Wildlife Adventure in Costa Rica

Our wildlife adventures put nature front and centre. We aim to spend as much time as possible immersed in it, whether tracking animals through wild landscapes or sitting quietly as something remarkable unfolds. These are still proper adventures. Expect plenty of walking safaris, hikes and active days, with moments of stillness and observation woven in throughout. An experienced naturalist tour leader will be with you and groups are capped at 12 people keeping things intimate, reducing environmental impact and ensuring the wildlife barely knows you’re there.

Our adventures are designed by animal lovers, for animal lovers, with a strong focus on respect and minimal impact in all wildlife encounters. You’ll be accompanied by experienced local wildlife experts who follow strict guidelines to ensure animals are never disturbed. Group sizes are limited to a maximum of 12, helping to keep disturbance low and allowing wildlife sightings to be handled calmly and responsibly. All trips operate in line with our Animal Welfare Policy, ensuring wildlife protection always comes first.

Sloths are regularly spotted at several points on this trip, with Tortuguero, Sarapiquí, Uvita and Carara National Park all offering good habitats. As with all wildlife, sightings can’t be guaranteed, but encounters are common, even if sometimes at a distance. Your naturalist guide will know where to look, giving you the best possible chance of spotting them along the way.

Green sea turtles nest on the beaches of Tortuguero between July and October, with hatchlings emerging during the same period. A beach visit to observe nesting or hatching is available as an optional activity on departures within this window, though sightings are never guaranteed – turtle activity depends on natural conditions on the night. To protect the turtles at this critical stage, visits are always conducted in small groups at a respectful distance, following guidelines set by local experts. Your guide will keep you informed of any opportunities as they arise.

Marino Ballena National Park is one of the few places in the world where humpback whales from both the northern and southern hemispheres converge, making it an exceptional whale-watching destination. Peak season runs from July to October and again from January to February, though sightings are possible for much of the year. As with all wildlife, encounters can never be guaranteed, but your guide will give you the best possible chance of spotting them out on the water.

No previous kayaking experience is needed, though any time you've spent on the water, kayaking on a lake or river, for example, will stand you in good stead. You'll receive a full safety briefing before heading out, and it's possible to opt out if you'd prefer not to take part.

You will be accompanied by an expert naturalist tour leader and an experienced driver from Days 1 to 9 of the trip. Drivers will also be available to provide two departure transfers on Day 10. Your tour leader will also be joined by local nature or marine guides in Tortuguero National Park, at Hacienda Barú and in Marino Ballena National Park.

Overtourism is increasingly affecting popular destinations such as Costa Rica, making it harder to enjoy its natural wonders in peace. High visitor numbers can strain local resources, impact the environment and raise living costs for residents. To help avoid contributing to this, we deliberately don’t include some of the country’s most heavily visited spots, such as Manuel Antonio National Park and Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. Instead, we focus on lesser-known but equally rewarding destinations, including Sarapiquí, San Gerardo de Dota and Uvita.

These areas offer outstanding natural beauty and often place a strong emphasis on conservation. In San Gerardo de Dota, for example, the Kabek Families Pro-Quetzal Project brings together more than 25 local farming families who manage their land to protect quetzal habitat, earning a direct income from doing so while keeping visitor numbers at a sustainable level. It’s a more considered way to experience Costa Rica, benefiting both the places you visit and the people you meet along the way.

Tap water quality varies across Costa Rica. In larger towns and cities it is generally safe to drink, but in more remote areas, filtered water is advisable as a precaution. Drinking water refill stations are available at each night's accommodation. Some national parks in Costa Rica enforce a strict ban on single-use plastic bottles, so a reusable bottle (1–2 litres) is essential (and better for the environment, regardless).

At Much Better Adventures, we work hard to accommodate dietary requirements and allergies so your trip is safe, inclusive and enjoyable. That said, options can vary by country, location and accommodation, and in some places options may be limited or unavailable. The information below has been provided by your host so you’re fully informed about what will be possible on your trip depending on your individual requirements. This information should be read carefully prior to your trip to ensure that you are adequately prepared for the situation ‘on the ground’.

Once you have booked on your trip, please fill out your passenger information form asap with any dietary requirements. Once you complete your passenger information, your dietary needs and any allergies are automatically shared with your host and, in turn, your guide. Please submit this as early as possible so they can plan accordingly and deliver the best experience. Please also remind your guide about your dietary requirements upon arrival, as mentioning these in person allows your guide to comprehend individual preferences and limitations as soon as you arrive.

SPECIAL DIETS

Vegetarian
Vegetarian diets can be catered for on this trip, provided that your host is made aware in advance.

Vegan
Vegan diets can be partially catered for on this trip, provided that your host is made aware in advance. You may find that options are limited and repetitive, so we recommend you bring supplementary snacks to add variety and protein.

Kosher
Fully certified Kosher kitchens and supervision are rare and usually cannot be guaranteed unless expressly confirmed in advance by your host. Vegetarian or vegan options can often be the most reliable alternative if this is acceptable to you. Please read the related sections above.

Halal
Certified Halal supply varies by location and may not always be possible. Vegetarian or vegan options can often be the most reliable alternative if this is acceptable to you. Please read the related sections above.

INTOLERANCES

Gluten-free (for Coeliac, please see Allergies section below)
Gluten-free diets can be catered for on this trip, provided that your host is made aware in advance.

Lactose-free
Lactose-free diets can be catered for on this trip, provided that your host is made aware in advance.

ALLERGIES

Our host has confirmed that they are able to accommodate mild allergies to the 14 allergens identified by the UK Food Standards Agency, where these are disclosed in advance. However, if you have a severe or life-threatening food allergy, please get in touch with our Customer Experience team prior to booking, to discuss whether your requirements can be accommodated safely on this trip. This will allow us to carefully consider the sensitivity and severity of your allergy, the available provision on the trip and the accessibility of medical care should a reaction occur. Your safety is always our top priority. Please note that when travelling overseas, local ingredients, food preparation methods and labelling standards may vary, particularly in remote areas. It is also worth noting that any allergies may result in more limited options and repetitive provision in some areas. Whilst your guide will help communicate dietary requirements where possible, customers remain responsible for managing their own allergies during the trip.

Sure can! Over 70% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.

Our team of Adventure Hunters co-create exclusive adventures which are run by highly vetted, specialist hosts. The trip is run by our trusted host partner in the destination. We only work with independent, local, in-destination experts who know the very best places to explore and how to stay safe. Read more information about the local teams we partner with. You’ll be introduced to the host straight after making a booking via the Much Better Adventures platform.

Much Better Adventures refer to the UK Government’s official travel advice when designing trips and monitoring trip operations. We recommend that all customers are familiar with the practical information provided on the Government’s FCDO website, where current travel advice can be found by searching for the applicable destination(s).

For customers joining this trip from other international destinations – please also read the official travel advice applicable to your country of residence/origin, as this may differ.

We recommend checking out the country-specific information and also talking to a travel nurse.

We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates on a daily basis so this does mean that prices displayed on the site are subject to currency fluctuations, which is why you may see them change over time.

If you wish to change the currency you pay in, head to the bottom of the page.

All of our group adventures are specially designed for adults to enjoy as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. You must be over 18 to join one of our trips.

You're always in good company on one of our adventures.

Our trips are typically made up of a mixture of solo travellers and small groups of 2 or 3 friends, with most in their 30s-50s.

Our sociable adventures are solo-friendly by design and naturally attract outdoorsy people with a shared mindset; a love for adventure, a desire to push themselves and meet awesome, like-minded people along the way. Check out our Community Values – a shared code to make sure that everyone's experience is safe, inclusive and brilliantly unforgettable.

It’s this camaraderie that has so often turned a great adventure into a life-changing one.

Don't just take our word for it:

• 95% of people rate the group dynamics on our trips 5/5
• 90% of people recommend joining a trip to make new friends
• 75% of people have met people on our trips that they would now consider friends

See here for more info about the Much Better Adventures tribe.

Costa Rica has two distinct seasons: a dry season (November to April) and a green season (May to October). Most departures run in the dry season, when conditions are ideal for wildlife watching. Tortuguero’s canals are calm and the cloud forests of San Gerardo de Dota are clear enough to spot quetzals.

Temperatures vary significantly by destination. Tortuguero and Sarapiqui are hot and humid year-round, with daytime highs of around 28–32°C (82–90°F). San Gerardo de Dota sits at around 2,200m, with daytime temperatures of 21–24°C (70–75°F) and cool nights that can drop to 7–12°C (44–54°F) remember to pack a warm layer. Uvita stays a steady 26–27°C (79–81°F).

Green season departures bring lush landscapes and fewer crowds, though you should expect afternoon showers. July and August are still popular - humpback whales arrive in Uvita during this period, making it one of the best times for whale watching, and it also coincides with turtle nesting season in Tortuguero. Rain is more frequent, but it rarely lasts all day and it’s what keeps the country so vibrantly green.