa Rica holidays

Costa Rica is a pioneer in sustainable tourism, so our holidays ensure that while admiring the (spectacular) wildlife of this easy-going Central American country, you’ll also be contributing to their protection. That could mean volunteering with turtles on the beach or visiting parks and reserves where entrance fees fund conservation. It definitely means staying in small, family-run hotels and exploring with guides drawn from local communities who will share with you their unparalleled knowledge of Costa Rica’s culture and nature. This is one of the world’s top activity holiday destinations for families, and it’s easy to see why.

Our top Costa Rica holidays

Costa Rica wildlife holiday

From £4549 to £5499
16 days inc UK flights
An amazing variety of Costa Rican wildlife
Small group2023: 9 Nov, 23 Nov, 28 Nov, 2024: 9 Jan, 23 Jan, 27 Jan, 24 Feb, 23 Mar, 30 Mar, 20 Apr, 4 May, 11 May, 1 Jun, 8 Jun, 15 Jun, 22 Jun, 29 Jun, 17 Aug, 14 Nov, 16 Nov, 19 Nov, 21 Nov, 30 Nov, 19 Dec, 21 Dec, 28 Dec

Costa Rica highlights holiday & beach

From £1995
13 days ex flights
Short highlight itinerary covering city, forests and beach.

Costa Rica holiday, coast to coast

From £2140 to £4885
16 days ex flights
Costa Rica from the Caribbean to the Pacific

Costa Rica tailor made tour, in depth

From £3471
16 days ex flights
An in-depth tour showcasing the very best of Costa Rica!

Costa Rica wildlife small group tour

From £2549 to £3185
15 days ex flights
Discover rich nature and unique wildlife
Small group2023: 8 Nov, 18 Nov, 2024: 13 Jan, 17 Jan, 20 Jan, 24 Jan, 31 Jan, 1 Feb, 7 Feb, 10 Feb, 17 Feb, 2 Mar, 6 Mar, 9 Mar, 13 Mar, 16 Mar, 20 Mar, 23 Mar, 27 Mar, 3 Apr, 6 Apr, 10 Apr, 13 Apr, 17 Apr, 24 Apr, 27 Apr, 1 May, 11 May, 22 May, 25 May, 29 May, 1 Jun, 5 Jun, 8 Jun, 12 Jun, 15 Jun, 19 Jun, 22 Jun, 26 Jun, 29 Jun, 6 Jul, 10 Jul, 13 Jul, 17 Jul, 20 Jul, 24 Jul, 27 Jul, 31 Jul, 3 Aug, 17 Aug, 24 Aug, 31 Aug, 7 Sep, 21 Sep ...

Costa Rica wildlife holiday, Coastal Secrets

From £4899 to £5449
16 days inc UK flights
Wildlife rich waterways of Tortuguero to the dense jungle
Small group2023: 18 Nov, 2024: 13 Jan, 20 Jan, 3 Feb, 17 Feb, 24 Feb, 9 Mar, 16 Mar, 30 Mar, 10 Aug, 14 Sep, 2 Nov, 9 Nov, 16 Nov, 23 Nov, 21 Dec

Costa Rica nature adventure tour

From £2395
10 days ex flights
Immerse yourself in the scenary of Costa Rica.
Tailor made

Activity and nature holiday in Costa Rica

From £2795 to £5295
14 days ex flights
A Costa Rica itinerary packed full of adventure excursions

Costa Rica tour

From £1470 to £2010
15 days ex flights
Explore the Caribbean coast to the Pacific
Small group2023: 14 Nov, 16 Nov, 21 Nov, 23 Nov, 25 Nov, 28 Nov, 30 Nov, 2 Dec, 5 Dec, 7 Dec, 9 Dec, 14 Dec, 16 Dec, 19 Dec, 21 Dec, 28 Dec, 30 Dec, 2024: 4 Jan, 6 Jan, 9 Jan, 11 Jan, 13 Jan, 16 Jan, 18 Jan, 20 Jan, 23 Jan, 25 Jan, 27 Jan, 30 Jan, 1 Feb, 3 Feb, 6 Feb, 8 Feb, 10 Feb, 13 Feb, 15 Feb, 17 Feb, 20 Feb, 22 Feb, 24 Feb, 27 Feb, 29 Feb, 2 Mar, 5 Mar, 7 Mar, 9 Mar, 12 Mar, 14 Mar, 16 Mar, 19 Mar, 26 Mar, 28 Mar, 30 Mar, 2 Apr ...

About our Costa Rica holidays

Cost Rica holidays, wildlife

Costa Rica is teeming with wildlife, with half of the country blanketed in primary forest, and around a third of it protected by conservation areas. Spring is the best time to observe iguanas going about their courtship rituals. There are no fewer than six species of turtle – Tortuguero National Park sees loggerheads, leatherbacks, Atlantic greens and hawksbills. Forests echo with the calls of birdlife, including toucans with impressive beaks and small armies of monkeys. Sloths laze on tree branches, shy jaguars slink in the shadows, and gigantic American crocodiles crowd mangrove swamps and freshwater rivers, making impromptu swims highly inadvisable.

Multi activity holidays in Costa Rica

Costa Rica holidays are usually multi activity holidays; that’s just the nature of travel here. A typical itinerary might see you wildlife watching in the rainforest one day and tubing down a lazy river the next. You could be trying your first surf lesson on a Caribbean beach, mountain biking, or strapping in for a thrilling zipline tour through the tree canopy. Activities are always set against the backdrop of Costa Rica’s lush scenery and although cultural holidays here are not so common, there are scenes of everyday life unfolding around you throughout.

Family holidays in Costa Rica

As you can probably imagine from a country where you can zipline through rainforests, tube down rivers, learn to surf, and watch turtles on idyllic beaches or monkeys eyeing up your fruit baskets, Costa Rica is a wonderful country for family holidays. And while families with older kids will find no end of adventures to dive into headfirst, those with younger ones looking to take it easier will love it here too. Costa Rica has tourism down to a tee and the only real downside is that your kids will not stop nagging you to go back again afterwards.

Top 10 animals in Costa Rica

You’ll probably see a lot more than 10 by the end of your first few days in Costa Rica, but our top 10 animals guide includes the iguanas that you’ll find all over Manuel Antonio National Park, the huge troupes of monkeys you’ll see swinging through the tree canopies any time you go into the forests, picnic-fancying coatis that look like small badgers, lazy sloths, and the many turtles of Tortuguero National Park. Basically, any of the animals that aren’t going to try and eat you.

Cycling holidays in Costa Rica

Fancy somewhere a little more exotic for your next cycling holiday? If your idea of the perfect getaway is one where you spend most of it in the saddle then Costa Rica will be a tantalising prospect. Cycling holidays, typically guided small group tours, operate pretty much all year round. The Coast to Coast is a stand-out route, taking you through forested, volcanic and coastal terrain over two weeks, climbing up mountain passes and down through valleys filled with plantations until you reach the warm Caribbean. There are exciting multi-country cycling holidays too, combining Costa Rica with Panama and Nicaragua.

Types of tours & holidays in Costa Rica

All Costa Rica holidays are adventure holidays, just with different degrees of adventure. This compact country packs a lot of excitement into its borders, from river rafting to ziplining and rainforest trekking. The latter is always a highlight – you’d struggle to picture a better destination for wildlife holidays. Costa Rica is an unforgettable place for family holidays – safe and relaxed, and never a dull moment for kids aged from about seven upwards. Small group holidays have an inbuilt social element, with new friends to cheer you on throughout and local guides offering a chance to explore Costa Rican culture a little too.
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about Costa Rica or need help finding a holiday to suit you we're very happy to help.
[Wildlife : Ashley Lee] [Top 10 animals : Jan Hazevoet] [Family holidays : Michiel Van Balen] [Multi activity holidays : Zachary Shea] [Cycling holidays : Exodus] [Types of holidays : Perry Grone]
Photo credits: [Page banner: Jay Iwasaki] [Wildlife : Ashley Lee] [Top 10 animals : Jan Hazevoet] [Family holidays : Michiel Van Balen] [Multi activity holidays : Zachary Shea] [Cycling holidays : Exodus] [Types of holidays : Perry Grone]