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Tours & Activities Brief Tour Descriptions
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CENTRAL PACIFIC COAST
Departing from HERRDURA – JACO – VILLA CALETAS
Carara National Park |
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Relatively small in size (4,700 Hectares), the massive importance of Carara stems from its geographical location in a transition area between the Tropical Dry Forest region to the north, and the more humid Pacific Rainforest to the south. Carara has flora and fauna from both ecosystems and the virgin forest that covers most of the park is the ideal environment for such rare wildlife as the Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao), the Collared Aracari (Pteroglossus torquatos) and monkeys.
What to bring: Cool comfortable clothes, walking shoes, sun block, insect repellent, hat, camera and binoculars.
Length of tour: Half-Day Inclusions: air conditioned transportation, bilingual guide, entrance fee Carara Nat. Park
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| Bijagual Waterfall Horseback Riding |
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Plummeting from cliffs deep in the jungle, the Bijagual waterfalls await to be discovered by explorers willing to take the challenge and extract its secrets. Climbing the small range between Carara National Park and the protected zone of Turrubares, the road to Bijagual is a rewarding experience, filled with stunning views of the Pacific Ocean and the coastal fishing villages, alternating with dramatic changes in vegetation. Early risers assisted by expert naturalist guides will observe wildlife, easily spotted in the many canyons traversed by the winding road. After this scenic drive, visitors continue on horseback facilitating access to this magical place. The jungle trail leads visitors to within a few hundred yards of the roaring sounds of the waterfalls as they blend with the calls of Toucans and Scarlet Macaws. Explorers will revel in the pleasures of nature with a plunge into the pristine pools at the base of the waterfalls. A must for all participants! Afterwards you can explore this mystical site and observe the abundant wildlife.
What to bring: Hat, sun block, walking shoes, light jacket, insect repellent and camera.
Length of tour: Full Day. Inclusions: air-conditioned transportation, horseback riding equipment, experience bilingual guide. |
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| Jungle River & Crocodile Adventure |
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Discover first-hand the wonders of nature in the Rain Forest. This adventure takes place on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica, along the Tárcoles River, near the Carara National Park. The area is surrounded by mangroves and located in a transitional forest, where literally hundreds of different kinds of mammals, birds and reptiles flourish. This is nesting sites of the Scarlet Macaw and large colonies of crocodiles – some measuring up to 23 feet in length. The area is also home to 250 species of birds, such as the tanagers, flycatchers, trogons, orioles and hummingbirds. During the migration period from October to April some of the many birds frequently seen are ospreys, gulls, tern’s cormorants, pelicans and frigates.
What to bring: Cool comfortable clothes and shoes, sun block, insect repellent, hat & camera.
Length of tour: Half day. Inclusions: air-conditioned transportation, boat tour & equipment, bilingual guide, soft drinks & entrance fee. |
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Tortuga Island Cruise |
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Enjoy a cruise with a setting of soft ocean breezes, warm sand and the rhythmic crashes of the surf. Our Island Cruise goes to Tortuga Island, the Jewel of the studded Gulf of Nicoya, a location boasting a fortune in natural assets including a white-sand beach, turquoise water, submarine wonders and tropical dry forest. This forest has a canopy that is 30 meters high and the underbrush is sparse. Amongst the main ecosystems, the flora and fauna that are found Inclusions the Candle tree, Anicillo, popularly known as black pepper, the monkey's ladder, Fig, and more. It is normal to find pacas while walking the trails as well as a great variety of birds. Definitely a must, it's a day to remember as one of your highlights in Costa Rica.
Length of tour: Full Day.
What to bring: Cool comfortable clothes, swimsuit, beach sandals, towel, sun block, camera & binoculars. Inclusions: air-conditioned transportation, Sea Cruise, welcome cocktail, lunch at the beach, soft drinks, live music experienced guide. Snorkel equipment and kayaks are available at the island for an additional cost. A cash Bar to enjoy your Piña Colada and Margaritas is also available aboard and at the beach. |
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Sea Kayaking |
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A great combination to take advantage of one of Costa Rica’s most beautiful features: the Ocean.
After a short drive to a secluded beach and some brief instruction we’re off. Watch frigate birds and pelicans glide overhead as you paddle along the spectacular coastline. Land on a deserted beach where you will have the opportunity to do some snorkeling and explore the reefs looking for colorful tropical fish.
What to bring: Sun block, swimsuit, sandals, towel, camera & hat.
Length of tour: Half day. Inclusions: air-conditioned transportation, kayaks equipment and bilingual experienced guide. |
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Canopy Tour |
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This trip will guarantee a full range of excitement while in total contact with one the few transitional forests remaining between the Tropical Dry Forest and the Tropical Humid Forest in Costa Rica. The complete tour takes approximately 3 hours and consists of gliding along several platforms connected by steel cables, suspended in the canopy of the trees. To move from tree to tree we use the best quality pulleys and climbing gear. The height of the platforms varies from 60 to 132 ft. above the ground.
What to bring: Cool comfortable clothes, walking shoes, long pants, sun block, camera & binoculars.
Length of tour: Half day. Inclusions: air-conditioned transportation, entrance fee, equipment and bilingual experienced guide. |
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Savegre River Rafting Tour (Class III)
(Available from May thru December) |
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Savegre River Tour is a full –day adventure, starting with a journey on a gravel road that winds through the remote backcountry of the Rio Savegre, we will begin a four-hour guided rafting trip with class II/III/IV rapids. The trip is either done in 6 person rafts or 2 person inflatable kayaks. The pace on this trip is more relaxed, with a chance to enjoy great swimming ponds and a large variety of birds in the dense primary jungle surrounding the river. We will stop at a beautiful waterfall for snacks, and lunch will be served at the end of the trip.
What to bring: Rubber-soled shoes, swimsuit; shorts of a quick-drying material; hat with a brim for sun; towel; waterproof sun protection; T-shirt is optional. Bring an extra change of dry clothes for after rafting.
Length of tour: Full day.
Inclusions: air-conditioned transportation, river gear, lunch, soft drinks & fruits, bilingual guide. |
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| River Kayaking |
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After an hour ride we will arrive at Rio Dulce, where professional guides will brief us on using the Kayaks, including instruction on basic maneuvers and personal security. On this tour we will enjoy class I and II rapids, which are ideal for beginners and those who enjoy direct contact with nature as we calmly navigate the rivers. There will be an opportunity to swim and take photos. Lunch will take place along the riverbanks, relaxing in the shadow of the tropical vegetation.
What to bring: Rubber-soled shoes that can get wet, bathing suit, quick-drying shorts, hat, towel, water-resistant sunscreen, and a change of clothes.
Inclusions: air condition transportation, bilingual guide and equipment. |
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| Sky Way |
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Located in a private reserve very close to Carara National Park. This attraction is a combination of natural trails, with descendant slopes, and five hanging bridges throughout a wonderful rain forest of century trees. The bridges are totally built in metal and held with metallic towers. They also have a fence and a plastic rail to give more security and comfort. Four bridges are 30 feet long and one bridge is 15 feet long.
What to bring: Walking shoes, Sun block, insect repellent, camera, long pants & hat.
Length of tour: Half-Day Inclusions: air-conditioned transportation, Skyway entrance fee & bilingual experienced guide. |
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| Tropical Horseback Riding |
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The horseback riding tour is a picturesque experience through Costa Rica’s jungle countryside, giving us the opportunity to approach an exuberant natural world of tropical plants and wildlife in an organic non-intrusive manner. Different versions of trails are offered according to the experience of riders.
What to bring: Tennis shoes or boots, long pants, sun block, insect repellent, binoculars, and camera.
Length of tour: Half day Inclusions: air-conditioned transportation, horseback riding equipment, bottled water and bilingual experienced guide. |
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| Manuel Antonio National Park (Closed on Mondays) |
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Let an experienced nature guide take you on an informative hike through beautiful Manuel Antonio National Park. Though the main attractions of this park are its two white sand beaches - Espadilla Sur and Manuel Antonio - it also protects coastal rain forest, a mangrove swamp, coral formations and 12 islands that serve as seabird sanctuaries. Your guide will teach you about the park's distinctive plant life and point out some of the resident fauna, which include 109 mammal species -- such as 3 species of monkeys, agouti, three-toed sloth -- and 184 species of birds.
What to bring: Suntan lotion (sun block), swimsuit, and towel, beach sandals, insect repellent, camera & hat.
Length of tour: Full Day Inclusions: transportation, soft drinks, bilingual guide, entrance fee, and lunch. |
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| Arenal Volcano National Park & Hot Springs |
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We start in the early morning on the route that takes us to the Central Valley and wind our way around the Central Volcanic Mountain Range, pass tranquil towns, pastoral scenes, cloud forest and gorgeous views. We end up on the rolling plains of San Carlos, dominated by the impressive cone of Arenal Volcano, famous for its incredible eruptions, lava streams and incandescent rock explosions, resembling natural firework displays. We will visit lush tropical gardens and natural hot springs -the ideal setting for dinner and observation of the volcano. This hot springs offer various pools fed from hot mineral springs with temperatures reaching 102º F
What to Bring: Swimsuit, towel, cool comfortable clothes and shoes, light jacket & sun block.
Length of tour: Full day Inclusions: air-conditioned transportation, bilingual guide, entrance fee to Hot Springs and dinner. |
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| Mangrove & Crocodile Rio Damas |
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Traveling through this unique and protected inland waterway is truly a great adventure. We combine adventure with education, which is easy since the Damas mangrove forest is the perfect place to learn about one of the most important ecosystems in the world. Enjoy the enchanting, primordial mangrove estuary and observe fascinating wildlife such as the whiteface capuchin monkeys and a vast array of birds. This trip is paced according to how you feel and what you want to see, so you can either paddle softly on a sea kayak to get up close and exercise a bit, or board our ten- to twelve-seat covered boats for a less strenuous trip.
Length of tour: Full Day Inclusions: transportation, bilingual guide, equipment and tropical fruit buffet. |
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| Rain Forest Aerial Tram Pacific |
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The Aerial Tram Park located in the Central Pacific Coast, is an eco-tourism project of 222 acres (90 hectares of forest) that will allow visitors to discover the hidden secrets and hanging gardens of the Tropical Forest from a different perspective. A cascading 40-foot waterfall, giant rainforest trees and panoramic views of the ocean are all part of the ride on the Rain Forest Tram.
The one hour-long ride on open-air gondolas and in company of a naturalist guide takes visitors to a maximum height of 130 feet above the rugged valley.
What to bring: walking shoes, shorts, binoculars, insect repellent, camera.
Length of tour: Half Day Inclusions: Transportation on air-conditioned vehicle. Introduction video to activities, Tram ride on the Rain Forest trails, naturalist guide, Medicinal plants garden and terrarium (snake collection). |
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