Costa Rica by land, air & sea

A definitive appreciation of the country’s natural treasures

Whether using private yachts, off-market properties or helis and fixed wings, we provide privileged access to Costa Rica’s rich biodiversity.

We’ve seen our clients soar high over volcanoes for some adrenaline thrill or go behind the scenes of unique conservation projects as a family. That’s all before bedding down in designer cloud forest lodges and sailing along beautiful beach-clad coastlines.

Each opportunity gives you the chance to explore in complete isolation, and always with the flexibility to indulge your interests and tastes.

All media taken on Cookson Adventures trips

Working with local guides, the Cookson team organises experiences inaccessible to other visitors

March 2021

Swim with dolphin megapods

Sending spotters in seaplanes ahead, we can guide you to get right in the water among spinner dolphins pods that number in the hundreds. Not only are they known for their namesake acrobatics, but for welcoming swimmers into their pods. It’s a thrill to join them, swimming alongside with the power of a seabob.

Accommodation & yachts

We know all the best off-market properties and yachts, whether you want some white-sand relaxation or to hop through the country’s wild interior. Think designer haciendas with infinity-pool views of volcanoes, grass-roofed ecolodges with fire-heated plunge pools and thatched ranchos that open up right onto miles of private beach. Or, swap it all for a leading superyacht to sail Costa Rica’s wild coastlines, knitting together secret bays to explore both on land and at sea.

Authentic conservation

Whether tagging hammerhead sharks as a family and receiving updates on their movements or helping set up motion-sensing camera traps to monitor pumas and jaguars, our clients have got involved directly with conservation programmes behind the scenes. Turtle nesting is a particular highlight, where guests can help release hatchlings at safe spots. Throughout, not only is this an educational experience, but a chance to work with genuinely important projects.

From the air

Fly over dramatic coastlines and jungles before turning out over great volcanoes, perhaps in the company of a volcanologist to bring it all to life. Then, make remote landings to mountain bike down those very same volcanoes, or put in at rushing rivers to raft through the jungle. There’s even the chance to go off-grid kitesurfing by seaplane.

Underwater world

Whether scuba diving, snorkelling or freediving, take in Costa Rica’s incredible marine diversity, from rays and turtles to technicolour reefs. Freediving is a particular Cookson favourite. Not only can you learn breathing techniques from yogis and engage with the wellness aspect of it all, but the lack of bubbles allows for special wildlife interactions. We also have a long history of organising submersible dives, heading down hundreds of metres to admire megafauna and giant seamounts, with new discoveries always a possibility.

Jungle beauty

Costa Rica’s rainforests are home to everything from howler monkeys and colourful poison dark frogs to 300 species of birds. Let our ranger contacts bring you out on jungle hikes, canopy-level walks and night excursions, searching for amphibians and reptiles. Or, ramp things up with an ATV, mountain bike or 4WD adventure through a caldera cloud forest.

Above the water

From surfing or kite-surfing with world-champions to white-water rafting through remote jungles, we’ve got the contacts and know-how of the best secret spots to make it happen. It’s also a simple pleasure to tender or paddle traditional dugout canoes through mangrove forests in search of white-faced monkeys, iguanas and American crocs with top ranger guides. Then, back on the coast, look out for bioluminescence – a phenomenon where the water dances with blue lights.

Cultural interactions

You might be interested in a cooking masterclass from a top Costa Rican chef, learning to hunt with the Cabécar tribespeople or an entire folkloric fiesta set up for your group, complete with everything from music and dancing to bull riding and celebrations.

Costa Rica is the most biodiverse country in the world, with its 12 distinct ecological zones and over 100 protected regions spanning from cloud forests to technicolour reefs. It’s the first country to successfully reverse the effects of deforestation and there’s more months of visiting humpbacks than anywhere else.

It’s a natural playground where we’ve organised some truly epic adventures. And, alongside the fun of beach bonfire parties and white-water rafting through wildlife-animated forests, we ensure our guests are engaged with the country’s vital conservation efforts.

For one client, that meant insiders’ access to insect labs, while for others it might mean releasing turtles and scaling old-growth trees to monitor canopy-level wildlife with top ecologists.

That’s not to say that, when travelling with us, there’s not plenty of opportunity for luxury. That could be taking helis out to volcano-side lunch setups, organising a party in the jungle for friends or hosting an exclusive family takeover of one of the country’s top properties.