Costa Rica: The Wild, the Luxe and the Wonderfully Unexpected with Viaventure DMC
From coast-to-coast and North to South, we discover Viaventure DMC’s inside track to Costa Rica. Impress even your most seasoned clients with itineraries full of lesser visited and more unique destinations, off the beaten track luxe boutique properties and deeper more engaging experiences for your most discerning clients.
What’s in this article:
Wow your clients: Go beyond the Usual Circuit: Explore Costa Rica’s most untouched corners — from the wildlife-rich Osa Peninsula and the remote canals of Tortuguero to the boho shores of Nicoya Peninsula and culturally rich, calypso-kissed rhythm of the Caribbean coast.
Uncover the very best luxury boutique accommodations, from eco-luxe sanctuaries and hammock-swaying beach retreats to wellness havens and river lodges where getting there is a thrill in itself.
Deliver the kind of insight your clients love to receive from you by working with Viaventure to curate a Costa Rica journey that feels exclusive, intimate and extraordinary — with access to destinations, boutique accommodations and soulful experiences far from the usual crowds.
Off-the-beaten-track gems for nature lovers, birders and venturesome travelers - from Sarapiqui to San Gerardo de Dota.
The Viaventure difference - seamless, sustainable and totally bespoke journeys crafted for your most curious clients.
Short on time? Why not get in touch for a quick meeting and to be connected with the team at Viaventure Central America & Mexico DMC
Skip the Crowds, Keep the Magic
From the cloud forests of Monteverde to the coral-fringed coves of the Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica is every bit the nature-lover’s dream. But while the classic circuit of Arenal, Monteverde and Manuel Antonio is rightly popular, there’s another side to this incredible country - richer, wilder and more rewarding…
That’s where Viaventure Central America DMC comes in.
With two decades of designing exceptional journeys across Central America, they’re known for their ability to sidestep the crowds, uncover the hidden gems and transform even the most well-known routes into remarkable stories.
With deep local roots, sharp logistics and a low-impact ethos, Viaventure’s Costa Rica itineraries are more meaningful than mainstream - think personalised adventures with the perfect balance of nature, community, soft adventure and luxury, all tailored to your clients.
Costa Rica for the Curious
Osa Peninsula
Wild, remote and impossibly lush, the Osa Peninsula is Costa Rica at its most elemental — a place where rainforest meets ocean in a riot of colour and wildlife. National Geographic wasn’t exaggerating when it called this “the most biologically intense place on Earth.” Scarlet macaws sweep overhead, tapirs slip through palm-shadowed trails and Corcovado National Park hums with monkeys, coatis and creatures found almost nowhere else.
Offshore, the drama continues. Humpback whales and playful dolphins cruise the Golfo Dulce (September is peak magic), while Caño Island offers some of the country’s most thrilling snorkelling and diving. Surfers find their rhythm on empty breaks; nature lovers wander beaches with barely another footprint in sight.
And when the day winds down, the Osa delivers some of Costa Rica’s finest luxury eco-lodges — secluded, sustainable and deeply connected to their surroundings, offering elevated comfort at the heart of the wilderness.
This is one of Viaventure DMC's fabourite areas of Costa Rica and for travellers seeking a raw, intimate connection with the wild — without sacrificing comfort — the Osa is pure gold. Guided hikes, ocean safaris and slow, sensory days in the jungle reveal a Costa Rica most visitors never know exists.
Where to Stay
A VIAVENTURE TOP PICK : Playa Cativo
Accessible only by boat, this beautiful beachfront eco-lodge blends refined comfort with raw nature - offering everything from ocean-to-table cuisine to dolphin spotting right from the shore.
Lapa Rios Perched above the Pacific in a private rainforest reserve, Lapa Rios is an icon of sustainable luxury, with open-air bungalows, gourmet dining and expert-led wildlife hikes sure to delight.
Tortuguero
On the Caribbean coast, Tortuguero is all tangled canals, wildlife-packed rainforest, nesting turtles and home to the elusive manatee. It’s remote - only accessible by boat or air - and has fabulous accommodation. A magical, must-see addition to a Costa Rica itinerary - especially for families and wildlife lovers.
Tortuguero is one of the world’s most remarkable wildlife sanctuaries. Here, guests can witness green sea turtles nesting from July to October, with the occasional leatherback (March–May) or elusive hawksbill gracing the coastline. Glide through the glassy canals and if you are lucky, you may spot the shy West Indian manatee, alongside caiman, monkeys, sloths, river otters and a dazzling cast of bird life.
Viaventure recommends arriving via the scenic road-and-boat route and flying out, giving travellers both an immersive nature-filled canal journey on your arrival and the breathtaking aerial view of jungle waterways in parallel with the Caribbean coastline as you fly out. A two-night stay is ideal, with most canal-side lodges offering a relaxed, all-inclusive experience — perfect for families and first-timers.
Where to Stay
A VIAVENTURE TOP PICK - Tortuga Lodge
High-end and riverside, this peaceful, award winning property has a range of rooms and villas. Polished wood floors, breezy verandas, bird-filled gardens and it's own private reserve for adventures from your door.
Manatus Lodge: Intimate, nature-immersed boutique lodge on Tortuguero’s jungle canals — authentic, peaceful, and full of character. It’s a favourite base for exploring this extraordinary region.
Nicoya Peninsula
Boho-luxe and beautifully under the radar, Nicoya is a magnet for surfers, wellness seekers and style-conscious beach lovers. Santa Teresa and Nosara now two of Costa Rica’s most talked-about coastal enclaves. Long favoured by a discreet celebrity crowd, these beach towns pair golden sands and world-class surf with a growing collection of boutique, design-driven hotels that champion sustainability, slow living and a barefoot-elegance.
Here, days are for horse rides along jungle-backed sands, zip-lining through treetops, paddleboarding, surfing and sunrise yoga in ocean-breeze pavilions and afternoons spent chasing waterfalls or waves (depending on your mood).
It’s harder to reach, but that’s the charm - Viaventure brings clients here for the wild beauty, empty beaches and laidback vibe, and always with a few special experiences up their sleeve.
Where to Stay
A boutique beachfront retreat blending barefoot luxury with contemporary design; perfect for clients who want style, serenity and sand-between-the-toes access to Santa Teresa.
Surf-chic and sustainable, this relaxed hideaway sits just steps from the waves, with a warm, low-key vibe that keeps guests coming back.
Palm-thatched suites, wellness rituals in a lush garden setting, and ocean-breezed yoga at dawn. A B-Corp hotel with a deep commitment to sustainability and subtle, refined comfort.
Caribbean Coast
Too often overlooked, Costa Rica’s South Caribbean is a soulful, sun-drenched stretch of coastline humming with Afro-Caribbean and Indigenous culture, cacao farms, conservation projects and coral-fringed beaches — with plenty of space for unhurried beach days and reef-snorkelling in warm, clear waters.
At its heart sits Puerto Viejo, a place that feels almost like a country unto itself. Rich with Afro-Caribbean heritage, it lures both locals and in-the-know travellers for its food, music and irresistibly free-spirited energy. Think calypso rhythms drifting from beach cafés, spicy coconut-infused flavours, and the sound of Patois mingling with Spanish and English. It’s an authentic, under-the-radar pocket of Costa Rica — vibrant, warm and wonderfully expressive.
With fewer crowds than the Pacific, a mouthwatering local cuisine and a gentle, slow-travel rhythm, this coast invites travellers to take their time — pedalling between beaches, stopping for chocolate tastings, visiting wildlife rescue centres and lingering over long, lazy dinners. Viaventure It’s also an easy springboard into Panama’s Bocas del Toro, making it perfect for onward adventurers seeking even more colour and culture.
Where to Stay
Adults-only, artistic and endlessly photogenic, this stylish hideaway blends vintage character and creative flair - think whitewashed wood, colourful tiles and original artwork, all just steps from the sand.
Northern Region
Costa Rica’s Northern Region is a serene, quietly magical corner of the country. Home to Tenorio Volcano National Park and the famed Río Celeste, (River Celeste) where volcanic alchemy turns the river and waterfall an otherworldly shade of blue. Wilder and far more peaceful than the classic circuit, the region’s rainforests are alive with hanging vines, hidden wildlife and the kind of stillness that feels deeply restorative. It’s perfect for travellers who crave pure nature, room to breathe and a landscape that feels both remote and richly alive.
Where to Stay
A VIAVENTURE TOP PICK - Origins Floral
Oh-so exceptional, this eco-luxe retreat is set on a forested mountainside with villa-style lodges open to sweeping views, spectacular service and fine dining cuisine. Just nearby is their sister property Origins Astral
Rio Celeste Hideaway A tucked-away gem near Tenorio Volcano National Park offering boutique seclusion surrounded by rainforest - think outdoor showers, private decks and easy access to the region’s vivid blue river and waterfalls.
OTBT and into the magic…
And for travellers looking to go even deeper, pursue a specific interest — or simply escape the usual routes entirely — Costa Rica offers a number of off ther beaten track properties in a world of their own:
Hacienda AltaGracia is set on 180 acres of bird-song-filled forest and rolling coffee country, Hacienda AltaGracia — named the #1 Resort in Central America in the Travel + Leisure 2025 World’s Best Awards — is a sanctuary for travellers seeking deep wellbeing, soulful cuisine and adventure in equal measure. Its 50 serene casitas sit among stables, organic gardens and the atmospheric Casa de Agua — home to the Estée Lauder Skin Longevity Institute — making it one of Costa Rica’s most transformative wellness retreats. Days unfold through personalised itineraries that blend restorative movement, cultural immersion and adrenaline-filled exploration, all wrapped into exquisitely all-inclusive stays with all meals, daily programming and even shared charter flights from San José.
One of the most spectacular is Pacuare Lodge, an award-winning eco-retreat where the journey becomes part of the story. Guests can white-water raft their way in and out, or arrive by a combination of hike and drive if they prefer something gentler. Once there, it’s pure forest seclusion: riverside bungalows, candlelit dinners, and immersive nature experiences in one of the country’s most responsible luxury lodges.
Bird lovers should head for San Gerardo de Dota, a tranquil mountain valley beloved by twitchers for its trogons, hummingbirds and the hard-to-spot resplendent quetzal. Misty mornings and a slower pace make this region perfect for pairing with stays at Savegre or Trogon Lodge.
In the northwest, Rincón de la Vieja offers a completely different kind of wild — volcanic landscapes, tumbling waterfalls and bubbling hot springs. It’s a haven for active travellers, with canyoning, hiking and horseback rides through steam-swirled forests.
Over in Sarapiquí, the focus is pure nature. This under-the-radar rainforest region is a paradise for birdwatchers and naturalists, with quiet trails, thriving biodiversity and expert guides making it ideal for curious, conservation-minded travellers.
Why Viaventure?
Viaventure can reveal to you and your valuable clients a Costa Rica that goes far beyond the Arenal–Monteverde–Manuel Antonio triangle. Yes, of course they can deliver the classic circuit — and they do it superbly — but the real magic and true luxury lies beyond that.
Costa Rica is a country of sky-blue rivers, wild peninsulas, gorgeous beaches, remote rainforest lodges, wild coastlines and soulful boutique hideaways that most travellers never even hear about. And the truth is, the further you go off the beaten track, the richer, more authentic and more luxurious the experience becomes.
Viaventure are the partners who help you unlock that deeper Costa Rica — crafting tailor-made itineraries that weave together the country’s diverse regions, ecosystems, experiences and exceptional boutique properties.
Their commitment to positive impact, continuous product development, and rigorous guide selection and training ensures your clients enjoy the very best service and the most engaging, meaningful experiences possible. Read more about their latest guide training event HERE.
With Viaventure, you’re not just selling Costa Rica; you’re selling a deeper, more informed, more creative version of it. The version that turns you into the expert your clients trust.
Ready to show your clients a new side to Costa Rica? Get in touch today for an introduction to the Viaventure team.
