White Water, Volcano and Beach Adventure
Take a journey on the wild side through some of Costa Rica’s most beautiful tropical rainforests, to an active volcano, wetlands teaming with wildlife and gorgeous beaches lined with lush jungle.
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Day 1: You’ll be met at the airport by our representative and taken to your hotel.
Overnight at the Real InterContinental Hotel, or similar.
Day 2: Pacuare River Rafting
Between 6:00 -7:00 am, you’ll be picked up at your hotel lobby by one of our rafting guides and driven in a comfortable microbus (approximately 2½ hours) to our Pacuare River put-in. The trip will take you past the country’s former capital of Cartago and massive Irazú Volcano, with a stop along the way for a typical Costa Rican breakfast of eggs, gallo pinto, fresh fruit and coffee. After a quick class in white water rafting, you’ll begin an exciting 1-1½ hour trip down the Pacuare River (class II-III rapids) to the Pacuare Lodge, Costa Rica’s premier eco-lodge, where you’ll spend the next two nights. After a delicious lunch, you can 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. Overnight at Pacuare Lodge. (B, L, D)
Day 3: 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 to visit with a Cabecar Indian shaman, or our Adventure Canopy Tour, which takes you gliding through the rainforest along zip lines between platforms in the treetops. (B, L, D) Overnight at Pacuare Lodge.
Day 4: Pacuare River Rafting and transfer to Arenal
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 to La Fortuna and Arenal Volcano (about 3 ½ hours). Overnight at Lost Iguana Hotel, or similar. (B & L)
Day 5: Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge and Hot Spring at Ecotermales del Bosque
Rise early and depart at 7:30 am for a full-day trip to Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge – one of the country’s best bird-watching spots. Located near the small town of Los Chiles (3 miles from the Nicaraguan border), the refuge is a haven for thousands of birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians. You’ll be driven to Los Chiles where, after a 15-minute break, you’ll board a comfortable covered motor launch for a trip up the Rio Frio. That forest-lined waterway is an excellent place to see wildlife – on an average day, you might see 40 species of birds, caimans, sloth’s, monkeys, bats, turtles, baslisk lizards and iguanas. Lunch is served on the river trip. After another break in Los Chiles, we return to La Fortuna, arriving around 3:00 pm. Your day will end at Ecotermales del Bosque, hot springs surrounded by exuberant tropical gardens near the base of Arenal Volcano. These inviting waters cascade into inviting pools where you can soak away all your stress. Enjoy a delicious dinner before returning to your hotel. Overnight at Lost Iguana Hotel or similar. (B,L,D)
Day 6: Transfer to Manuel Antonio National Park area.
Our representative will pick you up at your hotel early for the long trip along scenic mountain roads to Manuel Antonio – one of the country’s most popular beach resorts. Located on the Central Pacific Coast, next to exuberant Manuel Antonio National Park, the town of Manuel Antonio is spread over a forested ridge overlooking the Pacific with unforgettable coastal views. This area is a great destination for those seeking outdoor adventure, ecotourism, sport fishing, or simply a bit of sun, sea and sand. The area’s postcard-perfect beaches include Playa Manuel Antonio, in the national park, which is a crescent of ivory sand between the rainforest and calm waters perfect for swimming and snorkeling. Nearby Playa Espadilla, a long beach lined with coconut palms and Indian almond trees, has decent surfing waves during certain times of year, and good swimming when the sea is calm. Overnight at Parador Hotel or similar. (B)
Day 7: Optional tour at Manuel Antonio
Spend this day at the beach and the national park, or choose from one of the following optional tours (not included in the price): a guided hike through the Rainmaker reserve, where you can swim in a pool beneath a pristine cascade, or Sea Kayaking in a protected inland waterway, a perfect place to learn this sport while admiring the mangroves and aquatic birds.
Other optional tours: Deep-sea fishing for large game fish, horseback riding, or a sailboat cruise.
Overnight at Parador Hotel, or similar. (B )
Day 8: Air transfer to San José.
You’ll be picked up at your hotel in the morning and driven to the local airport for a SANSA airline flight to Juan Santamaría International Airport, where you can connect with your international flight, or spend a night in San José. (B)
Price includes: Airport transfers, breakfasts and other meals where specified, lodging as described above, ground transportation, bilingual guide for all tours, entrance fees to Ecotermales del Bosque, domestic flight Quepos-San José and use of rafting equipment.
Prices:
High Season: Dec - April
US$ 1,692.00 p/p
Low Season: May - November
US$ 1,550.00 p/p
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