Costa Rica – April 2023

16 Nights: Saturday 8 April – Wednesday 26 April 2023

Share twin per person	NZD$11,950
Single supplement (limited availability)	NZD$2,300

Tiny Costa Rica contains breath-taking landforms and an amazing 5% of the world's biodiversity. A quarter of the land is protected in its natural state. The country sits in a turbulent region but famously abolished its military decades ago, and now tops the Happy Planet Index. This tour explores the interior and coastlines of this small country, including rain forest and cloud forest, coastal jungles, rich and diverse wildlife and active volcanoes. The capital San José reveals some of Costa Rica's vibrant present, and colonial and pre-Columbian history.

Begin in San José, from where you will travel to one of the world's largest active volcanoes, and explore some of the tropical agricultural land and nature preserves that dot Costa Rica. Then descend to the Caribbean coast to visit an area called 'Little Amazon', where twisting inland waterways pierce dense jungle and give you a close look at the region's varied wildlife. No roads reach here, so you'll be travelling by boat. A journey north takes you to the active volcano of Arenal, where there is time to relax in tropical gardens, swim in hot pools and enjoy the stunning views of this photogenic peak. Later see the volcano up close on a hike along its base, traversing both dense forest and old lava flows where vegetation is slowly reappearing after recent eruptions.

At Monteverde in Costa Rica's exotic interior, tropical plants, birds and other wildlife will enchant you. The cloud forest reserves in this area contain unique ecosystems, as many plants and animals are particular to the area. Outside the reserve you'll visit a family-run coffee and sugar plantation, and learn how these products are grown and processed.

A complete contrast is Manuel Antonio National Park, on Costa Rica's Pacific coast. A hike or even a kayak trip will get you into the jungle and up close to some of the hundreds of tropical birds, lizards and mammals, and you'll have time to kick back and enjoy time on the beach.

The tour ends back in the nation's capital, San José, where you can discover the city's culture and history through visits to some of its historic neighbourhoods of Spanish colonial mansions, the national museum and the gold museum with original jewellery from pre-Columbian times.

Costa Rica is not a big country, so travel distances aren't large. But it packs a lot into its small size, earning it the name of the 'rich coast'. Everywhere you'll encounter friendly Ticos, as the locals are called, enjoying 'la pura vida' — pure life.