5 Costa Rica Holidays For The Ultimate Bucket List Adventure
Whether you are looking for a guided group tour, a fun-filled family adventure or a bespoke luxury escape, we have Costa Rica holidays to suit all travel styles.
Imagine arriving by white-water raft to your treetop eco-lodge, and then dining 60 feet above the rainforest in the branches of a giant Ceiba tree. This is my idea of heaven, and it is only the beginning! You can encounter monkeys, sloths, toucans and maybe even jaguars, rappel down waterfalls, hike through cloud forests and volcanic landscapes, and bathe in natural hot springs. Then, you can slow the pace with swimming, snorkelling and lazy days on the beaches of the Caribbean or Pacific coast. Whether you are planning a family holiday, a romantic escape or a bucket-list adventure, Costa Rica holidays combine wildlife, adventure and wellness in one spectacular destination.
I have teamed up with long haul specialists Tropical Sky to showcase a selection of the many Costa Rica holidays they offer. From secluded rainforest hideaways to beachfront stays along the Pacific and Caribbean coasts, Tropical Sky offers luxury holidays to Costa Rica, as well as great-value group tours for couples, families and friends.
They can tailor-make any holiday to suit your requirements. So if you want to add on a few nights in San José or stay longer at one of Costa Rica’s stunning beaches, talk to the dedicated sales team and they will recommend Costa Rica holidays to suit your travel style.
Tropical Sky can be contacted online, by phone, or you can visit their Customer Lounge in Dublin if you prefer to book your dream Costa Rica holiday in person.
And that’s not all! Mention The Travel Expert and save a further €100 per booking on ALL Costa Rica holidays!
Costa Rica Holidays – Group Tours
Costa Rica Escapade: Flights, Hotels, Meals & Tours, 6 Nights from €2149pp
This seven-night Costa Rica tour is a superb introduction to this fascinating country. You will have time to explore its vibrant capital, San José, before discovering its rainforests, wildlife and spectacular national parks.
Cruise through the famous Tortuguero Canals, where toucans, parrots, iguanas and monkeys are commonly spotted in the surrounding rainforest. You will also have time to see Tortuguero’s pristine beaches and explore the national park, with an overnight stay in a rainforest lodge.
Next, enjoy a three-night stay in Arenal, where a guided tour of Arenal Volcano National Park is sure to be a highlight. You can try watersports on Lake Arenal, hike or cycle through the surrounding landscape, go river rafting or simply relax and look out for some of the 600 bird species found in the area.
This is a tailor-made Costa Rica tour, so you can extend your holiday with some beach time in Guanacaste or Manuel Antonio. You can also upgrade your accommodation. Simply speak to the experts at Tropical Sky, who will tailor the itinerary to suit you.
Price of €2149pp includes flights, transfers, baggage, six-nights accommodation including breakfast, 2 lunches and 2 dinners, and all transportation between destinations. Guided tours of the Tortuguero Canals and National Park, a guided hike in Arenal Volcano Park, and local guides throughout.
Price is based on 4th May 2027 with many more dates available.
Costa Rica Adventure: Flights, Hotels, Meals, Tours, 15 Nights from €2449pp
This epic adventure is Tropical Sky’s bestselling Costa Rica tour. Over 15 nights, you will visit San José, Monteverde Cloud Forest, La Fortuna, Sarapiquí Rainforest, Tortuguero National Park and the Caribbean beach town of Puerto Viejo. It is the perfect way to experience many of Costa Rica’s highlights in one action-packed trip.
Travel to Tortuguero by tractor, private van and boat, spotting wildlife as you cruise through its famous canals. Enjoy a sunrise hike, explore the cloud forest after dark and spend two nights in a unique jungle lodge surrounded by rainforest. You can also swim and go rafting in La Fortuna before relaxing or snorkelling in the Caribbean Sea.
There is plenty of free time included, giving you the flexibility to choose from a wide range of optional activities. Try waterfall rappelling, white-water rafting, canyoning or ziplining through the cloud forest. If you prefer a slower pace, you can visit the hot springs, take a boat trip or simply explore at your leisure.
This G Adventures small-group tour operates throughout the year, with an average of 12 to 16 passengers. Accommodation is comfortable but relatively simple, and the tour is also popular for solo travellers.
Read: Top 10 adventure holidays with G Adventures
Price of €2449pp includes flights, transfers, baggage, 13 nights hotel stays, 2 nights jungle lodge stay, 4 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 4 dinners, all transportation and activities as per itinerary, and tour guide throughout.
Price is based on 16th April 2027 with many more dates available.
Costa Rica Family Experience: Flights, Hotels, Meals & Tours, 8 Nights, 2ad & 2ch from €10,240
Swap a week on the Costa del Sol for an epic family adventure in Costa Rica! This eight-night G Adventures Costa Rica tour has been designed for parents and children to enjoy together. With a maximum group size of 20 and an average of just 10, you will likely travel with only two or three other families. You can also add a private beach stay afterwards, making it the perfect combination of adventure and relaxation.
Your holiday begins in the capital, San José, before travelling to La Fortuna, where you can try kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding and waterfall rappelling, all against the spectacular backdrop of Arenal Volcano. There are plenty of more relaxing experiences too, including bathing in the hot springs and enjoying an authentic tortilla-making class with a local family.
Your journey continues with two days in Monteverde, where you will have time to explore the town and enjoy a guided night walk through the cloud forest. This is followed by two days in Manuel Antonio National Park, including a guided hike in search of native wildlife such as armadillos, sloths and monkeys. You will also have time to visit some of the park’s beautiful beaches.
During your free time, you can choose from several optional activities, including a sunset catamaran cruise, mangrove kayaking and surfing lessons, or simply relax on the beach.
Price of €10,240 includes flights, transfers, baggage, 8 night hotel stays with breakfast, 1 lunch, kayaking and paddle-boarding with lesson, tortilla-making with a local family, guided hike in the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve, Guided hike in Manuel Antonio, all transportation and activities as per itinerary, and tour guide throughout.
Price of €10,240 is based on 2 adults and 2 children travelling during Easter holidays, price for summer holidays is €10,660 in July. Beach stays can be added, simply talk to the experts in Tropical Sky and they will arrange it for you. Minimum child age is 6.
Explore Costa Rica: Flights, Hotels, Meals & Tours, 13 Nights from €4199pp
You only have to see that this is a G Adventures National Geographic Journey to know that this two-week Costa Rica adventure is going to be special. National Geographic Journeys offer a deeper insight into the culture and natural habitats of each destination, with authentic local experiences and upgraded accommodation – and this Costa Rica tour is no exception.
The carefully curated itinerary includes many of the top things to do in Costa Rica, including a boat tour through Tortuguero National Park and guided excursions in the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve and Manuel Antonio National Park. You will have plenty of time to discover Costa Rica’s rainforests, wildlife and beaches, as well as some lesser-known experiences.
These include a visit to the Sea Turtle Conservancy in Tortuguero, and a tour of the Mi Cafecito Coffee Cooperative in Sarapiquí. You will also meet local families and enjoy a tortilla-making experience followed by dinner in a family home in La Fortuna.
There is plenty of time for optional activities too, including kayaking, mountain biking, stand-up paddleboarding, ziplining, surfing and snorkelling. You may also have the opportunity to spot dolphins or go whale watching near Manuel Antonio.
This small-group tour has a maximum of 15 passengers and an average group size of 10. A National Geographic Expedition Leader will accompany you throughout the journey, with additional local guides joining you along the way for the ultimate Costa Rica experience.
Price of €4199pp includes flights, transfers, baggage, 11 night hotel stays, 2 night rustic jungle lodge stay with 13 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 3 dinners, boat tour of Tortuguero National Park, tortilla-making with a local family, guided hike in the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve, Guided excursion in Manuel Antonio, all transportation and activities as per itinerary, and tour guide throughout. Beach or city stays can be added. Minimum child age is 12.
Price is based on 9th May 2027 with many more dates available.
Costa Rica Holidays – Bespoke Trips and Itineraries
Best of Costa Rica: Flights, Hotels, Meals & Tours, 9 Nights, from €3695pp
If you prefer the independence of travelling without a group but want the convenience of having your hotels, transfers and some activities arranged, this could be the best Costa Rica holiday for you. This private, tailor-made itinerary allows you to choose from three, four or five-star hotels, select the activities that interest you and decide how long you would like to spend in each destination.
I love this suggested itinerary because it combines adventure with beach time and includes some of my must visit places in Costa Rica, including Arenal National Park and the Tortuguero Canals. I also love that your journey begins in San José and finishes on the Pacific Coast, making it easy to extend your beach stay. You can even fly home from Liberia Airport, avoiding the long transfer back to San José.
Over 10 days, you will explore La Fortuna and Arenal National Park, with opportunities to try river rafting, rappelling, kayaking and windsurfing on Lake Arenal. You can also go horse riding or hiking with the backdrop of the Arenal Volcano.
The itinerary also includes an immersive rainforest experience, with guided tours of the Tortuguero Canals and the National Park. You will then travel to Guanacaste for some well-earned beach time, where you can go snorkelling or boating, or simply relax beside the Pacific Ocean.
Price of €3695pp includes flights, transfers, baggage, nine-nights accommodation including breakfast, 3 lunches and 2 dinners, and private transportation between destinations, and guided tour of the Tortuguero Canals and National Park.
Beach stays can be extended, simply talk to the experts in Tropical Sky and they will arrange it for you. Price is based on 4th May 2027 with many more dates available.
Elevate your Costa Rica holiday with these amazing lodges:
If you are booking a special occasion holiday or just like to travel in style, these luxury lodges are the perfect way to do it. Tropical Sky can tailor-make any Costa Rica holiday including one or all of these jungle lodges or a thermal spa resort.
Tabacon Thermal Resort & Spa
Rated the best hotel in La Fortuna on Tripadvisor, it is not difficult to see why this five-star rainforest resort is one of the top places to stay in Costa Rica. Located at the foot of Arenal Volcano in the heart of the tropical rainforest, the Tabacon Thermal Resort and Spa offers a unique stay surrounded by lush gardens, cascading waterfalls and natural hot springs.
As well as luxurious accommodation, guests can bathe in thermal mineral springs naturally heated by the volcano. Spa treatments are available in open-air bungalows with private hot tubs, tucked away in the tropical gardens.
After an afternoon relaxing in the hot springs and natural river pools, you can dine in one of the resort’s two restaurants or enjoy a cocktail at one of its four bars.
Pacuare Lodge
‘The journey is the destination’ is the phrase that came to mind when I discovered Pacuare Lodge. In order to reach this luxurious jungle retreat, you travel by white-water raft along the Pacuare River. It is firmly on my personal travel bucket list, and arriving by river will surely make it one of the most memorable travel experiences.
Set within 25,000 acres of protected Costa Rican rainforest, Pacuare Lodge was built with minimal impact on its natural surroundings. Members of the Indigenous Cabécar community helped create its traditional thatched roofs, while staff are all from nearby communities. This local connection extends to the farm-to-table cuisine prepared by the lodge’s local chefs.
The lodge also works closely with scientists studying the area’s resident jaguars. You may be lucky enough to spot one from your private bungalow, along with sightings of sloths, monkeys and tropical birds.
As well as its spectacular setting, Pacuare Lodge offers plenty of opportunities for adventure. Waterfall rappelling, white-water rafting and rainforest hikes can all be part of this extraordinary experience. Don’t just take my word for it, National Geographic included it in its list of the Top 10 Adventure Lodges Around the World.
See this and many more extraordinary adventures here:
Read: The ultimate travel bucket list – 20 extraordinary journeys around the world
Lapa Rios Lodge
Located on Costa Rica’s southern Pacific Coast, the exclusive Lapa Rios Lodge has just 17 bungalows, each offering sunrise views over the Golfo Dulce. This sustainable lodge protects 1,000 acres of one of Central America’s last remaining tropical lowland rainforests.
You are almost guaranteed to see colourful macaws during your stay, while monkeys and more than 300 species of birds also inhabit the surrounding rainforest. Food is locally sourced and organic, and one of the standout experiences is a three-course lunch beside a waterfall.
Spend your days enjoying guided rainforest hikes, searching for wildlife and soaking up the peaceful surroundings. If you are looking for an exclusive Costa Rica hideaway that is well off the beaten track, this could be it.
Note: Due to Lapa Rios Lodge’s remote location in southern Costa Rica, the easiest way to get there is by taking a 50-minute domestic flight from San José to Puerto Jiménez, followed by a 45-minute transfer to the lodge. Travelling by road from San José Airport takes approximately seven hours.
These are just a sample of the Costa Rica holidays that Tropical Sky offer. They can tailor-make any holiday to suit your requirements. If you want to stay for shorter, or longer periods in a particular hotel or destination, talk to the dedicated sales team and they will arrange it for you.
Tropical Sky can be contacted online, by phone, or you can visit their Customer Lounge in Dublin if you prefer to book your dream Costa Rica holiday in person.
This post was sponsored by Tropical Sky.
