Costa Rican Adventure

Today you head towards the country’s oldest city, Cartago, much damaged over the centuries by earthquakes and the eruptions of Irazu Volcano, which dominates the town. The fertile soils, now intensely cultivated in a patchwork of fields, bear witness to a period of extreme volcanic activity during the last century. The drive up to Irazu’s bleak, lunar summit (3432m) passes through stunning scenery before you walk the short distance to see its deep, smoking crater. Next you explore the National Monument of Guayabo, Costa Rica’s sole archaeological site which contains the extensive remains of a settlement abandoned in the 15th century and was thus unknown to the Spanish. From here it’s only a short distance to your overnight stop, close to the town of Turrialba. Total driving time today is approximately two hours.
Lodge - 2 nights (B)

Today you follow the Reventazon River and head down a road of dramatic switchbacks through magnificent scenery to the hot and steamy coastal plain. Turning south-east, you drive parallel to the coast, through flatlands given over almost entirely to banana cultivation. You pass Puerto Limon, where Columbus made landfall on his fourth and final voyage, thinking he had found the East Indies!

The influence of the Caribbean is immediately obvious; the population is largely black, much English is spoken, the music is predominantly calypso or reggae and the pace of life distinctly more laid-back than in the cool of the mountains. From Puerto Limon south, you skirt a succession of sandy beaches en route to your destination, the low-key town of Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, which attracts many surfers due to its legendary waves. Approximately four hours driving today.
Rustic lodge (shared facilities) - 2 nights (B)

Retracing your steps northward past Puerto Limon, after a two hour drive, you board a launch to navigate the waterways into the Tortuguero National Park. Los Canales were dug during the 1960s to connect the coastal lagoons and a maze of natural channels to transport lumber by boat. They now form a 100km long highway through dense rainforest. Every now and then the thickly-forested banks are broken by a clearing where settlers eke out an existence from slash-and-burn agriculture and fishing. The riverbank lodge stands amidst Caribbean rainforest; tonight you fall asleep to the unearthly cry of the howler monkey, and wake in the morning to the screech of toucan and oropendula. The boat trip lasts approximately two hours.
Lodge - 2 nights (BLD)

Your morning flight by small plane crosses the volcanoes of the Cordillera Central to arrive at San José, where you rejoin the bus. You depart immediately to drive up Poas Volcano (2708m) for a short walk to the rim of its mile-wide smoking crater; the second largest and one of the most active in the world. The trails of this national park pass through interesting dwarf cloud-forest where the rich bird life includes several species of hummingbird and Costa Rica’s national bird, the clay-coloured robin - whose song is particularly melodious. After admiring the wonderful views (weather permitting), you descend through the agricultural heartland to Fortuna de Arenal. This evening you can bathe in waters (optional) as Arenal Volcano (1633m) looms broodingly over the town. Total driving time today is approximately five hours. Hotel - 1 night (B)