With its lush rainforests, dazzling wildlife and landscapes that take your breath away, it is no wonder Costa Rica captures the heart of everyone who visits... me included.

In this blog, I’m sharing my top 10 highlights from my Costa Rica Walking and Wildlife adventure: the little (and big) moments that made me fall completely in love with it.

Seeing a sloth in the wild was top of my Costa Rica wish list, so to spot one on day one in Costa Rica felt almost too good to be true. I genuinely couldn’t believe our luck. They’re surprisingly tricky to find, perfectly camouflaged high up in the trees like sleepy little bundles of moss. Thankfully, our guide was brilliant at spotting them from afar.

I loved watching them with the naked eye, but I’d really recommend packing binoculars so you can see their tiny facial expressions and slow, deliberate movements up close. Our guide also carried a telescope that we could attach our phones to, which meant we managed to capture some incredible photos and videos to remember the moment forever.

We saw several sloths throughout the trip and it never got any less magical. Each sighting felt just as special as the first.

Tip: Bring a decent camera (a good phone camera works perfectly) and binoculars if you have them.

You can hear this spectacular waterfall long before you see it: a distant roar that gradually grows louder as you walk through the forest. Then suddenly the trees open up and there it is... this enormous, dramatic cascade tumbling into a clear pool below. It felt like it appeared out of nowhere. We had the whole place to ourselves, which made it even more special. A few of us swam in the cool, crystal-clear water and standing beneath the waterfall felt like a proper pinch-me moment. One of those memories you know will stay with you forever.

The walk to this waterfall was one of the more challenging walks of the trip, mainly down to the heat and humidity, but it was worth every single step.

Tip: Pack swimwear and a quick-dry towel, you'll be tempted to swim when you see it for yourself!

Corcovado National Park is home to around 2.5% of the world’s biodiversity, making it one of the best places for wildlife spotting in Costa Rica. It is truly one of the most incredible places I’ve ever visited.

We had a dedicated park guide and I’m not exaggerating when I say your neck might ache a little from looking up into the trees to spot more and more wildlife. Everywhere you turn there’s something to see: monkeys, birds, insects, reptiles! It’s relentless in the best possible way. An unexpected personal highlight was spotting a giant anteater happily shuffling along, completely unbothered by our presence. With its long snout and swishy tail, it was completely fascinating to watch.

Tip: Make sure your camera is fully charged and you have plenty of memory; I took a LOT of photos this day.

I hadn’t been snorkelling since I was a kid so I wasn't sure how this would be for me, but it ended up being one of my absolute core highlights. We headed out by speedboat with a brilliant snorkelling guide who gave us a quick tutorial on using our snorkels and flippers (provided for us) before we slipped into the water. Within minutes we were swimming above reef sharks, sea turtles and huge schools of colourful fish. Hearing someone call out “shark!” and feeling pure excitement rather than fear was another unexpected highlight!

Afterwards we stopped at the ranger station for coffee and snacks before heading to a beautiful private beach for lunch. A few cheeky capuchin monkeys even appeared, eyeing up our impressive buffet and keeping us entertained while we ate.

Tip: Wear a rash vest or long-sleeved top in the water, the sun is strong!

These were FUN. I travelled during the rainy season and we had a few very wet days during our time at Rincón, so the rivers were higher than usual. However the crossings were well organised, safe and genuinely exciting, a proper adventure moment. They also led us to some impressive natural hot springs and lots of fantastic wildlife spotting, so soggy boots were a small price to pay!

Tip: Embrace it and wear your boots through the river. You’ll cross up to three rivers, so swapping into sandals each time will be a bit fiddly for you. Plus, there’s something quite freeing about just committing to it and wading straight through!

On our morning at this fantastic reserve, which focuses on conservation and natural regeneration, we had a bit of spare time before our walk that turned into one of the loveliest slow moments of the trip.

After a delicious breakfast (the food here was incredible), we sat in the open-sided dining area that hangs over the rainforest canopy. With fresh Costa Rican coffee in hand, we perched on stools and watched colourful birds flit through the trees below us.

It was so peaceful, yet brimming with some of the very best things in life: excellent coffee, great company and a truly spectacular view!

The lodge we stayed at on the Osa Peninsula was only accessible by boat, which made our arrival feel wonderfully exciting. As we neared the shore, the crew whisked away our luggage and one by one we stepped into the shallow water before wading onto the beach; it felt delightfully remote, like arriving somewhere truly off-grid and special.

We had a few more boat landings during day trips to Corcovado and Caño Island, each just as fun, and by the end of the trip, we were pros at hopping on and off the boat.

Tip: I wore Crocs for the landings and they were perfect as they provided good grip and dried almost instantly.

One of the most heartwarming stops of the trip was our visit to a wildlife sanctuary dedicated to rescuing animals from road accidents, habitat loss, fires and the illegal pet trade.

The sanctuary focuses on rehabilitation and release wherever possible. Animals undergoing recovery are kept away from visitors in carefully designed habitats to help them return to the wild. Only those unable to be released are visible to guests. We saw pumas, ocelots, toucans, hawks and many other wonderful species - all cared for with such dedication. It was both inspiring and emotional, and a powerful reminder of the importance of conservation.

Tip: Donations are welcomed and you can follow the sanctuary on social media after your visit to keep up to date with their incredible work.

I loved the food throughout the trip: simple, fresh, healthy and full of flavour. The traditional Costa Rican dish 'Casado' (rice, black beans, plantain, salad and a protein) appeared often but I genuinely never got tired of it. I've even tried recreating it at home but it doesn't taste quite the same in the UK!

However, the most memorable meals were those at the eco lodges: freshly cooked by local community members using ingredients grown nearby. Sitting down to dinner by candlelight, surrounded by rainforest sounds and complete darkness beyond the lodge, was incredibly special.

Finally - and possibly most importantly - the people.

Our guide and driver were two of the warmest, most passionate people you could hope to travel with. Our guide Tito’s knowledge and love for his country was second to none and shone through every single day.

However what really stood out was how welcoming everyone was. From lodge owners to restaurant staff to people we simply passed on the street, there was a genuine warmth and pride in sharing their country with visitors.

You feel it everywhere: a deep respect for nature, community and the environment, and it makes you feel incredibly lucky to experience it alongside them.

Of course, I can’t talk about the highlights of this trip without mentioning the wonderful people I shared it with. Group travel has a way of creating special connections and I feel so grateful to have laughed, explored and celebrated so many unforgettable moments in Costa Rica with such a brilliant bunch of fellow travellers.

Take a look at some of our snaps below; if you’re still on the fence about visiting this phenomenal country, they might just convince you!

Bex travelled on our Walks and Wildlife adventure

but we have three unique ways you can explore Costa Rica: