Meet at the group hotel, where KE Land Only service begin. Transfers for all arrivals on Day 1 of the itinerary, from the international airport to the group hotel, are provided. Meet the group and the leader for a briefing in the evening.

This morning, we depart from San Jose to Sarapiqui. On the way, we stop off to explore Poas Volcano National Park. The active volcano here is easily accessible by a short walk, and features one of the largest active craters in the world. The green, sulphuric waters are shrouded in mist making for an atmospheric visit. We can stretch our legs with a scenic walk to the nearby Botos Lagoon. After our brief visit, we continue north to the Tirimbina Biological Reserve where we cross a series of hanging bridges through the rainforest to enjoy a fascinating cacao plantation tour, which takes us through the whole chocolate production process from bean to bar. We check into our rainforest lodge and have the rest of the afternoon to explore the trails of the reserve surrounding the lodge at our leisure. As a reserve dedicated to the conservation of Costa Rica's incredible wildlife, there will be plentiful opportunities for spotting and observing a bewildering array of flora and fauna.

We will awake early and transfer eastwards towards the Caribbean coast. After a drive of around 2.5hrs, we arrive at La Pavona Dock where we board shared boats and enjoy a 2hr cruise along the Rio Suerte to our destination, Tortuguero National Park. The reserve here is a network of backwaters featuring canals, lagoons and islands. The area is extraordinarily rich in biodiversity and these natural waterways are perfect for wildlife spotting by canoe. Tortuguero is best known as an important nesting site for turtles; including green sea, leatherback and hawksbill varieties. Depending on the season, it may be possible to observe this incredible spectacle at night. Along the way, we may well spot a range of wildlife from our boat. After arrival into Tortuguero, we check into our eco-lodge and take a walking tour of the village; visiting the church and centre to learn about its Caribbean culture.

After breakfast, we take a 2hr wildlife-spotting boat tour of the natural canals and backwaters of the National Park, undoubtedly one of the highlights of this itinerary. The small motorised canoes are by far the best way to observe wildlife in their natural habitat. We will hope to spot turtles, caiman, otters, monkeys (including spider, howler and capuchin) and hundreds of birds (such as toucans, macaws, Amazon kingfishers and egrets). In the afternoon, we take a short boat ride to the foot of Cerro Tortuguero, the remains of an ancient volcano and the reason behind the black volcanic sands. Cerro Tortuguero is a steep and strenuous climb, rewarding us with views across the national park. We return by boat, back to our accommodation at Tortuguero Village.

We leave Tortuguero early in the morning, departing by boat back to La Pavona Dock. We will be met by our private vehicle and transferred further along the beautiful Caribbean coastline to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca. This seaside village has a distinctly laid-back vibe, and the centre offers fun and relaxation at its dancehalls and bars. Further out, we will find surf beaches, trpoical fruit farms and traditional family homes. We will explore the town on a leader-led orientation walk and there is the option of hiring bicycles to explore the town and surrounding area.

Today we will board a boat and set off across the Cahuita National Park, a protected marine area covering beaches, lowlands and sea. From our boat, we will be able to explore the reef system by snorkelling with a guide. There are many species of coral, shellfish and fish to observe and it may even be possible to spot a turtle swimming by. Returning to Punta Cahuita, we will walk along some of the local nature trails, watching out for monkeys, butterflies, snakes and spiders.

The journey to Boquete will involve crossing the land border into Panama and a long, scenic drive. Transiting through the border can sometimes take an hour for the formalities, but we will soon be on our way, leaving the tropical humidity of the Caribbean Coast as we slowly gain altitude into the Chiriqui Highlands of Eastern Panama. Here, the mountains are cloaked in cloud-forest and scattered coffee plantations. Boquete is a particularly picturesque highland town, surrounded by beautiful scenery and forests that are home to howler monkeys and the resplendent quetzal. In the evening, we will be treated to dinner before staying the night in Boquete.

Today we will explore the crystal-clear creeks, waterfalls and forest reserves surrounding Volcan Baru. We will ascend onto a circuit of 6 hanging bridges that allow us to explore the forest canopy, led by a local guide. This unforgettable experience will afford us a unique perspective on the Panama's flora and fauna. There are many trails on the ground that we will take to explore the area's natural beauty. In the afternoon we will enjoy a plantation tour at one of the coffee farms where we learn all about how the coffee 'cherry' is grown, developed into a coffee bean. We will follow the process through the roasting to discover how this can affect the final taste. An all-important coffee tasting will follow this! This area's most sought-after export is the floral Geisha coffee bean, said to be one of the most expensive in the world. We return to our Boquete hotel to overnight.

A zip-line canopy tour enables us to fly through ancient mist-shrouded forests, soaring over rivers, waterfalls and valleys. The tour is over 4km in length, along 12 separate zip-lines. Those feeling a little nervous can be reassured by the progressive nature of the zip-lines and the highly experienced guides that will accompany us. There is the option of exploring the forest trails further, should you choose not to undertake the zip-line tour.

We set off on a picturesque drive from the Chiriqui Highlands and descend towards the Pacific Coast. Our destination is the idyllic village of Boca Chica. Here, we settle into our comfortable hotel and relax for the rest of the afternoon, perhaps by the pool with a good book. This evening, we have an introduction to the stunning coastline by way of a very special experience. We will set off on a motorboat and explore the waterways that lay between the islands and mangroves of the National Marine Park. Our guide will help us spot a wide variety of birds, including pelicans, storks and the rare reddish egret and in the mangroves we may spot a range of monkeys. We will return as the sun sets, turning the sky an astonishing hue. If we are lucky, we may be joined by playful dolphins as we speed our way back to our hotel.

We once again depart by boat and this morning set off to explore a string of tiny picture-postcard perfect uninhabited and remote islands. Our boat will gently set us down for a 'wet landing' on the soft, sun-bleached sand and we will have some time to wander in the shade of palms or cool off with a swim. Snorkelling equipment is available for those who would like to undertake some exploration underwater to try to spot tropical fish or the odd sea turtle passing by the Gulf of Chiriqui. During the whale-watching season (between late July and October), we will head to an area where humpback whales can be observed basking and breaching, often with their young calves. This area boasts a high success rate for being able to witness these majestic mammals in their natural habitat. After a fabulous morning of island exploration, we return to our hotel to spend the rest of the day relaxing in our lovely surroundings. Sat outside on the terrace in the evening, you may be able to enjoy the spectacle of the distant islands and mangroves being lit up by lightning, accompanied by the roar of howler monkeys- an unforgettable sensory experience!

From Boca Chica, we set off early to transfer to the airport at David for our domestic flight to the vibrant capital, Panama City. Located on the Pacific Ocean, Panama City is like no other Central American city. Soaring glass skyscrapers stand shoulder-to-shoulder over the waterfront whilst the colonial facades of Casco Viejo hints at Panama's rich history. An incredibly strategic position on the natural isthmus led to the city founded in 1519, by the Spanish conquistador Pedro Arias Davila. Being the narrowest point of the Americas meant that gold and precious jewels seized by the Spanish along the Pacific Coast was transported overland from Panama City to the stronghold of Colon on the Caribbean coast to be whisked away back to Spain. This concentration of wealth flowing through Panama soon drew attention of marauding British seafarers including Sir Francis Drake (who was buried at sea in Panamanian waters!) and the privateer Henry Morgan. We take a walking tour of Casco Viejo (the historic colonial quarter of Panama City) to witness the contrast between the modern gleaming towers and the old churches, crumbling facades and cobbled streets. In the afternoon, we visit the Bio Musea, a museum exhibition focused on the natural history of the isthmus of Panama. Here we learn how this natural rock bridge formed, linking two continents together creating a massive impact on the planet's biodiversity. The architectural wonder of the museum itself is worthy of a visit, designed by Frank Gehry who also created the Guggenheim in Spain.

Sometimes known as the 8th wonder of the world, the Panama Canal is one of humankind's greatest engineering feats. The installation of locks at both Panama City and Colon resulted in the deliberate flooding of a wide cross-section of the isthmus with waters that flow from the rainforest. A canal across the Panama was first discussed by the King of Spain in 1534 and it wasn't until the late 19th century that an attempt to construct a canal was made by the French. Stricken by tropical illnesses and accidents, the project was abandoned, ending in scandal after the deaths of an estimated 22,000 men and the loss of countless dollars. The United States took the project up in 1904, completing it in 1914. The first year saw 1,000 ships passed through, having been raised 26 metres above sea-level, avoiding the treacherous 8,000 mile voyage sailing around South America. The number has now increased to around 15,000 ships per year. We will visit the Miraflores Locks, where a fascinating exhibition recounts the inconceivable and tragic human cost of this engineering endeavour. The visitor centre also has a viewing terrace where we can get a bird's eye view of the extraordinary sight of container ships and cruise ships passing through the locks with mere inches to spare. After lunch, we have the rest of the afternoon at leisure to relax and reflect on a unique and diverse adventure.

After breakfast, we transfer to the international airport in time for our flight home. A transfer from the group hotel to the airport is included.