Costa Rica - Rafting, hiking, Trekking & Biking

From the Pacific coast to the Caribbean coast across Costa Rica, an adventure on foot, bike and raft. In total, 235 kms of mountain biking, hiking and white water rafting. An expedition from the wild Pacific coast to the warm Caribbean shores under your own power only.

From the picturesque cliffs and beaches of Manuel Antonio National Park you will be biking, hiking and trekking to challenge the Continental Divide, a barrier that has held back man and beast for thousands of years. We cross the Talamanca and Central Mountain ranges - mountain biking, trekking and whitewater rafting through some of the most diverse terrain in the world. Finally, having conquered many of nature’s great challenges, we drift and gently paddle our raft peacefully to the Caribbean shore, humbled by our deliverance.

Suitable For: Moderately Experienced Off Road Bikers. Other activities need only a reasonable level of general fitness and muscle conditioning.

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).

Fixed Date Guaranteed Departures
2009 Low Season: September 12th - 26th, October 17th - 31st, November 07th - 21st.

2009 Peak Season: December 16th - 30th. Please note this option sells out quite fast.

2010 Low Season: January 09th - 23rd, February 13th - 27th, March 06th - 20th, May 15th - 29th, June 19th - July 03rd.

2010 Peak Season: March 27th - April 10th. Please note this option sells out quite fast.

High Seasons: Late March / early April and late November through to early January. Please note that the trips which include Christmas fills up fast, so please book early. We need plenty of time to get accommodation reserved, it is a very popular time of year.

Wet season (better white water in June through October) The departures in July and August are serious rafting expeditions and are only run as private groups with 4 people minimum.
Email for availability

Trip Ref: C2C

Price Indication Per Person :
Low Season: USD2530 Shared accommodation, excluding International airfare.
Peak Season: USD2595 Shared accommodation, excluding International airfare.

Basis: Shared accommodation, excluding International airfare. Single supplement: USD280 (Low season) USD336 (Peak Seasons).

The base currency is the US Dollar and payments in any other currency may need adjustment for changes in the exchange rate.

Booking Discount: Less GBP25 / USD35 each, if 2 or 3 people book simultaneously. Less GBP45 / USD72 each, if 4 or more people book simultaneously. Special Conditions: To qualify for the booking discount a single payment is required in respect of payments on behalf of all your party .

Email for availability

Visas
A visa can easily be arranged on arrival for UK / US passport-holders.

Comprehensive personal insurance, including search and rescue is required on this trip. For UK clients we recommend the policies of the British Mountaineering Council, for their expertise in evacuation from remote areas worldwide. Details at www.thebmc.co.uk As Insurance is always provided by a company based in your home country, we are unable to suggest suitable insurance companies unless you reside in the UK.