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Exploring Costa Rica’s National Parks and Preserves: Guanacaste, Santa Rosa, and Rincón de la Vieja

Exploring Costa Rica’s National Parks and Preserves: Guanacaste, Santa Rosa, and Rincón de la Vieja

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Description

On this six-day voyage in Guanacaste, guests are surrounded by breathtaking natural beauty. From picture-perfect beaches to hidden jungle waterfalls, enjoy the diversity of the Guanacaste Conservation Area, one of the oldest and largest UNESCO World Heritage sites. This remote part of Costa Rica is overflowing with wild allures. Over millennia, eruptions from the Arenal Volcano have created hyper-rich soil that nurtures a unique tropical dry forest. More than 30 rivers wind their way through this swath of green, pumping nutrients into the surrounding waters, which in turn nourish healthy, vibrant reefs that invite exploration.

Trip Name
Exploring Costa Rica’s National Parks and Preserves: Guanacaste, Santa Rosa, and Rincón de la Vieja
Days
6
Overview
Vessel Type: Expedition Ship Length: 72 metres Passenger Capacity: 100 guests (in 50 cabins) Built: 2017 Built in 2017, National Geographic Quest is a modern expedition vessel purpose-designed for the narrow channels and shallow coves of Pan-American waters. With insights drawn from nearly four decades of exploration in Alaska, Baja California, Costa Rica and beyond, she is perfectly equipped for immersive coastal voyages. Clean-lined and contemporary in design, her expansive glass windows ensure guests are constantly connected to the surrounding landscapes, whether spotting whales in a lagoon or cruising past rainforest-covered shores. Accommodating 100 guests in 50 comfortable cabins across four decks, Quest features twin Zodiac boarding platforms for swift disembarkation, a shallow draught for close-to-shore navigation, and wide-ranging public areas. Guests can enjoy a relaxed dining experience with sustainable, locally inspired cuisine, unwind on the sundeck, or visit the lounge, gym, or Global Gallery. Open access to the Bridge invites a deeper engagement with navigation and wildlife spotting alongside the Captain and crew. Every detail is crafted to maximise discovery, comfort, and a shared sense of adventure.

Itinerary



Day 1 - DAY 1: San José, Costa Rica / Puerto Caldera / Embark
Upon arrival in San José, the capital of Costa Rica, transfer by land to Puerto Caldera and embark our ship the National Geographic Quest. Enjoy a sunset dinner on board as we chart a course for the Guanacaste region on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast. (D)
Day 2 - DAY 2: Zapotal Beach / Bahia Huevos
Drop anchor off remote Zapotal Beach, where we’ll spend the morning soaking up the sun or snorkeling in waters fringed by offshore islets, which create outstanding habitat for a variety of tropical fish. Or choose to walk along a rarely used four-wheel drive track, which takes us back into a beautiful gallery forest. The area is rich with bird and plant varieties, and our naturalists describe the intricate web of life in these oceanside ecosystems. After lunch on board, we cruise north to the Papagayo Peninsula, dropping anchor in Bahia Huevos. Our Zodiacs take us on an exploration of the bay and the peninsula. If conditions, permit, we drop kayaks and paddleboards and explore the nearby mangroves (B,L,D)
Day 3 - DAY 3: Santa Rosa National Park / Guanacaste Conservation Area
Weather permitting, don a snorkel and fins to discover a rich underwater world or hike into the upper reaches of the Guanacaste Conservation Area for commanding views over the full length of this rarely visited archipelago. Back on board, we sail toward the mainland while enjoying a delicious lunch. Depending on conditions, we may choose to explore Santa Elena Bay in Santa Rosa National Park, Junquillal Wildlife Refuge, or Cuajiniquil Bay, all part of the extraordinarily biodiverse Guanacaste Conservation Area. While venturing out by kayak or taking a relaxing Zodiac cruise, we immerse ourselves in the tropical environment, alive with color. Yellow and black great kiskadees sally from exposed perches looking to capture a flying insect for an evening meal, and orange-fronted parakeets chatter overhead. Predators such as mangrove hawks may take wind, setting out on a late afternoon hunt, while ringed kingfishers, richly colored in brick red and deep blue, wait patiently, watching the shallows for a fish’s silvery flash. (B,L,D) **Please note: National Geographic Quest will sail to Nicaragua overnight where necessary immigration requirements will be completed prior to returning to Costa Rica on Day 4
Day 4 - DAY 4: Rincón de la Vieja National Park / Hacienda Guachipelin
Our adventure today continues as we set off inland to explore Rincón de la Vieja National Park. This mountainous region is also a part of the Guanacaste Conservation Area and encompasses more than 34,000 acres. The area, with its forests carpeting the sides of two active volcanoes, is alive with geothermal activity as gurgling, bubbling mud pots spout and steam rises above the canopy. Choose between several enticing options today including a hike through the transition zone where tropical dry habitat meets the temperate cloud forest. Here, we keep an eye out for exotic wildlife, with the possibility of encountering mantled howler monkeys and regionally special birds including the noisy and conspicuous white- throated magpie-jay. Alternatively, after a short hike into the forest, opt to swim below Las Chorreras Waterfall. Or choose to ride horseback across lush meadows, or soar through the canopy by zipline before enjoying a sumptuous lunch served poolside at Hacienda Guachipelin while local marimba gu
Day 5 - DAY 5: Curu National Wildlife Refuge / Isla Tortuga
Along the coast of the Nicoya Peninsula, and in many ways demarcating the line between the wetter jungles of the south and Guanacaste’s drier environment, sits Curu National Wildlife Refuge, Costa Rica’s first private national wildlife reserve. Learn about the hundreds of species of birds, reptiles, and mammals that inhabit this thriving ecosystem while exploring the park’s tracks and trails. Here we look for white-faced capuchin monkeys, turquoise-browed motmots, and with luck, scarlet macaws. The northern tamandua resides here, and while often elusive and quiet, this primarily arboreal member of the anteater family may be spotted. Later, as we enjoy lunch on board, we cruise to a cluster of offshore islets collectively called Isla Tortuga. Choose to stand-up paddleboard, kayak, or simply relax on the beach shaded by swaying palms and tropical vegetation. As the sun begins to set on our Guanacaste adventure, a waterside barbecue dinner awaits—the perfect way to finish our voyage. (B,L,D)
Day 6 - DAY 6: Puerto Caldera / Disembark / San José / Home
Disembark after breakfast in Puerto Caldera. Drive to the airport in San José for flights home. (B)
Day 7 - Please Note:
Itineraries are subject to change

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type
20-11-202525-11-2025Array Array6,480Category 1. From
20-11-202525-11-2025Array Array0More Cabin Categories & Prices Available
25-11-202530-11-2025Array Array7,503Category 1. From
25-11-202530-11-2025Array Array0More Cabin Categories & Prices Available
28-12-202502-01-2026Array Array7,503Category 1. From
28-12-202502-01-2026Array Array0More Cabin Categories & Prices Available
30-01-202604-02-2026Array Array6,964Category 1. From
30-01-202604-02-2026Array Array8,647Category 2
30-01-202604-02-2026Array Array9,989Category 4
30-01-202604-02-2026Array Array0More Cabin Categories & Prices Available
18-02-202623-02-2026Array Array6,826Category 1. From
18-02-202623-02-2026Array Array0More Cabin Categories & Prices Available
09-03-202614-03-2026Array Array6,826Category 1. From
09-03-202614-03-2026Array Array0More Cabin Categories & Prices Available
19-11-202624-11-2026Array Array6,541Category 1. From
19-11-202624-11-2026Array Array0More Cabin Categories & Prices Available
24-11-202629-11-2026Array Array6,541Category 1. From
24-11-202629-11-2026Array Array0More Cabin Categories & Prices Available

Inclusions

    • Navigate the pristine coastline of Costa Rica’s Guanacaste region, snorkel crystalline waters, and explore wildlife-rich parks and preserves
    • Discover diverse tropical ecosystems while exploring via kayak and paddleboard, on foot, on horseback, and soaring by zipline
    • Spend an afternoon enjoying Isla Tortuga’s palm-shaded beaches before a barbecue dinner on the sand
    • Explore the volcanic landscapes of Rincón de la Vieja National Park and search for exotic wildlife, from monkeys to macaws

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