This exciting holiday explores Costa Rica's most dramatic contrasts: cloud forests, volcanoes, lakes, waterfalls and the Pacific coast. You'll be amazed at the amount of wildlife you'll encounter. From quetzals and tree frogs to agoutis and iguanas, each day is memorably different.
Our local guides have an expert knowledge of Costa Rica's flora and fauna and are passionate walkers. With them, our tour is even more remarkable as we learn about Costa Rica's unique natural inheritance. Walking on forest paths and some country tracks, you'll spot wildlife along the way with agoutis and coatis scrambling across the path in Monteverde and monkeys swinging through the trees at Rincon de la Vieja. Awe-inspiring panoramas abound with balcony views to the distant Pacific Ocean and sweeping vistas over Lake Arenal and to the magnificent volcano.
The hotels you stay in are typically mountain lodge style with separate small buildings or bungalows. All have beautiful tropical gardens and swimming pools. Highlights include Arenal, where you look out at the volcano and the Bosque del Mar and Margaritaville on Playa Hermosa and Playa Flamingo respectively. Lunches are a mix of picnics and local restaurants, whilst dinners are taken in the hotels. One evening is spent at Eco Termales in Arenal where dinner is enjoyed after relaxation time in the hot springs!
This varied walking holiday is mainly on jungle trails and country tracks. Rainforest trails can be slippery and steep in sections, so walking boots are essential.
Arrive at your hotel in Santo Domingo, just outside San Jose, where you will receive a snack upon arrival.
Today we head to Monte de Barva, a private property in the mountains where we explore forests with views over the Central Valley. Our walk ends with a typical Costa Rican lunch cooked on a wooden stove. We return to the hotel via the town of Barva, one of the oldest settlements in Costa Rica, famous for its colonial architecture and its dedication to retaining its culture. There's time to explore the hotel gardens and have a swim before dinner.
Breakfast, lunch and evening meal included
It's on to Monteverde, where we follow a forest trail through soaring ridge oak decked with bright orange clusia, in search of the resplendent quetzal, then onwards through the emerald forest canopy to the Continental Divide where the Caribbean and Pacific meet. Our next 2 nights are spent here.
Breakfast, lunch and evening meal included
Walking through lush pastures with balcony views over curving Nicoya Peninsula, we soon reach the hamlet of Canitas. A gradual climb through forest then brings us to the pretty mountain village of Cebadilla. Before dinner, we take a fascinating stroll through the cloud forest spotting tree frogs and hummingbirds.
Breakfast, lunch and evening meal included
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. We then take a boat to the western side of the lake for superb views over Arenal Volcano.
Breakfast, lunch and evening meal included
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 birdwatcher's paradise and is also home to a number of endangered mammals and reptile species - look out for caimans, turtles and tapirs.
Breakfast, lunch and evening meal included
Today we visit the Arenal butterfly and frog gardens and stop off at an indigenous Malecus village. It's then on to the famous La Fortuna Waterfall before continuing on to relax in the hot springs at Eco Termales!
Breakfast, lunch and evening meal included
We move onwards to Rincon de la Vieja, beginning our walk through rainwood and Spanish cedar, maybe spotting turkey vultures flitting above us. We reach Las Chorreras and Victoria Falls, a 35m high torrent thundering through a verdant gorge. There's time for a paddle before going on to our hotel for dinner. We spend two nights here.
Breakfast, lunch and evening meal included
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 we walk through woodland, where violet guaria morada (Costa Rica's national flower) grows, to Las Pailas, an eerie landscape of bubbling mud and geysers.
Breakfast, lunch and evening meal included
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 - there are superb photo opportunities here! Then it's on to the coast, where our final two nights are spent overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
Breakfast, lunch and evening meal included
Relax on the beach - the perfect end to our tour. There's the option to stay on here for extra nights.
Breakfast, lunch and evening meal included
During your holiday you stay at the following hotels. If you'd like to extend your time at any of these or, if you'd like to enhance your stay with an upgraded room, just let us know at the time of booking.
To find out more call our sales team on 0044 1606 720199, use our live webchat or email sales@headwater.com
Find out more on the hotel website.
Read customer reviews on Tripadvisor.
The Bougainvillea Hotel is in Santo Domingo, just 25 minutes from San Jose international airport and about 15 minutes from the centre of San Jose.
Find out more on the hotel website.
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The well appointed 4* Hotel Poco a Poco has a picturesque setting in the centre of Monteverde, and not far from the frog pond.. It comes with a heated pool and superb spa facilities.
Find out more on the hotel website.
Read customer reviews on Tripadvisor.
NEARBY:
The Hotel Fonda Vela is one of the nicest hotels in Monteverde. Set back from the town, it is one of the nearest hotels to the entrance to the nature reserve that has made Monteverde famous. The park entrance is no more than a 5 minutes drive from here.
Find out more on the hotel website.
Read customer reviews on Tripadvisor.
The Eco Arenal Hotel is surrounded by lush vegetation and overlooks the volcano of the same name.
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Read customer reviews on Tripadvisor.
The Hacienda Guachipelin is located right on the edge of the Rincon de la Vieja National Park. The lodge started up as a cattle ranch, and is still owned by one of Costa Rica's most famous horsemen, Don Tomas.
Find out more on the hotel website.
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NEARBY:
The Arenal Observatory Lodge is one of the most historical hotels in Arenal in that it was originally the observatory lodge for the scientists that first came to study the volcano in 1987. The lodge is surrounded by hectares of parkland and it is the only hotel in Arenal that is within the Arenal National Park.
Find out more on the hotel website.
Read customer reviews on Tripadvisor.
NEARBY:
The Bosque del Mar hotel is a beachfront property on the grey sand Playa Hermosa (beautiful beach). The hotel is set in beautiful gardens and surrounded by tropical forests.
Find out more on the hotel website.
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The Margaritaville Hotel has a superb location on the pristine golden sands of Playa Flamingo. It comes with lovely tropical gardens and spa facilities.Transfers can be arranged at a supplement from San Jose airport at 20:25 and back to Liberia airport for the 14:20 flight.
Call now to speak to our specialist team at 0044 1606 720199 or email us at sales@headwater.com for enquiries or to book your trip.
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You can be confident that our pricing includes all the standard requirements of your holiday and many additional extras. Always ensure that you are comparing like for like when booking your holiday.
This 11 night guided walking holiday includes:
Hotel-to-hotel accommodation in a mix of and hotels
Continental breakfast, 10 lunches and 10 evening meals. Snack on arrival
Services of an experienced walking guide
Standard transfers at the start/end of the trip (if booking inclusive flights)
Boat trip included
Air-conditioned vehicle
How to book:
To book this holidays speak to our sales team on 0044 1606 720199 or click on the appropriate 'book now' or 'check availability' button below.
To book this holiday call our sales team on 0044 1606 720199 or click on the appropriate 'Book now' or 'check availability' button below.
Departure date | Tour only | Prices | Single supplement |
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We do not currently have departure dates and prices available on-line. The season may have ended for this tour, or we are still in the process of adding these details to our website. Please contact us for further details.
Minimum group sizes
A minimum of 6 people (in total) are required for each departure.
Solo travellers
Please call for details and prices
Children
This holiday is unsuitable for children.
Holiday type
Guided walking Managed locally by Headwater appointed agent.
Departures
Meals
Continental breakfast, 10 lunches and 10 evening meals. Snack on arrival
Tour only
Transfers can be arranged at a supplement from San Jose airport at 20:25 and back to Liberia airport for the 14:20 flight.
If you choose to book your own flights please check with us first that your chosen departure date is definitely operating as our guided holidays are subject to minimum group sizes.
To book this holidays speak to our sales team on 0044 1606 720199 or click on the appropriate 'book now' button above.
If you need further information before you book simply complete our Holiday Enquiry Form and a member of our sales team will get back to you.
To book this holiday call our sales team on 0044 1606 720199 or click on the appropriate 'Book now' or 'Check availability' button below.