Tortuguero & Tropical Forests

3 days / 2 nights

Day 1: Morning pick up for your drive through Braulio Carillo National Park to the canals lining the Atlantic Coast where you board a boat for the trip to the Tortuguero Canals through 50 km of tropical rain forest. Late afternoon arrival at Tortuguero. Dinner and overnight. (LD)

Day 02: Enjoy touring Tortuguero National Park with a local guide to observe the flora and fauna. Included in this package there is a morning and an afternoon boat trip of 2 hours each through the canals and back water lagoons of Tortuguero National Park. Expect to see beautiful shorebirds, monkeys and sloths. On your own you may wish to hire a boat for additional exploration, or just hike along the beach or visit the village of Tortuguero. (BLD)

Day 3: Following morning after breakfast return to San José by boat to the dock near Limón, then overland past Braulio Carrillo again. (BL)

Note: You may choose to fly back to San José (at additional cost), or from Siquirres continue south on to Gondoca Manzanillo.

Price per pax double: $238
Price single: $43

Coast to Coast - Tiskita Lodge

8 days / 7 nights
Departures: daily

Day 01: Arrive. Airport meet & greet and transfer to Hotel. Overnight in San Jose at Hotel Milvia B & B or similar.

Day 02: Tortuguero National Park. Morning pick up at your Hotel for a scenic 2-hour drive to the Caribbean, driving through Braulio Carillo National Park. Transfer to riverboat for 2-4 hour boat trip up jungle canals to Tortuguero National Park, a vast tropical rain forest preserve and one of the best places to observe wildlife in Costa Rica. Afternoon is free to enjoy on own. The Tortuguero Canals along the Caribbean coast are musts for nature lovers. You may have the treat of close up looks at monkeys, crocodiles, tree sloths and a host of colorful birds. During turtle nesting season (June through September), the endangered green turtle come up on the beaches at night to lay their eggs - an unforgettable experience. Overnight at Mawamba Lodge or similar. (BLD)

Day 03: Tortuguero National Park. Enjoy a two to three hour boat ride touring the backwater canals of Tortuguero National Park with a local guide to observe the flora and fauna. The afternoon is free for your to enjoy optional activities and tours, a walk to the village or a visit to the museum. Overnight Mawamba Lodge or similar. (BLD)

Day 04: Osa Peninsula Rainforest / Tiskita Jungle Lodge. Early morning flight to San Jose. You will then transfer to another plane for your flight to the Southern Pacific Rainforests. Fly by single engine charter plane to the remote private airstrip on the beach at Tiskita Jungle Lodge. Tiskita is a 400-acre private rain forest reserve in the remote region of Golfito on the southern Pacific coast. Enjoy a guided tour of the Tiskita rain forest and trails. Explore fresh water jungle pools and beautiful, isolated beaches. The bird watching is fabulous with over 285 species identified in the area to date. Tiskita is also an experimental exotic tropical fruit farm. Overnight at Tiskita Lodge. Overnight Osa Peninsula. (BLD)

Day 05 & 06: Tiskita Jungle Lodge. Tour the rainforest and area trails, swim in the ocean or fresh water jungle pools, visit the nearby village or simply relax in your hammock. Horseback riding is also available. Overnight Tiskita Lodge. (BLD)

Day 07: Flight to San José. Transfer to airport for flight to San Jose. Upon arrival, transfer to hotel and overnight at Hotel Milvia B & B or similar. (B)

Day 08: Departure. Airport transfer for return flight home. (B)

Price per pax double: $1198
Price single: $245

Tropical Rafting & Beach Adventure

8 days / 7 nights
Departures: Daily

Day 01: San José. Airport meet & greet and transfer to hotel. Overnight in San Jose at Hotel Milvia B & B or similar.

Day 02: Mountain Biking. Enjoy a full day of Moutain Biking in the Cartago or Turrialba area. You will be able to exlore the beautiful countryside as you ride your bikes. Generally we bike between 3 and 5 hours depending on conditions. Overnight in Turrialba at selected Hotel. (BL)

Day 03: Pacuare Whitewater Rafting, Class III-IV. Trip of unsurpassed beauty, exuberant wildlife and ravishing rapids, the quintessential tropical river. Along its course lie densely vegetated gorges, which shelter jaguars, ocelots, monkeys, sloths and an incredible variety of birds. Driving time from Turrialba to the put in is less than 1 hour. The trip includes transportation, rafting equipment and professionally trained bilingual rafting guides. Time on the river approximately 5 hours. After the trip, return to San Jose for overnight at Hotel Milvia B&B or similar. (BL)

Day 04: Manuel Antonio Beach and National Park. Morning flight to Quepos and transfer to your hotel in Manuel Antonio. Miles of sandy white beaches have made this one of the most popular parks in the national parks system. You will be able to view migrating marine birds. The waters are crystal clear, making these beaches popular for snorkeling. The surf is gentle, great for swimming, body surfing, playing with a boogie board or just relaxing. The jungle of the national park reaches down to the beach so you can stroll through the park on your own or take a guided tour. A local sea kayak company offers day sea kayaking trips. Horses are available to rent. There are several restaurants to choose from. Overnight at Hotel in Manuel Antonio area. (B)

Day 05: Manuel Antonio Beach. Morning tour to Manuel Antonio National Park (except Mondays when park is closed) including round trip transportation from your hotel, local guide and park entrance fee. Balance of the day at leisure to enjoy the beautiful beaches and nature trails. Overnight at Hotel in Manuel Antonio area. (B)

Day 06: Manuel Antonio Beach. Today you may chose between a snorkeling boat cruise just of the coast of Quepos or an exciting Sea Kayaking trip. Overnight at Hotel in Manuel Antonio area. (B)

Day 07: Manuel Antonio Beach. Return flight to San Jose and taxi transfer to your hotel. Overnight at Hotel Milvia B & B or similar.

Day 08: Departure. Airport transfer for return flight home. (B)

Price per pax double: $915
Price single: $345

Adventures with Nature

10 days / 9 nights
Departures: Sunday, Wednesday, Friday.

Day 01: Arrive. San Jose Airport 'Meet & Greet' and transfer to hotel.
Overnight in San Jose Hotel Milvia B & B or similar.

Day 02: San José - OTS la Selva - Centro Neotrópico Sarapiquí. Morning pick up by your driver/guide for drive via Braulio Carrillo National Park to Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui.
You will have lunch at a local restaurant in the area of Sarapiqui to then go to La Selva Biological Station for a 2-3 hour hike inside the private reserve.
After the hike continue to nearby La Virgen and the Centro Neotropico Sarapiquis.
The Lodge is part of a non-profit organization that includes an on-site botanical garden, archeological digs in conjunction with the National Museum, and the Tirimbina Nature Reserve, which is connected with the property by a 250 meter hanging bridge across the Sarapiqui River. (LD)

Day 03: Centro Neotrópico Sarapiquís - Arenal. Early morning visit with your guide to La Tirimbina Nature Reserve. After lunch, depart to Arenal, about a 2-hour drive.
Dinner and overnight at the Arenal Observatory Lodge.
From the Observatory, which is situated only 1.6 miles south of the volcano, visitors have an impressive view of this "giant which rumbles" and erupts with spectacular displays of vapor and lava.
The Observatory is the only lodge situated within the Arenal Volcano National Park, which encompasses thousands of acres of pristine rainforest and teems with tropical birds and wildlife. (BD)

Day 04: Río Frío / Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge - Arenal. In the morning drive approximately 2 hours to Rio Frio where you will join others on a 3-4 hour boat tour to Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge. Explore the mangrove waters looking for many species of birds, monkeys and other wildlife. Lunch will be served picnic style on the riverbanks. After lunch return to Rio Frio dock and drive back to Arenal. Overnight Arenal Observatory Lodge. (BLD)

Day 05: Arenal - Monteverde. Morning hike to a nearby waterfall and a close-up exploration of a lava flow. Mid-morning departure, driving around Lake Arenal continue on to visit the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, one of the most diverse and richest tropical cloud forests in the New World. It is best known as home to the Resplendent Quetzal but has hundreds of other birds, mammals and plant species. Overnight in Monteverde at Hotel Fonda Vela or similar. (BD)

Day 06: Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. In the morning, hike through the reserve viewing the misty forest with its dense vegetation and majestic trees. In the afternoon, you may go back to the Reserve with your guide or if you prefer you can wander out on your own to enjoy one of the many optional activities available in the area. Overnight in Monteverde at Hotel Fonda Vela or similar. (BD)

Day 07: Monteverde - Carara - Villa Lapas. Morning visit the Ecological Farm, a lower elevation belt of regenerating forest, where you will have the chance to see a different variety of plants and animals like the 2 toed Sloth, Coati and monkeys. Mid-morning depart to the Central Pacific Coast. Arrive at Villa Lapas Hotel near the Carara National Park. (BD)

Day 08: Carara National Park - Villa Lapas. Enjoy a hike with your guide inside the Carara National Park, located at the geographical midpoint of the Pacific Coast.
Carara has a transitional climate between the hot dry northwest and the rainy region of southwest Costa Rica and so contains flora and fauna from both regions. It is home to parrots, parakeets, toucan, trogons, three species of monkeys, and one of only three viable populations of Scarlet Macaws in Central America. In the afternoon you may want to go back to the park or perhaps go to nearby Jaco or Punta Leona to spend some time at the beach, or just relax at the Hotel (BD)

Day 09: Villa Lapas - Aerial Skyway - San José. In the morning enjoy a guided hike to the Villa Lapas Aerial Skyway, this s a system of suspended bridges that lets you explore the Canopy of the Forest. From its highest point at the start, you can enjoy a breathtaking view of part of the Gulf of Nicoya. Late morning transfer back to San Jose. Overnight Hotel Milvia B&B or similar. (B)

Day 10: Departure. Airport transfer for return flight home. (B)

Price per pax double: $1435
Price single: $434