Guayabo, Irazú's Dwarf Forest and the Emptied Town Below Turrialba

A maximum of four people, and stops that move according to the weather and to what the group wants to see. At Irazú National Park the walk goes into one of the three inactive craters of the highest volcano in the country, and across the páramo: a tropical dwarf forest, and one of the most threatened ecosystems in the world. La Central is the town closest to Turrialba volcano. Recent volcanic activity has stripped the ground around it bare and half emptied the place, which gives it an uneasy feel. The farms on the outskirts still work, and with luck the potatoes, carrots and beets are being lifted while you pass. Guayabo National Monument is the most important archaeological site in Costa Rica. The pre-Hispanic settlement is recognised as a civil engineering world heritage site, and it sits in protected rainforest, so the wildlife turns up as well as the stonework. Two things to plan for: the entrance fees at Irazú and Guayabo are paid in cash on the day, and a percentage of what the operator earns goes to Funga Conservation, a non-profit foundation. Cancel at least 24 hours before departure for a full refund.