Costa Rica & Nicaragua tour

country:	Costa Rica, Nicaragua
departures:	2009: 12 Dec 2010: 23 Jan, 27 Mar, 22 May, 31 Jul, 16 Oct, 25 Dec
price:	From £3678 - £3798 (14 days) including flights from the UK. Price includes local guides, internal flights, transport and accommodation, meals and excursions, departure tax on internal flights within Latin America. Minimum age 12
late availability:	Spaces still available leaving 23 January
vouchers:	Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday

photo gallery see previous photo

1of5

Costa Rica holidays here

Nicaragua holidays here

Luxury adventure holidays here

the amazing things you'll be doing

This 14 day Costa Rica & Nicaragua tour combines luxury lodges, wildlife and history. Drift through wildlife strewn jungles on the rivers and streams of the Tortuguero National Park, before bird spotting in the misty cloud-forests around Monteverde. Contrast this with the comfort of Nicaragua’s premier coastal destination, Morgan’s Rock, and the historic masterpiece, colonial Granada.

Highlights of our Costa Rica & Nicaragua tour:

Visit the creeks, mangroves and wildlife of the Tortuguero National Park.

The misty cloud-forest of Monteverde, brimming with birdlife.

Take to the hot springs and hanging bridges, which lie at the foot of the active Arenal Volcano.

Pristine coastal scenery and jungle from the cabins at the prestigious Morgan’s Rock eco-lodge.

Historic Granada, Central America’s oldest colonial city, and Nicaragua’s unspoilt masterpiece.

Style of travel: We stay in top quality hotels and lodges in tranquil rural locations, with excellent facilities, several have extensive gardens and pools.

A few days to spare? If you have a few days to spare, we can arrange extensions to the beginning or end of this tour, on a private basis. Why not enjoy the outdoor activities and fresh seafood at Punta Islita, a top-of-the-range eco-lodge on the forested hills of the Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica, with a two-tier infinity pool.

Best time to go on our Costa Rica & Nicaragua tour: The dry season in the Central Highlands and Pacific Coast is from December to May, with clear blue skies. The ‘green season’ takes place for the rest of year. Rain can be expected but it comes in short sharp bursts and is welcome to keep the temperature down.

day-by-day itinerary

Day 1:	Fly UK to San Jose
Day 2-3:	Drive and boat to Tortuguero National Park on the Caribbean coast, abundant with birds and wildlife.
Day 4-6:	Fly and drive to the cloud-forested hills of Monteverde.
Day 7:	Drive to Arenal, an active volcano since 1968. Weather permitting, witness explosions and lava flows.
Day 8:	A guided hike through the rainforest traversed by bridges. Later relax at the Hidalgo hot springs.
Day 9:	Cross the border into Nicaragua and indulge yourself at the prestigious Morgan’s Rock Eco-Lodge.
Day 10:	At leisure to enjoy the lodges optional excursions or relax by the pool or in your cabin.
Day 11:	Drive to unspoilt Granada, the jewel of colonial Central America.
Day 12:	Visit Masaya’s artisan market and view the volcano of the same name at night.
Day 13:	Drive To Managua, where you depart for home.
Day 14:	Arrive UK.

small group adventure holiday

This trip is run by a company which specialises in only Central and South America holidays. Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-20 like minded travellers (depending on the trip and how many others are booked on it) and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone, with your partner or with friends its good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting new people as well as seeing new places, whilst being led by a knowledgeable and enthusiastic leader.

how this holiday makes a difference

Environment
Costa Rica is renowned for its long standing achievements in conservation and environmental issues and is one of Latin Americas best promoters of responsible tourism. Combining luxury accommodation with eco-tourism is the ethos of this tour and the accommodation chosen reflects the advanced practices in sustainable tourism, recycling and local initiatives in this region.

Tortuga Lodge, set within the Tortuguero National Park prides itself on conservation. The lodge supports the local sea turtle project which studies and tags the turtles that come to nest on Tortuguero Beach. Tortuga Lodge has implemented an energy conservation program that saves an average of 50% of the overall electrical energy consumption. The Lodge has a unique swimming pool that mirrors the river beside it and which uses a small amount of salt instead of polluting chlorine.

In Monteverde, another National Park, the Monteverde Lodge and Gardens shows its continuing commitment to minimum impact and rational use of resources. Monteverde Lodge was the pioneer hotel in the area in garbage separation for recycling. This is an attitude that has extended to the inhabitants of Monteverde to the point that the local Conservation League and the Cloud Forest Reserve are now in charge of recycling for most of the community.

Another expression of their commitment is the installation, with the help of the U.S. Department of Energy and a local energy efficiency expert, of a solar energy system that saves an average of 50% on our overall electrical energy consumption. In addition to the solar panels, high efficiency lighting and water-saving fixtures have been installed to reduce the consumption of natural resources.

Morgan’s Rock Eco-Lodge near the town of San Juan del Sur in Nicaragua offers the height of luxury. Pioneering a new trend in eco-tourism, the lodge combines tree farming and reforestation as well as organic and traditional agriculture, 60% of the food served at the lodge is grown on the premises, benefitting from a sophisticated irrigation system based on a wastewater treatment plant that eventually produces clean water.

Community
Morgan’s Rock is also involved in projects in the local area, most notably with local schools. They have provided backpacks filled with school supplies, uniforms, story books and other useful materials. They are also now working in conjunction with the Ministry of Education to improve learning in the community.

Later on the tour we visit the Indian market town of Masaya. Here local artisans create fine ceramics, wood and leather souvenirs as well the best hammocks in Central America. All of which can be purchased providing much need money to the poor local areas.

On this Costa Rica & Nicaragua tour we work with small privately owned ground agents who live in the area, have established RT policies in place, and employ local guides and staff. We eat in local restaurants serving locally grown produce – our style of travel ensures that as many local people as possible benefit by our being there. This tour runs with a maximum of 20 people which helps to minimise the impact on delicate environments and communities.

Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people.

We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel.

'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left).

We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays.

We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism.

This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards.