Costa Rica and Nicaragua walking vacation

Planet

On this trip we travel overland through two captivating countries, Costa Rica and Nicaragua. We visit several National Parks, taking our time by exploring on foot. Our visits to these protected areas help to encourage and expand the ongoing effort to preserve and protect the environment, through the payment of entry fees.

In Braulio Carrillo National Park we pay a visit to La Selva, the Organisation for Tropical Studies' biological station, learning about the flora and fauna here and the station's research.

In addition to traveling by bus rather than taking internal and international flights we take a public ferry across Lake Nicaragua to Isla de Ometepe. Ometepe is famed for its twin volcanic peaks which dominate the skyline for the lake shore, in 2010 it was named a UNESCO Biosphere Preserve. Cars are few and far between on the island and the Ometepe Sustainability Group works hard to keep the impact of tourism as low as possible.

In order to reduce plastic waste all guests are provided with aluminium bottles which can be refilled from a central water cooler in vehicles, furthermore our Nicaragua local partners are working with hotels and lodges we use to provide filtered water refill points.

As a travel company we are continually looking for ways to improve and are proud to be ‘Responsible in everything we do’. Education is key, and so all staff, Tour Leaders and partnering suppliers are trained in responsible and sustainable tourism. At our Head Office, we continually strive towards a sustainable and planet-friendly working environment, including having solar panels installed and a company commitment to reducing our plastic usage.

People

Throughout the trip we eat in local restaurants and use guides from the areas we visit, providing both employment opportunities and a rich insight to these fascinating countries.

Whilst in Arenal Volcano National Park we trek the El Burrito, accessible only by 4x4 and with no one else around it feels like a private trek. At the end of the trek the group enjoy a warming drink at the local guides house, providing an invaluable insight into Costa Rican local life.

In Granada we visit the Masaya market, a major center for arts and crafts, which works closely with local artisans so that price on offer is a fair reflection. This is a great opportunity for the group to shop for authentic Nicaraguan goods.

As a company we have valuable and longstanding partnerships with UK charities Toilet Twinning and Send a Cow, plus many smaller initiatives and projects around the world. We’re members of the UK travel industry body AITO because we believe it’s important to share our knowledge and experience, as well as learn from other operators.