Bosque Protector Cerro Blanco

This place has a network of trails through mangrove and primary forests, which vary vastly with the seasons -- from flowing rivers and streams and an abundance of lush vegetation in the rainy season (Jan-May) to a more typical dry-forest feel during the rest of the year. I recommend you hire one of their bilingual guides -- you'll see a lot more wildlife and learn a lot more. Guides cost between $7 and $12 (£4.65-£8), depending upon the length of your hike, and can handle a group of up to eight people. Resident mammals include the howler monkey, wild peccary, and ocelot. Over 200 species of birds have been spotted here, including the scarlet macaw, which is being actively protected at the Bosque. There's a restaurant, and you can use their campground or rent a rustic two-bedroom bamboo bungalow. These folks also run the nearby Puerto Hondo, set on the banks of a broad mangrove, where you can rent canoes and kayaks (either solo or accompanied by a guide).

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.