Arrive at San Jose Costa Rica’s 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. He or she will drive to Turrialba (2-1/2 hours). Overnight at Casa Turire (Jr suite).

This trip puts in 4 miles up-river from the one-day Pacuare put-in. With more time to soak in the beauty of the canyon and take awe-inspiring side hikes, for many participants, the two day Pacuare trip transcends mere rafting and rises to a truly transforming experience. After breakfast at the hotel, meet your River guide at the hotel lobby. Drive about 1 hour to the put-in. After an orientation and safety talk, proceed down the river. Continuous Class III rapids and a hike up a side creek to a waterfall provide a perfect introduction to the magic of the Pacuare. River time approximately 2 hours. There will be plenty of time for hikes into the rainforest. Overnight camping on the riverbank (tent).

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: approximately 4 hours. Mid-afternoon take-out. Return to San Jose (2.5 hours). Overnight at Hotel Grano de Oro (deluxe room).

After breakfast at the hotel, meet your guide at the lobby for the 30- to 60-min. transfer to the domestic airport, where you’ll board a Costa Rica Adventure Vacation chartered flight** to Quepos. Upon arrival one of our representatives in the area will provide transportation to your hotel. Overnight at Tulemar Bungalows (premium bungalow).

Paddle protected inland waterways, a perfect place to learn this magical way of exploring coastal mangrove areas and seeing wildlife. None of this trip is in the open ocean and the pace of this trip is according to your abilities. Overnight at Tulemar Bungalows.

Private hike in Manuel Antonio National Park. Meet your local guide at the hotel lobby for the 30-min. drive to the main entrance of the Park. Located on the Pacific Coast, 7 kms southeast of Quepos in the Province of Puntarenas, Manuel Antonio Park totals1,685 acres and is one of the most beautiful in Costa Rica. South Espadilla and Manuel Antonio beaches are particularly lovely. The principal natural communities are the primary, secondary and mangrove forests, and lagoon and beach vegetation. The park includes 12 small islands just off the coast, which are excellent bird refuges. The fauna remains varied with 109 species of mammals and 184 species of birds including the Fiery-billed Araari, Chestnut-backed Antbird, White-necked Jacobin, Baird's Trogon, Orange-collared Manakin, Blue-throated Goldentail and Blue-black Grosbeak. Rest of the day on own. Overnight at Tulemar Bungalows.

In the morning meet a Costa Rica Adventure Vacation Naturalist Guide and drive to Monteverde. En route visit the Carara Biological Reserve for a forest hike and the Waterfalls Canopy Tour (2 hours). Carara presents a wide variety of plant life with evergreens being predominant. The reserve possesses several ecosystems, including marshlands, a lagoon, and primary, secondary and gallery forests. The marshland is rich in waterfowl, wading birds, amphibians and reptiles that are found in these environments. The lagoon is completely covered with water hyacinths and other floating aquatic plants. The primary forests occupying most of the reserve are species-rich, multi-layered, and have an abundance of creeping vines and epiphytes. The tallest trees include such species as espave, silk cotton, wild fig, nargusta and quamwood, a very spectacular tree during the dry season when it is covered with yellow flowers.

Amphibians and reptiles are abundant. Crocodiles measuring up to three meters long are widely distributed and easy to sight in the Grande de Tarcoles River. Waterfowl such as Roseate Spoonbills, Anhingas, Jacanas, Pied-bellied Grebes and Mexican Tiger Bitterns are also present. Among the mammals, the Four-eyed Opossum, Two-toed Sloth, Agouti, Kinkajou, Tayra, Margay Cat, Collared Peccary and White-tailed Deer are found. A particularly conspicuous bird in Carara, notable for its beautiful bright blue, red and yellow plumage, and the fact that it has all but disappeared from the Dry Pacific, is the Scarlet Macaw.

The Waterfalls Canopy Tour starts with a short walk, while your local guide describes the area and flora and fauna. Since a part of the forest has been used for agro forestry, a variety of exotic fruit trees and hardwood trees can be found. Much of the Canopy's 46 hectares of protected area is covered with transitional rainforest growing on steep slopes, and studded with massive trees laden with vines and epiphytes. This Canopy Tour consists of 13 platforms, 7 cables of varying lengths, a 3 story tree house, a Tarzan Swing, a suspension bridge and a 90 feet rappel down at the end (optional for the adventure seekers). Lunch will be served en route. Continue on to Monteverde (3 hour drive). Overnight at Monteverde Lodge & Gardens.

After breakfast, guided excursion in the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. Founded in 1972, the Reserve extends down both slopes of the Tilaran Mountains (elevation 2,300 to 5,600 ft.), encompassing six different ecological life zones and protecting more than 100 species of mammals, 400 species of birds and 1,500 species of plants. From January to July, depending upon your luck and patience, you may observe in its natural habitat the Resplendent Quetzal (occasionally a dozen or more individuals at once). Other species include the Three-wattled Bellbird, the Emerald Toucanet, and White-faced and Howler Monkeys.

Return to the hotel for lunch. Afternoon visit to Santa Elena Reserve, a 600-hectare cloud forest reserve north of and at a slightly higher elevation than the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. It has all the species claimed by its eastern neighbor, including Quetzals, deer, sloths, ocelots, Howler, Capuchin and Spider Monkeys. It receives far fewer visitors: it may thus be easier to see a greater diversity of birds. It has 4 one-way trails and a lookout point with views toward the Arenal Volcano. The reserve is the site of the Monteverde Cloud Forest Center, a forest farm started in March 1992 to educate youngsters and local farmers on the forest ecology and conservation. Overnight at Monteverde Lodge.

You will be driven to the Tamarindo beach area (4-1/2 hours). Overnight at Hotel Capitan Suizo.

Free day on your own. Overnight at Capitan Suizo.

Land transfer to the Tamarindo Airstrip where you will board a Costa Rica Adventure Vacation chartered flight to the San Jose domestic airport. Upon arrival a Costa Rica Adventure Vacation representative will take you to the International Airport to meet your flight home.