One morning in the rain forests of Costa Rica, we spotted 22 bird species, 3 kind of iguanas and

a family of white-faced monkeys…before we finished breakfast! You can read the numbers—9,000 plants, 208 species of mammals, 850 kinds of birds—but the statistic that matters most is that 100% of every Costa Rican day you come face to face with nature in stunning abundance. Experienced naturalists accompany us as we explore the Pacific side of the watershed. There's a private cloud forest where you may spot a black howler monkey (if you can stop gaping at the orchids). At Arenal Volcano, the lava flows are too hot to touch, but the high altitude breezes are cool. And from our hillside lodge above the ocean, we enjoy an easy day of rafting, and take lowland jungle trails to mangrove swamps and beaches in search of crocodiles and roseate spoonbills. Throughout, we’ll also meet ticos (Costa Ricans) and learn firsthand how this gentle, democratic country has set an ecological example for the world.