Costa Rica Walking & Nature Tour

If you have the sixth sense of a coffee-lover, you’ll have realized by now that we’re in one of the world’s premier coffee regions. The central valley here is overshadowed by magnificent Poas Volcano, and combining the comfortable altitude and climate with the rich soil left by lava deposits makes for incredible growing conditions for Costa Rica's main export, coffee. We stop along the way for a visit with friends who own a coffee plantation for the chance to learn about how this staple is grown and exported, as well as the delicious opportunity to sample the local specialties. 

If you feel geographically challenged during our journey, don’t fear: we too think the landscape is remarkably similar to the English Lake District. Later in the day, we’ll continue to Villa Blanca. Overnight: Villa Blanca Meals: L, D

Guided walks on easy to moderate trails take us deep into the primary cloud forest where we have a chance to spot the resplendent quetzal (one of the most beautiful birds in the Americas), emerald toucanets, black guans, prong-billed barbets. Some of the mammals that we encounter include coatis and olingos, as well as white-faced capuchin monkeys. A real benefit of exploring with a naturalist is the first-hand interpretation of the cloud forest's ecology, as our guides explain the myriad of interactions between tropical plants and animals. 

Just as you think you have the feel of the natural history of the area, things change a little this afternoon as we find some time after lunch to add a dose of cultural interaction to our explorations. The locals here are called ticos, and they are wonderfully friendly. Schooling is also a high priority in this gentle, democratic republic. And so depending on the season and school calendar, we make a visit to one of the local schools near San Ramon to chat with the village children about their studies and interests. To see them in their uniforms playing and interacting with their teachers is really a treat. 

We continue en route to Arenal by way of a friend’s plantation. Juan and his wife, Maria, are small-scale farmers who raise all sorts of crops, including sugar cane, bananas, avocados, pineapples and herbs. We’ll pause for a visit and learn how they’ve created a sustainable eco-farm, see first hand the process of making sugar cane, and maybe even try their tasty sugar caneliquor, guaro. Overnight: Arenal Meals: B, L, D

If you thought a ground level view of Arenal was impressive, wait until you see your vantage point this afternoon. Our lunch precedes an afternoon walk to a series of hanging bridges that offers us the incredible opportunity to observe the plant and animal life from tree top level. These forests have complex canopies of vines and treetops and an abundance of epiphytic life, including orchids and ferns. Far different from the low land rain forest, the cloud forest is filled with flora that gathers water and promotes precipitation and condensation. It’s just incredible to see them at eye level in the canopy and our expert guides help in identifying the 2,500 plant species, the 300 types of orchids, 200 species of ferns, as well as the 9 types of butterflies. Watch carefully, as you may even spot a black howler monkey! Overnight: Arenal Meals: B, L, D

A late afternoon drive brings us to Manuel Antonio Park. Though we’re well into the day, it just keeps getting better as we settle into our luxurious hotel on a promontory a few hundred feet above the crescent-shaped beaches of Manuel Antonio. You can decide if the more spectacular view is of the coastline…or of the private villas and rain forest that surround the property. Overnight: Manuel Antonio Park Meals: B, L, D

Today is the first of two days of spectacular game and bird viewing at Manuel Antonio Park. While the park is small (only 1,685 acres), it protects a remarkable grouping of animals, birds, plants, trees and three magnificent horseshoe shaped beaches, each divided by primary forest and accessible by a series of jungle trails. The park owes its biodiversity to the large number of trees, including bully, black locust, cow, silk and cotton, as well as the mangrove swamps, marsh land and lagoons. The shy squirrel monkeys (found only here and on the Osa Peninsula) live in the park, as do two- and three-toed sloths, raccoons, coatis and white-faced monkeys. Our walks include Cathedral Point, where there is the lookout to Mogote Island, one of 12 islands in the park and site of pre-Columbian Quepo Indian burials. Overnight: Manuel Antonio Park Meals: B, L, D

Afternoon offers the chance to relax by the pool or venture into the rustic fishing village of Quepos for exploring the little shops and cantinas. If you prefer, make another foray into the park where you can relax on the sandy crescent beach, boogie board or snorkel in the warm blue waters of the Pacific Ocean that reach right up to the park. This evening, we gather together for our farewell dinner, as the sun slips below the horizon. Overnight: Manuel Antonio Park Meals: B, L, D