The Osa Peninsula

The Osa Peninsula, on Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast, is home to the last remaining lowland tropical rainforest in Central America. Here, you can head deep into the rainforest with guides from the Lapa Rios ecolodge, who’ll help you spot sloths, armadillos and an elusive puma if you’re lucky. Hike along the Carbonear River and take a cooling dip beneath one of its waterfalls, or head down to the beach for a restorative swim in the crashing waves of the Pacific. You can also go on a night walk, when you’ll have a better chance of seeing and hearing dart frogs and the vast array of tropical amphibians that call this place home.

Rafting to your hotel door

Costa Rica’s tumbling rivers have become a mecca for whitewater rafters from across the world. And the Pacuare River is regarded as one of the very best for those who love the thrill of riding the rapids and cascades. You’ll have the chance to raft along a Class III section of water, where the rainforest tumbles down to the rocky banks, heading towards the Pacuare Eco Lodge, the perfect base for exploring the forest and its wildlife. And when it comes to your departure a few days later, you’ll leave on the water too, tackling an even wilder section of river on a three-hour adventure that’s bound to get your adrenaline flowing.

Adventures among the trees

While Costa Rica’s forests are rightly beloved for their remarkable wildlife, they are also places to indulge your wild side and learn about cultures that have thrived here for hundreds of years. So once you’ve strapped on your safety harness and slid along an epic zip wire over the canopy in Limon province, it’s time for you to take a hike deep into the jungle and meet the Cabecar people, Costa Rica’s largest indigenous group. At a small village near the Pacuare Eco Lodge, you’ll be able to learn about the ancient practices that have helped them live here for generations and the shamanic traditions they still use to this day.

Time to hit the beach

Costa Rica’s small size means the chance to hang out on the beach is never far away. In Puerto Viejo, on the Caribbean coast, you’ll find somewhere that brings together indigenous Creole and Afro-Caribbean cultures, creating a colourful, vibrant space for you to catch your breath after days spent exploring the forests and all the adventures they have to offer. Chill on the sandy beach at Playa Cocles, or, if you’re still full of energy, book a surfing lesson at Playa Salsa Brava and try to tame the waves. For something more chilled, the snorkelling and swimming at Punta Uva will leave you wowed.

Suggested itinerary

Our 14-night itinerary includes stays at two of Costa Rica’s best eco-lodges, Pacuare Eco Lodge and Lapa Rios, both of which have pioneered sustainable practices. You’ll enjoy guided tours that take you through the rainforests for encounters with varied birdlife and hard-to-spot creatures such as pumas, as well as time to strike out on your own hikes.

Travel style

Developed with the support of The Travel Foundation, this is part of our exclusive Enriching Escapes collection of itineraries, designed to reduce carbon emissions and boost positive impacts for destinations. Each trip has passed an assessment process to reduce environmental impact, support local economies, and protect cultural heritage while offering meaningful, memory-filled experiences.

What makes this trip so unique is that you don’t just get around by road. You’ll reach Pacuare Lodge on a whitewater rafting adventure, sliding over rapids and cascades, using your body to navigate some of Costa Rica’s wildest water. If that’s not your thing, you can always hop into a 4x4 and go overland. Either way, getting from A to B is all part of the adventure.