Costa Rica Wildlife Walk

Location: Costa Rica. Holiday type: Guided walking, hotel-to-hotel. Groups of 4 to 16 people, no minimum group size on selected dates. Managed by Headwater appointed agent. Activity level: 2 boots Duration: 13 days (12 nights) Hotels: A mix of luxury/stylish, mid range/good value. Meals: Continental breakfast, 11 lunches and 11 evening meals. Prices from: £2099 per person. Departs: Selected dates from 23 Jan '12 to 10 Mar '13   JFMAMJJASOND

Highlights To judge Costa Rica purely on its natural bounty would be a mistake. Costa Ricans, known as Ticos, are warm, friendly people whose kindness is as integral to their country as the rainforest.

Day-by-day itinerary

Day 1 - Arrive in Costa Rica

We meet you and take you to your hotel (20 mins) in Alajuela, just outside of San Jose.

Day 2 - Coffee Plantations of Alajuela 7km/4mi/3hr

Descending through meadows bordered with pink hydrangeas, the Central Valley and San Jose are below us as we wind down to a coffee plantation. We visit the benificio (mill) and savour the aroma of fresh beans drying on the sun baked patio, returning to the hotel in time for a swim before dinner.

Day 3 - Monteverde Cloud Forest 12km/7.5mi/3hr

On to Monteverde, where we follow a forest trail through soaring ridge oak decked with bright orange clusia, in search of the resplendent quetzal. Onwards through the emerald forest canopy to the Continental Divide where the Caribbean and Pacific meet. Our next 2 nights are spent in Monteverde.

Day 4 - Canitas and Cebadillas 15km/9mi/3.5hr

Walking through lush pastures with balcony views over curving Nicoya peninsula we soon reach the hamlet of Canitas. A gradual climb through forest brings us to Cebadillas mountain village. Before dinner, we take a fascinating evening stroll through the rain forest spotting tree frogs and hummingbirds.

Day 5 - To Volcano Arenal 17km/11mi/5hr

We wind through farmsteads bright with blue flowered St Lucia trees overlooking the western shore of Lake Arenal. We'll pass cattle ranches, stud farms and dairies before continuing along the shore, spotting scarlet tanagers flitting through the reeds, before taking a boat to the western side of the lake for superb views over Arenal Volcano.

Day 6 - Cano Negro Boat Tour

Today's tour takes us first by road then by boat through the Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge close to the Nicaraguan border. It's a bird watchers paradise as well as home to a number of endangered mammals and reptile species, including crocodiles, turtles and tapirs.

Day 7 - Exploring Arenal and La Fortuna Waterfall 8km/5mi/5hr

Today we visit the Arenal butterfly and frog gardens and stop off at an indigenous Malekus village. On to the famous La Fortuna Waterfall - swimming possible - then back to the hotel mid-afternoon.

Day 8 - Rincon de la Vieja National Park 6km/4mi/3hr

Onwards to Rincon de la Vieja, beginning our walk through rainwood and Spanish cedar. Continuing through forest, maybe spotting turkey vultures flitting above us, we reach Victoria Falls, a 35m high torrent thundering through a verdant gorge. Time for a paddle before going on to our hotel for dinner. We spend 3 nights here.

Day 9 - Rincon de la Vieja Volcano 14km/9mi/6.5hr

Spider monkeys swing through the trees and dappled sunlight is replaced by swirling mist as we reach the feathery tree ferns of the cloud forest, alive to the chatter of tree frogs. The walks takes us to the area of Las Pailas (The Cauldrons) which includes the active volcano, Rincon de la Vieja (Old Woman's Place), complete with fumaroles, mud pots and steam vents.

Day 10 - Blue Lagoon and Thermal Springs 10km/6mi/3hr

Look out for toucans and white-fronted amazons, as we descend to La Cangreja waterfall. Its blue lagoon is so inviting we have to take a dip before our picnic. Then through woodland, where violet guaria morada (Costa Rica's national flower) grows, to Las Pailas - an eerie landscape of bubbling mud and geysers.

Day 11 - Santa Rosa National Park 4km/1.5mi/2hr

Today we walk through Central America's largest protected dry forest. We may spot coatis, tapirs and iguanas as we descend to continue along the Indio Desnudo Trail - superb photo opportunities. Then to Playa Ocotal where our final 2 nights are spent overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

Day 12 - Free day

Ocotal with its romantic cliff top setting, private beach, swimming pool, diving centre and spa is the perfect end to our tour - and there's the option to stay on here for extra nights.

Day 13 - Leave Costa Rica

We take you to Liberia airport (45 min) for your return flight.