Connoisseur Costa Rica and Nicaragua 14 days, 12 nightsSan José 2 nights, Osa Peninsula 4n, San José 1n, Granada 2n, San Juan del Sur 3n.Day 1 Fly from the UK to San José. Upon arrival, a 45 minute drive to the Central Valley. Overnight in a luxurious villa at Xandari Plantation, a working coffee farm. Individual terracotta villas are decorated in contemporary style and there are many original works of art. Day 2 At leisure to enjoy the many facilities on offer, including horse-riding. Days 3-6 Fly to Puerto Jimenez (1hr) on the verdant Osa Peninsula and transfer to Lapa Rios Rainforest Ecolodge (p36) overlooking the coast and backed by virgin rainforest. Day 7 Return to San José. Day 8 By air to Managua, on by road to Granada. Spend 2 nights at Hotel Patio de Melinche, built in colonial hacienda style around a courtyard. Day 9 At leisure to explore the colonial quarters of the city. Days 10-12 It's 90 minutes' drive to Morgan's Rock Hacienda and Ecolodge (p49) on a stunning Pacific bay, sufficiently undisturbed for sea turtles to lay their eggs. Day 13 Return to Managua for flight to the UK, arriving day 14. Prices from £2,566pp based on two sharing, excluding transatlantic flights. Daily from the UK ManaguaMorgan's RockGranadaPuerto JimenezCOSTA RICANICARAGUAPANAMA.....San JoséCentral Valley020 8747 8315 / journeylatinamerica.co.uk bookings, consultant advice and additional information 41how about?» Adventure in style: make time for our white water rafting trip with an overnight stay in Pacuare lodge (p38), it's just a one night side trip from San José.COSTA RICA HABITACIONISTOCKPHOTO.COMPACUARE LODGE

Panama is renowned for its canal linking the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, but it is also host to magnificent natural scenery, including virgin rainforest. Nicaragua's emerging highlights include vast Lake Nicaragua and its islands, and the region's oldest colonial city?Granada. Honduras is a rural country of succulent tropical fruits, Caribbean islands with white coral beaches, a cool mountain interior and impressive Mayan ruins. Tourism is in its infancy in tiny El Salvador, but there is a lot of potential there with friendly people and a landscape of volcanoes, lagoons and hill-trekking country, with great surf beaches on the craggy coastline. A visit combines well with the adjacent countries.42