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AA Costa Rica

Boutique Costa Rica

Book for 2024-25

Call us today 0333 7000 747

BA Costa Rica

Direct to Costa Rica

Book for 2024-25

Tailor Made Costa Rica

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0333 7000 747

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Arenal & The North

The Arenal Volcano and Costa Rica's north are real highlights of a holiday to Costa Rica. Waterfalls, cloud forests, hanging bridges and hot springs dominate the area.

This region of Costa Rica is renowned for its wide variety of wildlife and for exciting outdoor adventures.

The impressive Arenal Volcano is one of Costa Rica’s most iconic sites. At a height of 5,437 feet, the perfect conical shape volcano, now in a 'sleeping phase', was Costa Rica’s most active volcano from 1968 until 2010.

Walking tours are popular on Arenal's lower slopes and windsurfing on Lake Arenal is a popular pastime.

This is also the perfect base from which to explore the Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge, a bird lover’s spot near the Nicaraguan border.

 

Discover Arenal & The North

Arenal Spring Resort & Spa

This beautiful resort offers on-site hot springs and superb bungalows overlooking Arenal Volcano.

Superb Arenal Volcano Views
Hot Springs on site
2 Nights from
£215pp
View
Half Board Included

Volcano Lodge & Springs

A large outdoor pool and great views of Arenal Volcano - comfortable lodge within driving distance of Arenal Hot Springs.

Volcano and Hot Springs Experience
Arenal Volcano & Hot Springs
3 Nights from
£215pp
View
Breakfast & Transfers Included

Sarapiquis Rainforest Lodge

This eco-friendly Rainforest Lodge is located in northern Costa Rica and offers beautiful rooms set in traditional indigenous structures.

Eco-friendly Rainforest Lodge
Indigenous Conservation
3 Nights from
£225pp
View
Breakfast, Tours, Transfers

La Anita Rainforest Ranch

La Anita is located in a privileged setting, in northern Costa Rica. It offers rustic-style cabins and an array of exciting outdoor activities.

The Ultimate Rainforest Experience
Volcanoes & Rainforest
2 Nights from
£236pp
View
All Meals Included

Arenal Observatory Lodge

Highly recommended lodge just 2.7 km from Arenal Volcano, set amongst rainforest with walking trails and abundant wildlife.

Trip Advisor Favourite
Closest Lodge to Arenal
3 Nights from
£262pp
View
Breakfast included

Rio Perdido

20-Bungalow eco-lodge set in a 600-acres wilderness close to the imposing Miravalles Volcano.

Activities & Spa
Eco-lodge
3 Nights from
£304pp
View
Breakfast & Transfers

Nayara Hotel Spa & Gardens

Offering impressive views of the Arenal Volcano, Nayara Hotel Spa & Gardens features bungalows with a private terrace and a hot tub.

The perfect hideaway
Arenal Volcano & Hot Springs
2 Nights from
£390pp
View
Half Board Included

Volcano, Forest & Beach

Discover some of Costa Rica's most beautiful places on a relaxing nature and beach twin coast holiday.

Best of Costa Rica
Nature & Beach Holiday
12 Nights from
£2295pp
View
Flight Inclusive Price from UK

Costa Rica Family Holiday

This tailor-made family tour offers an exciting oportunity to discover Costa Rica's most beautiful places. 

Costa Rica for Families
Adventure & Beach Holidays
13 Nights from
£2495pp
View
Flight Inclusive Price from UK

Costa Rica Nature & Beach

Combine Arenal & Monteverde with Manuel Antonio on a 13 day trip combining a few days touring with a relaxing beach stay.

Includes Manuel Antonio
Arenal & Monteverde
12 Nights from
£2495pp
View
Flight Inclusive Price from UK

Taste of Costa Rica

Discover a taste of Costa Rica - coffee, volcanoes, hot springs, canopy walkways, national parks, idyllic beach.

Beach stay at Manuel Antonio
Discover Costa Rica
12 Nights from
£2495pp
View
Flight Inclusive Price from UK

Relaxing Costa Rica

Discover some of Costa Rica's most beautiful places on a relaxing nature and beach twin coast holiday.

Nature & Beach Holiday
Pacific & Caribbean
12 Nights from
£2695pp
View
Flight Inclusive Price from UK

Classic Costa Rica

Discover Costa Rica's most iconic places on a 13 day trip including Poas Volcano, Tourtuguero, Monteverde and the Pacific Coast.

The Best of Costa Rica
Costa Rica in under 2 weeks
13 Nights from
£2895pp
View
Flight Inclusive Price from UK

Costa Rica Luxury Honeymoon

Costa Rica is perfect for honeymooners; romantic sunsets, idyllic beaches and fantastic landscapes combined with pristine nature and amazing wildlife.

Luxury Eco-Lodges
Unforgettable Costa Rica
11 Nights from
£3395pp
View
Flight Inclusive Price from UK

Costa Rica & Colombia

Costa Rica and Colombia's most iconic attractions in under 3 weeks. Private tailor-made journey staying in charming boutique hotels and unique lodges.

Highlights of Costa Rica & Colombia
Culture, Nature & Beach
19 Nights from
£4490pp
View
Flight Inclusive Price from UK

Costa Rica, Guatemala & Belize

Luxury 16-day journey across the best of Central America. Wildlife, pristine nature, Mayan ruins and idyllic beaches.

Jewels of Central America
Luxury Central America
16 Nights from
£4995pp
View
Flight Inclusive Price from UK

La Selva Hike

La Selva Biological Station is one of the most important field stations in the world for tropical forest research. Walk through La Selva Biological Station accompanied by a naturalist guide and learn about the  Rainforest ecosystem and its flora and fauna.

Read More Close
From £35pp

Arenal Volcano Hike

Arenal National Park is one of the most beautiful treasures in Costa Rica owns, with imposing Arenal Volcano the headline attraction. Enjoy a hike on the lower slopes of Arenal and a visit to the hot springs.

Arenal volcano was long been considered extinct until 1968, when it made a strong and sudden eruption, and destroyed an entire town. It’s been quiet since 1981.

The best place to watch the natural fireworks of Arenal is in La Fortuna, a small town at the foot of the volcano.

Arenal National Park covers four different eco zones, Tropical Wet Forest, Montane Rainforest, Lower Montane Rainforest and Premontane Wet Forest.

Arenal has 35 species of fish, 135 species of reptiles and mammals including tapir, deer, jaguar, Sahin, coati, howler monkeys.

Over half of Costa Rican bird species are found in the park.

Read More Close
From £55pp

Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge

The Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge and the Rio Frio are biological humid areas considered to be one of the richest in biological diversity in Costa Rica. Enjoy a four-hour river adventure through the tropical Rainforest and pastures until reaching the marshland.

A great variety of resident and migratory birds and three different species of monkeys, can be found here.

Read More Close
From £55pp

Arenal Volcano

Arenal Volcano is one of Costa Rica’s most iconic sites. At a height of 5,437 feet, the perfect conical shape volcano, now in a 'sleeping phase', was Costa Rica’s most active volcano from 1968 until 2010.

Walking tours are popular on Arenal's lower slopes and windsurfing on Lake Arenal is a popular pastime.

Arenal is wonderfully photogenic and although the summit is often shrouded in cloud, the misty top can certainly add to the beauty.

1968 Eruption

For centuries, Arenal Volcano was a nearly perfect cone-shaped, rainforest blanketed volcanic mountain considered by many to be extinct.

However, early in the morning on July 29, 1968, 'dormant' Arenal Volcano suddenly and violently erupted with a tremendous explosion.

Extreme eruptions continued unabated for several days, burying over 15 square kilometers with rocks, lava and ash.

When it was finally over, the eruptions had killed 87 people and destroyed three small villages. It was a difficult time for the people of Arenal. Crops, property and forest were damaged, and livestock died.

Since 2010, Arenal Volcano has been in a resting phase with very little activity, although in 2012, the volcano revived a little, spewing columns of water vapor and gases into the air from the summit. These emissions can still occasionally be seen.

Arenal Volcano is closely and constantly monitored for the safety of local residents and visitors.

Towns, hotels and public trails are located at safe distances from the volcano and it's no longer permitted to hike to the crater rim.

Arenal Observatory Lodge is the only Arenal lodge situated within Arenal Volcano National Park and is a great base from which to view the volcano from a safe location (should the volcano decide to come back to life).

Exploring Arenal

There's plenty to do around Arenal.

The rainforest around Arenal is rich in animal and birdlife and is a great location to go in search of the best of Costa Rican wildlife accompanied by an expert guide.

Zip-lining in Arenal is a popular choice for exploring the canopy in the rainforest and a great way to see Costa Rica's rainforest from a different perspective.

Lake Arenal is a nice location for relaxation or for a spot of wind-surfing.