Gentle Walking & Wildlife Costa Rica

Day 1 - Fly London to San Jose

Today you will fly from London to Juan Santamaria Airport in San Jose. On arrival you will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel in central San José. The journey time can be anything between 45 minutes and 1½ hours depending on the traffic.

At the hotel, you will enjoy a welcome drink and your guide will provide an initial briefing on the arrangements for your next couple of days in Tortuguero.

Overnight: Crowne Plaza Or Similar, San Jose

Day 2 - Transfer to Tortuguero by road and water, 255km – 5-6 hours. Hotel nature walk with guide.

It's an early start for your journey to Tortuguero on the Caribbean coast which, although long, is full of interest. Your expert guide from Mawamba Lodge will greet you onboard your coach and they will stay with you during your time in Tortuguero, alongside your Mountain Kingdoms leader. Please note that other people staying at the lodge may join you here.

Leaving San José behind, the scenery quickly changes as you drive through the lush surrounding hills, cross the Continental Divide, and descend through beautiful Braulio Carillo National Park. After about two hours you will stop near Guapilés at Rio Danta Restaurant for a typical Costa Rican breakfast, before continuing for a further 2-2½ hours to the pier at La Pavona. On this section of the journey you will pass numerous banana plantations and your guide will provide an insight into the banana industry in Costa Rica. At the pier, you will board your boat for an exhilarating ride that will take you to the delightful Laguna Lodge whetting your appetite for the adventure ahead. Lunch will be waiting for you after you've settled into your room.

The lodge is situated a mile or so north of Tortuguero Town on a thin strip of land between the palm-fringed waters of the Caribbean Ocean and the broad Totuguero Lagoon. You will certainly feel like you're in the tropics. Palm trees, bougainvillea and bird of paradise flowers give the quintessential feel of a tropical garden, whilst wandering iguanas, noisy frogs and chattering birds are your first introduction to the wonderfully exotic wildlife of the area.

In the afternnon there will be time to enjoy a relaxed nature walk with your guide around the hotel's gardens where you will most likely discover tiny tree frogs, iguanas, colourful birds and lots of beautiful flowers and trees.

Whilst staying at Laguna lodge you will have the opportunity to participate in several optional activities. By choosing these once you have arrived you have maximum flexibility to select activities that meet your own interests. Options may include night walks through the rainforest, extra boat tours or kayaking in the gentle waterways of Tortuguero. These are all payable locally and you will be given full information by your guide. Please note that the order of activities during your stay at the lodge may vary from that stated in this itinerary.

Overnight: Mawamba Lodge, Tortuguero

Day 3 - Morning - walk into the local town. Afternoon - wildlife boat tour – 2 hours.

The focus on this first part of your holiday is very much on wildlife rather than walking. Tortuguero National Park is home to an astonishing array of flora and fauna with more than 350 species of bird including toucan and the endangered Green parrot, three out of the four species of monkeys to be found in Costa Rica, plus caimans, crocodiles, sloth and much, much more. After a leisurely breakfast, your guide will take you into Tortuguero Town - a quiet, slightly ramshackle place with wooden houses and a typical Caribbean vibe. Here you will learn about the fascinating history of the town and the way of life of the inhabitants, a small community of around 1,500 people. There are several cafes and souvenir shops you may like to browse before returning on foot to your lodge along the dark-sand beach.

In the afternoon an open-topped boat tour will give your a great chance of seeing the wildlife in pretty close proximity. Your expert guide and eagle-eyed boat captain will help you spot and identify birds and animals, often camouflaged to the untrained eye, in the dense canopy and watery channels. The remainder of the day is free to enjoy the facilities at the hotel.

Overnight: Mawamba Lodge, Tortuguero

Day 4 - Transfer by road and water to Guapilés – 3-4 hours. Lunch stop. Drive to La Fortuna - 2 hours.

If you have signed up for an optional boat or kayaking tour this morning, you will do this before breakfast after which you will check out and make the return journey by boat and vehicle to Gaupilés. A buffet lunch will be waiting for you at Rio Danta Restaurant and you will then continue your journey west to La Fortuna through a green and fertile landscape rich with pineapple, yuca and other crops.

As you get closer to La Fortuna (and if the weather is clear) you will see the unmistakable conical shape of Arenal Volcano rising up on the horizon in front of you. At 1,633m/5,358ft high, and only 6km outside of the town, Arenal dominates the scenery for miles around. Although still considered active there have been no eruptions since 2010 and its slopes are now covered in a thick green blanket of foliage.

The gateway to Arenal, La Fortuna has developed as one of Costa Rica's most popular tourist towns with a multitude of adventurous activities on offer as well as hot springs, waterfalls and good walking trails. You will go straight to your hotel when you get to the town and have some time to rest and recuperate after your journey and before you head out for dinner.

Overnight: Arenal Manoa Resort Or Similar, La Fortuna

Day 5 - Walk in Arenal 1968 Park, 4½km – 3-4 hours. Visit La Fortuna Waterfall with optional swim.

After breakfast it is only a short 20 minute drive to reach the entrance to Arenal 1968 Park. This privately owned park at the foot of the volcano is named after the year Arenal erupted, and there is much evidence underfoot of the original lava flows. Although there hasn't been any volcanic activity since 2010 the volcano is still considered active, consequently you are not permitted to walk any closer to Arenal than the trails here. There are two trails in the park: the Forest Trail and the Lava Flow 1968 Trail and your walk will combine both taking you through good paths in secondary forest to the base of the volcano.

After a briefing from your guide you begin by walking up to a viewing point where there are superb vistas of Arenal to be enjoyed, assuming the clouds aren't too low of course. You continue next to an area which has been planted with examples of Costa Rica's most important crops: pineapple, banana, sugar cane and coffee. Here your guide will tell you how these different crops are grown and harvested and the importance they play in the country's economy. You can even try pressing some sugar cane on a traditional hand press. Continuing on through the welcome shade of the tree-lined path, you walk to a pretty lake and follow around its banks before ascending on a rockier trail. As you gradually ascend you will really begin to feel the heat of the day and your guide will provide ample opportunities for water breaks. You will also, no doubt, have lots of questions about the flora and fauna that you encounter as you walk.

Eventually you reach another good overview at the high point of your walk, where you can rest awhile and take in the views. Here, the large quantities of black, volcanic rock clearly indicate that you are standing on a former lava flow. Finally you head down the trail for a further 45 minutes to return to the park entrance.

In the afternoon you can enjoy a refreshing dip in the enticing, cool waters at the base of the La Fortuna Waterfall, so make sure you have your swimsuit and a towel with you. Situated just outside the town, this picturesque waterfall plunges 75m from its rocky heights into a large pool of crystalline water. To reach the pool you have to climb down some 400 steps after which you'll be ready for a swim, although it is of course good manners to let your guide go first! There is also a second natural pool at the base of the steps that you can bathe in. If you'd prefer not to swim, you can just sit and relax on the surrounding rocks. Fully invigorated you return to your hotel.

Overnight: Arenal Manoa Resort Or Similar, La Fortuna

Day 6 - Drive to Los Chiles – 2 hours. Caño Negro Widlife Refuge boat tour – 2-2½ hours. Lunch and return to La Fortuna.

Today's boat tour is an absolute must for wildlife lovers as you head north to the Caño Negro Wildlife Reserve on the border with Nicaragua. A two hour drive past seemingly endless fields of pineapple, sugar cane, oranges and teak trees, takes you to a dock near the small town of Los Chiles where you board your boat along with other tour participants. Your boat ride is along the Rio Frio River which feeds into Lake Nicaragua on the other side of the border. Water levels can vary considerably throughout the year with a 3 metre differential between the wet and dry seasons.

The Caño Negro Reserve is particularly renowned for its incredible variety of birds but is also home to sloth, caiman, lizards and monkeys who reside in the surrounding lush rainforest and wetlands. As you meander slowly along the river your specialist guide will introduce you to the wildlife, vegetation and ecology of this tropical paradise. You will see anhinga and comorants diving for fish alongside a variety of egrets, kingfishers and herons. Caiman may lurk beneath the banks whilst Basilisk lizards, turtles and iguanas sun themselves on the protruding logs. Above you may hear the unmistakable call of howler monkeys and see a troop of spider monkeys or white-throated capuchins playing noisily in the canopy or swinging from branch to branch. If you're very lucky you may even see a sloth curled up in a tree beside the water's edge. Every time there is something of interest your boat will slow or stop so that everyone gets a chance to see and take photos whilst the guide provides a fascinating commentary.

Returning to the dock you drive to a nearby dining area where you will enjoy a traditional Costa Rican 'Costado' for lunch. You then make the return drive to La Fortuna arriving mid to late afternoon giving you time to relax and maybe head for the pool at your hotel.

Overnight: Arenal Manoa Resort Or Similar, La Fortuna

Day 7 - Drive to Monteverde – 3-4 hours. Afternoon walk in Santa Elena Cloudforest Reserve - 3 hours.

This morning you leave La Fortuna and drive past scenic Arenal Lake as you make your way high into the Cloudforest region of Monteverde. It's quite a long drive, the final stage of which is on bumpy, unpaved road so be prepared for your first Costa Rican massage!

As you reach Monteverde you will notice a welcome drop in temperature, a rise in humidity and a distinct change in vegetation as you are now in one of the most pristine and extensive cloudforests in Central America. It is an almost mystical landscape of ancient trees, bromeliads, ferns and mosses often shrouded in mist and home to a staggering abundance of flora and fauna, much of it unique to this higher altitude, moisture-rich ecosystem. Over 400 species of birds live in the cloudforest along with more than 100 species of mammal, and 1,200 different types of amphibians and reptiles.

This afternoon you will visit one of the jewels of the region, the Santa Elena Cloudforest Reserve - a private reserve dedicated to protecting the cloudforest environment. The reserve reaches an elevation of 1,650m/5,413ft and has several kilometres of interlocking trails, the longest being the Caño Negro trail at 4½ km. The dirt paths are well established and undulate through the plants and trees with some small amount of ascent and descent. Your guide will decide which route to follow as you go in search of exotic birds, unusual mammals and intriguing insects. Be aware that even in the dry season, you can experience rain showers in Monteverde so make sure you carry your waterproof jacket or poncho with you.

Overnight: Ficus Lodge Or Similar, Monteverde

Day 8 - Birdwatching walk in Curi-Cancha Reserve – 3-4 hours. Afternoon coffee and chocolate tour.

Your day will begin very early to maximise your bird-spotting opportunities but you will probably be woken at first light anyhow by Monteverde's incredible dawn chorus; a raucous symphony of piercing bird calls and melodic song punctuated by the echoing bark of howler monkeys; nature's very own alarm clock!

Not long after daybreak you will be taken to Curi-Cancha Reserve located in the Arenal-Tempisque conservation area in the heart of Monteverde, just 15 minutes from your hotel. Covering an area of 83 hectares (205 acres) and spanning an elevation of almost 200m (from 1,450m to 1,615m) it bisects both montane and cloud forest protecting a mixed landscape of 50% virgin forest, 45% secondary growth and 5% open pasture. This diversity of habitat houses an impressive number of bird species and makes it a true birdwatcher's paradise. The sought after Resplendent quetzal, Three-wattled bellbird, Blue-crowned motmot, Orange-bellied Trogon and many others are frequently seen here (particularly in the spring season) together with toucans and numerous hummingbirds. Indeed, over 250 species of birds have been observed making their home in Curi-Cancha. Your walk today will be led by an expert local ornithologist giving you the very best chance of spotting a good variety of these rare and beautiful birds.

When you enter the park the first thing you are likely to do is simply stand and listen as your guide begins to teach you how to identify the different bird calls you are hearing. Soon, you will be able to distinguish between the frog-like call of the toucan, the distinctive tones of the Three-wattled bell bird, the melodic song of the Clay-coloured thrush and the weirdly alien call of the Montezuma oropendola. The chase will then be on as you follow the trails through the reserve, seeking out the birds you can hear above - often close but remaining frustratingly hidden in the high canopy and dense foliage. At times the trails pass open areas of grassland with several good viewpoints and you will also come across clearings where you can just sit and watch as brilliant hummingbirds and butterflies flit through the surrounding flowering bushes, and small, brightly coloured birds dart in and out of the trees. Here you may also encounter agoutis, squirrels and coatis, the most commonly seen mammals in the area.

After three to four hours in Curi-Cancha your bird tour will end and you will head into the small town of Santa Elena to enjoy an early lunch in one of the many cafes that line the streets. It's also a good opportunity for some souvenir shopping or to stock up on any essentials.

In the afternoon you will visit a small coffee plantation in Monteverde where chocolate is also made. You will learn all about the growing and production processes and, of course, get the chance to sample the end product.

Overnight: Ficus Lodge Or Similar, Monteverde

Day 9 - Drive to Tenorio Volcano National Park – 3-3½ hours. Walk the Rio Celeste Trail, 6km - 2½-3 hours. Drive to Rinco de la Vieja – 2 hours.

Today you leave the cloudforest behind and drive to Rincon de la Vieja situated in the Guanacaste region in the far northwest of the country. For this stage of your adventure the focus switches away from wildlife and more towards landscapes as you explore the surreal scenery of this hot, dry and fiery region of Costa Rica.

The first part of your drive today is a scenic treat as you follow a ridgeline with panoramic views to both the west and east - as far as the Pacific Ocean on a clear day. You then join Costa Rica's main arterial highway before turning east for a final 45 minutes (on and off unpaved road) to arrive at the entrance to Parque Nacional Volcán Tenorio. Like Arenal volcano, Tenorio is considered an active volcano although without the eruptive displays previously experienced by its more southerly cousin. The area surrounding Tenorio was designated a National Park in 1995 and its major attraction is the dazzling blue water of the Rio Celeste River which flows through the park.

From the park entrance you follow the well-maintained Rio Celeste trail initially through lush rainforest where birds, insects and butterflies are plentiful and you may also see, or at least hear, monkeys in the trees above. The first main point of interest you reach is a picture-perfect waterfall where the waters tumble into a pool of brilliant, aqua-blue water. The amazing colour is the result of a natural chemical reaction occurring further upstream where two rivers join together creating a mixture of sulphur, copper sulphate and calcium carbonate.

You next come to an overview with great views of the peaks of Tenorio and neighbouring Montezuma Volcano. Continuing along the banks of the alluring river, where at times you will see the waters bubbling due to geo-thermal activity, the trail eventually ends at a gloriously coloured azure blue pool, a lovely spot to sit and enjoy a drink and snack. Rested, you retrace your steps back along the trail to the park entrance. Although not particularly long at just 6km, the undulating trail and high temperatures mean that it will take up to 3 hours to complete the walk. You can then enjoy a late lunch before continuing by road for another 2 hours to reach your accommodation at Rincon de la Vieja.

Overnight: Hacienda Gauchelpin Or Similar, Rincon De La Vieja

Day 10 - Las Pailas Trail walk, Rincon de la Vieja National Park, 6km – 2-3 hours. Hot springs visit.

Your hotel is located just a few kilometres away from the entrance to Rincon de la Vieja Park so it will take only 15 minutes to get there. When you reach the park entrance keep an eye out for Blue-crowned motmots and toucans which are often spotted in the surrounding trees.

Rugged Rincon de la Vieja National Park is dominated by its namesake volcano and the park is a hotbed of geo-thermal activity - Costa Rica's answer to Yellowstone in the States - and on this walk you will see (and smell!) a range of unusual volcanic features.

Las Pailas translates as 'the cauldrons', and this walk through the area on a man-made path, takes you close to many geo-thermal features. Steam and sulphur pour out of yellow and rust coloured earth from natural fumaroles; clay and coffee-coloured pools boil, like cauldrons, with hot volcanic water and smooth grey volcanic mud bubbles and explodes in large pits. It takes about two hours in total to complete the circular trail

Later in the day there will be an opportunity for a soothing dip in the nearby natural hot springs and explore the nature trail at your hotel.

Overnight: Hacienda Gauchelpin Or Similar, Rincon De La Vieja

Day 11 - Transfer to Hermosa Beach – 1 hour. Head to the beach!

From Rincon de la Vieja you drive to Hermosa Beach (Playa Hermosa) on the Pacific Ocean. Remember to have your swimwear with you as you'll head straight to the beach when you arrive.

The day is yours for sunbathing, swimming and idle relaxation. You will be able to check-in to your hotel room in the afternoon.

Overnight: Villa Del Sueno, Hermosa Beach

Day 12 - Time at leisure. Transfer to San Jose – 4 hours.

You can enjoy some further time at leisure before leaving after lunch for the journey back to San José. The drive will take around four hours although traffic congestion around San José can make this somewhat longer.

Overnight: Crowne Plaza Or Similar, San Jose

Day 13 - Transfer to Juan Santamaria Airport. Depart Costa Rica.

The day is free to relax at your hotel before transferring to the airport in good time for your overnight flight back to London.

Overnight: Departure Day

Day 14 - Arrive UK.