web www.tripsworldwide.co.uk Tropical rainforests, active volcanoes, bands of inquisitive monkeys and vivid macaws - the small but incredibly diverse country of Costa Rica offers a myriad of thrilling sights.
Trips Worldwide are offering an excellent value 15-day exploration of one of their all-time favourite destinations to explore some of country’s most exciting and geographically diverse regions, commencing with a visit to Poas Volcano, one of a number of volcanoes surrounding the cosmopolitan capital of San José.
Next on the agenda is a climb on one of the short trails through an eerie landscape of charred trees and past fizzing steam vents to peer over the edge of the crater – Poas Volcano which has been erupting for 11 million years and is an incredible sight.
Tortuguero National Par, one of the world's most important nesting sites for endangered green sea turtles and home to 50 kinds of fish, countless birds and 160 different mammal species is included in the trek.
The tropical lowland area of SarapiquÙŠis a perfect stop-off point for the journey from Tortuguera to Arenal. It is one of the richest areas in the country for birding, with the great Green Macaw being a particular highlight.
Incredible to look at but inadvisable to climb, Arenal is the most active volcano in Costa Rica. At night the orange glow of lava light up the dark, as it blows out of the top and courses down the side of the volcano can be seen.
Guests are accommodated in a small hotel set at the foot of the volcano, in rustic cabin-style rooms offering spectacular views of the fireworks! Next, the cloudforests of Monteverde, the steamy habitat of around 2500 species of plant, 100 different mammals, nearly 500 types of butterfly (including the Blue Morpho) and 400 bird species.
The two most exciting ways to views the wildlife are on the Skywalk, a walkway allowing treetop wanderings through the forest canopy (binoculars essential), or on the exhilarating Sky Trek that whizzes through the canopy on a system of zip wires. But this option does make bird spotting more difficult though! Finally its time for some R&R on the Caribbean beach of Samara, before returning to San José.