16 days 10:23 01-09-2021 We are the UK’s No.1 specialist in travel to Latin As our name suggests, we are single-minded America and have been creating award-winning about Latin America. This is what sets us apart holidays to every corner of the region for over four from other travel companies – and what allows us decades; we pride ourselves on being the most to offer you not just a holiday but the opportunity to knowledgeable people there are when it comes to experience something extraordinary on inspiring travel to Central and South America and journeys throughout Mexico, Central and South passionate about it too. America. A passion for the region runs Fully bonded and licensed Our insider knowledge helps through all we do you go beyond the guidebooks ATOL-protected All our Consultants have lived or We hand-pick hotels with travelled extensively in Latin On your side when it matters character and the most America rewarding excursions Book with confidence, knowing Up-to-the-minute knowledge every penny is secure Let us show you the Latin underpinned by 40 years' America we know and love experience 10:23 01-09-2021 10:23 01-09-2021 This holiday will suit those who want to try out a medley of different active adventures as a means of enjoying the sumptuous scenery. You have the opportunity to ride the rapids, bike round an island, climb a volcano and hike along jungle trails. Following all this exertion you have a well deserved break on the sweeping sands of a Pacific bay. The pleasant climate varied landscapes of volcanoes, lakes, fast-flowing rivers, and palm-fringed beaches combine to make Costa Rica and Nicaragua very attractive to outdoor adventure seekers. Costa Rica has long had a network of accessible national parks with extensive hiking trails, as well as offering adventure activities, from zip-lining to white-water rafting. Nicaragua is new to this kind of development but is gaining a reputation for responsible tourism with eco-lodges and plenty to do in the open air, including biking and horse-riding. You will be met at the airport by our local representative who will take you to your hotel in the centre of San José. Founded in 1737, the capital was built on the profits of exporting coffee, produced from the fertile soils of the surrounding Central Valley. These days little remains of the city’s colonial or indeed agricultural heritage. It does though have some fine museums and restaurants as well as a lively nightlife. It is approximately an hour's drive from San José to the Rainforest Canopy, next to Braulio Carrillo National Park. Jump on a series of 10 zip lines (between 80-140m long) with 6 platforms in between, which provide 360° views of the surrounding forest. The ride takes you 3 times whizzing across the magnificent Molinete River. Below, walking trails allow you to experience the rainforest at ground level. Return to San José afterwards. 10:23 01-09-2021 Depart San José early in the morning, heading towards the Caribbean and passing through Braulio Carrillo National Park. After an orientation and safety talk, you take to your raft for the 60-90min trip to Pacuare Lodge, riding rapids which are great run for beginners and experienced rafters alike (class II - III). River Pacuare is celebrated world-wide for its natural beauty. You pass through a vertiginous river gorge flanked by steep, lushly vegetated walls. You see waterfalls cascading into the river from both sides while tropical birds fly right overhead. Enjoy views of virgin tropical rainforest. The white-water expedition is not overly challenging, but you’ll ride 52 rapids over 30km, giving you a real adrenaline high. There is plenty of calm water for you to sit back and enjoy the surrounding forest and its wildlife; herons, toucans, blue morpho butterfly and monkeys are all common sights. Have a breather to enjoy a picnic lunch on the river bank. Later, arrive at Ríos Tropicales Lodge where the afternoon is spent at leisure. After breakfast and loading the rafts, prepare to paddle down the Pacuare Gorge past waterfalls, serene pools and pounding rapids. A snack stop by the riverside allows time to explore nearby waterfalls and natural waterslides. The afternoon is spent running some serious rapids: you are tossed and turned as if on a roller coaster but if you follow the captain’s orders you’ll love every minute. Returning to Ríos Tropicales you can take a shower and pride yourself on your navigating achievement over a drink. Leaving the lodge mid-morning, you’ll head back up to the main road by 4WD vehicle. From here you'll continue to San José in a mini-bus, stopping for lunch on the way and continue to Arenal. A modest 1,674m high, Arenal volcano was until recently very active but now lava flow and volcanic eruptions are infrequent (nothing since 2010). The region is considered to be one of the highlights of a visit to Central America and there is a plethora of excursions and thrilling activities to be enjoyed in the surrounding countryside. 10:23 01-09-2021 You will leave La Fortuna early and drive for 90mins to the Tenorio Volcano National Park, to begin the 7 km hike (approximately 4 hours) through tropical rain forest, eventually arriving at Los Teñíderos of Rio Celeste, the place where two streams of water come together and create the vivid light blue colour which gives the river its name. As you return along the park trails, you may opt for a quick dip in natural hot springs. Further along the hike, you will see the Rio Celeste waterfall. The final reward for the journey is a typical Costa Rican lunch served at the end of your experience in the rainforest. The adventure takes around 7-8 hours, and is of medium intensity. Having zipped, rafted and hiked, today’s the day to get on your bike! You have the opportunity to observe the unhurried rural life of this remote part of Costa Rica. Cycle gently along the trails within a working sugar cane plantation and cattle farm, observing the workers busy feeding the pigs or herding the dairy cows. Depending on the time of year or day, you may be able to visit a local primary school, and visit one of the teachers in his home. Drive to the frontier with Nicaragua at Los Chiles, passing through pineapple and sugar cane plantations. You cross the border and here you are met by our representatives; the rest of the journey to Nicaragua is by boat. Head down the river to San Carlos and then continue for 90mins to El Castillo. The little town is dominated by a huge fortress built by the Spanish to protect the affluent city of Granada from attacks by pirates. Your hotel is in town. After dark, go searching for caimans under the moonlight, accompanied only by a specialist guide. As you glide through the darkness, a journey orchestrated by the nocturnal sounds of the rainforest, the guide will be using a spotlight to reflect the beady red eye of watchful caimans as they rest in the tropical vegetation along the water's edge. Once spotted, the caiman may be approached so that you can appreciate its delicate markings and maybe even get a glimpse of its razor-sharp teeth. The baby caimans are particularly endearing, and could fit into the palm of your hand. 10:23 01-09-2021 A marvellous jungle experience awaits you today. Just 3km downstream from El Castillo you come to the Indio Maíz Biosphere Reserve. This area of rainforest is bursting with wildlife, including huge scarlet macaws and big cats. , On your guided tour of the small part of the reserve open to visitors you might spy a tapir, a manatee, a Harpy eagle and American crocodiles: jaguar and puma lurk here but are rarely spotted. The trail is 2km long and you’ll take over 2hrs to follow it, pausing to observe the profusion of exotic birds while enjoying the company of watchful lizards and lithe spider monkeys swinging from branch to branch. You’ll also be taken on a guided tour of the fortress. By road to Granada on the shores of Lake Nicaragua. Founded in 1524, Granada is the oldest city in the New World and lies at the foot of Mombacho volcano. At its height it became very prosperous on the back of the gold trade. The city was regularly plundered by pirates and completely razed by American mercenary William Walker at the beginning of the 19th century. However, Granada has since been wonderfully restored and its colourful colonial houses and cobbled streets that run down to the shores of Lake Nicaragua are a delight. Day at leisure to explore the city with its colonial churches, narrow streets and colonial mansions and convents. The historic core is so compact that you can experience much of it on foot with many of the sites within the vicinity of the main square. You might opt for an optional day trip where, in addition to a guided tour of the city, you head off for a boat ride around some of the islets formed by eruptions of the looming bulk of the waterside Mombacho volcano. The vast lake, more like an inland sea, with surf-tipped waves and reflecting fiery sunsets, is the largest body of freshwater in the Americas after the Great Lakes. Climb by vehicle to the summit of the cone-shaped Masaya volcano.