7 day Costa Rican Adventure
Day 1
Arrive in San José, transfer from the Airport to Country Inn & Suites
Includes: transportation, dinner & lodging.
Day 2
On the Rio Pacuare 3-day trip, you’ll enjoy one of the most amazing rainforest experiences
possible – breathtaking beauty far removed from civilization’s rush and heart-pounding
excitement. It is certain to be a highlight of your stay in Costa Rica. The Pacuare
River is one of the top five rafting rivers in the world for its scenery and rapids.
This tropical river is a trip of pure magic, unsurpassed beauty, wildlife and exhilarating
rapids.
After breakfast, you’ll depart our operations center at 10:00 am. Once at the river,
your friendly and professional guides will load your gear into dry bags, prepare
the equipment and give you complete safety and paddle instruction. The first day’s
Class III rapids welcome you to the Pacuare gorge’s charm as you raft deep in the
heart of primary rainforest. While your guides prepare you a hearty picnic lunch
on the riverbank, you’ll be led through the jungle to an enchanting waterfall and
pool to swim.
Before you know it, you’ll arrive at the award-winning Rios Tropicales Lodge where
you can spend the afternoon relaxing, hiking or soaking in our waterfall and pools.
Nestled in the jungle on our 1,000-acre private reserve, the lodge offers you all
the comforts you need in “Cabecar Indian” style bungalows. Private single and double
rooms are spacious with clean linen, and there are modern bathrooms and showers.
Electricity is generated by a self-sufficient hydro-plant. Happy Hour will put you
in the mood for a tropical evening, followed by a luscious candlelight dinner with
wine served by your guides.
Includes: transportation, breakfast, lunch, dinner and lodging
Day 3
Don’t worry about wake-up time. The beauty of the light through the forest, the
sound of toucans and the smell of coffee will get you going. This day is designed
to enjoy the lodge surroundings. You can choose a variety of hikes – a 4-5 hour
hike high to the Pacuare Reserve, a 2-3 hour hike to nearby waterfalls and pools,
or short walks near the lodge – or just relax in a hammock and enjoy nature. Experience
a side of the Pacuare few people know! Also we will show you one of our newer tours:
Horseback riding to El Tigre Town or Tree Planting and Tilapia fishing. Besides,
you will have our canopy tour included.
Includes: transportation, breakfast, lunch, dinner and lodging
Day 4
After a hearty breakfast and loading the rafts, you’ll prepare to paddle down the
Pacuare gorge past gushing waterfalls, serene pools and pounding rapids. A snack
stop by the riverside let you explore more waterfalls and natural waterslides. An
adrenaline-packed afternoon running rapids like Upper and Lower Huacas, Cimarron,
Dos Montañas and many more, will have you cheering ecstatically. Lunch will be served
at the river. Showers, changing rooms, cold and hot drinks and snacks are available
in our Operations Center.
Then, you will drive to Fortuna, where you’ll enjoy remarkable views of Arenal Volcano.
Lodging at Montaña de Fuego Hotel.
Includes: transportation, breakfast, lunch, dinner and lodging
Day 5
After breakfast, we will offer you the opportunity to experience two adventure sports
in an environment close to the forest and unique landscapes. The mountains and lake
of the Arenal Volcano provide a good area to do mountain biking & kayaking in an
extraordinary adventure.
You will be kayaking during two hours and have the opportunity to visit islands,
see local birds like: ospreys, kingfishers, neotropical cormorants, aningas and
some mammals such as: howler monkeys, spider monkeys, white-nosed coatis or sloths.
Also, you can’t lose the impressive Arenal Volcano view and its constants eruptions.
After kayaking is finished, you will drink water, eat some snacks, relax and then
get ready for an exciting mountain biking through natural paths, traditional Costa
Rican neighborhoods and small rivers.
This adventure is unforgettable!
In the afternoon, you will have time to relax at the Ecotermales Hot Springs, which
is a project that was built with the purpose of satisfying the needs of those looking
to visit a natural spa with a family environment and personalized service that works
in harmony with nature. Located in what use to be a cattle farm, it is a small oasis
of natural forest, where you find the hot springs. It offers a private environment
with controlled access to avoid crowds. The spa has 4 different pools with different
temperatures the coolest one is 91 degrees Fahrenheit. The hottest one is 105 Fahrenheit;
one of the pools has a cascading waterfall for a natural soothing back massage.
Lodging at Montaña de Fuego Hotel.
Includes: transportation, tours, breakfast, lunch, dinner and lodging
Day 6
During the morning you will hike to The Catarata La Fortuna which is a beautiful
waterfall about 5 ½ kilometers from the town of La Fortuna. The ride is 2-3 kilometers
to the falls, which is 70 meters high. At the base of the waterfall there is a "natural
pool" where one can swim.
After lunch, you will do the hiking to the Arenal Volcano, where you are going to
explore primary and secondary rainforest and the animals and plants that live there.
On the trail you will be on the nearest possible observation point at the base of
the volcano.
Then, you will drive back to San Jose city.
Lodging at Country Inn & Suites
Includes: transportation, tours, breakfast, lunch and lodging
Day 7
Transfer to the Airport.
Includes: Breakfast & shuttle to the airport.
This is an Adventure you won’t forget and won’t be your last!
Water Classification: III and IV
Scenery: Spectacular to Breath Taking
TWildlife: One of the most biologically diverse
places in the world!
Minimum Age Requirement: 14
Waivers Required:Yes
Waivers are required for every participant and anyone under the age of 18 must have
a waiver signed by a parent or guardian.
Guided: Yes
General information:
Geography: Costa Rica is about the size of West
Virginia with 20,000 square miles. It is located where North and South America meet
in Central America. People: Costa Ricans are known as
Ticos. They are a proud people progressing independently from colonial days
as a backwater in the Spanish Empire. Today, their genuine friendliness and commitments
to peace, democracy, education and health care are world-renowned.
Language: Spanish, but English is widely spoken.
Government: A model democracy committed to peace
without a military.
Economy: Costa Rica's stable history, competitive
investment policies and well-educated workforce are attracting foreign investment
and diversifying the economy. Tourism remains an important foreign exchange source
as do banana, coffee and other agricultural exports.
Utilities: Tap water, ice and blender drinks are
safe to drink, however, use common sense in the most remote areas. Electricity is
110 volts AC, the same as the United States.
Entry Requirements: All U.S. citizens including
children and infants require passports to enter Costa Rica. U.S. passports must
be valid at least 6 months or longer beyond the dates of your trip. We recommend
that you carry a photocopy of the passport and leave the original in a safe place
while traveling about. Immunizations: None are required for travel to Costa Rica.
If you have specific health concerns, you should speak to your personal physician
before traveling.
General Climate: Costa Rica enjoys mild, subtropical
weather with little variety year-round. Temperatures are nearly constant all year
with variations related to elevation. The lowlands average around 80-90 F, the Central
Valley about 72 while it can dip below 50 on the mountains at night. The Dry Season
is December-April and the Green Season is May-November. The Green Season brings
late afternoon or evening showers, fewer crowds and lower prices; it is a great
time to explore!
Currency: The national currency is the colon (es)
which floats in relation to the U.S. dollar. Dollars can be exchanged at banks,
exchange houses, international airports and most hotels. Credit cards are widely
accepted although occasionally subject to a service fee. Many smaller establishments
only accept cash. Up to $50 worth of colones can be converted back to dollars upon
departure. ATM's are becoming more popular but will not be found in remote areas.
Tipping: Good service deserves to be rewarded.
Don't forget to tip tour guides, drivers, bellboys and maids. Restaurant bills include
a 10% gratuity but leave an extra tip for good service.
Taxes: There is an airport departure tax of around
$26 per person. Hotels include a 13% sales and 3.39% tourism tax on room charges.
Transportation: Costa Rica is served by numerous airlines from the United States.
Reasonably priced small, propeller or twin-engine planes service domestic destinations.
Driving can be a challenging endeavor due to rugged terrain, poor road conditions
and a "competitive" atmosphere. We do not recommend driving at night, especially
on isolated roads.
Safety: Costa Rica is a generally safe destination
but petty crime/thievery does exist, especially in San Jose. Common sense and being
alert to surroundings and scams is effective crime prevention. We recommend keeping
a low profile and leaving trappings of affluence at home to avoid becoming a target.
Do not leave things in unprotected cars, not even in the trunk.