FROM THE CARIBBEAN TO THE PACIFIC SHORE

On arrival into Costa Rica’s capital, San Jose, you’ll be taken to Alajuela to spend your first two nights surrounded by the tropical beauty of the Xandari Plantation. Its spectacular location overlooks the Central Valley of Costa Rica and the majestic foothills of Poas Volcano, meaning your holiday will kick off with an incredibly scenic introduction.

Set in 40 acres of plantation, make sure you explore Xandari Plantation’s beautiful orchid gardens, modern spa and lovely swimming pools, which are hidden amongst the foliage, before diving head first into Costa Rica’s extensive list of activities. Learn how coffee is dried, roasted and ground at the nearby Doka Coffee Estate, peer into the steaming turquoise lakes in the Poas Volcano National Park, one of the largest active craters in the world, or spend the day in the rainforest canopy, ziplining along the high-set cables and bird spotting as you whizz by.

Flying to the Caribbean coast, your next stop is Costa Rica’s unique wildlife mecca Tortuguero. With the Manatus Hotel as your base, you’ll be off exploring the network of rivers, marshes, forests and beaches, drifting through mangrove mazes and coastal lagoons of the national park. The area’s small town is a remote community situated on the coast, where Caribbean-style shacks line the main strip.

Yet, as its name suggests (‘Land of Turtles’), the main attraction in this area is the sea turtle. During the summer months, female green and hawksbill turtles nest on the beach, before covering their eggs until hatching season a few months later. If you time your trip well, the nesting season is an absolute highlight for any budding traveller, and a rare opportunity to witness nature in its purest form.

With at least two activities a day included in your stay, take advantage of the array of tours by going on a private night-time turtle-nesting tour, a morning boat tour of the canals, a thrilling canopy tour, or a village visit. You can also kayak the channels to see sloths, monkeys and caiman along the riverbanks.

With the towering centrepiece of Arenal Volcano as the hotel’s backdrop, your next leg will be a stay at the Arenal Kioro. Zoom down canopy slides, wander along the scenic routes around the volcano's lower slopes, and enjoy a leisurely kayak on the calm Lake Arenal.

With three nights in La Fortuna, you will have enough time to visit Cano Negro Wildlife Reserve, one of the most biologically diverse destinations in Costa Rica, and to explore the La Fortuna Waterfall on horseback. If you’ve spent your days clambering around the high branches on the Sky Trek or careering through the white waters in a raft, let the sublime spa treatments ease any muscle pain or stress before having a romantic evening swim in the wonderful thermal pools and natural hot springs nearby.

It isn’t just adrenaline-flooded activities that Costa Rica excels in, it also does secluded beach breaks extremely well. From the heart of the forest, you’ll be transported to the Pacific Ocean to stay four nights at the Andaz Papagayo, set along the northern Guanacaste shoreline. Embrace the local Pura Vida (‘Pure Life’) expression and enjoy the two golden beaches where you can catch up on some reading or simply soak up the sun and rest on the soft sands.

If you prefer to be more active, you can hit the water with the hotel’s complimentary stand up paddle boards and snorkelling equipment or charter a fishing boat to battle it out in the deep seas of the Papagayo Gulf. In the evenings, return from your sea-based excursions in order to join the local Latin bands in the bar. When the band is in full swing and after a cocktail or two, consider loosening those hips and dancing the night away - one of our favourite ways to celebrate a Costa Rican holiday.