Adventure trip to Costa Rica

Trip Description

Accomodation

Stay program

• day 1

  Arrival in San José

  You will be welcomed upon your arrival at Juan Santa Maria International Airport by our team. We will give you your travel documents, including your detailed itinerary, flights, a mobile phone, and a map of Costa Rica. We will then accompany you to the Hampton Inn Suites hotel and present your trip to Costa Rica. We will also offer you two reusable water bottles.

• day 2

  Transfer from San José to Puerto Viejo

  

  Today, you will take the 6:30 am flight from San Jose to Limon. It will make a stop in Tortuguero so that other passengers can board and will continue to Limon, with an expected arrival at 7:30 am. Before that, you will arrive at Juan Santa María airport at 5:30 am. For this transfer, we will use the Hampton Inn hostel bus (frequency about every 15 minutes). You will be at the national airport in 5 minutes. In Limon, our driver will be waiting for you for the transfer to your hotel. The journey from Limón to Cahuita takes about one hour, then about ten minutes to Puerto Viejo, and finally 1h25 to Manzanillo. The approximate arrival is between 9:00 and 9:30 am. On that day, we will take you to the entrance of the town of Cahuita so that you can explore the area. The tour through Cahuita National Park is a walk of about three hours. This is an opportunity for you to spot incredible wildlife: howler monkeys, toucans, quetzals, raccoons, or even sloths... During the day, you will find a beautiful swimming area without currents. This circuit is very relaxing and beautiful, you can do it by yourself, without a driver. Several places will be available to you at the exit of the park for lunch. Return by taxi (20 USD) whenever you wish. Night in Puerto Viejo or Manzanillo.

• day 3

  Manzanillo tour with the Gandoca lagoon.

  Around 7:30 in the morning, our guide will be waiting for you to take you to Manzanillo, on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. The main attraction of this small town is its white sand beach lined with palm trees. Go for a hike through the Manzanillo Wildlife Reserve (2 hours), which will lead you to the fine white sand beach. Boat transfer to Punta Mona Island, where you can go snorkeling and explore the seabed. Then, visit the Gandoca lagoon by canoe. Lunch in Gandoca. The Gandoca-Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge has varied ecosystems, such as yellow sand beaches and wetlands: marshes, lagoons, flooded forests, coral reefs, seagrass beds, and algae. Before returning to Manzanillo, we will walk 2 km along the beach, where the driver will be waiting for you for the transfer to your hotel. You will have experienced one of the most complete adventure days you can have in Puerto Viejo, with hiking, animal watching in their habitat, and canoeing.

• day 4

  Free day in Puerto Viejo

  

  Different activities are available to you. If you like adventure, we recommend the descent of the Pacuare River. Pacuare River rafting, description: - Difficulty: Class III-IV - Distance: 30 km - Number of rapids to cross: 38 - Approximate duration: 4 hours We will pick you up at the hotel around 6 a.m. and you will be back at the Lodge around 5:30 p.m. Pacuare circuit: the perfect combination of adventure and emotions in the heart of nature. Pacuare is world-famous for its lush beauty, a true gorge flanked by steep, green walls, immersed in greenery, wild and natural, isolated from urban life. The water is just as lively. It is not a dangerous river, but it is still fast. So, a fun-filled adventure awaits you. Departing from Puerto Viejo, on the banks of the river, we will equip you with vests, a helmet, and a paddle. You will attend a safety orientation briefing. The first 6 kilometers are fast passages of class II-III, which is the perfect time to test your new river skills and gain confidence in your team. After 40 minutes, we will enter the famous Pacuare River gorge, which is 8 km of some of the best waters Costa Rica has to offer. The rapids are "Serpiente Terciopelo", "Doble Caída", "Huacas Superior e Inferior", "Pin Ball", among others. You will also see the Huacas waterfall, a spectacular 45-meter-high fall. After the gorge, the river opens onto an 8 km stretch in the Pacuare valley. You can both rest a little and take the opportunity to observe the wildlife. The main rapids are "Cimarrones", "The Play Hole", "El Indio" and "Magnetic Rock". The forest is still lush, and the rapids are just as fun, then arrival at Siquirres. Night in Puerto Viejo or Manzanillo.

• day 5

  Puerto Viejo - Tortuguero

  Today, we will take you to Moin, near Limon (car transfer: about 1 h 30). Our colleague will accompany you to take the boat at 10:00 am to Tortuguero (boat transfer: 3 h 30). Expected arrival at 1:30 pm. During the boat transfer, you may spot sloths, crocodiles, and beautiful herons. In Tortuguero, you will be dropped off at the main dock, where our colleagues from Tortuguero Beach Lodge will be waiting for you for a transfer to the bungalows. Lunch on the paradisiacal beach of Tortuguero. Another very pleasant place for lunch or dinner is the Budda Café in the center of Tortuguero. At night, it is particularly charming. You will meet our guide who will show you the best of Tortuguero. You will meet him again at the hotel to see the turtle nesting in the evening. During the months of July to October, you can take the turtle nesting tour as they come to nest on the beautiful beaches of Tortuguero. Outside the nesting season, a night tour will be organized where you can observe nocturnal creatures such as frogs, spiders, or snakes.

• day 6

  Visit of the Tortuguero canals and flight to La Fortuna.

  

  Today, your Costa Rican guide will be waiting for you very early to board the boat that will take you through the canals of Tortuguero National Park (3 hours). A unique opportunity to admire the flora and fauna hidden in the mangroves of Tortuguero. After the visit, we will drop you off at the hotel for check-out, then transfer by water taxi to the airport. Departure is at 12:45 pm and you will arrive in La Fortuna at 1:10 pm. At La Fortuna airport, you will be welcomed by our guide Andres, who will take you to see the La Fortuna waterfalls. You will go directly to the waterfalls without stopping at the hotel in order to have time for lunch. The waters of the Fortuna River and its small tributaries, born in the mountains of the park, give life to La Catarata Rio Fortuna. The descent to the Rio Fortuna waterfall consists of 500 steps, along a recently remodeled trail where you will find rest areas. Upon arrival, a spectacular 70-meter-high waterfall awaits you, where you can swim and enjoy the wild nature (always with caution). After the visit, your guide will accompany you for your transfer to the hotel and you will spend the night at the Observatory Lodge.

• day 7

  Visit to the Rio Celeste and the Tenorio volcano

  Breakfast at the hotel before departing for the Tenorio volcano region at 7:00 am. You will explore the Celeste River, its vivid colors, its charm, its waterfall, and many other wonders in a forest very well preserved from human impact. After a two-hour drive, you will arrive at Tenorio National Park where you can start walking on the entrance trail towards the Celeste River waterfall. Hike along the Rio Celeste (about 2 h 30). Continuing along the path to the blue lagoon, you will discover the place where the two rivers meet to create the alchemy that produces the unique blue of the river. It is actually the chemical reaction between calcium carbonate and sulfur escaping from the volcano... If the weather permits, you will be able to see the active Tenorio volcano, one of the youngest volcanoes in Costa Rica. You will have the opportunity to swim in a special spot where you can also enjoy the lunch we will have prepared for you. Last night in La Fortuna.

• day 8

  Transfer to Monteverde with a stop at Juntas de Abangares.

  Departure for Monteverde is scheduled at 8:30 am after a good breakfast at the hotel. The journey will be by boat and car. Our friends from the Fortuna region will come to pick you up and take you to the place where the boat is waiting for you. Once on the other side of the lake, our driver will be waiting to take you to Juntas de Abangares. You will have the opportunity to discover an important part of the history of the Ticos' lives. Mining canton in Costa Rica The Abangares region has the largest gold mine in Costa Rica. During the gold rush (1884-1931), many came to this town in search of fortune. Some of them came from Jamaica, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Russia, creating a population with multiracial roots not found in other towns of Guanacaste. This immigration of Costa Ricans and people from other nationalities gave birth to the town of Abangares. Discovery of the mining world of Abangares Our friend Marvin will take care of teaching you everything about this profession. You will visit the whole region and he will personally show you how this mining world still survives and how gold is worked and extracted in Abangares. 75% of the population of Las Juntas is dedicated to mining. You will have lunch at Marvin's before being transferred to Monteverde, which is one hour from Las Juntas.

• day 9

  Monteverde: hanging bridges and canopy. Equestrian trails.

  

  Today at 8:00 am, your guide Mauricio will pick you up at the hotel for the transfer to Selvatura Park. Today, at 8:00 am, your guide Mauricio will pick you up at the hotel for the transfer to Selvatura Park. You will walk along a hanging bridge while admiring the impressive landscape of the Costa Rican rainforest canopy. To finish, you will be able to see Costa Rican wildlife like a bird as you soar from tree to tree, attached to a zip line. A unique experience for everyone, young and old! After this activity, Mauricio will come to pick you up to take you to lunch at a restaurant and let you rest a bit. In the afternoon, you will visit a farm where you can go on a horseback ride ending in a very beautiful place with natural hot springs. Mauricio will take care of all the transfers for this day until your return to the hotel in Monteverde.

• day 10

  Transfer to Santa Teresa by ferry.

  Around 7:00 am, a transfer will take place to Puntarenas where you will take the 11:00 am ferry to Paquera. In Paquera, you will wait for the transfer to Santa Teresa, one of Costa Rica's paradises. You will be welcomed by our colleague Ricardo, who will give you information about the tours and activities to do in Santa Teresa. We advise you to rent a quad so that you can get around easily and calmly discover all the corners of the region. Indeed, many roads in Costa Rica are impassable by car. We will send you information about the different agencies that rent quads. The cost is 50 dollars per day. Night in Santa Teresa.

• day 11

  Free day in Santa Teresa

  On this free day, you can rent ATVs and take a ride to Cabo Blanco up to Montezuma. We will give you advice on where to have lunch and where to watch a beautiful sunset. If you have no ideas for this free day, we have prepared a few suggestions: a day trip including canopy, hiking, and visiting the waterfalls. You will start the day at the treetops, through the lush vegetation of the Mal País jungle. You can also go trekking in the Cabo Blanco Absolute Reserve: a one-hour walk where you will see monkeys, lizards, and many other animals. To finish, we will arrive at the waterfalls in the town of Montezuma and there, it will be time to enjoy!

• day 12

  Free day in Santa Teresa

  

  You can take advantage of this day to rest and relax on the beautiful sandy beaches of Santa Teresa. Night at the Manalá Santa Teresa hotel // Al Otro Lado Lodge

• day 13

  Transfer to Tambor and flight to San José.

  At the indicated time, a transfer of about 40 minutes will be made to Tambor to take the flight to San José, scheduled at 12:30. You will arrive in less than an hour and will be transferred to the Hampton Inn Suites hotel.

• day 14

  International return flight

  After this two-week trip to Costa Rica, filled with memories, you will be transferred from the hotel to the international airport. The price includes: - Certified guide for excursions in Tortuguero, Puerto Viejo, La Fortuna, and Monteverde. In Santa Teresa, there will be a person to help you find your way, guide you, and assist you, but this is not a guide, it is an assistant from Rutas Costa Rica in Santa Teresa. - All transfers are private, except the transfer to Arenal and the boat transfer to Moin. The ferry from Puntarenas to Paquera is also not private. - Rafting on the Pacuare River is shared with other people. For the transfer to and from the Hampton Inn, the transfer offered by the hotel will be used. It is two minutes from the airport. - Hotels mentioned in double room - The meals indicated. We will advise you on restaurants. - National park entrances - Entry fees for horseback riding, canopy, zipline, bridges, hot springs activities... - International travel insurance with cancellation - Domestic flight San José - Limon, Tortuguero - La Fortuna and Tambor - San José The price does not include: - International flights - Food and drinks not mentioned above - There are airports where Sansa asks for a tax on arrival or departure (3 - 7 USD per person)