Arrive at 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 take you on the 2 -hour drive to Turrialba (approx). Overnight at Casa Turire (two superior, adjoining rooms).Costa Rica Map | Costa Rica Weather | Costa Rica Animals | Costa Rica Travel Information | Costa Rica Fishing
Starting at US$2,438 per person in double occupancy (or US$244 per person per day)
Costa Rica Vacation: Whitewater Rafting, Tortuguero Rainforest & Nosara Beach surfing
(10 Days/9 Nights)
Overview
Whitewater rafting on one of Costa Rica’s well-known rivers (select the river depending on the age of your children), then explore the rainforest creeks of Tortuguero National Park by boat or kayak. Here you may see the Atlantic Green Sea Turtle laying her eggs (Jun-Oct only). Next, head to Nosara Beach in Guanacaste where your family will have daily surfing lessons.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 Arrival San Jose/ Turrialba
No Meals
Arrive at 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 take you on the 2 -hour drive to Turrialba (approx). Overnight at Casa Turire (two superior, adjoining rooms).Day 2 One-Day Whitewater Rafting Pejibaye River Trip – Class I-II
Meals Included: Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Minimum age is 5 years old
White Glove Service...White Water Adventure™ - This service is designed for discerning adventurers who want to avoid the wasted time of large groups and appreciate personalized service and distinguished cuisine. The White Glove Service costs a bit more than conventional rafting, but allows you to avoid wasting precious vacation time in traffic jams and line-ups.
Your trip will have no more than 18 paddlers (3 rafts), as opposed to as many as 150 participants on conventional trips. The small number of participants means that the whole process of fitting life jackets and helmets is much faster and more personalized than is possible with larger groups. Some refer to it as, Guided not herded. Our handpicked and highly-trained guides hold safety at the highest priority and will make sure that your adventure leaves you with unforgettable, positive memories. Aside from the outstanding service, meals, snacks and beverages, you will also receive complementary (sold for $35 on conventional trips).
After a safety and orientation talk proceed down the river on a 7-mile run through Class I-II rapids. Strangler figs, Kapok and Poro trees line the riverbank. There will be plenty of time to swim and ride inner tubes along the way. Picnic lunch on the riverbank (Just in case we’ll bring along peanut butter and jelly for non-adventurous young palates.) Mid-afternoon take-out and return to your hotel in Turrialba (1 hour). Overnight at Casa Turire.
(Alternative rivers available for families with children under 5.)
Day 3 Turrialba / Tortuguero
Meals Included: Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
After breakfast meet your Naturalist Guide and driver in the lobby of your hotel. Depart in A/C mini-van on a 2 -hour drive to Cano Blanco Dock to meet your boat for the trip to Tortuguero. Arrive at Tortuga Lodge mid-afternoon. Relax or swim in the Lodge’s award-winning swimming pool next to the river. Nighttime turtle observation tour available June to Oct. only. Dinner and overnight at Tortuga Lodge & Gardens (2 deluxe rooms).
Day 4 Tortuguero National Park
Meals Included: Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Today you will explore by boat the creeks of the Tortuguero accompanied by a Local Guide. Look for Spider and Howler Monkeys overhead, a myriad of colorful birds and caiman sunning on half-submerged logs along the riverbank. Thick vines and other flora often engulf your path, four-foot iguanas are a common sight and Basilisk Lizards may rest within arm’s reach. In the afternoon meet with your guide at the dock for a kayak trip on the inner creeks of the National Park. These agile, human-powered vessels allow you to go where our motorboats cannot and where wildlife is most abundant. Overnight at Tortuga Lodge.Day 5 Tortuguero / Nosara
Meals Included: Breakfast
After an early breakfast, cross the river to the Tortuguero Airstrip, where you’ll board a chartered flight to San Jose. Upon arrival a Transfer Guide will take you to the correct terminal to meet the Sansa (domestic air carrier) scheduled flight to Nosara. At Nosara, a hotel representative will take you on a 40-min. drive to the hotel. Overnight at Harmony Hotel (2 bungalows).Day 6-7 Surfing Nosara Beach
Meals Included: Breakfast
Two full days at the beach. Surfing lessons are scheduled in the morning (2 hours). The Harmony Hotel is a stone's throw from the best break on Playa Guiones. Here you will find some of the most consistent year-round waves in the world. Warm air and offshore breezes make for great conditions. Swells vary throughout the day from waist high to double-overhead. This break works on all tides but shapes up best at high tide. Even though it's becoming a popular long board spot, it is good for short boards and great for fun boards. Nights at Harmony Hotel.Day 8 Nosara / San Jose
Meals Included: Breakfast
Local transfer to the Nosara Airstrip, where you’ll board a Sansa scheduled flight to San Jose. Upon arrival a Transfer Guide take you to your hotel in San Jose. Overnight at Hotel Grano de Oro (2 deluxe rooms). Day 9 Departure
Meals Included: Breakfast
Transfer to the International Airport, arriving at least two hours prior to the departure time of your flight out of the country.
"At every point we were met by a smiling face."
“A lifetime experience” is my husband's description of our trip. Between Herrol and our daughter, 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 in Tortuguero 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. Between Herrol and our daughter, 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 in Tortuguero 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 & Ann Brockelman
US$2,438 per person
"At every point we were met by a smiling face."
“A lifetime experience” is my husband's description of our trip. Between Herrol and our daughter, 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 in Tortuguero 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. Between Herrol and our daughter, 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 in Tortuguero 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 & Ann Brockelman