Costa Rica manages to pack an unbelievable amount of weather into a small area. That's why most people are confused as to when to plan their visit. Broadly speaking, Costa Rica has a tropical climate, so it is warm and humid year round. The weather in Costa Rica is often described and defined by the dry season (December - April), and the 'green' season (May - November).

As a good rule of thumb, you will steer clear of the wettest and wildest weather if you travel between December and early September.

January through to March often brings reliable sunshine and great wildlife activity down on the Pacific. Pockets of July and early August offer the best of the ‘green season’ weather, with hot sunny days cooled by evening showers. September is a particularly active month of the wildlife front, whilst December brings the transition into the dry season.

Christmas and New Year are peak season for travellers, getting quieter again in January to pick up in February and March, usually through to Easter time. After that point, things are fairly steady.

It should be said that the types of places we visit do not tend to get busy. However, the places we stay are small so it doesn't take much to fill them up.

This is somewhat dependent upon when you want to travel but for this trip, there are several key properties which make it highly vulnerable, so six to 12 months is normal.

Absolutely, this would be a great trip for a group of friends travelling together.

This vacation is intended to balance activities with wildlife, people and places.

As such, this is not a particularly high impact trip - think walking through the forests and snorkelling in the sea, more than throwing yourself down zip lines or hurtling down rapids. Of course, the heat of the jungle means that walks are more demanding than your average park stroll, but drink plenty of water and go at a sensible pace and you'll be fine. Your guide is usually with you to help keep you healthy and happy.

If you do want more adrenaline, we can discuss this and potentially include other activities. Bear in mind that we also provide you with detailed Vacation Guide so you can read our tips and advice and sort out additional activities as you go.

In Costa Rica particularly, we choose our accommodation very carefully since we want you to both be comfortable and get a sense of the country hosting you. Rest assured that wherever you unpack, a wild beach or rainforest trail is never far away.

Your first hotel is a luxury inn on a working coffee estate in the hills near San José. Down on the Osa Peninsula you stay in a beautiful secluded cabin above Drake Bay and a wildlife eco-retreat on the southern shores of the peninsula.

At the other end of the scale is the night spent in the Corcovado Ranger Station, where you are in a bunk bedded dorm with shared facilities. After all, you are staying in the heart of the rainforest. Anything more would be out of place.

Yes. There's no way to keep them out, and no point trying. When walking in forests, you should always wear closed toe shoes and long trousers tucked into socks. At dawn and dusk, make sure you have repellent on and wear clothing as close to colours of the forest floor as possible.

There are also snakes. No point pretending there aren't, however, they are terrified of of humans so you are not likely to see any unless you go in search of them. They hear your clumping footsteps coming and are long gone. Avoid the temptation of rummaging around blindly in piles of leaves and you'll be fine.

Absolutely, yes. Even with such a strong focus on the natural world, this trip is underpinned by the character of the people you meet.

Because you are going off the beaten track, you will be seeing life as lived by Ticos throughout this trip. Between guides, hosts, chance encounters and our top tips for where to go and what to eat, you should leave Costa Rica with a proper sense of the people.

There's a general and infectious sense of joie de vivre, Pura Vida, in Costa Rica.

Too many vacations to Costa Rica focus entirely on the wildlife with a bit of beach and activity thrown in. That's totally unfair to the people who live here and give it all colour - and who take such pride in their environment. It's not always obvious given the ramshackle appearance of many towns and villages but the environmental education and messaging here is remarkable and people are generally very proud of the lead their country takes in matters ecological.

But really, it's the day to day people watching that too many people miss. Lunch at a roadside 'soda' is an opportunity to see all of society eating side by side, doctors to farm labourers. Eating ceviche whilst watching the fishermen haul in their catch. Tucking into a huge plate of plantains, rice and beans as a pickup truck with a huge speaker strapped in the back goes up and down the street, blaring out the latest special offer at 'MEESTER CHICKEN!!!'

It's a fun, and funny, place.

We take a 15% deposit to secure your vacation, with the remainder due eight weeks before your departure.

Your money is 100% protected through our ATOL licence if your trip includes a flight booked through us, or through our ABTOT bond if it does not. Either way, this protection provides a cast-iron financial guarantee and helps you book with complete peace of mind. Because the contract between us exists here in the UK, you get this protection regardless of where you live.