Costa Rica

Costa Rica is the teacher's pet of the eco-tourism class – a staggering 25% of the country is set aside in National Parks, the highest percentage of any nation on the planet. Costa Rica is a picture perfect and pocket-sized country with two beautiful coastlines separated by a spine of extremely active volcanoes.

For all but the most backpacker-budgeted travellers, Original Travel will arrange access to the furthest flung corners by light aircraft, which offers a wonderful perspective on the varying and distinct ecosystems that make this such a fascinating destination. The wetlands of the Caribbean Coast give way to jungle, interspersed with the massive banana plantations that provide so much of the country's income; next come the cloudforests of the mountainous interior and then it’s down to the tropical rainforests of the Pacific coastline, all within an hour’s flight.

The country is also renowned for its rich birdlife. Covering only 0.03% of the surface of the planet, Costa Rica has approximately 6% of the world's biodiversity. Its tropical forests, rivers and seas are home to a huge amount of wildlife, from monkeys and sloths to iguanas, crocodiles, and turtles. Original Travel has visited and can recommend all the best eco-lodges and works with the finest guides.