Early this morning you'll have the chance to see the astonishing wildlife of Costa Rica come to life as a new day begins, on an optional tour through the backwater canals in the company of an expert guide - a great opportunity for wildlife sightings. Return to the lodge for breakfast, then head out once more for a full-day tour of the park. Hidden within the landscape of waterways and tropical forest you may be lucky enough to see monkeys and manatees, sloths and caimans, tiny turtles and toucan, as well as macaws, iguanas and water-walking 'Jesus Christ' lizards. The park is also a vital nesting site for both green and leatherback turtles, and visitors in September will have the opportunity to visit the hatching site where (with luck) newly hatched turtles will be emerging! Complete your stay in this amazing place with dinner at the lodge's floating restaurant, this evening.

Bidding farewell to Tortuguero, you'll travel back through the rainforest by boat, and then across the Costa Rican lowlands by coach to La Fortuna for a two-night stay with views of majestic Arenal. After 40 years, the eruptions of this exceptionally active volcano have finally died down, but the region is blessed with hot springs and thermal baths, including those at Eco Termales that you'll visit this evening.

Learn about the secrets and history of chocolate production, from cacao pods to ceremonial drinks and confectionery bars, on a fascinating Rainforest Chocolate Tour, this morning. This afternoon, the energetic can burn off any overindulgences on a gentle hike through the volcanic landscape to the El Silencio look-out point where you'll be rewarded with spectacular views of the volcanic slopes. We'll return to the hotel in La Fortuna this evening.

Today, you'll head around Lake Arenal and make our way to into the cloud forests of Monteverde, where private conservation sites and reserves protect wildlife communities quite unlike those elsewhere in the country. Spend two nights amid lush, dense forests that are home to an incredible diversity of birds, including the exotic resplendent quetzal, as well as rare species like jaguars and pumas. Enjoy an excursion to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve (so called because of the fine mist that shrouds it, this afternoon, then rest and relax at the hotel this evening.

Today we'll follow the 1.9km trail over eight bridges through the lush rainforest canopy of Selvatura Park, for the chance to encounter yet more of Costa Rica’s native species. Visit the Hummingbird Garden, which brings you into close contact with these sparkling creatures, and the wonderful Butterfly Garden. Enjoy lunch during the visit, and perhaps dare to ride Selvatura Park's 15 zip lines (the longest of which is one kilometre long!) through the cloud-forest canopy on an optional excursion. Afterwards, we'll return to the hotel for a last evening.

After breakfast, you'll return to the airport to board your overnight flight back to the UK.

Arrive back in the UK, at the end of an extraordinary glimpse of nature’s wonders and a thoroughly enjoyable stay in a truly stunning corner of the world.