Only for the young of soul and fit of body. You'll barely have time to rest between the canopy tour, mountain biking, white water kayaking and duckies, climbing volcanoes, horseback riding, canyoning in tropical streams, and class IV rafting on the Pacuare River.
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1, Saturday: Your first Costa Rica adventure - getting to downtown alone! Your first adventure is clearing customs and walking through the maze at the airport out to the taxi section. You'll be on your own getting to the hotel in San Jose. Once in town enjoy the sights of the city. There is good bus service; let us know your flight details and we'll get you pointed to your first Adventure - taking an inter-city bus from the airport into town. Once in town one of guides will be meeting with you (if you are there by dinner time) and we can go over some of the action for the days to come.
Day 2, Sunday: Costa Rica canopy tour in the mountains. Your Challenge leader will pick everyone up at the hotel at 8:00 to start heading toward the wilder parts of Costa Rica. On the way we're stopping at a very Costa Rican experience - ascending the tops of giant trees with ropes and harnesses and pulleys, and literally zipping from tree to tree on steel cables and ropes. Today is more adrenaline than sweat. After this adrenaline rush, it's an easy drive - about 2 hours - to Turrialba, the city on the edge of the last frontier of Costa Rica, bordered on the east and north by Indigenous preserves, and to the south by Costa Rica's largest untamed nature preserve. Includes: (B, L)
Day 3, Monday: Costa Rica mountain biking in the Turrialba area. First chance to get really sweaty, and possibly use some excess adrenaline. Mountain biking in the Turrialba area runs from extreme to benign, from steep to flat, from open terrain to remote isolation, and there needs to be some consensus of your fellow travelers to decide which routes to use. We have a whole day, and can make two different forays into the hinterlands, starting with a moderate three hour run through nestled villages and large farms, and, after everyone agrees that they want more pedal pushing, hit a harder trail for the afternoon. Includes: (B, L)
Day 4, Tuesday: White water - duckies or kayaking. Here's a sport you may never have heard of. Duckie dumping. It's 100% wet, and 120% fun. You'll be in charge of your own 2-person inflated kayak, running down a marvelous Class III river (Pejebeye or Pacuare, depending on water level of that day). You've got about a 50% chance that you'll fall out of the duckie, but not to worry - there's a rescue boat right next to you, and, while everyone laughs at you, the only thing you'll lose is probably your sense of immortality. Adrenaline, yes. Sore muscles, definitely. Includes: (B, L)
Day 5, Wednesday: Hike to the top of Turrialba volcano. In an effort to keep you dry, we're hiking above the clouds today, passing through a cloud forest on the way. Ascending Turrialba volcano to the end of the paved road seems like a very long way, but the rest of the way, on foot on a gravel trail for the last 2 hours, is a good way to feel the altitude (it's 11,300 feet at the top) and get accustomed to the thin air.
The rim of this perfect cone is only about 5 feet across, and the drop-off on either side reminds you very clearly how recently this volcano was active — only about 120 years ago it spewed forth tons of molten lava in the valley below. Descending into the cone (caldera) we'll see and hear steam vents blowing yellow vapors skyward, some surprisingly close to where we'll be hiking. The volcano is constantly monitored for pressure buildup, and there's been no alarms set off for the past 3 years. Includes: (B, L)
Day 6, Thursday: horseback in an indigenous farm. Horseback is still the primary transportation system in the outer reaches of Costa Rica. We'll be riding today at one of the more extreme places, on the edge of the Talamanca forest extending from here to central Panama. The farm is the last post before entering the Cabecar Indigenous area, and the farm employees (including our horsemaster) are Cabecars. And the riding is wild! Run, cut cattle, explore the border where the forest meets the fields. Once on the horse you'll feel yourself out of this century and into the last. Includes: (B, L)
Day 7, Friday: Costa Rica canyoning. Combine waterfalls, ropes, harnesses and a lot of trust in yourself and your guides. Canyoning in Costa Rica is unlike anywhere else you may have tried it. The jungle makes the difference. We have a series of waterfalls (one of our canyon choices features 18 separate waterfalls), so clear and sparkling that you are tempted to drink it as you descend on foot, with straps, in harnesses and on ropes and carabiners and figure eights, sometimes using your feet, sometimes using your knees, and often using your butt. With sunshine and giant trees and glorious birds and butterflies all around you, it sure beats a climbing gym. Includes: (B, L)
Day 8, Saturday: White water rafting the Pacuare River. The final Challenge - the magnificent Pacuare, 19 miles of Class IV adrenaline white water rafting. You'll be pleased with all the earlier teamwork you've developed over the past week, because now you can take on some of the big challenges in this river, knowing exactly how each person will react, how to look out for your team members, how they will look out for you.
And of course you will swim here, too, and of course there will be a rescue kayaker right next to you when you fall in (we sort of know the tough spots, and your safety kayaker is standing by with the right equipment to be sure you exit the water, laughing at yourself). Pure adrenaline, and you'll be amazed at what you have experienced. This one day, if none other, you'll tell your grandchildren. Includes: (B, L)
After the river we're going directly back to San José, and your last evening in the capital city will be a great time to carouse and share stories, exchange addresses and photos and promises to return next year for another week of adrenaline and sore muscles.
Day 9, Sunday: Return to civilization. Goodbye, Costa Rica adventures! Your departure is today, alas! Depending on your departure flight you might want to grab a taxi (about $22) from the hotel, or once again, the city bus. But this time the city bus adventure will seem pretty tame, and your confidence in your ability to survive will be significantly enhanced. Yes, you'll have bruises and probably road rash and lumps to prove you were here, and really alive for a whole week. We hope to see you next year, again!
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price - $1899 per person, double occupancy. Single occupancy add $240. Reservation confirmed upon deposit of $450, paid with personal check or credit card (VISA, MasterCard or American Express).
Price Includes:
- Transportation within Costa Rica
- All the adventures listed
- All hotels (good, safe, basic accommodations: clean, private bathroom, hot water shower, center of town)
- Most breakfasts and lunches (as indicated)
Price Excludes:
- Airfare to and from Costa Rica
Also see tour packages in:
Central America and Caribbean
Costa Rica
Volcano Tours
Canoeing/Kayaking/Rafting
Email it to a friend:
Click here to email this vacation to a friend
|
