Itinerary
Day 1
Arrive in San, Costa Rica.
After welcoming you at San José Airport, our guides take you to a
comfortable hotel in the city and we will give you time to relax first,
then take time to discuss your adventure, meet the group and prepare for
your mountain biking, trekking and whitewater rafting expedition ahead. No
meals. Accom: Hotel.
Day 2
Surf & Turf
The day starts with a 30-minute flight to Quepos, a fishing village on the
Pacific coast. Here you can visit Manuel Antonio National Park, which is
famous for its beautiful beaches and abundant wildlife. We give you a
briefing in the afternoon providing the details of our adventure and
attending to any necessary preparations. But there is also time for a
quick hike. (B, D). Accom: Hotel.
Day
3 Hiking & Biking
We wake at the crack of dawn and enjoy a light buffet of fresh fruit and
coffee. Mountain biking is our first sport as we leave Manuel Antonio and
climb into the steep mountains and beautiful valleys of the sparsely
populated Pacific Coast. In the small town of Esquipulas we have a hearty
breakfast, rest up and prepare our packs for the next leg of the day’s
journey. Trading our wheels for hiking boots, we continue by trekking into
the cool mountains of Central Costa Rica. We camp overnight in the midst
of endless mountain ranges. (B, L, D). Accom: Camping.
Day 4
Hiking
On this day our adventure continues by trekking towards the Continental
Divide by challenging the infamous “Cemetery Hill” - a
strenuous 3-kilometer climb up a steep, winding pass. We spend the night
in a gorgeous valley, making camp next to a trapiche (traditional sugar
cane processing house). (B, L, D). Accom: Camping.
Day 5
Hiking & Biking
The small pueblo of San Lorenzo is our morning destination where, after a
few hours of hiking, we switch back to pedal power – mountain biking. We
finish the day in the quaint village of Santa María where we tend to our
sore feet, refortify with some typical Costa Rican fare and rest up in
comfortable local cabins for the following day. (B, L, D). Accom:
Hotel.
Day
6 The Continental Divide - Biking
The hardest, steepest climb of our adventure begins on this day at the
refreshing hour of 5.00 a.m. The challenge before breakfast is mountain
biking a 14-kilometer up-hill stretch to the Continental Divide, bringing
us to an altitude of 2330 meters - the highest peak in our journey.
Following the rule that everything that goes up must come down, the
remainder of the day is mountain biking at its best - mostly downhill on
dirt roads and single-track trails. We finish the afternoon in the
beautiful Orosi Valley where rich pastures and dark green forests of
coffee carpet the land and we and our bike rest for the night in mountain
top cabins. (B, L, D). Accom: Camping.
Day
7 Relaxation
Spent in the beautiful valley of Orosi, this day is a free day in which we
relax after the first week’s adventure. With no formal itinerary, you
are free to explore the area or just use the day to relax. (B). Accom: Camping.
Day 8
Tapanti Valley - Biking & Hiking
After some coffee, snacks and fruit we are mountain biking again and
journey along a river to the Tapantí National Wildlife Refuge where we
stop for breakfast. This is an area of vast rugged terrain covered with
dense primary rainforest. Leaving our bike, we take to the mountains
trekking amongst thousands of trees covered with ferns, bromeliads, mosses
and other epiphytes. The end of the day finds us on flatter ground,
camping near the small town of Taus. (B, L, D). Accom: Camping.
Day 9
Rafting & Biking We
begin by biking to our river rafting put-in. Our first experience with
rafting is on the Pejibaye River, which eventually joins up with the
mighty Reventazón River - one of the most popular whitewater rivers in
all of Central America. Once downstream, we bike just another
half-hour’s climb up a steep mountain road until we reach our night
retreat nestled high above the river valley. (B, L, D). Accom:
Hotel.
Day 10
Biking
& Rafting
After breakfast we are mountain biking directly from the hotel towards the
whitewater rafting “put-in” at Tres Equis, which is the gateway to the
raging Pacuare River. From here we embark on a whitewater rafting journey
through pristine rainforest spotted with waterfalls. Frequent rapids will
thrill while the savage beauty of your surroundings is humbling. This
afternoon we arrive at our comfortable riverside camp, El Nido del Tigre.
Nestled between the sounds of the rainforest and the hum of the river,
take time to explore the lush environment first hand looking out for
toucans overhead or simply relaxing in a hammock to the sounds of the
river. (B, L, D). Accom: Camping.
Day 11
Hiking
& Rafting Today
the Pacuare takes us through virgin rainforest, cascading waterfalls and
river carved canyons. We maneuver through the exhilarating rapids and
point out the intricacies of the rainforest at the river’s edge. Along
the way we take time out to do some hiking to spectacular waterfalls and
have lunch on the shore. “Taking out” near the town of Siquirres we
take a short hike to a nearby hotel and rest for the night before an early
start in the morning. (B, L, D). Accom: Camping.
Day
12 Rafting
For the final leg of the crossing we continue whitewater rafting down the
Pacuare and ease into the Caribbean lowlands where banana plantations
gradually swallow the receding rainforest. The river slows to a tranquil
pace as we are rafting the last mile of the river, completing the mosaic
of the landscapes we have passed. At the end of the adventure, we reach
the mouth of the Pacuare as it meets the Caribbean Sea, celebrating our
passage with bubbly in the surf, while enjoying a well-deserved rest.
After some time on the beach we are picked up by a motorboat and
transferred up the canals to the coastal town of Tortuguero. Here we stay
at the comfortable Laguna Lodge. (B, L, D). Accom: Lodge.
Day 13
Relaxation
The day is free to relax and enjoy the area. If you have some energy to
leave poolside a walk into town or on the beach is a nice way to loosen
up. A visit to the community museum in town is a worthwhile stop and the
boat trip through the canals to see the forest and the wildlife at close
hand, is a must. The gentle pace allows sufficient time to enjoy the
surroundings while learning about the flora and fauna and animal life
found in the area. This couple of days in the area is a great way to
unwind and relax after your adventure crossing the country. (B, L, D).
Accom: Lodge
Day 14
After
breakfast we take a motor launch and we wind through the Tortuguero Canals
to our awaiting bus. This is an extremely relaxing way to complete your
adventure. We arrive back in San José with plenty of time in the
afternoon for any last minute souvenir shopping. (B). Accom: Hotel.
Day 15
We will drive you to the airport for your flight home. (B).
