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This trip is designed for those who want to explore Costa Rica and Panama’s natural beauty and discover why visitors are so passionate about this beautiful region. We travel in small, intimate groups (maximum of 13 passengers) and have the benefit of a professionally trained local guide who knows the best places in the national parks and wilderness areas to respectfully observe wildlife, to enjoy fun, adventurous activities and appreciate the flavours of the local culture.
Discover the lunar landscape of the Irazú, the highest volcano in Costa Rica. With luck, you may even be able to admire both oceans: the Pacific and the Caribbean Sea and continue to the Turrialba area, well known not only as the Mecca of the White Water Rafting activities but as an area of immense beauty. From your ideally located farm, enjoy the astonishing 360º view including both volcanoes (Irazú and Turrialba), the nearby Guayabo Archaeological Site and the majestic Reventazón River.
Your next stop will be the Costa Rican Caribbean. Be amazed by the encounter of three cultures: the Afro-Caribbean, the European and the Indigenous. Your visit to the small indigenous territory of Keköldi will allow you to observe the Green Iguana farm and the medicinal plant garden at the Keköldi Native Reserve. Learn about the Bribri mythology and admire the local craft.
Upon your return from Bocas del Toro in Panamá and on your way to the Pacific Coast, hike in search of the almost extinct mythic quetzal bird (optional) in the highest peaks of the Talamanca Mountain Range. Your diverse and different holiday will come to an end in the world renown Manuel Antonio National Park where you will observe the Squirrel monkey (Saimiri orstedii), the most endangered species in Central America and only to be found in the Central and Southern Pacific coast of Costa Rica. A visit to ASCOMOTI (Association for the conservation of the squirrel monkey) can be organized (optional) where special native tree species are planted to save the Naranjo River Biological Corridor, which is a main habitat of the squirrel monkeys.
We will overnight in state/national/private owned campgrounds or in locally owned 2-3 star hotels and lodges. When camping, our group is self sufficient as we provide camping gear and portable kitchen. When lodging, we eat our meals in locally owned restaurants. Throughout the trip we utilize established local suppliers for activities en route that help support local business and keep money in the community. We have over 37 years of experience operating small-group adventure tours that foster understanding, appreciation and conservation of the cultures and environments we visit. We are committed to working with our clients and the peoples of our host destinations to ensure direct economic benefits at a community level. We aim to operate beyond best practice guidelines and to provide a tour programme that creates a positive impact on the lands that we visit and a lasting impression for those who travel with us.
The tour is led by one of our fully trained local guides. Prior to leading our groups, guides must successfully complete an in-house intensive training programme. During this time we support the guides with accommodation, activities and supplemental salary.
We utilize private vehicle and local suppliers for accommodation and activities throughout to ensure the economic benefit stays in the local community. This includes working with local operators and lodging in locally owned hotels/lodges whenever possible. When lodging, we endeavour to eat our meals in locally owned, family run restaurants which support local business, as well as allows passengers to experience local flavour and mix with local people when appropriate. When camping, we utilize state/national/private owned campgrounds and our group is self sufficient as we provide camping gear and portable kitchen to our passengers. We shop locally and prepare nearly all of our meals (when camping) together, which supports local business, as well as allows clients to experience local flavour and mix with local people when appropriate.
On this tour, we include visits and entry admission to all national parks and monuments listed in the itinerary. Fees support park upkeep and conservation projects, and we encourage our clients to visit the visitor centres for additional information about the region.
Our published traveller’s code of conduct is further promoted by our leaders throughout the tour, and particularly in the first night’s orientation talk. Our RT policy or traveller’s code of conduct is made available to all travellers prior to departure. This includes policies on the following:
- Established policy to support recycling (and to educate our clients on recycling) on all of our tours in North/Central/South America. We aim to utilize properties that recycle glass and plastics. When this service is not available, we will pack and store recycling in our own containers and drive them to a suitable facility
- Leave No Trace is a national and international campaign designed to assist outdoor enthusiasts about how to reduce their impacts when enjoying the outdoors. Because this trip spends much time exploring the National Parks and "wilderness" areas, familiarizing clients with the "Leave No Trace" ethic will help minimize the impact on the natural environment.
We partner with Climate Care to encourage clients to off-set domestic/international flights. We are committed to off-set vehicles’ emissions and as such, we match client contributions up to £5000 per year. 100% of our UK corporate headquarters’ power is green (renewable). We contribute to local charities and projects such as “Tourism Cares for America” (of which we are a founding member), “Friends of Big Bend” and the “Mojave Desert Land Trust”- organizations dedicated to improving and/or expanding national parks.
We invite every traveller who books a holiday via us to send in a review. Because we don't run the holidays they're completely independent and unedited... remember to read between the lines though, as two people on the same holiday can have different views!
