Here's really active Costa Rica naturalist travel with emphasis on new ways to experience the tropical world. Some real action - after hot springs and hiking and rain forests and pre-Jurassic cloud forests and stealth boats to watch nature and hanging from trees in the rainforest, we'll head to the primordial sea, mother of us all, for turtle watching and snorkeling and chasing dolphins and (primitive?) Latin dancing. Oh, yes. Volcanoes, too.
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrive in Costa Rica. Your plane arrives in San José today, and we'll quickly whisk you away from town towards the west, heading first to the coffee communities on the northwest of the city. If your flight is early enough and we'll stop at a private bird breed-and-release sanctuary where you'll get a head start on learning how to spot these brilliant creatures who, in spite of their dazzling colors, truly are remarkably well camouflaged. As you see close-up some of the larger birds of prey you will appreciate that these are truly the descendants of the dinosaurs.
Day 2: Hike in private cloud forest. Monteverde is the famous cloud forest of Costa Rica, but the national park is now so popular that the people have scared off a lot of the forests' peaceful native inhabitants. But well be stopping at our friends' private cloud forest, which still retains the peaceful, almost spiritual, quality that made Monteverde so popular. Many of the species no longer sighted in the national park are evident here.
We'll hike through some bizarre forests which exist only in the clouds in the mountains of Central and South America and southeast Asia (and the mists of the gorilla country in Africa). The type of plant life here is pre-Jurassic. The plants around you have seen many species come and go, and you get the feeling we 2 legged ones are probably amongst them. After lunch we'll descend into the San Carlos area, dominated by massive Arenal Volcano.
Day 3: Watch monkeys, birds, and lizards from our (silly!) little boats. We know a gentle river filled with birds and iguanas and monkeys and crocks, and this is a naturalist's paradise. We'll inflate our Duckies on the river's edge, and paddle ourselves downstream, using the sharp eyes of our guides and local friends who really can make you see the animals through their extraordinary camouflage.
Day 4: Enjoy the canopy from our platform in a primary forest - then from the hot springs. Abraham is over 400 years old, the patriarch of this ancient primary forest. The platform holds you 110 feet up - watching nature as only birds can enjoy it. The platform is ours all day today - to watch the animals, hear the sounds, enjoy the sensation of being a bird for one day.
We even have a good lunch, and comfortable chairs, while feeling the breeze and smelling the jungle and listening to the songs of the birds. This is binocular country up here. Before sunset we'll head up to Arenal volcano to see the lava flow (only visible after dark), and to soak in our favorite little hot springs (or in Tabacón Resort springs, as you prefer - but we like our less crowded place much better).
Day 5: Canopy tour, and then the beach! En route to the beach (Caribbean or Pacific - it depends on the turtle season for each coast) we'll be stopping at a Costa Rica phenomena - the canopy tour. The canopy tour is not a naturalist experience, but nonetheless it is something you can enjoy for the pure pleasure of doing something daring, and different. If you prefer to stay on the ground there is nonetheless the hike in the forest which gives you a chance to stretch legs and see midland altitude birds. After the hiking (and conquering your fear of heights?), we're off again. The destination is the coast, and the tropical coastal waters that gave life to the lands around it. Our oceans are almost too warm for swimming.
Day 6: On the beach: maybe turtles, maybe sea kayaks. With huge luck we may see the arribada - the massive turtle arrival that occurs (unpredictably). And more than just turtles - there's funky beach communities, snorkeling and some great boat trips out to the whales or porpoises. Hiking along the beach is another access to nature. Or sea kayak to a small island. For those who are looking for a bit more, there's scuba and deep sea fishing.
Day 7: On the beach, or hiking in the jungle. With the four wheel drive vehicle we can get a lot of places that are so impossible to reach. On the Pacific we rent a boat to go out if the whales are passing. If the whales are not migrating we head instead to the mangroves on sea kayaks. On the Caribbean we would spend an afternoon with our favorite local guide who knows more about jungle edible plants and can spot birds and animals better than any trained naturalist.
Night is reserved for the sea turtles, if it is turtle season. The turtles come ashore almost every day during the nesting season, but avoid the moonlight - so we time our observation to the moon's calendar. The turtle beaches are protected, and we would enter with a National Park guide. Some of the beaches are very remote, and we're once again grateful for the four-wheel-drive to get us there.
Day 8: Back to San José, stopping for shopping. Even the best of times comes to an end sooner or later. We'll head back to the Central Valley today. If you'd like we can stop in Puerto Viejo or in Sarchí for some of the local crafts. We'll find a really local style restaurant for your last dinner in Costa Rica.
Day 9: Sad day today - you are on your way back to civilization. Your flight back is today. Do you realize you avoided San José completely? Did you miss it?
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price - $2640 per person, double occupancy. Single occupancy: add $390.
Price Includes:
- All food (no limits on which restaurant, or any item on the menu), snack food during the day, and an ice chest with bottled soft drinks and water while on the road
- Laundry, and tips for intermediate guides
- Drivers, waiters
Price Excludes:
- Your airline tickets
- Alcoholic beverages
- Your exit visa for Costa Rica ($26 per person), and the (optional) tip for your principal guide (who shares the tip with all the other major activity guides who come and go during the trip)
Add $110 per person, minimum 2 people, for scuba and $220 per person, minimum 2 people, for deep sea fishing.
Also see tour packages in:
Central America and Caribbean
Costa Rica
Volcano Tours
Rainforest
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