San Jose excursion: Hacienda La Chimba

coffee experience

By Condor Verde Costa Rica • 12 September 2024

A tour of the coffee plantation Hacienda La Chimba, located 30 minutes from San Jose, will take us from cultivating and harvesting to roasting and tasting of the plantation's excellent coffee Mi Momento. 

And for some additional adrenaline: Hacienda La Chimba is also a beautiful setting for a canopy tour. We will zipline over treetops, across valleys, and past the coffee plantation.

Reasons to visit Costa Rica in the green (rainy) season
By Condor Verde Costa Rica • 9 July 2024

Waiting for Costa Rica’s more popular dry season? You may be missing out on the 'pura vida' experience of the green (rainy) season, which runs from May to November. Here are some reasons to visit Costa Rica in the green season, rain showers and all:

• Coffee harvest begins: Coffee harvest in the Central Valley begins in the green season, and a tour on a coffee plantation such as Hacienda Doka becomes much more exciting.
• Hotel bargains abound: Some hotels drop their rates significantly in the green season, charging about 30 percent less. Ask us for the latest green season hotel promotions.
• The rainforest is more exciting: Impossible as it seems, the green season is proof that Costa Rica can be even more lush, abundant, and, well, green. The forest comes alive in the rainy season, especially at night, for example during a Monteverde night walk.
• Turtles & whales: A visit in the green season coincides with the turtle nesting and hatching season. Known as the ‘arribada’ (arrival), thousands of sea turtles emerge from the ocean and lay eggs on Costa Rica’s beaches between March and November. Also, the Southern Hemisphere humpback whales travel from Antarctica to Costa Rica from late July through October.
• Temperatures stay high: Temperatures barely go down during the green season, and mornings are usually sunny and bright. So plenty of time to hit the pool or beach. 
  

Special interest groups

By Condor Verde Costa Rica • 9 July 2024

Special interest groups is something Condor Verde does really well. Over the last 30 years, we have organised everything from architecture, agriculture, astronomy and photography tours, to wine, cycling, pilgrimage and birdwatching tours. We wanted to share this motorcycle tour that we organised in Costa Rica for a group of passionate bikers.

Combination itinerary: 2 weeks Costa Rica + Mexico
By Condor Verde Costa Rica • 15 May 2024

Costa Rica and Mexico are a great combination and the non-stop flight between San Jose and Mexico City takes only 3 hours 30 minutes.

We can design a tailormade 2-week itinerary including amazing highlights, such as Arenal, Monteverde and Manuel Antonio in Costa Rica, and Mexico City, Merida, Chichen Itza and Riviera Maya in Mexico.

Day 1: Arrival San Jose (SJO)

Day 2: San Jose – Arenal

Day 3: Arenal

Day 4: Arenal – Monteverde

Day 5: Monteverde

Day 6: Monteverde – Manuel Antonio

Day 7: Manuel Antonio

Day 8: Manuel Antonio – San Jose – Mexico City (MEX)

Day 9: Mexico City

Day 10: Mexico City

Day 11: Mexico City – Merida

Day 12: Merida

Day 13: Merida – Chichen Itza – Riviera Maya

Day 14: Departure or beach extension

Contact the Costa Rica office for a tailormade itinerary, which they will design together with the Mexico office.

How turtle-watching tours actually help conservation
By Condor Verde Costa Rica • 15 May 2024

Seven species of sea turtles can be found in every ocean around the world. From the seven species - Green Turtle, Hawksbill, Loggerhead, Olive Ridley, Kemp's Ridley, and Flatback - six are threatened or endangered. A good way to help turtle conservation efforts is to go turtle watching, which helps fund monitoring and patrols.

A visit to Costa Rica between March and November coincides with turtle nesting and hatching season. Known as the ‘arribada’ (arrival), thousands of sea turtles emerge from the ocean and lay eggs on Costa Rica’s beaches.

Although you occasionally see turtles nesting by day, the vast majority of the action takes place after nightfall. The pregnant females swim to the shore in droves, and haul themselves up the beach beyond the waterline. There, they will dig nests and lay their eggs, up to 100 at a time, burying them in the warm sand. After seven to ten weeks the baby turtles hatch out of their shells, and as they instinctively set out on the painstaking crawl towards the shore, the battle for survival begins. Running the gauntlet of vultures, dogs, and other predators they must also sidestep the scores of expectant female turtles wading up the beach in the opposite direction. It is a perilous start to life and one reason why the females lay such large numbers of eggs, as many hatchlings do not reach the relative safety of the ocean. But those that do make it to the waves may live for decades, around 30 years for leatherbacks and up to 80 years for green sea turtles. In future years, the female chicks will return as adults to the same beach, to lay their eggs where they themselves hatched, continuing this amazing cycle of life.

Whilst turtle hatching takes place along much of Costa Rica’s coast, for reliable sightings we particularly recommend the protected reserves of Tortuguero on the northern Caribbean coast, and Ostional beach, near Nosara on the Pacific Coast.

Tortuguero’s turtle nesting season runs from March to October. Green sea turtles nest in the region from June to October, peaking in numbers during July and August, whilst the mighty leatherbacks nest from March to July. 

Ostional National Wildlife Refuge is one of the world’s most important nesting sites for Olive Ridley turtles, who, along with green sea turtles and leatherbacks, flock to lay their eggs on the black volcanic sands. Turtle nesting occurs year round in Ostional but by far the best period to catch the arribada is between September and November, when the numbers of Olive Ridleys can reach their thousands. Occasional sightings are also possible during July and August. November 1995 saw the largest ever arribada recorded in Ostional, with up to half a million females estimated to come ashore.

Other locations worth mentioning include Playa Grande in Las Baulas National Marine Park, near Tamarindo on the Pacific Coast. This is a key nesting site for Leatherback turtles between October and February. The remote Nancite Beach in Santa Rosa National Park, Guanacaste, plays host to thousands of nesting Olive Ridleys during September and October.

We can include a turtle-watching tour in your Costa Rica itinerary.

Zipline Bike at El Tigre Waterfalls in Monteverde
By Condor Verde Costa Rica • 18 March 2024

At El Tigre Waterfalls in Monteverde, the Zipline Bike is a thrilling new addition. After walking along the 8km jungle trail with its nine hanging bridges and four impressive waterfalls, and a half-hour ride on horseback, we can bike along three cables ranging from 90 to 130 meters in length, suspended 70 meters above the river. Afterwards, a delicious typical lunch awaits us.

Banana tour: community-based tourism
By Condor Verde Costa Rica • 26 January 2024

Costa Rica is the 3rd largest exporter of bananas in the world. Costa Rican farmers began growing bananas in 1872, and today they are grown both on small family farms and larger commercial farms, accounting for 10% of the country's exports. Costa Rica's tropical climate, rich soil, and abundant rainfall make it the perfect place to grow bananas, and on this wonderful excursion we will visit a small organic farm two hours north of San Jose, in Llano Grande. We will walk along the plantation and learn about the cutivation and harvesting process. We will then learn how to prepare a typical dish of fried bananas with toppings, accompanied by Costa Rican coffee. 

Bodhi Tree Yoga Retreat in Nosara
By Condor Verde Costa Rica • 26 January 2024

The gorgeous beaches of Nosara, on Costa Rica's Pacific coast, not only attract surfers who come here for the perfect waves, but also yoga and wellness lovers. The Bodhi Tree Yoga Resort, perched high on a hill and surrounded by jungle, features 57 beautifully decorated rooms, four spectacular indoor and outdoor studios for yoga classes, a saltwater pool, gym, spa, juice bar, restaurant, and bar. The resort also offer surf lessons.

Isla Chiquita Glamping
By Condor Verde Costa Rica • 15 December 2023

Isla Chiquita, located on an island in the Gulf of Nicoya and surrounded by lush forest and tranquil emerald waters, is reached by boat. It features 15 safari-style tents, each with a king-sized bed, en-suite bathroom, ceiling fan, and private deck overlooking the ocean or jungle. The Donde Tia Nora waterfront restaurant offers daily caught fish as well as international and Costa Rican dishes, and Harry's Bar serves cocktails and light snacks. Activities at Isla Chiquita include stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, snorkeling and birdwatching, as well as a bioluminescence night tour, island-hopping around the gulf and a guided nature walk in the nearby Curu Wildlife Reserve. This is the perfect hotel to feel a deep connection to nature.

La Finquita cooking class in Arenal
By Condor Verde Costa Rica • 15 December 2023

At this farm to table cooking class, we will learn about each ingredient as we pluck it directly from the field. We will then have lots of fun cooking a delicious, traditional Costa Rican meal, before sitting down together to enjoy it. This is a wonderful way to learn about Costa Rican culture.

New excursion: Juanilama community homestay
By Condor Verde Costa Rica • 6 November 2023

Located 50km northeast of La Fortuna, the Juanilama Rainforest Reserve began as a conservation project in 2000. The local agricultural community of Juanilama organised to defend the small forest from illegal logging and poaching by asking the government declare it a reserve and provide them with training in nature conservation practices: creating forest trails, organic and sustainable agriculture, production of biodegradable products such as soap and banana paper. The project is managed by the women of the community, who welcome visitors into their homes for the night. Over two wonderful days lost in nature, we will learn how to create souvenirs based on recycled materials, cook traditional Costa Rican food, dance in the Tico style, explore the rainforest and its waterfalls, and more.

New excursion: San Lucas island
By Condor Verde Costa Rica • 18 October 2023

The beautiful island of San Lucas, which once housed one of the most notorious prisons in Latin America, recently became Costa Rica's 30th national park. San Lucas Island National Park, made up of both land and coastal areas, is reached via a 40-minute boat ride from the city of Puntarenas. Along the jungle trails we can observe a variety of wildlife, including howler monkeys and deer, but also haunting, abandoned prison cells. From 1873 to 1991, San Lucas was a penal island founded by the dictator Tomas Miguel Guardia Gutierrez, where prisoners' lives were short and treatment was brutal. Its former buildings are considered cultural heritage sites, and our specialist guide will tell us fascinating stories from the island's history.

New hotel: Habitas Santa Teresa
By Condor Verde Costa Rica • 1 September 2023

The Habitas group of sustainable hotels is opening its first property in Costa Rica, Habitas Santa Teresa, this December. The hotel is located on the southern tip of the Peninsula de Nicoya, nestled in the jungle in front of a white sandy beach with long-breaking waves. It offers 45 low-impact earth-inspired rooms and 10 luxury tents, a farm-to-table restaurant, a beachfront infinity pool, a surf shack and bar, and a spa.

(Images are computer-generated)

Air France increases its offer in Costa Rica to 5 weekly flights between San Jose and Paris
By Condor Verde Costa Rica • 23 June 2023

As of June 19, due to the high demand for travel to Costa Rica, Air France operates five weekly flights between San Jose and Paris, in the most modern aircraft in its fleet, an Airbus A-350 .

Suitree Tree Houses
By Condor Verde Costa Rica • 18 May 2023

Category: Boutique (adults-only)

Rooms: 8

Located 35 minutes from Liberia airport and 15 minutes from the Pacific Coast, these luxury tree houses feature a 360° terrace as well as 360° windows. There is a gourmet restaurant and swimming pool, and a variety of nature activities can be organized from here.

New: Taxi – boat – taxi service between Arenal and Guanacaste
By Condor Verde Costa Rica • 28 March 2023

The taxi – boat – taxi service is a fun and efficient way to get between Arenal and Monteverde, door-to-door from one hotel to the other. Instead of driving around Lake Arenal, the middle part is done by boat, significantly reducing traveling time.

A new taxi – boat – taxi service between Arenal to Guanacaste crosses the lake from La Fortuna in the east to Puerto San Luis in the west (1 hour).

New: Arenal Glamping
By Condor Verde Costa Rica • 2 March 2023

Arenal Glamping features 7 luxurious tents, as well as a swimming pool, jacuzzi, gym, fire pit, breakfast and lounge area, and rooftop garden from where to admire Volcan Arenal.

New: SCP Corcovado Wilderness Lodge
By Condor Verde Costa Rica • 18 January 2023

California-based Soul Community Planet (SCP) has added the SCP Corcovado Wilderness Lodge - formerly Casa Corcovado Jungle Lodge - to its growing collection of green hotels.

The beach-front lodge features 14 garden villas, three swimming pools, a restaurant, a bar, and a large lounge. It is set among botanical gardens, waterfalls, streams, beaches and jungle, and only accessible by boat.

Bioluminescence kayak tour

By Condor Verde Costa Rica • 1 December 2022

The calm waters around the Isla Negritos Wildlife Refuge come alive at night with millions of tiny glowing lights caused by phytoplankton. Ripples in the water cause protons to pass through their bodies, creating electrical pulses and activating a protein called luciferase, which creates the mesmerizing bright blue shimmer. This phenomenon is called bioluminescence.

A boat will take us from Puntarenas to Isla Negritos (25 min). Here we board our kayaks and paddle for two hours through the glittering ocean, while our guide gives us some interesting facts and points out marine life.

Cloud Forest Lodge in Monteverde

By Condor Verde Costa Rica • 7 November 2022

From December 1st, the Cloud Forest Lodge will join the Böëna Wilderness Lodges group, which includes Pacuare Lodge, Lapa Rios Lodge, Tortuga Lodge, and Monteverde Lodge. As part of this transition, the hotel has been undergoing a profound renovation of its facilities and concept, incorporating the Böëna trademark of sustainable luxury, gourmet farm-to-table cuisine, conservation, and community integration

(animated video footage, not real one)

Marino Ballena National Park and Corcovado National Park in southern Costa Rica

By Condor Verde Costa Rica • 17 October 2022

Marino Ballena, a stunner of a marine park, protects coral and rock reefs surrounding several offshore islands. Despite its small size, its importance cannot be overstated, since it protects migrating humpback and pilot whales, dolphins and nesting sea turtles. (video left)

Further south lies Corcovado National Park, the largest remaining patch of virgin lowland tropical rainforest in Central America. Jaguars, pumas, crocodiles, tapirs, giant anteaters, harpy eagles and scarlet macaws all call this place home. (video right)

Glamping!

By Condor Verde Costa Rica • 21 July 2022

You want to be one with nature but are reluctant to forgo your morning cappuccino? Glamping is the answer!

There are many wonderful glamping properties in Costa Rica, including Nayara Tented Camp in Arenal (left) and Chira Glamping in Monteverde (right).

New: Boutique hotel Umami in Puerto Viejo (Caribbean coast)

By Condor Verde Costa Rica • 21 June 2022

The new boutique hotel Umami, located a 5-minute walk from the beach, features 13 modern rooms, a restaurant, and a small pool.

If you're looking to chill a little, surf a little, and party a little, the colorful town of Puerto Viejo is right for you. 

South of Puerto Viejo is the little-explored Gandoca-Manzanillo wildlife refuge, which protects nearly 70% of the southern Caribbean coast, including rainforests, swamps, coral reefs, and a beach where four species of turtles lay their eggs.

Sloth tour in Arenal

By Condor Verde Costa Rica • 8 June 2022

The sluggish and frankly adorable sloths spend much of their lives in the rainforest canopy, snoozing, munching on leaves, and remaining hidden from predators. With their long arms and shaggy fur, they resemble monkeys, but they are actually related to anteaters. There are two main species of sloth, identified by whether they have two or three claws on their front feet. Two-toed sloths are slightly bigger and tend to spend more time hanging upside-down than their three-toed cousins, who will often sit upright in the fork of a tree branch, sometimes with a youngster on their back. Together with our naturalist guide we will drive to different spotting areas in search of both sloth species. We might also encounter toucans, hummingbirds, poison dart frogs, and monkeys.

Recommended excursion:

Mistico Arenal hanging bridges
By Condor Verde Costa Rica • 13 May 2022

A series of trails and bridges form a loop through the primary rainforest of a 250-acre private reserve, providing great animal-watching and volcano viewing. Sixteen fixed and hanging bridges allow us to see the forest at different levels. The longest swaying bridge is 97m long and the highest is 25m above the ground.

BMW motorcycle adventure

By Condor Verde Costa Rica • 4 May 2022

Costa Rica is the perfect country for self-drive adventures by car or motorcycle: the country is small and safe, it has good roads, and the scenery, oh the scenery... 

You can expect relaxed cruising through impressive landscapes, from one wonderful hotel to the next, and amazing activities at each stop. 

A wonderfully remote lodge: Origins

By Condor Verde Costa Rica • 4 May 2022

Set on a mountainside surrounded by pristine, emerald green forest in the North of Costa Rica (map), Origins Lodge features five stylish bungalows topped with verdant living rooftops and private, fire-heated hot tubs on the terraces overlooking Lake Nicaragua in the distance. On-site activities include nature tours, horseback rides, yoga sessions and spa treatments. The night walk is an absolute delight! Meals are prepared with ingredients from the on-site organic garden

Costa Rica will no longer require completed Health Pass as of 1 April 2022

By Condor Verde Costa Rica • 16 Mar 2022

Beginning 1 April 2022, Costa Rica will no longer require travellers to complete an online Health Pass. Additionally, unvaccinated travellers will no longer be required to purchase a travel insurance policy.

Just as a reminder: Costa Rica does not require travellers to present a negative COVID-19 test, nor quarantine upon arrival.

Marriott Hacienda Belen first hotel to install micro-grid

By Condor Verde Costa Rica • 3 Mar 2022

The Marriott Hacienda Belen in San Jose, often used by our passengers, has installed a micro-grid on its roof, allowing the hotel to avoid 20.8 tons of CO2 per year, reduce electricity consumption, and have energy coverage. It is the first hotel of the Marriott group in Latin America to deploy the technology.

New San Jose walking tour

By Condor Verde Costa Rica • 2 Feb 2022

On the "Pura Vida walking tour" we will explore San Jose and nearby Escazu on foot. Our guide will meet us at the beautiful National Theater, and together we'll stroll the "route of the churches", passing the Cathedral, La Merced church, and other historical buildings. We can admire some amazing graffiti along the way and learn about the history behind it. Then it's time to board a public bus, up the hills, to Escazu, dubbed the "City of Witches" during colonial times because many healers lived here. We’ll have lunch at a 100-year-old restaurant that’s known for its traditional Costa Rican tapas, and taste "chicha", a traditional, fermented drink. Finally, we'll visit the workshop of a famous mask-making family, where beautiful masks are crafted for Costa Rican celebrations. Includes: English-speaking guide, lunch, chicha and coffee, public bus, small masquerade show. Duration: 4 hours.

Free Costa Rica photos

By Condor Verde Costa Rica • 2 Feb 2022

In our Costa Rica download center you can find copyright-free photos that can be downloaded and used for free.