Our tours bring you along beautiful stretches of the peninsula's coastline, allowing you to explore some of the small offshore islands, snorkel a shallow reef, paddle through the labyrinthine passages of a fresh water river, and enjoy a day of hiking in Curu, the peninsula’s premier wildlife refuge. Throughout your tour you will enjoy encounters with various species of monkeys, lizards, birds, and other members of the rainforest ecosystem as well as countless species of marine life.
In addition to enjoying what there is to explore on and above the water the snorkel gear we provide as courtesy for each guest will ensure you don’t miss out on the world beneath the waters surface. The relatively clear waters of the dry season provide a superb opportunity for viewing the underwater realm. Check out reefs and the diverse marine life they support, sea turtles, flying fish, octopi, moray eels, various species of dolphin and even occasional whales.
We’ll begin by picking you up the morning of your trip and then driving you in our private air conditioned van to our launch site (we can pick you up at your hotel in San Jose or meet you in or near Tambor on the Nicoya Peninsula). Here we will start by familiarizing you with our paddling and snorkeling gear, giving you a detailed paddling and safety lesson, and then loading up our expedition sea kayaks.
Once we are acquainted with the gear and are comfortable we will launch onto the warm turquoise waters of the Gulf of Nicoya. As we depart we are likely to hear nothing but the sound of the water against the shore and the deep resonating calls of howler monkeys in the trees. As we paddle along steep cliff sides and coastal beaches the areas abundance of wildlife will begin to show itself. Pelicans and kingfishers flying over head, occasional flying fish, dolphins or sea turtles passing by and underwater reefs teeming with life forms of inexplicable diversity are just the beginning of countless encounters we are likely to have.
Sample Itineraries for our Kayaking Trips in Costa Rica (2 to 5 day trips are available):
4-Day Itinerary:
Day 1 - Your tour begins with an early rendezvous at your hotel in San Jose or in or near Tambor on the Nicoya Peninsula where you’ll meet your guide(s) and the other members of your trip. From here your guide(s) will shuttle the group to our launching site. We’ll make a stop in the village of Paquera to get some fresh fruit and give you the chance to experience a moment of this quiet little town rich in the vibrant communal essence which creates the backbone of Costa Rican culture. Once we arrive you’ll get your first chance to dip your feet in the warm waters of the tropical Pacific while we introduce you to all of our expedition gear and the basics of sea kayaking; i.e. how to not tip the boat when you’re getting out to dive on a reef, what to do when a sea turtle surfaces next to you, etc. Once we are all situated and comfortable we’ll head out on the calm waters of the Gulf of Nicoya. The route for this first day is designed to let you get used to the idea of paddling while in calm waters as we gradually work our way to the mouth of the Gulf. The waters around you are dotted with islands which are either homes of local fisherman or uninhabited biological reserves. The entire coastline of Costa Rica is public so whenever we find a beach with some shade and a nice view we’ll stop off for lunch and enjoy our first taste of local delicacies. After lunch we’ll continue our paddle along the coast until we arrive at Playa Organos where we’ll set up camp for the night. This long protected beach surrounding the Organos River has a cool breeze and a broad horizon perfect for watching the stars while you fall a sleep to the sound of the waves.
Day 2 - The waves which lulled you to sleep in the night will now welcome you to the second day of your tour. A local style breakfast along with plenty of the famous Costa Rican coffee will get us started on our day. Our route today takes us up the fresh water Organos River in search of habitat and wildlife that prefers the calm winding waterways and protected under story of the mangrove forest. Basilisk or “Jesus Lizards” which are so fast that they can run across the water, as well as numerous species of Egrets, Kingfishers, and Trogans are just a few of the animals we are likely encounter during our passage through this pristine labyrinthine. We’ll work our way out of the maze to enjoy another lunch at the campsite and then perhaps (for the sake of local tradition) siesta in the shade. In the late afternoon we’ll pack up camp and paddle a short stretch of water which will bring us just outside the western tip of the bay to Punta Quesera. Quesera is a beach which lucidly presents itself as everyone’s tropical icon; pure white sand which spreads beneath the fronds of arcing coconut palms and descends beneath tropical blue waters, backed by trails disappearing into a rich forest thriving with sounds and sights of everything you imagine to be tropical. From this vantage point we’ll enjoy another of our wonderful meals while watching the sun descend behind the rising hills of the Nicoya. Later as the blue sky gives way to darkness many of our clients will have their first view of the Southern Cross appearing just above the horizon.
Day 3 - Howler Monkeys are likely to be our morning call to consciousness as they swing and call through the Nancita and Mango trees on the edge of our campsite. The morning will likely be spent observing Howler and White-Faced Capuchin Monkeys as well as rival territorial displays of tropical lizards called Ctenasaurs while enjoying another of our freshly prepared meals. From here we’ll leave the wildlife of the land in pursuit of marine life beneath the surface. A jagged and umbrageous sea floor just off the side of the internationally famous Tortuga (turtle) Islands will be our destination. Once your guide has located this underwater reef all of the boats will be lashed together and secured to an anchor beneath the surface so we can all put on snorkeling gear and dive down to see the wonderful world that exists below. Countless varieties of tropical fish as well as octopus, sea turtle, manta ray, eel, starfish, and crustaceans await and delight the attentive observer.
Hunger will most likely be the only voice determined enough to pull us away from this weightless and colorful world and so the world famous beach of the largest of the Torguga Islands known as Tolinga will be our host for an afternoon meal. After lunch and rest on shore we’ll finish up the day with a circumnavigation of Alcatraz Island (the local name for the Brown Pelican) which is replete with a narrow surge channel, steep towering cliff sides, and a passage through Costa Rica's natural version of the Arc de Triumph. Once back on the white sands of Punta Quesera you’ll have time to relax or enjoy a walk along a trail which departs the campsite and ventures into a branch of the private Curu National Wildlife Refuge. After dinner and another of Costa Rica’s spectacular sunsets the numerous adventures of the day will remind us that it is time for a good night’s sleep filled with tropical dreams.
Day 4 - Again we awaken to the sounds of the tropics descending from the trees and washing up against the shore our final day has come. But just when you think you’ve seen all this place has to offer we’ll bring you to the center of terrestrial life in the area, the hub of Curu National Wildlife Refuge. From our beach the center of Curu is only about an hour away so you’ll have plenty of time and energy to walk the trails of this over 3,000 acre reserve. Along with supporting all of the wildlife known to exist in this region of the country the reserve is currently working on reestablishing spider monkeys and scarlet macaws. The amount of wildlife here is something you have to see to believe and the forests of giant balsa, cashew, almond, and la ceiba trees which create a canopy beneath and in which this wildlife abounds present an iconical example of a neotropical forest. After breakfast on the shore of Curu Bay our van will arrive to shuttle you back to your pick-up location (approximate drop off times vary mid to late morning in Tambor and late afternoon to early evening in San Jose).
5-Day Itinerary (same as "Day 1" to "Day 3" of the 4-day itinerary plus):
Day 4 - Again we awaken to the sounds of the tropics descending from the trees and washing up against the shore. But just when you think you’ve seen all this place has to offer we’ll bring you to the center of terrestrial life in the area the hub of Curu National Wildlife Refuge. From our beach, the center of Curu is only about an hour away so you’ll have plenty of time and energy to walk the reserve trails with over 3,000 acres. Along with supporting all the wildlife known to exist in this region of Costa Rica, the reserve is currently working on reestablishing spider monkeys and scarlet macaws. The amount of wildlife here is something you have to see to believe. The forests of giant balsa, cashew, almond, and la ceiba trees create a canopy where wildlife abounds, presenting an example of a neo-tropical forest. Tonight we will enjoy our last dinner together on the beach.
Day 5 - This morning we will wake and pack up camp. Our shuttle van will pick us up and take us to Estrella de la Playa for some refreshing cold beverages. We will then shuttle to the small village of Montezuma to embark on a 30 minute hike through a primary jungle, leading us to a spectacular 60 foot waterfall. Here you can go for a swim in the natural pools and test your photographic skills. Afterwards, we will hike back to the village of Montezuma where you can explore handicrafts made from local artisans. We will gather for lunch at a local eatery where you can practice your Spanish and then we’ll shuttle back to your pick-up location (approximate drop off times vary early afternoon in Tambor and late evening in San Jose).
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
2-Day/1-Night - $379 per person;
3-Day/2-Night - $489 per person;
4-Day/3-Night - $599 per person;
5-Day/4-Night - $799 per person.
Also see tour packages in:
Central America and Caribbean
Costa Rica
Canoeing/Kayaking/Rafting
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