Rainforest, Island and Rafting Safari
Corcovado, Caño Island and Pacuare River Rafting
Explore the rainforest of one of Costa Rica’s wildest national parks, visit an enchanted isle surrounding by clear waters teaming with marine life, and raft down one of the World’s most beautiful white water rivers.
Day 1: You’ll be met at the airport by our representative and taken to your hotel.
Overnight at the Grano de Oro Hotel, or similar.
Day 2: Air and water transfer to the Osa Peninsula
After breakfast, you’ll be picked-up and taken to the SANSA terminal for the 45-minute flight to the Costa RIca’s southern Pacific coast. The flight takes you over beautiful landscapes, such as forest-draped mountains, before landing at the frontier town of Palmar Sur. From there, you’ll be transported by motorboat along the mangrove-lined Sierpe River and open sea to your ecolodge, Casa Corcovado, nestled within a 150-acre private reserve. The lodge is only a short boat-ride, or hike away from the entrance to Corcovado National Park, and the surrounding forest is home to an array of tropical wildlife that includes monkeys, toucans, parrots, baslisk lizards and colorful poison dart frogs. The lodge’s rustic but comfortable design is in harmony with its nature surroundings, creating the perfect setting from which to appreciate the rainforest. You can spend time at the swimming pool, bird watching near the lodge, on the nearby beach, or relaxing at the bar. Delicious and hearty meals are included.
Overnight at the Casa Corcovado Jungle Lodge, or similar (B,L,D)
Day 3: Hiking in Corcovado National Park
After a delicious breakfast, follow your naturalist guide into the rainforest of Corcovado National Park, which the Nacional Geographic Society has called “the most biologically intense place on Earth. The early morning hours are the best time to spot wildlife, and the park is home to an array of tropical animals that include four kinds of monkeys, colorful poison dart frogs, large rodents called agoutis and more than 400 bird species. As you explore the park’s dense forest and beach, you may spot such spectacular birds as toucans, trogons, mealy parrots and scarlet macaws. The hike includes lunch, drinks and time on a secluded beach. Overnight at the Casa Corcovado Jungle Lodge, or similar. (B,L,D)
Day 4: Caño Island Tour
Caño Island, located 12 miles west of Drake Bay, is surrounded by some of the best diving waters in Costa Rica. The island was sacred for ancient societies, and during a hike through the island's luxuriant forest, you can visit the site of a pre-Colombian burial grounds. The island has a lovely golden beach backed by thick vegetation. Those who want to go snorkeling can explore the rock reef offshore, which is dotted with small coral formations and home to an array of marine life that includes snappers, angelfish, Moorish idols, parrotfish, rays and eels. Overnight at the Casa Corcovado Jungle Lodge or similar (B,L,D)
Day 5: Flight to San Jose and transfer to Pacuare Lodge
This morning, you’ll leave the lodge by boat and head back up the Sierpe River to the town of Palmar Sur, where you’ll board your plane back to San José. There, you’ll be picked up and driven toward the country’s Caribbean slope, past Costa Rica’s original capital, Cartago, and its highest volcano, Volcán Irazú. At the tiny farming community of Santa Marta, you’ll board a four-wheel-drive vehicle for the remaining six-kilometers down a gravel road to the banks of the Pacuare River. There, you’ll cross the river on a hanging gondola and walk the 300 yards to the Pacuare Lodge, nestled between the rainforest and the river. After a delicious lunch you can relax in your bungalow or take part in a hike to a 30-foot waterfall in the rainforest. In the late afternoon, you may want to join fellow travelers in our main lodge for a cocktail or other beverage before enjoying a delicious candlelight dinner. (B, L, D)
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Day 6: Optional tours at Pacuare Lodge
Wake up to a symphony of bird song and the soothing sound of the nearby river. Then head over to the main lodge for a delicious breakfast of homemade bread, tropical fruits, yogurt, eggs, pancakes, cereal and juice and coffee. The lodge is surrounded by rainforest, and our resident naturalist guide is happy to share his knowledge of the area’s abundant wildlife. Choose from exciting, optional tours (not included in the price) that include guided hikes through the surrounding forest, the Cabecar Indian tour, which consists of a challenging jungle trek visit the home of a Cabecar Indian shaman, and our Adventure Canopy Tour, which takes you gliding through the rainforest along zip lines between platforms in treetops. (B, L, D) Overnight at Pacuare Lodge.
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Day 7: Pacuare River Rafting – San José
Between 9:00-10:00 am, you’ll begin a fun-filled day of white water rafting excitement (approximately 3½ hours over class III-IV rapids) on one of the world’s most beautiful rivers. You’ll paddle past pristine rainforest, waterfalls, and an array of birdlife that includes toucans, herons, kingfishers and cormorants. A delicious picnic lunch is served along the river en route. At our river take-out, you’ll have a chance to change into dry clothes at our private facilities before boarding our minibus for the trip over misty mountains to your hotel in San José. Arrive in San Jose between 5:30-6:30 pm.
Overnight at the Real InterContinental, or similar. (B, L)
Price includes: Airport transfers, breakfasts and other meals where specified, lodging as described above, ground and water transportation, bilingual guides for all tours, entrance fees to parks visited, domestic flight San José–Palmar Sur–San José and use of rafting equipment.
Prices:
High season January- April 2011 & July 1- July 31, 2011
$2.201.00 per person in one double room
Low season May- June 30th 2011 & August 1- December 15, 2011
$2.051.00 per person in one double room
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