Arrive at the Juan Santamaria International Airport. After passing through Immigration, one of our representatives will greet you at the airport. Look for a sign that has your unique identifier along with your name. After you submit your booking request you will receive a full itinerary along with in-country descriptions, including all airport and hotel transfer instructions included in your proposal. Overnight at Hotel Grano de Oro or similar.
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Starting at US$2,350 per person in double occupancy (or US$235 per person per day)
Pacuare River, Tortuguero & Corcovado
(10 Days/9 Nights)
Overview
Start your Costa Rica vacation with a two-day whitewater trip on the Pacuare River, one of the region's most beautiful spots, then to the North Atlantic Coast where you'll explore Tortuguero National Park's creeks with a Naturalist Guide in boat or kayak. Stay at Tortuga Lodge and, if you are there during the Atlantic Green Sea Turtle's egg-laying season (June-Oct.), you may observe these 300-pound voyagers coming out of the surf to find a nesting site. Finally, fly to one the country's Pacific Coast to walk the trails of Corcovado National Park and stay at the renowned Corcovado Lodge Tent Camp.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 Arrival San Jose
No Meals
Day 2 Whitewater rafting on the Pacuare River/Class III-IV
Meals Included: Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Minimum age is 12 years old
Early morning pickup by your River Guide at your hotel in San Jose. Drive about one hour and stop for breakfast. Continue to Santa Marta where you will switch to a 4 X 4 shuttle to take you down to the put-in (3 1/2-hour drive). After an orientation and safety talk, proceed down the river. Continuous Class III rapids and a hike up a side creek to a waterfall - a perfect introduction to the magic of the Pacuare. River time: approx. two hours. Overnight camping on the riverbank.
Day 3 Pacuare River
Meals Included: Breakfast | Lunch
An early put-in means that you are virtually alone on the river for the first part of the day. Today you will experience the canyon, the rapids and the side hikes that have made the Pacuare famous. River time: approx. four hours. Mid afternoon take-out. Return to San Jose (two-tour drive). Overnight at Grano de Oro Hotel.
Day 4 Tortuguero
Meals Included: Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Morning pick up and drive to the Atlantic lowlands near Limon (2.5 hours). About midday board the boat with a Tortuguero Guide and depart for a 2-4 hour trip to Tortuga Lodge. Arrive at the Lodge mid-to-late afternoon. Overnight at Tortuga Lodge & Gardens.
Day 5 Tortuguero National Park
Meals Included: Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Full day in Tortuguero. After breakfast you will depart on a boat tour into the rainforest of Tortuguero National Park. Originally intended to protect a major nesting beach of the Atlantic green sea turtle, the Park now protects 51,870 acres, one of the last large areas of tropical rainforest in Central America. Three species of monkeys (Spider, Howler and White-Faced), Three-Toed Sloths and river otters are frequently seen along the natural inland waterways and canals. Caiman, iguanas, river turtles, Basilisk lizards, and Poison Dart Frogs inhabit the area, along with more than 320 species of birds including all six species of kingfishers found in the new world, three species of toucans, eight species of parrots, and other neotropical species such as the Slaty-Tailed Trogon, White-Collared Manakin, Purple-Throated Fruitcrow, and White-Fronted Nunbird and many more species which we will have the opportunity to observe during this morning boat ride. Return for lunch at Tortuga Lodge. The rest of the day is free for optional excursions (at additional cost). Overnight at Tortuga Lodge.
Day 6 Tortuguero/San Jose/Corcovado Lodge Tent Camp
Meals Included: Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Morning take a chartered flight to San Jose from Tortuguero (35 mins). Upon arrival connect with a one-hour chartered flight to Carate (a mile southeast of Corcovado Lodge). At Carate meet your Corcovado Guide and walk 30-45 minutes to the Tent Camp (luggage will be transported by the Lodge). Free afternoon for hiking in the Lodge Preserve and/or Corcovado National Park. Overnight at Corcovado Lodge Tent Camp.
Day 7-8 Corcovado Lodge Canopy Tree Platform
Meals Included: Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Two full days in Corcovado. During this time you will have the chance to visit the Lodge's tree platform. The adventure begins with a one-hour guided hike through the Corcovado Lodge Private Nature Reserve to the Canopy Platform. The platform is located in an emergent tree 120 feet above the forest floor. From here, you will have the opportunity to view the rainforest from a seldom-seen perspective. White Hawks, Howler Monkeys, Anole Lizards and Pygmy Squirrels may be sighted. Nights at Corcovado Lodge.
Day 9 Corcovado/San Jose
Meals Included: Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Either early in the morning or at mid-day (depending on the tides), return to San Jose in reverse order from above. Overnight at Grano de Oro Hotel or similar.
Day 10 Departure
Meals Included: Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Transfer to the international airport, arriving two hours before your flight's scheduled departure.
"At every point we were met by a smiling face."
“A lifetime experience” is my husband's description of our trip Feb. 3-10. Between Herrol and our daughter Martha Rebour, a trip was planned for two small children, their parents and we grandparents. Let me say that at every point we were met by a smiling face, a knowledgeable person, helpful in every respect. We learned about your crops, pineapples, bananas, and coffee. What was the most fun, however, was meeting your plants, animals, birds, and butterflies. My neck is still stiff from looking for sloths, toucans, Scarlet Macaws, new native birds and, of course, the monkeys.
The canal trip with Miguel was exciting but no more so than the hike to the Madrigal River in Corcovado with Marcia. The small plane rides were a treat, especially for my husband, a small plane pilot. We all loved the scenery from above. The children were treated to many kindnesses all along the way and their memories must be special. As a child, I played a good deal of Animal Lotto. Never did I dream I would actually see a sloth, a tapir or an ocelot!
“A lifetime experience” is my husband's description of our trip Feb. 3-10. Between Herrol and our daughter Martha Rebour, a trip was planned for two small children, their parents and we grandparents. Let me say that at every point we were met by a smiling face, a knowledgeable person, helpful in every respect. We learned about your crops, pineapples, bananas, and coffee. What was the most fun, however, was meeting your plants, animals, birds, and butterflies. My neck is still stiff from looking for sloths, toucans, Scarlet Macaws, new native birds and, of course, the monkeys.
The canal trip with Miguel was exciting but no more so than the hike to the Madrigal River in Corcovado with Marcia. The small plane rides were a treat, especially for my husband, a small plane pilot. We all loved the scenery from above. The children were treated to many kindnesses all along the way and their memories must be special. As a child, I played a good deal of Animal Lotto. Never did I dream I would actually see a sloth, a tapir or an ocelot!
Feb. 15, 2006 | Tony and Ann Brockelman
From US$2,350 per person in double occupancy (or US$235 per person per day).
"At every point we were met by a smiling face."
“A lifetime experience” is my husband's description of our trip Feb. 3-10. Between Herrol and our daughter Martha Rebour, a trip was planned for two small children, their parents and we grandparents. Let me say that at every point we were met by a smiling face, a knowledgeable person, helpful in every respect. We learned about your crops, pineapples, bananas, and coffee. What was the most fun, however, was meeting your plants, animals, birds, and butterflies. My neck is still stiff from looking for sloths, toucans, Scarlet Macaws, new native birds and, of course, the monkeys.
The canal trip with Miguel was exciting but no more so than the hike to the Madrigal River in Corcovado with Marcia. The small plane rides were a treat, especially for my husband, a small plane pilot. We all loved the scenery from above. The children were treated to many kindnesses all along the way and their memories must be special. As a child, I played a good deal of Animal Lotto. Never did I dream I would actually see a sloth, a tapir or an ocelot!
“A lifetime experience” is my husband's description of our trip Feb. 3-10. Between Herrol and our daughter Martha Rebour, a trip was planned for two small children, their parents and we grandparents. Let me say that at every point we were met by a smiling face, a knowledgeable person, helpful in every respect. We learned about your crops, pineapples, bananas, and coffee. What was the most fun, however, was meeting your plants, animals, birds, and butterflies. My neck is still stiff from looking for sloths, toucans, Scarlet Macaws, new native birds and, of course, the monkeys.
The canal trip with Miguel was exciting but no more so than the hike to the Madrigal River in Corcovado with Marcia. The small plane rides were a treat, especially for my husband, a small plane pilot. We all loved the scenery from above. The children were treated to many kindnesses all along the way and their memories must be special. As a child, I played a good deal of Animal Lotto. Never did I dream I would actually see a sloth, a tapir or an ocelot!
Feb. 15, 2006 | Tony and Ann Brockelman