Compare Walking In Costa Rica by Wildtouch Tours and Travel

Day 1

You will be met at San Jose Airport and transferred to this capital city in the Central Valley region, with the Talamanca Mountains to the south and volcanoes to the north.

Check into your hotel and relax in this modern city.

Day 2

This morning your hire car will be dropped off at your hotel. After taking delivery of your vehicle, drive 3.5-hours from San Jose through beautiful Costa Rican scenery to the Arenal Volcano - one of the most active in Central America.

Your route crosses a large cattle and agricultural area, where chocolate is grown. Cacao was very important in the ancient Mayan and Aztec civilizations and today it is enjoyed throughout the world.

Check into your hotel in La Fortuna, where you can relax and enjoy the surrounding national park and its thermal hot springs.

Day 3

This morning explore with your private guide the Arenal National Park, with its volcano and hot springs.

We start with a tour of the Hanging Bridges, a series of suspension bridges that offer wonderful views of Lake Arenal and the volcano. The bridges form part of a 2-mile (3 km) interpretative trail, allowing you to enjoy the great diversity of flora and fauna inside this mountainous zone, as well as outstanding bird watching.

In the afternoon enjoy a guided tour of Arenal National Park, with its volcano and hot springs. Arenal Volcano rises to 5,250 feet and towers over the village of La Fortuna. On the morning of 29 July 1968, after having been inactive for three thousand years, it erupted in the most spectacular way. The earth started shaking, clouds of ashes rose into the sky, women washing clothes by the river felt the water becoming hot, and lava started pouring down the side of the volcano.

Your tour of the volcano starts with a drive to its active northwestern side, followed by a guided walk along either the Toucan Trail through the rainforest and across a large lava flow, or along the El Silencio Mirador Trail (depending on weather conditions). Your guide will explain the great variety of plants, wildlife and lava rock formations found in these rainforests, with their abundant bird life. Once on top of the lava flow you will have a beautiful view of Lake Arenal. The hike ends at a viewing area where, weather permitting, you may be able to see red hot lava rolling down the side of the volcano.

Day 4

Today enjoy a full day of hiking with your private guide, exploring Chato Hill and walking to La Fortuna Waterfall.

Chato Hill is a domant volcano, known locally as Arenal's brother. We hike up its west side and down into the crater, which has a beautiful lake. From here we hike up out of the crater, and then down the east side to La Fortuna Waterfall.

Note: Boxed lunch is included today. You need to be fit to undertake this strenuous hike.

Day 5

Today drive 2.5-hours from Arenal and travel westwards towards San Bernardo de Bagaces, situated on the PanAmerican Highway in the province of Guanacaste.

Here you will find the Rio Perdido (meaning 'Lost River'), a thermo-mineral gorge that draws energy from deep magma flows. Along the riverbed there are 8 active hot springs that produce dozens of soothing pools of varying temperatures.

Day 6

This morning enjoy a guided walk from Las Tumbas to the magnificent Diamante Waterfall. You can either walk the shorter 5 km route, or add on the 10 km loop for a more challeng hike.

As you walk through this primary rainforest you will learn more about the flora, including the medicinal plants of the forest. You may also see monkeys and many different birds, including toucans. On arrival at the waterfall, enjoy a picnic lunch in the cave behind the falls. The eroded volcanic rock formations in this area are amazing.

Day 7

Leave San Bernardo de Bagaces today and drive 4.5-hours to the Pacific coast town of Dominical, popular with surfers because of its year-round waves.

Check into your hotel and explore the town and its splendid beaches.

Day 8

Today enjoy a 6-hour guided hike through the dense jungles of Dominical to the impressive Nauyaca Waterfalls.

Walk through a canyon surrounded by tropical rainforest, to the point where the Barucito River plunges down in a series of waterfalls, into a spectacular deep swimming pool. The highest waterfall is 148 ft (45 m). You can swim in the largest natural pool, or relax in one of many smaller pools and enjoy this stunning environment.

Note: Boxed lunch is included today. You need to be fit to undertake this strenuous hike.

Day 9

Drive 2.5-hours today, travelling inland from Dominical to San Gerardo de Dota in the beautiful Savegre River Valley.

Check into your hotel close to the cloud forest of Los Quetzales National Park, which is a haven for walkers and bird watchers.

Day 10

Today enjoy a 6-hour guided hike down Buena Vista Mountain.

Your morning starts with a drive to the top of the mountain, where a stunning panorama awaits. On a clear day it is possible to see the central and southern Pacific, as well as some of the volcanoes of the Central Cordillera. You will feel as if you are looking down on a life-size map.

From the mountain high point of 11,450 ft (3,492 m), the trail drops downwards through the cloud forest to 7,220 ft (2,200 m). At first you are surrounded by sub-alpine forest, known as páramo, where the vegetation does not grow higher than a metre. As the hike progresses, the eco-system changes until you are immersed in the cloud forest with its huge oaks and perpetually green vegetation. This hike is a unique experience that will stay with you forever.

Note: Boxed lunch is included today. You need to be fit to undertake this strenuous hike.

Day 11

This morning drive 2-hours from San Gerardo de Dota to Turrialba - the gateway to Tuirrialba Volcano National Park.

Check into your hotel in this beautiful but lesser known region of Costa Rica.

Day 12

Spend 6-hours today on a guided hike along the Turrialba Jimenez Biological Corridor on the Finca Monteclaro estate.

Discover many hidden spots unreachable by car and enjoy beautiful views of the valley and meadows below filled with cattle. Keep an eye out for the flora and fauna of the forest, before enjoying an included box lunch on the banks of the Reventazon River, with its abundant bird life.

On the way back, we stop at the bottom of a lovely waterfall for some natural refreshment before completing the day walking through an organic coffee farm and lush sugar cane fields.

Day 13

After a morning at leisure, drive 2-hours to San Jose Airport for your flight home.