Natura Verde Tour, Costa Rica

The “Natura verde” tour at a glance

Natura verde (Green Nature) is a 12-day, 11-night Club Med Discovery tour of Costa Rica, starting and ending in San José. Part of the Nature Escape theme, it crosses the country from coast to coast: the Tortuguero canals by canoe, the Arenal volcano and its hot springs, the scarlet macaws of Carara park, then the primary forest of Corcovado, on the Osa Peninsula. The trip ends in the mountains, in San Gerardo de Dota, where you watch for the quetzal, before the crater of the Poás volcano. Nights are spent in lodges and 3- and 4-star hotels chosen for their location. Full board with one local drink per meal, air-conditioned transport, visits and a French-speaking local guide are included, in a small group of 16 participants at most.

How does Natura verde unfold, step by step?

On the first evening, you settle in San José. The next day, the road runs 115 km down to the Caribbean coast and Tortuguero, where you visit the turtle museum. Day 3 is spent on the water: a naturalist guide takes you by canoe through the canals, where the forest drops straight into the river. On day 4, you cross the country for 225 km to La Fortuna, with a stop at a heart-of-palm plantation, and the Arenal volcano rises at the end of the road. On day 5, you meet the Maleku community in Guatuso, where you try archery, walk the hanging bridges above the canopy, and end the day in the hot springs.

What is the second half of the trip like, from the Pacific to the mountains?

On day 6, you head for the Pacific (220 km), stopping at Carara park for the scarlet macaws and spotting crocodiles along the way. Two nights in Manuel Antonio leave time to explore the trails and beaches of the national park. On day 8, a boat leaves Sierpe through the mangrove to Corcovado, described as the last great stretch of primary forest: you step ashore in water up to your calves. Day 9 is free on the Pacific shore, on the Osa Peninsula. On day 10, the road climbs via Dominical to the mountain village of San Gerardo de Dota. On day 11, you watch for the quetzal before returning to San José for a city tour, and day 12 is devoted to the Poás volcano, a coffee tasting and a traditional meal.

What are the highlights of Natura verde?

Tortuguero sets the tone: turtles, tropical birds, sloths and capuchin monkeys live along the canals you paddle through. In Carara park, home to more than 400 bird species, the scarlet macaws are the stars, along with iguanas and capuchins. Corcovado shows primary forest at its densest. At Poás, when the sky clears, an emerald lake at the centre of the crater releases a cloud and sulphur vapours. The tour suits travellers who love nature, enjoy walking and like alternating long drives with gentler days, such as the free day in Osa.

Which hotels do you stay in during the tour?

The two nights in San José, the first and the second-to-last, are spent at the Studio Hotel, a 4-star property. In Tortuguero, the Aninga Lodge (3 stars) hosts the group for two nights, as does the Lomas del Volcán (3 stars) in La Fortuna. On the Pacific, you spend two nights at the Playa Espadilla (4 stars) in Manuel Antonio, then two at the Botanika Osa Peninsula, Curio Collection by Hilton (4 stars). The mountain night is spent at the Trogon Lodge, a simple, comfortable lodge chosen for its setting in San Gerardo de Dota. Every stop but the mountain one lasts at least two nights, so you are spared repacking every morning.

What is included, and what do you pay for separately?

The package includes accommodation, full board with one local drink, tea or coffee at every meal, transport in an air-conditioned vehicle with water on board, all the visits on the programme, the guide, porters and local taxes. Still to plan are international flights and airport transfers, the Costa Rica departure tax, payable at the airport, extra drinks, tips for the guide and driver, the annual Club Med membership fee and travel insurance. Your advisor books flights and transfers together with the tour, so everything is settled before you leave.

How many travellers are in the group, and who travels with you?

The group has 16 participants at most. A French-speaking local guide stays with you from start to finish, and naturalist guides take over on the water, notably in the Tortuguero canals. As with every Club Med Discovery tour, departures are guaranteed from the first booking, and assistance is available 24 hours a day during the trip.

When should you go to Costa Rica for this tour?

On the Pacific coast and in the Central Valley, the dry season generally runs from December to April: it is the period most requested by Quebec travellers escaping winter. From May to November, the green season brings showers often concentrated in the afternoon, vivid vegetation and quieter parks. Tortuguero, on the Caribbean coast, stays humid all year, which is what makes it so lush. Your advisor tells you which departures are offered and helps you choose the one that suits you.

How do you get to San José from Quebec, and what documents do you need?

San José is reached by flights from Montreal, with or without a stopover depending on the season. Transfers between the airport and the hotel are booked together with the tour. Canadian travellers leave with their passport; your advisor checks the requirements at the time of booking, including the passport validity required.

Which Club Med resort pairs well with Natura verde?

After 12 days of forests and volcanoes, many travellers like to finish with a beach week. Club Med Cancún, in Mexico, lends itself well to that extension, and your advisor arranges the flights between the two. If nature has given you a taste for going further, the Les montagnes du Dieu Soleil tour takes you into the Peruvian Andes, and the Grand Tour du Yucatán combines Mayan sites and the seaside. See also our Club Med resorts in North America and the Caribbean.

Why book this tour with AquaTerra?

Voyages Synergia received the Club Med Excellence Award 2025, and our advisors know the Discovery formula: they know which stages call for good shoes and how to link the tour with a beach holiday. Compare with the other Club Med tours in the Americas and the Caribbean, browse all Club Med tours and our Costa Rica page.

Call 1-866-628-6241. You will reach someone who knows this tour and has time for you. We look together at what is available on your dates, we choose the right departure, and we stay on the line throughout your trip. That is the difference between booking alone in front of a screen and travelling with someone behind you.

Meet our Club Med Specialists who can help you plan your trips to any of the Club Med destinations.

All rights reserved Voyages Synergia. Images, logos and Club Med properties: © Club Med. The Club Med 2 yacht is registered in France.