Sabbatical & Experiential Travel to Costa Rica

Holidays & Sabbaticals to Costa Rica – In a Nutshell

This is a land of extraordinary tropical beauty, that’s bursting with adventure. You’ll find virgin jungle, pristine beaches, dense coffee plantations and the mighty Rio Toro river, all interspersed by unique cloud forest and 7 active volcanoes. The wildlife is mesmerising too – howling monkeys, dazzling quetzal, elusive jaguar and miniature glass frogs. Costa Rica is home to 5% of the planet’s biodiversity. Spend your days walking, white-water rafting, learning to surf, ziplining through cloud forest and bird watching. Then kick back at sunset with ocean-fresh ceviche and a rum cocktail.

How to Get to Costa Rica

Though you can travel overland from Nicaragua and Panama, most will arrive by air, into San Jose or Liberia’s international airport. Fly directly from London and the US (4-11 hours). From San Jose you can take hopper flights to Limon, Alajuela, the Osa Peninsula and Guanacaste or travel overland.

When & Weather – Costa Rica

The climate here is tropical, which means temperatures are similar year round with April being the hottest month. Peak Season is November to April, the Green (rainy) season is May to October. But given that temperatures are similar, come in the Green Season when tourists are few. Temperatures typically range from 21C (70F) to 26 (80F).

Who will Costa Rica Appeal To?

The stunning natural landscapes offer an enormous range of varied and unique experiences. In particular, it’s suited to:

Active travellers
Wildlife enthusiasts
Adventure-loving honeymooners
Keen photographers
Solo travellers
Families (kids will love the wildlife)
Sporty types

Accommodation

Costa Rica excels in beautiful places to stay. Choose from boutique hotels, romantic hideaways, eco cabanas, coffee plantation houses, jungle lodges, rustic wildlife refuges and exclusive retreats.

Off The Beaten Path

Chill out on the Caribbean Coast’s pristine golden beaches (Playa Chiquita and Punta Uva); far less touristy than those on the Pacific
Or for something totally untouched, hire a beach villa near Punta Islita
Ride horses in the interior of Guanacaste which is famed for its ranches, wetlands and volcanoes
Cahuita National Park is one of the world’s last living reefs; a haven for snorkelling and diving
Swap busy Manuel Antonio National Park for the remote Corcovado National Park, home to jaguars, yellow poison-dart frogs, anteaters and ocelots
Coat yourself in volcanic mud then soak it off in the Rio Negro natural hot springs (Liberia)
Sway to the infectious reggae beat in laidback Puerto Viejo; a hip little town on the Caribbean Coast

Wildlife

Flocks of birds migrate here between September and November — Cabo Matapalo is a major corridor for hummingbirds, toucans and scarlet macaws
Or come November to May to see the iridescent quetzal near San Gerardo de Dota
Leatherback turtles nest on the Caribbean Coast from February to April; green turtles during August and September
Take a midnight tour to watch the turtles hatch by moonlight then find their way down the beach
Corcovado National Park is awash with wildlife, including the strawberry (blue-jeans) dart frogs, rare harpy eagle, anteaters, ocelots and beautiful jaguar
Butterfly lovers can see over 4000 species at La Paz Waterfall Gardens
Kayak amongst dolphins in the Golfo Dulce near Piedras Blancas National Park. If you’re lucky, you’ll see humpback whales too
Watch iconic sloths in the wild, lazily climbing trees or just hanging upside down, asleep. Two-toed sloths are nocturnal, three-toed roam in daylight

Costa Rica Experiences you shouldn’t miss:

Mountain biking in Guanacaste
Watching humpback whales breach in Marino Ballena National Park
Rafting the Pacuare River, Grade II-IV rapids
Savouring coffee from bean to cup in the Central Highlands
Zip-lining through the cloudforest canopy of Arenal National Park
Volcano trail hiking in Rincon de la Vieja National Park
Surfing the rugged Pacific around Nosara

Giving back

Spend half a day (or longer) at Proyecto Asis, located close to La Fortuna de San Carlos which is dominated by the Arenal Volcano. Proyecto Asis rescues and rehabilitates wildlife and volunteers are offered a profound immersive experience that will develop and deepen your environmental awareness.

Start Planning

Our experienced team will guide you through a number of ideas based on how you would like to experience Costa Rica.

Consider visiting Costa Rica in combination with Nicaragua and Panama, or with an Ecuador & Galapagos add-on in South America for the ultimate wildlife and nature trip.

Browse our gallery for inspiration and read the sample itinerary below to whet your appetite.

This sabbatical itinerary showcases slow travel through Costa Rica covering highlights and off-the-beaten-path regions.

Mix rainforest lodges with boutique beach hotels, conservation-focused activities and adrenaline-fuelled experiences.

No matter how long you have to travel, we’ll guide you through the planning process to ensure a trip is carefully pieced together to suit your interests, pace of travel and budget.