Rancho Naturalista

Go Local in Costa Rica

Wildlife & Nature Go Local + 3 more + 3 more

Meet the people who bring Costa Rica’s pura vida culture to life.

13 days

from £5,445 pp

Classic Costa Rica

Family Classic + 3 more + 3 more

Explore the highlights of Costa Rica on this classic two week holiday.

16 days

from £3,995 pp

Simply Costa Rica

Family Classic + 3 more + 3 more

The perfect introduction to Costa Rica and its highlights.

11 days

from £4,300 pp

Costa Rica on a Shoestring

Family Classic + 2 more + 3 more

Costa Rica’s pura vida magic without breaking the bank.

12 days

from £3,895 pp

Luxury Costa Rica

Wildlife & Nature Luxury + 3 more + 3 more

Costa Rica’s iconic sights with a first-class twist.

12 days

from £7,265 pp

Winter Sun Family Holiday

Family Wildlife & Nature + 3 more + 3 more

Family adventures and pura vida days, this is winter done right.

15 days

from £4,995 pp

Quirky excursions

View all excursions in Costa Rica

Dining in the 'Nest' at Pacuare Lodge

Guests staying at Pacaure will have the opportunity to book a meal at the lodge’s own tiny treetop ‘nest’ during their stay – a secure platform perched 20 metres high in the rainforest canopy. Prices range from $55 per person for a private breakfast here, and between $95 and $125 per person for a romantic dinner. You reach the Nest by means of a 130 metre canopy zip line, and upon arrival you will find a candle-lit meal adapted to your personal preferences. With no-one else able to access the platform while you are eating and just the sounds of the jungle to enjoy, this is perhaps one of the most intimate places to dine in Costa Rica!

Pejibaye river rafting (grades II – III)

A thirty-minute drive out of Turrialba takes you to a section of the verdant Pejibaye river valley offering a more moderate white water rafting experience, ideal for complete beginners. You will pass by coffee and sugar cane plantations as you raft along, led by an expert guide. There may also be opportunities to take a refreshing swim in the quieter sections of this winding river. Total tour duration is approximately three hours.

CATIE botanical gardens tour

A tour of CATIE often turns out to be a highlight of a visit to Turrialba, even for those with only a passing interest in nature. The Centre for Tropical Agricultural Research and Education lends itself to visits for tourists as the 45 hectares of gardens and plantations are home to hundreds of different plant species and a wonderful array of birds. One of the expert guides will lead you around the gardens on a highly interactive tour taking in the tastes and smells of tropical fruits, learning about the medicinal properties of some of the plants grown here and having the opportunity to photograph colourful orchids, heliconias, towering bamboo and a mighty Kapok tree which is over one thousand years old. At the end of the visit you will be transferred back to your hotel.

Macadamia, sugar cane & coffee plantation tour

You will be driven to a nearby hacienda which enjoys sweeping views across the Turrialba Valley, and where the surrounding plantations recreate typical agricultural techniques that date back to the early 1900s. Coffee and sugar cane has been grown here for generations, and you will learn all about the cultivation process. The macadamia nut is a relatively new crop in Costa Rica in comparison, but has quickly become an important export commodity for the region. At the end of your tour, visitors will be offered samples of all the products grown in the plantation, including delicious coffee and chocolate-covered macadamia nuts. A buffet lunch is also included.

Cycling tour of CATIE

Your gentle mountain biking tour today will take you through the extensive trails of the CATIE tropical research station. During the ride, your guide will point out the great diversity of plantations that can be found here, which include coffee, cacao, sugar cane, macadamia, pineapple, mango and avocado. Your tour will finish with a visit to the botanical gardens which house a collection of some of the most important tropical plants in the world.