Day 1 (May 9)
— Arrive San José and departs to Cahuita- Limón.
Assistance at the International Airport. Our guide and driver
will be ready at the Airport to help you and continue with the transfer
to Cahuita. This hotel is located near Cahuita, and offers
different kind of rooms, swimming pool, restaurant and
gardens. Rest of the afternoon free.
Day 2 (May 10)
— Tour to Gandoca Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge.
The Wildlife Refuge is
located on the Caribbean Coast, near the Panamanian Boarder and hosts
an invaluable biological wealth. The Refuge’s natural conditions make
it a very interesting place to visit for scientific tourism and nature
lovers. In addition to this, visitor will have the opportunity of enjoy
and learn of how the Afro Caribbean and indigenous cultures live in
harmony with nature.
Refuge’s estuary is one of
the largest mangroves of the Caribbean side, home of manatees, Caymans,
otters and more. Many other types of animals can be seen in the Refuge
as wild pigs, spotted cavy, monkeys, sloths, snakes, birds among
others.
Day 3 (May 11)
— Begin with the Snorkeling adventure in Cahuita. You will enjoy
marine and terrestrial ecosystems of Cahuita National Park, including
live marine coral reef in a glass bottom boat with 7 people capacity
plus guide and captain. You will also have the opportunity to enjoy the
flora and fauna during the guided walking tour to Cahuita National Park. There are two boats available, for
bigger groups we split them and while half of the group is snorkelling,
the other half is doing the walking tour.
We will walk from 9 to 10
kilometres of the Cahuita National Park. We will start at the town of
Cahuita, followed by White Beach, continuing the trail that goes to
Puerto Vargas. Students will walk through various beaches where you can
swim safety. Some commonly seen animals are two and three toed sloths,
white faced monkeys, howler monkeys, squirrels, and different species
of crabs. Morphs, Monarch and Heliconias Butterflies. Regarding birds,
woodpeckers, king fishers, falcons, ospreys, herons, turkeys, common
vultures and various marine birds, can be seen.
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Day 4 (May 12)
— Departs to Sarapiquí. After the breakfast, the group
will departs to Sarapiquí. Located 8 minutes from " La
Selva " OTS (Organization for Tropical Studies). The
Gavilán Lodge offer bird watchers and visitors, the
opportunity to close observe a wide variety of birds.
We really recommend this
lodge for the group from here they will do all the activities at La
Selva.
Many species of birds found
at Gavilan included :Green Ibis, Spectacled Owl, Scaled Pigeon, Bronzy
Hermit, Tawny-Chested Flycatcher, and pretty rare water birds.
Day 5 (May 13)
— Activities at La Selva including Walking Tours.
After a strong breakfast,
your guide we will prepare the group with all the information for day
activities. This is at
the confluence of two major rivers in the Caribbean lowlands of
northern Costa Rica, La Selva comprises 1,600 hectares (3,900 acres) of
tropical wet forests and disturbed lands. It averages 4 m (over 13
feet!) of rainfall that is spread rather evenly throughout the year.
Discover
the biodiversity of
lowland tropical rainforest at this internationally renowned research
station. With its state-of-the-art laboratories, on-line geographic
information system, extensive trails, and large forest reserve
bordering Braulio Carrillo National Park, La Selva is one of the
world’s most important sites for tropical ecosystem research. Each
year, more than 250 scientists from some 25 countries and thousands of
international students come to La Selva to study tropical ecology. La
Selva comprises 1,513 hectares (3,739 acres) of old growth and
disturbed tropical wet forests. Species´ diversity is
spectacular, including more than 1,900 species of plants, 330 species
of trees, 436 species of birds, and 450 species of ants. Showy birds,
such as toucans, parrots, trogons, and hummingbirds, and mammals,
including monkeys, peccaries, agoutis, and coatis, are seen frequently.
Day 6 (May 14)
— Departure to Monteverde – First visit to Poas Volcano. In the morning, after breakfast
the group will departs to Poas Volcano National Park. The
Poás Volcano is one of the world's largest geysers with an
awesome crater, over 1.5 km. wide! The volcano is active, but
completely safe for viewing. This tour begins with a beautiful
drive through the lush coffee plantations and flower farms of the
area. In addition to the volcano, the Poás National Park
is a 9,884-acre reserve with rich tropical vegetation and animal
life. The tour includes a hike through the surrounding forest
that is teeming with typical plant life and exotic birds. The
hike concludes at a restful, emerald green, tropical lagoon.
Suggested Equipment:
Sweater, camera, binoculars, comfortable shoes, rain coat.
Then continue to Monteverde,
four nights lodging at Eco Lodge San Luis. Comfortable, roomy lodgings
with private baths and a covered veranda. Four bungalow rooms sleep 4-5
people each. Located close to the bunkhouse, dining hall, and classroom. At Ecolodge San Luis
you will discover tropical nature and Costa Rican rural culture in the
company of our superb team of expert resident naturalists. All our
guides are active researchers, eager to share their knowledge and
enthusiasm. Immerse yourself in hands-on activities, learn about
tropical ecology, and experience Costa Rican life first-hand.
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Day 7 (May 15)
— Day at San Luis River.
A special transfer will be ready for the group to go to San Luis River
where the group will have a complete day for stream research. The
transportation will drop off in a special area and then will pick up at
the same place, or where the guide will indicate.
Day 8 (May 16)
— Horseback riding & half day for recognize, sorting and processing
samples and data collected. After breakfast the group will enjoy
a horseback riding tour for 2 hours. Return to the Lodge, enjoy the
lunch and then start with studies at the classroom.
Day 9 (May 17) —
Day of leisure for your own activities.
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Day 10 (May 18)
— Depart to Santa Elena. Visit to the Hummingbirds garden –
realize the Canopy Tour + Hanging bridges. The Canopy tour, one of the safest and
most thrilling adventures of all time; open the door for you to explore
the marvels of an untouched forest from its canopies. Indulge at the
most amazing cloud forest’s flora and fauna including a wide variety of
epiphytes, monkeys and exotic birds. Fourteen platforms along 1.8 miles
connected by stainless steel cables at an altitude of 300 feet help you
cruise through the forest while attached at a top- class safety
harness. For those
seeking for a more relaxing overview of the forest, take advantage of
our suspension walkways. Walk through our bridge system and peacefully
admire the wonders of the virgin cloud forest from the level of its
canopy.
Selvatura’s Canopy Walkways
are the best way to enjoy peacefully and safely the virgin cloud forest
canopy. Through our bridge system and over 1.6 miles of easy walking
trails our visitors can enjoy the marvels of the cloud forest and get
the chance to see some of the world’s most amazing and beautiful flora
and fauna. The canopy
walkways feature eight bridges with different lengths which make up a
total of 2400 feet of total bridge length crossing through altitudes of
up to 240 feet. Finally relax at the & hummingbird gardens.
Day 11 (May 19)
— Departs to Manuel Antonio.
After breakfast the group
will departs to Manuel Antonio, lodging for 3 nights at Espadilla
Hotel. Located within 3 minutes walk away from the National Park
of Manuel Antonio and 2 minute walk from the beach front. A nice two
story building with rooms over looking a private biological reserve
which belongs to the hotel. Rooms with a/c, telephones, security box
and cable TV. Some have kitchenette and refrigerator. Pool side bar and
restaurant, serving troplical as well as international cuisine. Tennis
Court and private parking lot. Afternoon free.
Day 12
(May 20) — Mangrove Kayak Tour to Isla Damas
Estuary. After
breakfast the group will departs to Quepos. Paddle through the
smooth inland waterways of the Damas Island Estuary, one of the most
unusual types of vegetation on the planet, and learn the importance of
this delicate ecosystem. Mangroves thrive where the salt waters of the
ocean meet the fresh waters of tropical rivers creating a periodically
submerged forest of interlacing aerial roots.
You will be given paddling
instructions at the beginning of the tour. Your bilingual guide
will show you the wealth of animal and bird life that lives in this
unique habitat, such as mangrove wrens, swallows and an abundance of
shore birds. On the banks of the estuary, you’ll see the main
protagonists of the mangrove ecosystem, the Sally light foot crab, as
well as boa constrictors tangled in the aerial roots, silky ant eaters
and monkeys in the upper branches and crocodiles slipping in and out
the water. We will have rest stops with snacks and lunch will be
provided in a local restaurant. Afternoon free.
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Day 13 (May 21)
— White water rafting at the Naranjo River. Only 30 minutes away from Manuel Antonio
/ Quepos area, the Naranjo river is the natural southern border of
Mnauel Antonio National Park. The section we run goes from the
town of Villanueva in the mountains, to the Llamarón bridge on
the road from Quepos to Dominical. On these 8 miles of whitewater
we will run rapids like “La Piñata”, “El Cesar” & “Robin
Hood”. On the second half of our run the river opens up on the
Pacific flatlands giving us the opportunity to enjoy the view and see
many species of birds like the Ringed Kind Fisher and the White
Ibis. With a little bit of luck we might be able to see one of
the crocodiles that live in the river.
The trip starts at your
hotel, where the bus will pick you up and take you to the put in of the
river, passing through the towns of Naranjito & Villanueva.
Once there, the guides will gear you up and after a safety talk
will star a descent maneuvering the rapids of the mighty Naranjo River.
Day 14 (May 22)
— Return to San José. According to your program and
guide the group will starts with the return to San
José, a stop can be make at Sarchi where the group will
see and buy some handicraft.
Day 15 (May 23)
— End of the Course.
3 hours before to your flight departure the guide and driver will pick
you up to departs to the International Airport.
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