Hidden Costa Rica
Highlights
- Relax in the stunning Coffee Valley and Pacific Coast
- Hike among waterfalls in Tenorio Volano National Park
- Get your adrenaline pumping with canyoning at Rio Perdido
- Enjoy snorkelling and kayaking along the Osa Peninsula
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Colourful macaws play in the trees of the Corcovado National Park
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Venture through the wild mangroves in the Osa Peninsula in a canoe
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A farmer tends to his coffee trees on a plantation
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The lush vegetation of the Osa Peninsula
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A surfer glides along the waves of the Dominical Coast
Bespoke trips with Jacada
We design one-of-a-kind journeys incorporating luxury in all its forms. Our bespoke trips include:
- Luxury accommodation throughout
- Privately guided tours
- Private transfers
- Meticulously selected experiences
- Expertise and support from your Jacada Concierge
- Days 1–2 The Coffee Valley
- Days 2–4 Rio Celeste
- Days 4–7 Rio Perdido
- Days 7–10 Corcovado and the Osa Peninsula
- Days 10–13 Dominical
- Days 1–2 The Coffee Valley
- Days 2–4 Rio Celeste
- Days 4–7 Rio Perdido
- Days 7–10 Corcovado and the Osa Peninsula
- Days 10–13 Dominical
Itinerary in detail
Every Jacada trip is tailored to your personal preferences and interests. Below you’ll find a sample itinerary to inspire your own custom-designed journey.
Overnight in the Coffee Valley
Spend your first night relaxing in the beautiful surroundings of the Coffee Valley. Your travel designer will also be able to arrange a variety of activities if you wish, from touring organic coffee plantations, to volcano visits and birdwatching tours.
Where you could stay
The Coffee Valley
Highlights
- Organic coffee plantation
- Suites and villas available
- Chemical-free swimming pool
- Farm-to-table food
- 100% local staff
Overview
Finca Rosa Blanca is the sort of place that’s difficult to leave once you’ve settled in. Mornings are spent sipping fresh Costa Rican coffee, grown right here on the plantation, overlooking the lush forest that surrounds the lodge, while by night you can gaze out to see the twinkling lights of San Jose in the distance, listening to the sounds of the Costa Rican wilderness around you.
The architecture of this lodge is immediately striking, with its round turrets and vaulted ceilings clad with solid wood, and inside the decor brings a little bit of the jungle indoors with hand-painted murals and leafy lounge areas. Activities abound here: soak in the indoor pool or the patio hot tub, take a tour of the plantation, go whitewater rafting or explore the enchanting cloud forests beyond the lodge’s doors.
When you return to the lodge after a day’s exploring, there’s excellent farm-to-table food on offer in the restaurant, and more of that fresh Costa Rican coffee to finish off a fine meal.
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The impact of your stay:
- The carbon-neutral hotel sits on an 11-hectare permaculture and coffee farm, prioritising environmental protection in every detail. The main structure, renovated using traditional methods, preserves Costa Rican culture and history. The property uses natural, non-toxic paints, harvests rainwater, and implements a comprehensive waste management and composting system. Guests can explore the sustainability efforts through guided tours with staff members.
- Finca Rosa Blanca staunchly supports and safeguards local history, culture, and heritage. As a 100% locally staffed establishment, it offers intimate cultural tours, fostering economic benefits for local communities and encouraging cross-cultural understanding.
- A leader in sustainability in Costa Rica, Finca Rosa Blanca stands as a model hotel for best practices and sustainability according to the Costa Rican Tourism Institute. Their exceptional efforts have earned them the highest five-leaf accreditation and an unprecedented 100% score from the Certification for Sustainable Tourism, showcasing their commitment to responsible and sustainable tourism.
Two nights near Rio Celeste
Rio Celeste is a hidden gem nestled in the north of Costa Rica. Enjoy exploring the aquamarine rivers and waterfalls and the nearby Tenorio Volcano National Park. The striking colour of the water comes from a mixture of sulfur and calcium carbonate.
Where you could stay
Rio Celeste
Overview
The Rio Celeste Hotel provides 26 comfortable and well-equipped casitas set amongst the tropical scenery of its surrounds as well as being well-positioned for access to the Tenorio National Park and the Rio Celeste itself.
The charming resort connects guests with the unique and untouched rainforest surrounding it, with each of the bungalows carefully designed to complement the lush tropical setting. Wooden furnishings and warm colours create a welcoming atmosphere and each has its own private decks with showers, the premium suites have jetted bathtubs.
Breakfast is included in the rates and in the evenings you can enjoy cocktails in the stylish lounge Cantina Delirio. Dine beside tranquil koi ponds, surrounded by the lush gardens at the open-air Kantala Restaurant. The menu features Costa Rican cuisine created with fresh local ingredients. And the popular swim-up bar, Luna Azul, means you don’t even need to climb out of the pool for a top up.
Spend your days by the pool or exploring the nearby park, walking the resorts paths along the river, visiting the Rio Celeste waterfall or the Arenal Volcano – which is only an hour’s drive away.
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Hiking Rio Celeste and Tenorio National Park
According to legend, when God finished painting the sky, he washed his brushes in the river that now bears the name Rio Celeste. Hike through the beautiful Tenorio National Park ecosystem, which offers the chance to see colourful fauna and flora. Along the walk you will come across the magnificent Rio Celeste waterfall, the place where the river gains its amazing light blue colour and natural hot springs.
Tapir Valley Expedition and Tree Chocolate
Set out on a hiking adventure through the lush rainforest to the Tapir Valley private reserve, located at the base of the stunning Tenorio volcano. Here you’ll spot the famed tapirs, one of the largest and most unique mammals in Central America, as well as other exotic wildlife.
After the hike, continue the tour with a visit to the chocolate tree, an activity that offers an insight into the history, process, and tasting of chocolate (cacao). This family-run project goes beyond just a chocolate tour, featuring sugar cane tasting, coffee shrubs, and a lesson in medicinal plants.
Three nights at Rio Perdido
Spend your time at Rio Perdido Hotel and Thermal River enjoying the property’s natural springs, heated by the surrounding Miravalles Volcano lowlands. This area is also a haven for hikers and bikers, and there are plenty of outdoor activities such as canyoning and tubing.
Active adventures
Through the forest
In the water
Canyoning
The trip takes you from deep within the narrow canyon into the convergence, where the hot waters of Rio Perdido and the Yurro Waterfall meet the cool waters of the White Canyon. You then ascend well above Costa Rica’s only dwarf forest and get the spectacular views of the Miravalles Volcano’s rocky lowlands. You will zip-line down state-of-the-art carbon fibre cables, swing on a human pendulum and do a Tarzan swing, cross the wobbly challenge bridge and climb several via ferratas.
White-water tubing
Experience the canyon from the most beloved means of river transportation, the inner-tube. Explore the canyon from this unique perspective, sailing through areas where the rock walls narrow and daylight is scarce. Echoes grow louder and you really get a sense of where you are. But if you remain quiet for a bit, you will find that you are not alone. All kinds of birds and monkeys, and, occasionally, some larger mammals will announce their presence. Look for the hot water spouts along the eastern rock walls.
Three nights within the Osa Peninsula
The Osa Peninsula is one of the most remote locations in Costa Rica. Located in the south-west with the lush primary rainforest of the Corcovado National Park spreading itself over 105,000 acres and the marine life-rich Dulce Gulf, and embracing the littoral to the east, Osa enjoys a exceptional wealth of biodiversity.
There is a great range of very comfortable hotels to choose from that do their best to blend into and protect their surroundings. We can help you organise your own tailor-made programme of activities, tours and expeditions around the peninsula with a private English-speaking guide that suit your preferences and time.
Where you could stay
Corcovado and Osa Peninsula
Highlights
- 17 spacious thatch bungalows
- Two lapa villas with plunge pools
- Four premier villas featuring balconies
- Admire the sweeping views of the Pacific
- Enjoy a quiet beach only a short walk away
- Indulge on locally-sourced food at Brisa Azul Restaurant
- Sip on organic South American wines at the bar
- Take part in night walks
- Explore the Corcovado National Park
- Try your hand at sea and mangrove kayaking
Overview
Located in one of the most diverse primary rainforests in the world, the Corcovado National Park, this ethically-responsible hotel does all it can to blend inconspicuously into its delicate surroundings and to create as little disturbance to the environment as possible. Guests enjoy exceptional intimacy with nature in authentic comfort.
Its lodgings are 17 simple, spacious and stylish open-sided thatch bungalows decorated with bamboo furniture, warm wood flooring, and private bathrooms with two showers. There are two spacious new lapa villas with plunge pools, and four new premier villas with balconies. As such Lapa Rios’ assimilation into its rainforest habitat means that you often get toucans visiting your bungalow balcony, and the adventure and wildlife activities have never been so close to hand. It’s the perfect place to escape and unwind. There is WiFi available throughout the lodge.
The hotel and each bungalow have sweeping views of the Pacific and rainforest canopies, and it’s a short downhill walk to a quiet and beautiful beach for a dip in the ocean.
The main lodge has a high roof and open sides, magically lit by candlelight in the evenings. Tuck into hearty meals made using responsibly-caught local seafood, ethically-sourced meat and fresh vegetables at Brisa Azul Restaurant and Bar. And sip on organic South American wines with your fellow guests as the sunsets.
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The impact of your stay:
- Lapa Rios is part of the Böëna group, a leading Costa Rican hospitality company known for its impactful presence in sustainable travel. The group prioritises conservation and community support, ensuring their lodges uphold industry-leading sustainability standards.
- All staff members are native to the Osa region, offering guests a unique glimpse into local culture while maximising economic benefits for the community. The lodge organises tours to visit a conservationist family and runs an onsite organic farm, serving as an interactive learning space for both locals and guests to explore Costa Rican agriculture and taste fresh local produce.
- Lapa Rios is actively conserving 1,000 acres as a private nature reserve, serving as a crucial wildlife corridor and protective buffer for the neighbouring Corcovado National Park. Emphasising education as a vital component of sustainability, they support local schools, such as Carbonera and Piro, by contributing funds and equipment for environmental education and social programs. Additionally, the lodge’s ‘back of the house’ facilities function as a classroom for local students to learn about clean energy alternatives, waste management, and responsible consumption.
Corcovado and Osa Peninsula
Highlights
- Seven rooms
- Three à la carte, multi-course meals a day
- Fresh water pool
- Library
- Kayaking, standup paddling and snorkelling
- Self-guided hiking trails
- Off-grid alternative energy tours
- Organic farm-to-table programme experience
- Hand-line pier fishing
Overview
The luxury Playa Cativo Eco Lodge is unique in the beauty of its secluded surroundings: accessible only by boat, it’s set on 1,000 acres of private rainforest with both the Piedras Blancas National Park – a former extension of the Corcovado National Park – and its own pristine, sandy beach on its doorstep.
The lodge is well aware of the value of its environs and practices high sustainability policies. It was built using precious indigenous wood salvaged from an older lodge and a fallen-tree program and fittingly, each of its comfortable rooms have been decorated using reclaimed hardwood and colourful tile works crafted by local artisans. The bathrooms feature hot-water rain showers and biodegradable bathroom amenities, and each suite is just a few steps away from the beach with majestic ocean views.
Surrounded by some of the most unspoilt rainforest in the world, Playa Cativo Eco offers an unrivalled opportunity to immerse yourself in nature. Speak to your travel designer about adding excursions such as kayaking in the Rio Esquinas Mangrove-Ocean, hiking in the Piedras Blancas Nature, guided expeditions to the Nocturnal Rainforest, beach, rainforest and wetland birdwatching tours, Golfo Dulce half-day snorkelling trips, standup paddle boarding adventures, and dolphin and whale sightseeing to your stay.
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The impact of your stay:
- The hotel protects 100 acres of primary rainforest, relies entirely on renewable energy, and emphasises the importance of organic farming in Costa Rica’s biodiverse rainforest, especially in the ecologically vital Osa region. The commitment extends to avoiding chemicals, utilising local citronella mosquito repellents, and banning chlorine or ammonia within Playa Cativo. The pool is cleaned with eco-friendly peroxide, and all cleaning products are eco-certified, reflecting a dedicated effort to use suppliers with eco-friendly packaging.
- In Cativo, there’s a commitment to training and creating opportunities in the hospitality industry. Through a partnership with Golfito Professional High School, interns in F&B and customer service receive lodging and food, with some interns becoming permanent employees.
- The hotel supports Coral Raising, a non-profit dedicated to studying and preserving coral formations in the Golfo Dulce region. Recognising the vital role of corals in this area, their commitment underscores the importance of protecting these ecosystems for the overall health and sustainability of the marine environment.
Corcovado and Osa Peninsula
Overview
Set in its own 185-acre nature reserve buffering the Corcovado National Park, El Remanso eco-lodge is the perfect place for nature lovers, adventurers or those simply looking for a peaceful getaway.
Its six cabins range in size and speciality, but are impeccably and simply decorated in tropical hardwoods, bamboo furniture, natural stone and wood screens. The private terraces are hung with hammocks and set with elegant chairs. There is a magnificent group cabin that can sleep eight people, making it perfect for families or groups. Similarly designed in rustic fashion and in harmony with its jungle habitat are two deluxe rooms and four standard rooms, although if you’re after an ocean-view it is worth mentioning this.
The spectacular setting of El Remanso is matched by its knowledgeable and helpful staff who make every attempt to make your stay a personal one. The international cuisine fused with a few ‘Tico’ touches served at the hotel’s restaurant is very good.
Being completely immersed in the pristine and richly biodiverse rainforest, surrounded by the sounds of macaws and howler monkeys, El Remanso has the advantage of also offering a range of private and bespoke activities. The hotel can also provide you with two in-house naturalists should you want a true, local expert to show you around.
El Remanso now has eight bungalows and six rooms in Casa Poniente.
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Three nights on the Dominical Coast
Spend the last few days of your trip on this gorgeous coastline exploring the tropical surrounds of waterfalls, rivers and national parks. Get closer to the emerald waters with activities such as diving, snorkelling and surfing, or simply sit back and soak up the barefoot luxury as you laze on the sands of Dominical’s immaculate beaches.
Where you could stay
Dominical
Overview
With an elevated position on an impressive mountain ridge, Kura overlooks pristine beaches and lush green rainforest.
Built in harmony with the tropical jungle of the Uvita coastline (between Manuel Antonio and the Osa Peninsula), the eight Kura rainforest villas have been uniquely designed to be environmentally friendly. Solar panels have been fitted to each villa as well as solar water heaters, rain water collection systems, energy efficient fans, and LED lighting.
Each luxury villa represents rainforest jungle design and modern, tropical minimalism with local native Costa Rican style. From all of the private balconies, guests can enjoy uninterrupted views of the Pacific Ocean and tropical rainforest.
The two newest master suites sit at the highest point of the property and are set a bit away from the other suites for added privacy. There is ample indoor and outdoor space, including a private plunge pool with panoramic views of the famous Whale’s Tail sandbar formation and kilometres of pristine coastline.
Kurà’s philosophy when it comes to food revolves around pure, organic and responsibly-sourced ingredients. The menus are colourful and diverse, with dishes designed to tell a story and feed the soul.
Staying here you are within easy reach of the Ballena Marine National Park, Cano Island and Osa Peninsula National Park and mesmerised by the natural beauty of the rugged, tropical beaches and wildlife to be seen here.
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We requested an itinerary to see the Costa Rica wildlife. Jacada designed our trip to maximize our sightings with stays at wonderful properties. Our planner listened to what we wanted and delivered the perfect trip for our needs. All of the activities planned were provided by guides with great skill and knowledge. And the Jacada ground support while we were…
Why book with Jacada
Personalised design
We’ll plan your trip around your personal interests, tastes and preferences, providing honest advice based on first-hand knowledge.
Authentic experiences
Our expert guides and brilliant Concierges are hand-picked for their ability to bring your destination to life with care and passion.
Positive impact
We seek out unforgettable experiences that benefit both local communities and the environment.
