Look for Endangered Turtles, Tapirs, Macaws & More from Remote & Luxurious Ecolodges
Bounded by jungle-draped volcanoes and the turquoise Pacific Ocean, Costa Rica’s Guanacaste province holds treasure for nature seekers. At Punta Islita, on the outer edge of the Nicoya Peninsula, head to the beach at night in search of one of nature’s most wondrous phenomena, the arribada (Spanish for “arrival”), a mass nesting event when thousands of leatherback and olive ridley sea turtles come ashore to lay their eggs. With luck, we may see hatchlings scurry to the sea at dawn. Inland lies a private reserve deep in the northern rainforest that's home to more endangered tapirs than anywhere else in Costa Rica. This charming mammal—related to horses and rhinos, even though it looks more like an elephant or a pig—is largely nocturnal and highly elusive, but our odds to spy them are better here than anywhere else. Add in sloths, howler monkeys and rare parrots, and you’ve got a tropical safari sure to delight.Trip Highlights
Look for Nesting & Hatching Sea Turtles
Visit a wild beach with strong odds to witness an arribada—a wondrous event where endangered sea turtles come ashore en masse to lay their eggs
Search for Rare Tapirs in the Best Place to Find Them
With top naturalist guides, look for the elusive Baird's tapir where they are most plentiful in Central America, on a private reserve dedicated to their conservation
Explore Tropical Nature on Exclusive Private Tours
Visit the Macaw Recovery Network, walk over hanging bridges through the rainforest canopy, and tour a cacao farm to see how chocolate is made
WWF In Action
Discover a Secret Side of Costa Rica
Costa Rica is deservedly popular among travelers drawn to its enticing beaches, tropical rainforests, active volcanoes and conservation ethos. But certain destinations can feel a little crowded. That's why we have designed this unusual trip that gets you far from the standard track, where you'll spend more time with wild creatures than other tourists. See what makes this itinerary so special:
- Explore a Far Less Traveled Part of Wild Costa Rica
In our quest to get our travelers away from overtouristed zones and into more secluded encounters with nature, we have devised an itinerary that highlights corners of Costa Rica that are relatively undiscovered—yet filled with amazing wildlife and diverse natural habitats inviting exploration. - Top Location & Season for Seeing Sea Turtles
From Punta Islita, we have good odds to witness one of nature's most wondrous phenomena: a sea turtle "arribada," when pelagic marine turtles come ashore by the thousands to dig nests in the sand and lay their eggs. Then, under the cover of night, just before dawn, the tiny, vulnerable hatchlings break forth, scurry over the sand and into the ocean. We've timed our departures to align with this seasonal event, and while it's never guaranteed, our chances are prime. - Your Best Chance to Spot Tapirs in Central America
A special focus of our trip is Tapir Valley, a largely unknown private nature reserve that holds Costa Rica's largest population of endangered Baird's tapir. While we aren't guaranteed to see these rare and elusive animals, the odds that we may are better here than anywhere else! And we often do. - Exclusive Private Activities & Experiences
From a behind-the-scenes look at the Macaw Recovery Network and a private botanical garden visit to a demonstration of chocolate making and a guided tour of a cacao farm, our itinerary is filled with special private presentations and opportunities for our group alone—designed to get you close to local nature and culture in the most meaningful way. - Premier Luxury Ecolodges Ensure Comfort in Wild Settings
We're based at two high-end ecolodges that immerse you in nature, capitalizing on their remote and secluded locations, yet without compromising on quality, amenities and ambience. Enjoy private casitas with elegant nature-sourced furnishings; fresh, local gourmet meals; on-site spas and wellness facilities; and more aspects that make you feel thoroughly cared for. - A Private Chartered Flight Maximizes Your Time in Nature
Rather than spend five hours on rough, winding roads to transfer from the interior mountain rainforest to the Pacific Coast, we have chartered a private plane to whisk you there efficiently—meaning you get an extra day to enjoy nature as a result! - Private Transportation with a Window Seat for All
Our small group shares a comfortable, air-conditioned mini bus throughout the trip, with room to spread out. We never fill our vehicles to capacity, so you'll have plenty of space for your personal items, and a guaranteed window seat. - A Small Group Capped at Just 10 Travelers
A small group is essential for the kind of intimate nature experiences this trip offers. With no more than 10 travelers, we can enjoy quiet solitude in the forest, count on a non-intrusive impact in wild destinations, and receive plenty of personal attention from our Expedition Leader. - The World's Finest Naturalist Guides
Natural Habitat Adventures has a well-deserved global reputation for employing the highest-quality guides in the industry. Our Expedition Leaders are highly trained professional naturalists with years of experience and access to resources from WWF's top scientists. You won’t find more knowledgeable—or more personable—guides than those who work with us. Our philosophy is simple: a nature adventure is only as good as the guide who leads it, so we provide the very best! Read our Expedition Leader bios and traveler comments regarding the quality of our leaders. - Our Quality-Value Guarantee Ensures Your Outstanding Tropical Safari
Natural Habitat Adventures is proud to offer our exclusive guarantee that clearly states that we will meet the high expectations we set forth in our promotional materials. To our knowledge, this is the most ambitious guarantee made by any adventure travel company. Read our important promise for yourself! - Feel Good About Your Carbon-Neutral Journey
We care deeply about our planet, as we know you do. When you travel with us, the carbon emissions from your trip are 100% offset—including your round-trip flights from home. Natural Habitat Adventures has been the world's first carbon-neutral travel company since 2007. - Natural Habitat Adventures Is WWF's Travel Partner
Because of our commitment to environmentally friendly travel, as well as the exceptional quality of our small-group nature adventures, World Wildlife Fund, the world’s leading environmental conservation organization, has named Natural Habitat Adventures its worldwide travel partner—a designation that makes us exceedingly proud!
