Holy Year on the Camino de Santiago 2/3 Costa Rica: Walking Amongst Nature

Costa Rica Walking Amongst Nature

Walks Travel Consultant Sarah Harmon visited Costa Rica to research our small group walking and nature tour which offers a taste of the country’s diverse ecosystems and rich wildlife.

Costa Rica is high on many people’s bucket lists, so I jumped at the opportunity to visit this fascinating country. While Costa Rica is already well known amongst wildlife enthusiasts, I was keen to find out what it had to offer the keen hiker who has a love of walking amongst nature.

For its diminutive size, and with both Caribbean and Pacific coasts, Costa Rica packs a considerable punch in terms of variety of habitats and incredible biodiversity. Its government is progressive in its commitment to conservation and the environment (it is a world leader in the race to be carbon neutral and recently won the Earthshot Protect & Restore Nature Prize), and also supporting local communities. During my visit, I was fortunate enough to visit a local initiative that offers tourists a chance to plant a tree to help re-build some of the lost forest.

Costa Rica is renowned for its pristine cloud forests and dramatic volcanoes. I visited both these Costa Rican ‘classics’ which are included in our Nature Trails in Southern Costa Rica itinerary. Our trip begins in the capital, San José, from where we head south to the country’s first capital, Cartego, en route to the Irazú Volcano. Ascending the volcano we discover different types of vegetation as we walk through coffee plantations and past giant ferns; those who reach the top are rewarded by the sight of a mystical-looking green lake in the crater. Our next stop is at one of the country’s famous cloud forests, San Gerardo de Dota. We have time to trek through the forest, do a spot of birdwatching and get a sneak peek into rural country living.

Our holiday also visits Dominical, Corcovado National Park and Marino Ballena National Park where there is a chance to look for whales and dolphins offshore. Stunning waterfalls, turquoise seas and jungle-clad islands abound here, and we end the tour in the Osa Peninsula, in the south-west of the country. The mangrovefringed reserve here is home to monkeys, reptiles, birds and other wildlife which we will look for during walks. We also pan for gold, and learn how to make traditional sweets out of sugar cane and chocolate, before transferring back to San José for our flight home. Please do join us!

Nature Trails in Southern Costa Rica

Hike across Costa Rica’s rich and varied landscapes, from the cloud forests and peak of Irazú Volcano to the glorious white sand beaches of Dominical. Enjoy cheese tasting during a visit to a livestock farm, and learn about making traditional sugarcane products. Look for wildlife as you walk in Corcovado and snorkel from Caño Island.