Costa Rica.

Ecotourism at its Best

Costa Rica travel is a great way to experience conservation on its best, and to explore the country’s vast variety of thriving eco-lodges, eco-travel and preservation efforts. Over a quarter of the entire country is protected by natural reserves, private foundations or national park services. Here are just a handful of the most successful examples of ecotourism in Costa Rica.

Savegre Mountain Reserve
Made of up 400 hectares of forest, 80% of which are virgin, the Savegre Reserve is used as a living research laboratory by institutions from around the world. The reserve is one of the best places to view the Resplendent Quetzal during your Costa Rica travel. The quetzal’s bright red and green feathers make it a favorite of both the novice and experienced birdwatcher. The reserve is also famous for its oak forest and epiphyte vegetation. The Savegre Mountain Lodge is owned and ran by the Chacon family – pioneers in ecotourism.

Selva Bananito
Bordering Costa Rica’s largest and most pristine nature reserve, Selva Bananito is part of the same rich ecosystem as the 1.5 million acre La Amistad International Peace Park. Selva Bananito Lodge prides itself on providing first-rate comfort while trying to limit human impact on the environment. Selva Bananito also founded the revolutionary Limon Watershed Project; the goal of the program is educate the public and to protect as much of the rainforest vegetation growing along the upper watershed areas in the Province of Limon, which is the main water source of one the countries major cities, Limon. The lodge uses no electricity, has solar-heated water, and hosts only a small number of visitors at any one time.

La Cusinga
The rainforest-surrounded beach at La Cusinga Lodge is part of Ballena Marine National Park. The park was created to protect its various coastal marine habitats and endangered species like the Pacific hawksbill turtles and the humpback whales that visit the park every year. La Cusinga offers diving and snorkeling, as well as inland adventures in the jungle during your Costa Rica travel. The lodge uses hydropower as its source of electricity.

Corcovado
Corcovado National Park located on the celebrated Osa Peninsula and is one of the best places in Costa Rica to spot elusive wildlife, and learn about rainforest ecology first hand. The park teems with wildlife ranging from spider, squirrel, and capachin monkeys, cuatimundis, two and three toed sloths, giant anteaters, tapirs, peccaries and even ocelot, jagaurundi, and others. Corcovado is considered to contain some of the best remaining original rainforest in Central America.

Tortugero
Tortugero National Park’s treetops are alive with monkeys, colorful toucans, big cats, sloths and a variety of butterflies. But the park is most recognized for its beaches, which are considered a principal nesting site of the green sea turtle in the Western Hemisphere. Along with the green sea turtle, the park’s waterways are home to other exotic and endangered wildlife like the docile manatee, egrets, herons and that clever predator, the crocodile.

If you are looking to experience Costa Rica ecotourism, Adventure Life’s Discover Costa Rica tour takes travelers into the Savegre Mountain Reserve, and the secluded La Cusinga jungle lodge. The trip also includes a rafting trip on the Pacuare River and a biking tour of the agricultural research center, CATIE.

Discover Costa Rica Tour
(10 days / 9 nights)

Highlights – Pacuare whitewater rafting, CATIE agricultural research center, Turrialba Valley, Savegre Mountain Reserve, La Cusinga Lodge

Day 1: Arrive San Jose
Overnight

Day 2: Pacuare Rafting
After breakfast and a safety briefing, splash right our Class III-IV whitewater rafting trip down the Pacuare River. The beautiful Pacuare doesn't disappoint as we pass through mountain gorges, run long stretches of rapids, weaving through a rainforest. Later we continue our Costa Rica travel to the Turrialba Valley and spend the night at Guayabo Lodge, offering wonderful views of the Turrialba Volcano and regional wildlife. A quick briefing by a biking outfitter prepares us for tomorrow’s cycling trip.

Day 3: CATIE Biking Tour
Slow things down with a bike tour through the world-renowned agricultural research center, CATIE. This is a comfortable 4-hour trip over gravel paths, country roads and trails. Learn about unique planting techniques and sample shade-grown coffee, sugarcane from the field and more. We watch for the wildlife that is attracted to the plantation’s flora. Finish the biking tour with a visit to the Tropical Botanical Garden, home to some of the most important plant species on Earth. The afternoon is free. Enjoy a visit to the Turrialba Volcano or the Guayabo Archaeological Site.

Day 4: Turrialba-Savegre
Relax this morning or take a hike or horseback ride. After lunch, head south toward San Gerard de Dota. The drive goes into paramo at Cerro de la Muerte – paramo is a high altitude grassland ecosystem. Descend into cloudforest, following the Savegre River to one of Costa Rica’s best examples of sustainable tourism. The Savegre Mountain Lodge is owned and run by the Chacon family. Enjoy the hospitality of this family-run lodge during your Costa Rica travel.

Day 5: Hike Savegre
The Savegre Reserve is used as a living research laboratory by institutions from around the world. Hike through the reserve’s famous oak forest and epiphyte vegetation. Try to spot the famed Resplendent Quetzal. Return to the lodge in time for a hearty lunch. This afternoon is yours to zip-line through the canopy, horseback ride, trout fist or just take in the views of the surrounding landscape.

Day 6: Savegre – La Cusinga
Drive to the Pacific coast and arrive at La Cusinga Lodge on Ballena Bay. The lodge overlooks some of Costa Rica's most pristine beaches. After lunch, a guide will introduce you to the lodge and the beach, Playa de Arco, which is part of Ballena Marine National Park. The park was created to protect its various coastal marine habitats and endangered species like the Pacific hawksbill turtles and humpback whales.

Day 7-8: La Cusinga - Tres Hermanas Mountains
La Cusinga offers wonderful seclusion, yet is near to some of Coast Rica's best-kept adventure secrets. Fill the days at La Cusinga with exploring the private mountain trails, wandering the beaches, or head into the jungle to learn about rainforest ecology. Take a scuba diving or snorkeling on Isla del Cano and spend a morning learning about edible and medicinal plants.

Day 9: San Jose
This afternoon return to San Jose passing through cloud forest and crossing Cerro de la Muerte en route.

Day 10: Return Home

Review other tours to Peru, Amazon, Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Galapagos, Patagonia, Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala and even Antarctica.