…Just For Nature Lovers
GG-215-08
Package Includes:
- 5 nights in Best Wester Irazu Hotel
- 2 nights in Pacuare River
- 2 nights in Tortuguero
- 2 nights Turrialba Volcano
- 2 nights in Rincon de la Vieja
- Nature tours in every area
- Calypso Cruises Tour
- All transfers in regular services
- All breakfast
- 10 lunch
- 8 dinner
- Government and tourist hotels tax.
- Transfer Airport – San Jose - Airport.
Day 01: San José (arrive)
Pick-up at the International Airport and transfer to your Hotel in San Jose.
Day 02: Pacuare River
You'll depart San José early in the morning, stopping for a delicious breakfast, at our New Ríos Tropicales Operations Center, before arriving at the river. 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 Ríos 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.(B/L/D)
Day 03: Pacuare River
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 into 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! (B/L/D)
Day 04: San José
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 lets 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. Hot lunch will be served at our new Ríos Tropicales Operations Center. Showers, changing rooms, cold and hot drinks and snacks are also available. On the return drive to San José, you'll enjoy remarkable views of Braulio Carrillo National Park and Irazú Volcano. And lodging in San José. (B/L)
Day 05: Tortuguero National Park
Pick-up at your hotel early in the morning. An after that admire the biodiversity of an astonishing protected area in Costa Rica as we drive by Braulio Carrillo National Park, a primary forest in 95% of its extension. Have a taste of our delicious Costa Rican breakfast in route.
Also be our special guest in a banana processing and packaging plant and learn more about one of Costa Rica's prime products (subject to availability).
Board a comfortable boat upon arrival to the port and let this extraordinarily exotic paradise enchant you, as you travel along the Tortuguero Canals.
Have a one-in-a-lifetime experience in this unique place surrounded by a great variety of flora and fauna of breathtaking beauty.
Enjoy a refreshing cocktail and a delicious lunch as we welcome you to PACHIRA LODGE or similar
After lunch, we will visit the museum, the beach area and the small and picturesque town of Tortuguero. A delightful dinner will be served upon arrival to the lodge. (B/L/D).
Day 06: Tortuguero National Park
OPTIONAL MORNING TOUR: Enjoy nature its best as you undertake a journey through the canals at dawn, and take your best short of a real Caribbean sunrise.
Discover Costa Rican flavors as you enjoy breakfast at the Hotel Restauran.
Get ready to hike Tortuguero Hill or travel along the well known Tortuguero Canals and have the experience of your life in this unique paradise of magnificent flora and fauna.
Enjoy a delicious lunch at the lodge.
Take your time to enjoy our private trails, ride a boat through the canals or just relax.
OPTIONAL NIGHT TOUR: Walk on the beach and admire the green turtles nesting (July through September). (B/L/D).
Day 07: Turrialba Volcano
Breakfast. And transfer connecting to Turrialba Volcano. In the afternoon check-in at the Volcan Turrialba Lodge and after that we will enjoy the ¨The Ponds¨ Las Pilas. This tour can be made only by walking, and the estimated time for the tour is 3 hours. Begins on the old "Camino de Gobierno"(government road) or "picada to Guapiles", that passes next to the hotel " Ruta de los Conquistadores" (the conquerors' route), the tour walks about 1 kilometer in this path following to a place known as "El Martillo' (the hammer);name that receives for its similar form to this tool.
This area possesses an impressive vegetation as well as wild life, typical of the Cloud Tropical Forest and Rain Tropical Forest .
The first of the old lava rivers of the Turrialba Volcano is skirted, leading to the National Park "Braulio Carrillo", then, following the nascent of the "Quebrada Gata" river, up to the highest ground of the national park, then, descending through the walls of the rock, where several nascent reach the piles or natural puddles, inside the old rivers of lava. Lodging and dinner. (B/D)
Day 08: Turrialba Volcano
After breakfast we departure to Turrialba Volcano. The Volcán Turrialba will allow you to explore the interior of it's crater in a journey that will take approximately one hour and a half, horse back riding in a forest typical of the Paramo (tiny vegetation).
You will ascend to the peak of the volcano, where you will have the opportunity to appreciate one of the best panoramic views in this country at 3328 meters above sea level. A short list of some of the visible sites from this place includes Irazú, Barva and Poás Volcanoes, the Atlantic Cost and all of its plains, Central Valley (Valle Central) and the highest mountain chain in the country: Talamanca, located south of the Turrialba Volcano.
This tour will take approximately 5 hours. Given the nature of this journey, which starts at 2800 meters above sea level, we recommend this tour be taken by people in good physical shape, age being no consideration, of course.
Volcán Turrialba is the only one in Costa Rica that enables you to horse back ride or walk in its crater, being this unique and once in a lifetime experience that we are sure will be of your complete satisfaction. In the afternoon just enjoy the nature sounds and nice views. Lunch and dinner. (B/L/D)
Options: Horse back riding, Mountain Bike, Hiking
Day 09: San José
Breakfast. This morning we take the Old Lava Rivers Tour, traveling through the Tropical Cloud Forest, we will see Volcán Turrialba´s former lava rivers, small and new water nascent today, that run down hill, huge magma rocks.
The horse ride will follow the tropical path called ¨Camino de Gobierno¨, that was used by our ancestors to travel from the Central Valley to Guápiles.
Besides the natural beauty, which is the forest itself, the tourists will be able to glance at different local crops of the region, as well as all the pastures used for raising cattle.
The duration of this tour will be approximately of three hours.
Options: Horseback riding, Mountain Bike, Hiking.
After this tour the lunch will be waiting for us in the Lodge and them we departure to San José and lodging. (B/L)
Day 10: Rincon de la Vieja
Breakfast. Departure to Rincon de la Vieja, Guanacaste. Time drive 4:30 hours to Hacienda Guachipelin. After lunch we enjoy a hiking to the Chorreras Waterfall which is a double waterfall that joins the Blanco River and together they form a natural blue pool. An excellent place to enjoy a dip in the water or just to admire the beauty of the scenery. It is at 1 km. from the hotel and them hiking to the viewpoint. (B/L/D)
Day 11: Rincon de la Vieja
Breakfast. A full day tour it is waiting for us inside Rincon de la Vieja National Park. Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin is famous for its horseback riding tours. Our huge ranch allows us to use scenic trails instead of taking you on paved roads. You can see a lot of things during a normal trip. We have trips that last from one hour with really easy going horses, for the begginers, to big trips all day long for the more adventurers. Some people even come here to enjoy three consecutive days of horseback riding, visiting different places of the hacienda. And then Oropendula waterfalls a 25 meter high waterfall with emerald-green water. A forest covered canyon surrounds it. It is 3 Km, from the hotel. You can get here either by horseback riding, hiking, or by car and then taking a short walk. Volcanic mud pool and thermal water: It is located at 3 km. from the hotel. It is surrounded by forest and hugged by the Colorado River. Heat surfaces through a crack in the deep geological formations, and boiling mud pools are formed, which emanate a vapor with a smell of sulfur. The water and the volcanic mud have healing properties. (B/Box Lunch/D)
Day 12: San Jose
Breakfast. The Canyon Canopy Tour: Tour is a must do. We say this is the best canopy tour in Costa Rica, because we pack together in it, many more things than just the zip lines. Imagine yourself doing Rappeling, Rock Climbing, Canopy, Tarzan Swings, Via Ferrata, Hanging Bridges, all set in the majestic canyon made by the erosion of the Blanco River during millions of years. After this exiting adventure the lunch is waiting for us and then departure to San José and lodging. (B/L)
Day 13: San Jose
Early in the morning the Calypso's world famous Tortuga Island Cruise Tour begin. The day begins at your hotel where you will be greeted by a bilingual guide. The bus ride takes you to the pacific port of Puntarenas stopping along the way for Costa Rican typical breakfast.
This is an excellent opportunity to view the coffee, sugar plantations, volcanic mountains and the unique Brahman cattle that form an ever-changing panorama. Upon arrival in Puntarenas you will board Calypso's catamaran Manta Raya. She is actually designed by Calypso Passengers suggestions since 1975. Manta Raya has fresh water showers and bar featuring delicious Piña Coladas made with fresh pineapple. The spacious main salon combines with an expansive deck area which includes 2 deck pools, offering a level of cruising luxury and comfort in 100% Calypso style.
Her white clad crew pampers guests with fresh tropical fruits and drinks. In the morning the catamaran will pass the islands of San Lucas, Gypsy, Sugar Loaf, Guayabo; Jesusita, Cedros and Negritos with Tortuga Island as the destination.
Particularly enchanting for it's beauty, Tortuga Island is known for its immaculate white sand beach and turquoise waters, a perfect stop for swimming, snorkeling and Calypso's famous lunch . For passenger safety and convenience Manta Raya has a bow ramp which allows her passengers to disembark directly onto the beach.
Sip cold wine in the shade of white umbrellas at tables covered with white linen and be served the midday feast.
The Captain and his crew are the masters of this seascape. They are seasoned mariners who will convey their love of Costa Rica to you. Sightseeing, sunbathing, diving, exploring, swimming, eating, drinking, and relaxing. (B/L).
Day 14:
Departure to the International Airport. Juan Santamaría
Notes:
At the International Airport there is a departure tax $26.00 per person which you can pay in US$, colones or Visa credit card. No traveler’s check or other credit cards are accepted.
- All the transfers in regular services except Turrialba-San José.
- Prices valid until November 30th, 2008.
- We can operate this tour with a minimum of 2 people.
- Please require extra charge and availability for picks seasons.
- In High Season from December 1st to April 30 st apply the same price.
- Category lodging: Hotel, lodges and Hacienda
- Prices subject to change without notice.
Description Areas:
Pacuare River:
Located on Costa Rica's Atlantic slope, the Pacuare River borders the Talamanca mountain range, home to native Cabecar Indians and an incredible variety of wildlife.
On the Río Pacuare 2 and 3 Day Trips, 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
Equipment
The Ríos Tropicales Lodge offers all the sleeping comfort you would need, private rooms, mattresses, sheets, pillows and blankets are provided.
| River Wear |
Personal |
Rubber soled shoes (tennis or similar) |
Toothpaste and toothbrush |
| Shorts and a T-Shirt or a Swimsuit |
Personal medications |
| Windbreaker (Optional) |
Long light pants |
| Sunscreen Lotion (Optional) |
Shoes (2 pairs, one wet and one dry) |
| Sun Hat or Bandana (Optional) |
Long sleeved shirt |
| |
Sweater or Sweat shirt |
| |
Towel |
| |
Socks ( 1 pair) |
| |
Raincoat |
| |
Insect repellent |
| |
Underwear (1) |
| |
Brush and Comb |
Notes:
1. You can always leave your extra gear in the bus or at your hotel.
2. T-shirts and professionally taken photos during your trip will be available for purchase.
Tortuguero National Park
Exuberant, paradisiac, mystical.. a natural network of scenic and navegable waterways.One of the most exotic and beautiful region of Costa Rica, rich in flora and fauna.
Tortuguero is one of the wilderness areas in Costa Rica, with the greatest biological variety. 11 habitats had been identified, such as 2000 species of plants and 400 species of trees. There is also a very wide wildlife variety:
57 species of amphibians
111 species of reptiles
309 species of birds recorded
30 species of fresh water fish, included the Gar, considered to be a living fossil
60 species of mammals.
Pachira Lodge:
The lodge is strategically located only 5 minutes away from the extraordinary Tortuguero National Park, and right across the main "canal" facing the town of Tortuguero. Surrounded by a network of very scenic canals, this is considered one of the most exotic regions of the world, characterized by its rich in flora and fauna.
Important: from July to September, only a few minutes from the hotel, you can enjoy an unforgettable experience: the arrivals of the green sea turtle.
Turrialba Volcano
Volcan Turrialba Lodge
Our property lies in the valley between Irazú and Turrialba Volcanoes. The lodge itself nesties in the foothills of Turrialba, only 5 kilometers from the crater of this dormant giant.
The whole area is one of great natural beauty-pristine and virtually unexplored. Ranging from 4500 to 10000 feet above sea level, it encompasses several life zones including tropical rainforest, cloud forest and the páramo. Simple, homey comforts and personalized service at Volcán Turrialba Lodge make it a perfect base for exploring the mountain. With only twenty two rooms, each with private bath and fire stove, it's almost like having your own mountain retreat.
Of particular interest is our "Volcán Turrialba Tour", a unique opportunity to descend to the floor of a major volcanic crater. Turrialba is the only volcano in Costa Rica where such a descent is possible. For those wishing an even more challenging outing we can arrange special tours.
Of particular interest is our "Volcán Turrialba Tour", a unique opportunity to descend to the floor of a major volcanic crater. Turrialba is the only volcano in Costa Rica where such a descent is possible. For those wishing an even more challenging outing we can arrange special tours.
All of our tours are conducted by experienced local tour guides who are knowledgeable about the beauties and secrets of the area. For our guests' comfort and convenience, we provide complimentary, top quality equipment such as rubber ponchos, boots, binoculars, first aid kit, water bottles and more
Rincon de la Vieja
Hacienda Guachipelín
Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin is located at the foot of the Rincon de la Vieja Volcano, near the town of Curubande, in Guanacaste, Costa Rica.
The Hacienda borders the popular Rincon de la Vieja National Park. Since 1985, Hacienda Guachipelin has also been hosting a steady flow of visitors, helping them enjoy the natural beauty of the ranch and the neighboring national park, where you will experience volcanic activity as in no other volcano in Costa Rica.
Natural hot springs, virgin forests, jungle waterfalls and volcanic mud pots are just some of the many attractions tourists can enjoy during a stay at the Hacienda. Together with its strong involvement in ecotourism, Hacienda Guachipelin continues its traditional work of raising cattle and horses.
Hacienda Guachipelin is a down-to-earth, yet comfortable hotel catering to nature lovers and adventure travelers. There are 50 rooms, all with their private bathroom and hot water.
From your room, you can enjoy during the day, the views of the volcano and the hacienda, and relax at night with the real sounds of nature. Outside, wide and inviting verandahs await for sharing afternoon chats with fellow travelers.
Tortuga Island by Calypso Cruises
Experience blue water, white sand, green mountains, cuisine attentive personal service. Calypso's super catamaran, Manta Raya, glides past more than seven islands in the Gulf of Nicoya. Her Port of Call is the enchantingly beautiful, palm studded Tortuga Island where you can walk the impeccable white sand beach, swim in the turquoise waters and investigate the marine life while the crew prepares a sumptuous feast (featured in Gourmet Magazine). Enjoy dining in the shade of white umbrellas with tables covered in white linen
Over the years, the Calypso Pacific Island Cruise has evolved into then Number One day tour in Costa Rica. The venerable Calypso herself has been retired to another route to make way for the Manta Raya, the vessel built especially to satisfy every request made by Calypso passengers over the years.
Manta Raya has been described as "an ocean-going spaceship," built of space-age materials in accord with a wholly new technology with a heart of high density, closed cell PVC (not only water tight but the material itself is actually WATERPROOF, $30,000 worth of NASA-type electronic navigation instruments, bows made of Kevler (used to make lightweight bullet proof vests and aircraft armor), tri-and bi-axial fabric impregnated by epoxy resin... well, you get the idea. Her catamaran design gives you a chance to lie between the twin bows and know how leaping dolphins feel swimming the ocean. With two jacuzzi pools, an open cabin with full bar, an ability to drive right up on the beach like a landing craft, she's everything a generation of passengers has asked for.
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