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9 Day
Eco tour! For those who want to get
off the beaten track, journey through the natural beauty of the
wildest, most diversified and unexplored region of Costa Rica: the Osa
Peninsula. Jaguars and white-faced monkeys thrive in pristine rain
forests and toucans and scarlet macaws color the sky. From hiking and
mountain biking through the lush river valleys and expansive
virgin rainforests of Corcovado National Park to snorkeling and sea
kayaking around the brilliantly colored reefs and deserted tropical
beaches of Cano Island and Golfo Dulce, you'll fall in love with what
Costa Ricans call 'la pura vida,' the pure life!
Includes: All lodging, meals, guides, fees and equipment. Dates: December - September Difficulty: Moderately Easy to Moderate |
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| Day 1 | Welcome to San José! After greeting you at the Juan Santamaría International Airport, we transfer to the elegant Edelweiss Hotel. |
| Day 2 | After breakfast, we fly to Palmar where we transfer to Sierpe village through the extensive banana plantations of the area. We then board a boat and follow the meandering course of the Rio Sierpe, through mangrove swamps, to the sea. En route, we pass Violin Island at the mouth of the river where Sir Francis Drake reputedly buried his treasure. We soon pass through Drake Bay to the scenic North Coast of the Osa Peninsula. |
| Day 3 | We hike from San Pedrillo Ranger Station south into Corcovado National Park, through some of the most majestic forest to be found in Central America. Founded in 1975, Corcovado is home to the largest virgin rain forest on the Pacific coast. Our destination is the remote Llorona Beach where the tranquil Rio Llorona enters the sea. En route, the site and sounds of monkeys, peccaries, tapirs and many exotic birds will reward us. |
| Day 4 |
We then travel by boat to Caño Island Biological Reserve, a
fully protected natural paradise with an exceptionally beautiful reef
bordering its shores. Not suprisingly the snorkeling and diving here
is
among the best in Costa Rica. With depths ranging from 15 to 70 feet,
these reefs offer an incredible diversity of fish life and marine
creatures, including manta rays, parrotfish, whitetip schools of jacks
and barracuda, a large population of turtles, and numerous tropicaal
fish.
To dive, no prior experience is necessary. Our experienced Dive Instructors will put you through a short PADI Course before hand, and remain at your side during the day's two dives. So don't let any doubts you may have about your ability deter you from experiencing this surreal and prolific marine world. |
| Day 5 | Prepare yourself for a fun-filled day of activity! We begin with a horseback ride to Rancho Cremado, where we enjoy a hearty lunch before rolling out the mountain bikes. We then bike through breathtaking scenery and colorful villages to Rincon. Later that evening, we enjoy an evening of sea kayaking to the deserted Platanares beach where we may see dolphins, rays and turtle's which abound in the warm sea of the Gulfo Dulce. |
| Day 6 | After breakfast, we head north on our bikes along the Pacific coastline to Carate. Our biologically intense backcountry route traverses through some of the most beautiful scenery found on the entire peninsula. With luck, we may encounter howler, white-faced, spider and squirrel monkeys, agoutis, and possibly some reptilian creatures. The air will be full of strange sounds as hundreds of species of birds fly by, showing their multi-colored plumage. |
| Day 7 | We then enjoy a free day. Choose to hike the many trails that permeate the forests around our lodge, swim in the Pacific or at the base of a waterfall, cast a line from shore as the fishing is outstanding, try surfing the ocean's waves in a sea kayak or explore "perrito laguna" on bike. |
| Day 8 | After breakfast, we return to San Jose via the scenic Pan-American Highway. You have the option to bike back to Puerto Jimenez or simply take the shuttle that will drive us through the central area of Costa Rica. Depending on our timing, we may stop at many points of interest en route to San Jose including Cerro de la Muerte, the highest point on the Pan-American Highway in Costa Rica. |
| Day 9 | Today after breakfast at the hotel, we will continue on to the airport for your departing flight if you are not staying longer in Costa Rica. |