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HIGHLIGHTS
A quick look about this trip!
DURATION
6 DAYS
COMFORT
LANGUAGE
RATING
  • Raft the world-class Pacuare River 
  • Hold on for a zip-line canopy tour 
  • Explore Tortuguero National Park 
  • Nesting sea turtles, monkeys & more 
  • 5 nights award-winning lodging
ACTIVITIES ON THIS TRIP
Primary: Hiking, Freshwater Kayaking, Rafting
Other: Zip Line, Waterfalls, Wildlife, nature, turtles
$1899USD
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8 SPOTS AVAILABLE
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ONGOING PROMOTIONS
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Applies to Departures Between:
4/25/2012 and 1/1/2013
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From 4/25/2012 To 6/1/2012
TRIP MAP
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Costa Rica: Pura Vida

Raft the Rio Pacuare River, explore the unique wildlife of the rainforest canopy and witness the million-turtle nesting miracle in Tortuguero National Park.
A week-long escape to Costa Rica to raft the best river in Latin America, explore the unique wildlife of Costa Rica's rainforest canopy and witness the million-turtle nesting miracle in Tortuguero National Park. What, in the vicinity of paradise, could be a finer juxtaposition than mixing the pulse-quickening of a world-class wild river, the Pacuare, with the quiet awe of one of the greatest natural phenomena on earth: the annual turtle nesting on the Caribbean beaches of Costa Rica? Join us for the best of super-natural "Pura Vida" Costa Rica on a tropical adventure vacation based out of two of Central America’s most legendary eco-lodges.

Pacuare River
  • The Pacuare River, or the Rio Pacuare, has been named one of the top 10 rivers in the world by National Geographic—winding through lush, primary rainforest offering unparalleled views of Costa Rican wildlife and natural beauty. The rainforests that surround the river are home to exotic species such as jaguars, monkeys, ocelots and a great number of birds including toucan, king fishers, herons, hawks, osprey, egrets and oriels. Add exciting Class III and IV whitewater rafting on warm, celadoncolored water and you can expect a tropical adventure packed with rich experiences that will last a lifetime. 
    Tortunguero National Park 
    • The essence of Tortuguero is slow-moving tropical rivers. Everything about Tortuguero is defined by the rivers. They are the essential roads and soul of Tortuguero. Located on the Caribbean coast, Tortuguero National Park has incredible biological variety including rainforest, swamps, beaches and lagoons. The Park supports hundreds of species of trees and thousands of plant species which in turn attract an amazing number of birds including kingfishers, toucans, blue herons, peacocks and various parrots. The forests are home to jaguars, three-toed sloths and three of Costa Rica’s four species of monkey, while the rivers house sensitive populations of manatees, caimans and crocodiles. The beaches in the reserve are key nesting grounds for endangered sea turtles such as Hawksbill, Loggerheads, Green and Leatherbacks. Our visit to the Park coincides with the turtle nesting season—an event not to be missed! 
      Turtle Nesting 
      • As part of a small group along with a naturalist, you’ll witness a turtle nesting on Tortuguero Beach. It’s a fascinating part of her lifetime adventure which started many years ago when she broke out of her own egg, climbed up through the warm sand, and stumbled down to the ocean shore—through a gauntlet of predators. She is the one in 10,000 who survived. She roamed for all those years through thousands of miles of ocean. Now she’s much larger, protected by her shell and a long life of adventures that made her strong and safe. Amazingly, through her ability to sense the earth’s magnetic field, she has returned to the very beach where she was born 30 years ago. She’ll emerge from the ocean. You’ll sit with her as she digs her nest and lays her 80 – 100 eggs. She will then laboriously cover the nest, perhaps digging a false nest to throw off predators before finally returning to the ocean.
        • For her species, it’s been going on for 11 million years. Hundreds of thousands of generations of her relatives all had to survive to bring her to this place. The cycle of life has begun anew. And you will be there at the perfect time, at the perfect place, on that isolated beach, to meet her and grasp something about eternity.
          Minimum Age: 14 Yrs
Day 1: Arrive San José, Costa Rica
  • Arrive at Juan Santamaría International Airport. After passing through immigration you will be met by a Costa Rica Expeditions representative who will give you a sticker to facilitate clearing customs. When you are exiting the building, look for a Costa Rica Expeditions Guide in a bright orange or yellow shirt holding a sign with your name on it. He or she will take you to your hotel.
Lodging Real Intercontinental Costa Rica
Description SLEEK SOPHISTICATION IN SAN JOSÉ’S VIBRANT ESCAZÚ Located at the heart of trendy Escazú, adjacent to the city’s largest and luxurious shopping mall “Multiplaza” and right next to the biggest corporate complex in Costa Rica, Real InterContinental Hotel & Club Tower Costa Rica is right where you want to be, providing our guests with the perfect location for business and entertainment.
Day 2: Pacuare River
  • Early morning pick-up from the lobby of your hotel in San Jose. Stop en route for a deluxe Costa Rican breakfast on the way to the river. Upon arrival at the launch area, your professional river guides will give an orientation and safety talk. Then it’s down river on rafts for fun and exciting whitewater action on Class III-IV rapids. As we are swept down the Pacuare Gorge by the currents, soak in the natural beauty of the primary and secondary rainforests surrounding us. Water level permitting, a guide will lead us on a hike up one of the many gorgeous creeks that spill into the Pacuare. Upon our return to the riverbank, we’ll find a gourmet lunch prepared by the guides. 
    • Before we know it, we'll arrive at the unique Rios Tropicales Lodge where we can spend the afternoon relaxing, hiking or soaking in the waterfall and pools. After settling into your room, come on down to the open air dining area where the guides will have prepared fresh appetizers and the guest-acclaimed “famous jungle punch”. As the sun dips behind the hills and the twilight fades, we will be treated to a delicious freshly prepared dinner with candlelight.(B, L, D)
Lodging Rios Tropical Lodge
Description If you close your eyes and imagine what a genuine “Eco-Lodge” deep in the rainforest could be like, you might think of beautiful tropical gardens framing native wood Lodge rooms, open air gathering pavilions with thatched roofs and comfortable hammocks swinging in a gentle breeze, ample viewing decks for watching the toucans fly overhead and the river dance along its rapids. Good imagination! This is exactly what you will experience at our Rios Tropicales Lodge. It is the first “Eco-Lodge” built on the Pacuare and the only one powered with hydro-generated electricity for a clean sustainable energy source.
Day 3: Rios Tropicales Lodge, hiking, zip line/canopy tour
  • Today is a full day at the eco-lodge: Rainforest canopy tours, hikes, relaxing and other activities are available. Wake up to the beauty of the light through the forest, the sound of toucans and the smell of coffee. This day is designed to enjoy the lodge and its natural surroundings. Here you will have the unique opportunity to experience the wonders of the rainforest canopy on the zip line course. The four distinctive platforms blend in seamlessly with the natural surroundings, giving you an amazing perspective of life in the roof of the jungle.
    • In addition to the two to three hour canopy tour, you can choose a variety of hikes—a four to five hour hike high into the Pacuare Reserve, a two to three hour hike to nearby waterfalls and pools, or short walks near the lodge. This spacious property offers limitless places to get away from it all and enjoy nature. Just a short walk from the dining area, the lodge offers a sheltered hammock area that makes for the perfect spot to catch up on your reading, sip a cocktail, or just relax and take in the stunning beauty of this amazing retreat. (B, L, D)
Lodging Rios Tropicales Lodge
Description If you close your eyes and imagine what a genuine “Eco-Lodge” deep in the rainforest could be like, you might think of beautiful tropical gardens framing native wood Lodge rooms, open air gathering pavilions with thatched roofs and comfortable hammocks swinging in a gentle breeze, ample viewing decks for watching the toucans fly overhead and the river dance along its rapids.
Day 4: Pacuare River rafting, Tortuga Lodge
  • After a hearty breakfast and loading the rafts, we'll prepare to paddle down the Pacuare Gorge (another section of river) past gushing waterfalls, serene pools and pounding rapids. A snack stop by the riverside allows you to explore waterfalls and natural waterslides. An adrenaline-packed afternoon running rapids like Upper and Lower Huacas, Cimarron, Dos Montañas and many more will have you cheering ecstatically. Hot lunch will be served at Ríos Tropicales Operations Center. Showers, changing rooms, cold and hot drinks and snacks are also available. When you are ready, board your private minivan and depart for the one to two hour drive to the Caño Blanco dock where you’ll board a boat with a local guide to Tortuguero. Late afternoon arrival at the Tortuga Lodge. After checking in to your room, there may be time to explore the beautiful gardens before dinner is served.(B, L, D)
Lodging Tortuga Lodge and Gardens
Description Tortuga Lodges & Gardens starts at our river dock. Sit, relax, enjoy the view. To get the essence of Tortuguero you must tune in with the water, you are immersed in a world where land and water merge and became one.
Day 5:Tortuga Lodge/turtle nesting tour/kayaking
  • Enjoy a leisurely kayaking trip in the rainforest creeks near Tortuga Lodge. We travel first by motorboat from the lodge to the creeks where motorboats cannot go and where wildlife is most abundant. You’ll find yourself blending in with the scenery as you paddle your boat slowly through the water, immersing you in a world where the forest merges with the rivers. This is a guided tour and takes approximately 3 hours.
    • There is time this afternoon for a swim in the pool which was designed to blend into the river environment, or relax and read a book on your private porch overlooking the Tortuguero River. You may also want to explore the trails throughout the lodge’s beautiful gardens and surrounding forest in search of the abundant wildlife. - Turtle nesting tour: We depart the lodge this afternoon at approximately 5:00 PM. Come dressed in dark clothing so as not to be visible when walking the beach searching for a nesting turtle.
Lodging Tortuga Lodge and Gardens
Description Tortuga Lodges & Gardens starts at our river dock. Sit, relax, enjoy the view. To get the essence of Tortuguero you must tune in with the water, you are immersed in a world where land and water merge and became one.
Day 6: Departure
  • Early morning we cross the river to the Tortuguero airstrip where we will board a chartered flight to San Jose. Upon arrival, we will be transferred to the international airport for outbound flights.(B)
TRIP INCLUDES
  • Skilled professional guide service and naturalist
  • 5-nights hotel accommodation (based on double occupancy) 
  • All meals from breakfast on day 2 through breakfast on day 6
  • All activities and equipment as outlined in the itinerary, including rafting, kayaking, zipline/canopy tour, hiking and a private turtle nesting tour.
  • All transportation from arrival in San Jose on day one through departure from San Jose on day six.
TRIP DOES NOT INCLUDE
  • Flights to and from San Jose, Costa Rica 
  • Single room supplement $360 
  • Insurance of any kind, including travel or mandatory medical evacuation insurance
  • Alcohol and personal items (an equipment list will be provided) 
  • Guide gratuities
  • Costa Rica departure tax (currently $26 per person, recommend paying in US dollars or Colones)
CANCELLATIONS: 20% cancellation fee applied if cancelled 60 days prior to departure. Cancellations within 60 days are 100% non-cancelable

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