Trip Title - Walks Worldwide

TRIP DOSSIER
Tropical Trails
COSTA RICA
Walk to volcano craters
Explore cloud forests
Search for rich bird and animal life
Trek through rainforests and beaches of the Osa Peninsula
A highly varied walking trip taking in many ecosystems
Group Guided & Private Guided Departures
Walking Grade: C – Demanding
Trip Code: TCOS
For dates and prices visit
www.walksworldwide.com
www.walksworldwide.co.uk
01962 737 565
Date of issue: 12 Feb 2016
COSTA RICA
Tropical Trails
Introduction
Costa Rica lends itself beautifully to a holiday of a
lifetime as it such a diverse, exotic destination: Pacific
and Caribbean coasts, volcanoes, rainforest, cloud
forest and abundant wildlife.
This highly varied holiday will see you walk your way
around volcano craters, meander through nature
reserves, look out for birds in cloud forests and finally
explore the steamy rainforests of the Osa Peninsula.
Costa Rica's landscapes are beautiful and the country
is rich in bird and animal life. You may glimpse the
colourful quetzal, toucans, monkeys, and more. You'll
stay in simple lodges most of the time, plus a couple of
nights camping. Walking is mostly along good paths or
tracks and varies from short walks to full days.
be made available on our website. We will also send
you the most up to date trip dossier with your “Final
Joining Instructions” around two weeks before
departure and you should carefully check this for any
changes that may affect your plans. Before booking you
should read our “Types of Trip” and “Essential and
Useful
information”
sections
on
www.walksworldwide.com including our ‘Important
Warning’.
The areas you visit
Volcanos
You’ll trek among the Barva, Irazu and Turriabla
volcanoes. Your walks take you to volcano craters,
lagoons, lunar-like landscapes and farmland.
Cloudforest
You’ll walk in Los Quetzales National Park, a beautiful
area of cloudforest rich in birdlife, including the
resplendent quetzal. This area is less visited than more
famous Monteverde, and as such chances of spotting
wildlife are greater.
Osa Peninsula
The wild Osa Peninsula is rich in animal and plant life. It
is a region of lush rainforest and Pacific Coast. You’ll be
doing what few get to do – stay within Corcovado
National Park at the heart of the peninsula.
Flora and Fauna
In Spanish Costa Rica means ‘rich coast’, and rightly so
as it is abundant in natural diversity and wildlife,
rainforests, mangrove swamps, cloud forests, beaches,
coral reefs and a plethora of plant life. It is home to 5%
of the world’s biodiversity. It is thought to have 1,200
species of orchid, 35,000 species of insects, 160
amphibians species, 220 reptiles, 850 species of birds
and 205 species of birds. There are 12 different
ecosystems, including tropical wetlands, primary dry
forest and tidal mangrove swamps.
Important Note
Due to the specialist nature of our holidays, day to day
itineraries should be taken as a guide only, and as
statements of intent and not contractual obligations. We
regularly update our trip dossiers to take into account
changes to trekking routes, accommodation, local
transport etc. Such changes are a factor of this type of
holiday and when made are out of necessity. Other
factors such as adverse weather, unforeseen
circumstances and other matters entirely out of our
control etc can also lead to enforced changes during
the course of the holiday. It is not possible to guarantee
that any of our holidays will operate exactly as per the
anticipated itinerary. The most current trip dossier will
www.walksworldwide.com
Group Departures & Private-Guided Departures
This tour offers small group departures for walkers
whether travelling solo, with family and friends a
sociable way to explore the world on foot. Alternatively
for two or more walkers if you are unable to travel on
the set group departure dates or prefer a more
individual experience we can arrange a privately –
guided departure with your own guide. There is a
supplement for private departures.
Your holiday
Life on trek
We suggest that you mostly rise early to enjoy the best
of the day when the birds and wildlife wake and the
temperature is cooler. There are some early morning
transfers, to allow you to enjoy the most of the country
in the time that you have available. This holiday is a mix
of touring and trekking with an emphasis on wildlife.
There are overland transfers of 3-4 hours’ duration,
which usually depart early mornings.
Walking conditions
Much of the trekking is done in the tropical rainforest,
which will be hot and humid and potentially muddy
underfoot. On these days you will be walking on narrow
trails which may have tree roots running through them,
which can be quite slippy when wet. When in the
volcano areas and cloud forest do expect it to be much
cooler, and you will need fleeces and warm trousers.
01962 737 565
Date of issue: 22 Mar 2016
3
COSTA RICA
3
Tropical Trails
We advise that you should wear long trousers when
walking through the jungle / tropical forests etc and not
wear shorts. Please also take clothes made of quick
drying fabrics (i.e. fast wicking), which are available at
all good gear shops. Ponchos are preferable for when it
rains, which it will. This is because the rain is usually in
a heavy downpour and you are humid as it is – ponchos
keep off the worst, Gore-Tex fabrics are not very useful
when it’s very humid as you are already wet!
rural areas of pre-alpine climate with dairy farms and
areas covered with flowers until you reach the Irazú
Volcano area. Admire impressive cliffs at 3,432 metres
(11,260ft) above sea level. The summit of Irazú is near
the tree tops, and the wind and volcanic activity
conspire to give the effect of a moonscape. There are
several craters rimmed by gnarled, scorched trees, and
lined with brilliantly coloured rain-fed mineral pools.
A full explanation of the trip grading can be found in our
brochure or online at www.walksworldwide.com. You
should ensure you are comfortable walking at this level
of grading and are physically prepared for the trip.
Detailed itinerary
Day 1. Arrive Costa Rica
Fly to San Jose where you'll be met and driven to Vara
Blanca where you stay the next two nights. (See ‘How
to join and depart this trip’ section of this Trip Dossier).
Accommodation: Simple lodge
Day 2. Barva Volcano
Be prepared for your first encounter with Costa Rica’s
natural environment as you walk to Barva Volcano
Crater. First you will be taken by road to the town of
Sacramento. Here you will begin your hike along a
gravel road for about 3 km to the national park
entrance. Begin your walks along the Stag Horn Path
(1.5 hours). Loop onto the Barva Lagoon Path (1 hour)
where, weather permitting, you will be able to enjoy
breath-taking views of the main lagoon and of the lip of
the crater.
There are few inhabitants in this harsh environment, but
two you should keep an eye out for are the aptly named
volcano hummingbird. After the walk, transfer by road
to Cartago, the ancient capital of Costa Rica, 20km
away from San Jose. Visit the ruins and the Basilica of
our Lady of the Angels, patron saint of the country.
Continue by road to Turrialba.
Accommodation: Simple lodge
Meals: Breakfast
Day 4. Espino Blanco Reserve
Depending on the group and weather conditions, you
may continue onto the Copey Lagoon Trail (2 hours,
optional), one of the most beautiful and least visited
trails in the park. The full Barva Volcano hike, including
a picnic lunch, will take at least 5 hours.
Espino Blanco Biological Reserve is located in the
district of Santa Rosa, near a village called Verbena, 8
kilometres north of the city of Turrialba. 1,250 meters
above sea level, Espino Blanco is a reserve dedicated
to the conservation of forest species and flora and
fauna of the region.
In addition to hiking, wildlife and bird watching are topnotch at Barva Volcano. Though the park’s high altitude
creates conditions less hospitable than warmer rain
forests, walkers and scientists have reported seeing 23
mammal species, 75 bird species, nine arachnid
species and several reptile and amphibian species.
Birds such as the resplendent quetzal, golden-browed
chlorophonia, flame-throated warbler and many
different varieties of hummingbirds join lizards,
salamanders, snakes, toads, frogs, deer, monkeys,
pumas, jaguars, ocelots and tapirs on the list of animals
that may be found inside the park.
At present the biological reserve has a total area of two
hundred and twenty thousand square meters (229,000
2
m ) and more than sixty percent of that area is primary
forest. The reserve contains over five hundred forest
species and there is a large variety of animals such as
snakes, turkeys, raccoons, armadillos, small paca and
a variety of butterflies and birds. The name Espino
Blanco (Hawthorn tree) comes from a tree that grows in
the reserve, which is disappearing. The wood is hard
and was widely by the area’s inhabitants in the past to
build homes.
You’ll spend about three hours today walking the hilly
trails of the reserve.
Walking: 5 hours / 6 kilometres
Accommodation: Simple lodge
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Simple lodge
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3. Turrialba
This morning, following a driven, you will start your walk
descending the slopes of the Turrialba Volcano through
www.walksworldwide.com
01962 737 565
Date of issue: 22 Mar 2016
COSTA RICA
4
Tropical Trails
Day 5. Los Quetzales National Park
In the morning, you’ll be driven towards the Talamanca
Mountain Range and San Gerardo de Dota.
In the afternoon, take a walk in Los Quetzales – a
national park covering 5,000 hectares including three
types of rainforest and 14 ecosystems. Spread along
both sides of the Rio Savegre, which pours into the
central-Pacific near Manuel Antonio, Los Quetzales is
rich in bird and animal life. The green and red quetzal,
from which the park’s name is derived, is reportedly
somewhat less elusive and present in greater numbers
than in the cloud forests of Monteverde and Santa
Elena to the north. Other wildlife includes the puma
(seen on Costa Rican currency), sloths and coyotes.
More than 116 types of species of mammals can be
found here, of which two dozen live only in this
secluded area.
Staying in camp accommodation at La Sirena ranger
station, you will be one of very few people who get the
chance to sleep within Corcovado National Park.
Walking: 9 hours / 23 kilometres
Accommodation: jungle camp
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 9. Explore Corcovado
After breakfast the adventure continues. Today you’ll
walk the trails of the ranger station. Although the terrain
is quite easy, be ready for the intense heat and
humidity of the area. You will have the chance to learn
about different types of trees and observe four different
species of monkeys. With luck, you may also come
across tapir, crocodiles, a cougar, endangered squirrel
monkeys and many more animals.
Walking: 2 hours / 5 kilometres
Accommodation: simple lodge
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6. Cerro de la Muerte
Today you have an adventurous walk descending one
of the most famous mountains in the area, the Cerro de
la Muerte (Hill of Death). The trail is about 9 km and
involves 1,290 metres of descent from the summit to
the hotel.
You’ll be driven to the summit, which if clear gives
views to both coasts and even erupting volcanos.
The trail starts in sub-Alpine vegetation, known as
páramo, typically, dwarf plant species. This transitions
into other forest zones and the trees become taller with
a greater diversity and density of plant species as you
descend towards tropical oak forest.
Walking: 6 hours / 10 kilometres
Accommodation: simple lodge
Meals: Breakfast
Walking: 7 hours / 7 kilometres
Accommodation: jungle camp
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 7. Cerro de la Muerte
After breakfast depart by road across the Talamanca
Mountain Range to the Osa Peninsula. Along the way,
you’ll see the transition to the lowlands of the Pacific
Coast. On arrival at your accommodation you have
some time to rest.
Day 8. Walk into Corcovado National Park
Leave early in the morning for Los Patos park entrance.
In the rainy months, it may be necessary to travel some
of the way by horse. After a short introduction about
Corcovado National Park, your expedition starts
through the forest to the ranger station at La Sirena. On
the way you have excellent opportunities for seeing
animals such as birds, monkeys, wild pigs, anteaters,
snakes and more. The forest surrounds visitors with
mysterious noises. This is a hike of moderate level, be
prepared for wet and hot conditions.
www.walksworldwide.com
Return to the station, have lunch and a rest. In the
afternoon, another walk is planned to a beautiful river
where you can refresh yourself. Spend a second night
at the ranger station.
Day 10. Out of the forest, to the Pacific
After breakfast, head south on foot towards Carate on
the Pacific Coast. The trails are very attractive,
sometimes writhing along the beach, sometimes
through the forest. Do not miss the opportunity to have
the delicious coconut water, a typical Costa Rican drink
directly from the palm tree. After the walk, you will exit
by the small town of Carate, located in the
Southwestern corner of the Osa Peninsula, here you
will have some well deserve.
Walking: 7 hours / 18 kilometres
Accommodation: simple lodge
Meals: Breakfast
Day 11. Return to San Jose and depart
You’ll be driven to Puerto Jimenez airport and fly back
to San Jose. You’ll then have a few hours before your
overnight flight home.
01962 737 565
Date of issue: 22 Mar 2016
COSTA RICA
5
Tropical Trails
Day 12. Arrive UK
Practical Information
How to join and depart this trip
The joining point for this trip is San Jose international
airport. You must arrive at the same time as the rest of
the group otherwise you will have to pay for an extra
transfer.
The departure point for this trip is San Jose
International airport on day 11 of the trip itinerary.
Again, if you wish to travel at a different time to the
group, you may need to pay for a separate transfer.
arrangements you have made yourself, such as if your
international flights were delayed or cancelled and you
could not join or depart your holiday on time. If you do
decide to book Land Only, we strongly advise that you
do not book international flights or make other travel
arrangements (especially if there are financial penalties
for cancellation or change) until your chosen holiday is
guaranteed to run. Please also ensure when making
your own international travel arrangements that they
enable you to join and depart this trip in accordance
with the criteria specified in the How to join and depart
this trip section of this Trip Dossier.
Accommodation
Accommodation will be reserved for you on a twin
share basis unless you have already requested a single
room at extra cost. The rooms / accommodation vary,
but are largely simple or basic in nature. The exact
accommodation for your particular holiday will depend
upon availability for your chosen dates.
Food
Flight Inclusive
We recommend that you book this trip as a 'Flight
Inclusive' package. Booking your international flights
through Walks Worldwide guarantees you peace of
mind and provides 100% financial protection under our
CAA ATOL licence. What's more, if you book your flights
with us as well as your ground arrangements, we will
manage these flight arrangements both before and
during your trip. As an ATOL Licence holder, we are
able to secure and arrange competitively-priced airfares
with most major airlines from the UK (as displayed on
our website), as well as the option of regional departures
too.
Land Only
If you would prefer to arrange your own international
travel you can book this trip as a 'Land Only' package,
where the price does not include international flights.
Please note that if you are booking your own flights
there are certain risks you should be aware of. Many
airline tickets purchased directly are non-refundable
and often do not provide you with any financial
protection (unlike booking your flights with ourselves
where you would be 100% protected under our CAA
ATOL licence). For this reason we strongly advise that
you check the rules of any flight booking you make, and
check the limitations under any insurance policy you
may have in relation to cancellation or date changes.
We cannot be held liable for any losses incurred or
consequences of any flight bookings or related travel
www.walksworldwide.com
Costa Rican food is based on rice and beans. The main
meat that is eaten is chicken. There are usually lots of
fruit and vegetables available depending on what is in
season at the time of travel. On days that you are
walking in the mornings and having a late lunch, it is
advisable to have some snacks on the walk. There will
be opportunity to purchase snacks when in Costa Rica
and the guides will advise you on the best places and
when to do this. Some lunches and dinners are
provided in the itinerary – others where you have a
choice of menus or places to eat they are not, giving
you more freedom to make your choice. You should
budget USD$12-14 for lunches and USD$15-17 for
dinners.
Climate
It is of course impossible to predict the precise weather
conditions you will encounter during the course of your
holiday. However, we do schedule our holidays to
coincide with what should be the most suitable weather
periods for walking. In the Central Valley, where the
main population lives the average temps are 22ºC. In
coastal areas the temperatures are hotter. The main
rainy season is May to end November, although in the
rainforest and cloud forests especially, rain and
humidity are entirely possible all year round.
For climate statistics visit www.worldweather.org
Roughly speaking temperatures decrease by approx.
1ºC for every 200metre increase in altitude
Altitude
The altitudes on this trip are fairly moderate and you
should not anticipate problems.
Baggage
Please make sure that your baggage is clearly marked
with your name, inside as well as outside, in case the
labels get detached. We request you limit your luggage
to a max 18kg which is the limit on the flight from
Puerto Jimenez to San Jose.
01962 737 565
Date of issue: 22 Mar 2016
COSTA RICA
6
Tropical Trails
Vaccinations & health
We always recommend visiting your doctor and dentist
for a check-up before travelling. Your doctor will also
have access to the most up to date information on
vaccinations and medical precautions for the country
you are about to visit. There are no mandatory
requirements for entry into Costa Rica unless you are
travelling from an infected area.
Costa Rica is
generally free of malaria, but it does occur in certain
parts of the country; we do not visit these parts and
most people who travel to Costa Rica do not take
precautions. You should consult your doctor for more
advice on this. We do recommend that you be
protected against TB, typhoid, polio, tetanus and
hepatitis A. Again, your doctor should advise you on
this and about vaccinations, and you should therefore
make an appointment to see him/her well in advance of
your holiday. You must also be alert for snakes,
scorpions and ticks whilst walking in rural areas.
A
useful travel health
www.fitfortravel.scot.nhs.uk.
online
resource
is
First Aid
You should always carry your own small, personal first
aid kit. This should consist of the following: A general
anti-biotic, throat lozenges, painkillers, plasters (bandaids), blister treatment, insect repellent (DEET),
rehydration salts, antiseptic cream, diarrhoea treatment
(e.g. Imodium).
Security
Whilst the vast majority of travellers never experience
anything untoward it is worth taking precautions
particularly in urban areas. You should take sensible
precautions in crowded areas such as street markets
and airports, where pick-pocketing is common, and
keep clear of any street disturbances. Don’t wear
jewellery, or leave your bags unattended, keep large
amounts of money, cameras and mobile phones out of
sight when walking in town centres, and avoid walking
in city centres after dark. Keep copies of important
documents, including passports, in a separate place to
the documents themselves, together with details of
credit cards. Leave copies at home with a friend
too. Safeguard valuables, important documents and
cash and deposit them in hotel safes, where
practicable.
Currency
The Costa Rican currency is the Colon. However, many
tourist transactions are done in $USD. You can change
US Dollars into Colones in some hotels, banks and at
the airport. Please refer to www.xe.com for up to date
rates. ATM machines are common in the big cities and
some of the smaller towns. Many of the hotels,
restaurants and shops take credit cards.
Language
Spanish. Some Costa Ricans have a healthy
knowledge of English in the more touristy regions, but
this is not so in the more remote areas. We highly
recommend that you take a phrase book with you if you
do not speak Spanish as it is great fun to communicate
www.walksworldwide.com
with the people in their own language. Guided tours will
be in English and Spanish.
Tipping
There is no compulsory tipping on any of our treks, but
common courtesy is seldom refused by those who you
may feel have served you well and you would like to
thank.
Maps
We recommend Stanfords at 12-14 Long Acre, London
WC2E 9LP (Tel: 0207 836 1321) www.stanfords.co.uk.
Travel Insurance
It is a condition of booking any of our holidays that you
have comprehensive travel insurance. It is your to
responsibility to ensure you are covered for medical
and personal accident risks for the part of the world you
intend to travel and the activities involved. This cover
should include repatriation costs, air ambulance and
helicopter rescue. It is also advisable to take out
cancellation insurance as all deposits paid are nonrefundable.
You may arrange either single-trip or annual multi-trip
travel insurance through Walks Worldwide. Please call
us on 01962 737 565 for a quotation.
Passports & Visas
British passport holders do not require a visa for a visit
to Costa Rica (please ensure your passport has at least
6 months validity).
Please note that visa/entry requirements and prices
change regularly.
You can obtain the latest visa information, as well as
book your visa either by contacting your reservation
consultant, or by following the link below to our
designated
visa
service:
http://www.walksworldwide.com/information/visa.html
Please allow plenty of time for your visa application to
be processed.
We also recommend you visit the Foreign and
Commonwealth Office website for up to date
information on the country/countries you are visiting,
embassy contact details and other useful advice.
There is a US $ 29 departure tax (at time of writing),
that has to be paid in cash when leaving the country.
Staff on your trip
This particular holiday is different to many of our guided
holidays. It is a combination of a series of guided tours,
with touring using regular tourist shuttle buses. Whilst
everything is organised for you, this trip is best suited to
those with an independent spirit whom are comfortable
joining in on shared tours/activities as it is not a fully
escorted tour (although this can also be arranged at
additional cost). Within the itinerary you will take part in
a series of organised local guided tours, which are by
multi-lingual Costa Ricans. These are scheduled tours
and will be in the company of other visitors to Costa
Rica who are not undertaking your particular holiday
itinerary. You will also be able to engage in local
01962 737 565
Date of issue: 22 Mar 2016
COSTA RICA
7
Tropical Trails
explorations on your own. As such you do not have
your own personal tour guide throughout. If you would
prefer a tour guide to accompany you throughout your
holiday then we can arrange this at extra cost – please
contact the office for a quotation.
Budgeting for your trip
Please refer to the detailed itinerary for information on
what is included in this trip. You will need to budget for
meals and drinks not included in the holiday, any
optional sightseeing, souvenirs and items of a personal
nature such as laundry.
Important Note
Due to the specialist nature of our holidays, day to day
itineraries should be taken as a guide only, and as
statements of intent and not contractual obligations. We
regularly update our trip dossiers to take into account
changes to trekking routes, accommodation, local
transport etc. Such changes are a factor of this type of
holiday and when made are out of necessity. Other
factors such as adverse weather, unforeseen
circumstances and other matters entirely out of our
control etc can also lead to enforced changes during
the course of the holiday.
It is not possible to guarantee that any of our holidays
will operate exactly as per the anticipated itinerary. The
most current trip dossier will be made available on our
website. We will also send you the most up to date trip
dossier with your “Final Joining Instructions” approx. 2
weeks before departure and you should carefully check
this for any changes that may affect your plans. Before
booking you should read our “Types of Trip” and
“Essential and Useful information” sections on our
website including our ‘Important Warning’.
Clothing & Equipment
Please check our website for the most up to date
information regarding packing for your trip. The
information we provide is our suggested guide to help
you with your packing based upon our many years of
travelling. Using your own judgment for packing is of
course important, especially with regard to casual
clothing etc but please do not hesitate to contact us if
you have any questions about packing for your trip.
Extensions & Excursions
Please contact us for tailor-made beach extensions.
www.walksworldwide.com
01962 737 565
Date of issue: 22 Mar 2016