Itinerary

Day 1 ~ Arrival
Your Costa Rica Rios guide will greet you at the Juan Santamaria International airport in San Jose, Costa Rica (SJO) upon your arrival. After leaving the airport, we begin the journey to the Turrialba B&B and our headquarters in Turrialba, about a two hour drive through orchards, small towns and beautiful coffee fields. Upon arrival in Turrialba you will settle into your home away from home: comfortable accommodations with tropical courtyard, volcano view balcony and relaxing hammock area. This evening you will enjoy a delicious and authentic Costa Rican meal prepared by our Chef, Lucy. This will be a great opportunity to practice your high school Spanish, as you enjoy your head guide’s company at dinner. The remainder of the evening is spent getting to know your fellow adventurers for the week.

Day 2 ~ Kayaking
After a filling breakfast, and local Turrialba coffee, you are outfitted with river gear and prepare for your first day on the water. Using a unique practice site on a local river, you will become familiar with the kayak and raft equipment, basic strokes and maneuvers. After some paddling instruction we proceed down the Rio Pejibaye. The Pejibaye is a gentle class II/III river, perfect for learning. Most of the group is outfitted with inflatable kayaks. More proficient kayakers may choose to use hard-shell kayaks, while others may help paddle an inflatable raft. You will practice moving-water maneuvering skills while keeping your eyes open for glimpses of Costa Rica's many beautiful birds and butterflies.

Day 3 ~ Overnight Tropical Rafting
After enjoying another great breakfast, you are outfitted for the awesome three day and two night rafting trip on the world famous Lower Pacuare River. Today, enjoy 8 miles of challenging whitewater, and participate in river side stops to hike up to secluded pools below tributary waterfalls. Throughout the river trip there will be many opportunities for swimming or relaxing next to the river.
The Pacuare River Lodge - After some great hikes and wonderful rapids, the group arrives at the remote eco-lodge. The Pacuare River Lodge is equipped with a full kitchen, showers, bathrooms, fully enclosed cabinas, and the best vantage point of the beautiful river and jungle. After settling in at the camp, you are free to practice in a kayak, swim, explore the jungle or just sit back in a hammock and relax.

Day 4 ~ Zip Lines and Canopy Tour
This morning we rise from our jungle lodging and enjoy a wonderful start to the day along the Pacuare River, observing and listening to the many species of birds. After breakfast, your guides prepare you to experience an adrenaline packed day in a rain forest canopy tour. The group will harness up to experience the excitement of crossing the jungle canopy on zip lines, rappels down trees, and walking above the jungle floor on a suspension bridge. The afternoon is available to rest and relax in hammocks, spot birds and wildlife, swim in waterfalls or hike in the rainforest near the Pacuare River Lodge.

Day 5 ~ Challenging Rapids & The Beach
Those who enjoy the early morning will especially like a morning hike through the dense rain forest surrounding the lodge. Our rafting trip continues down the most challenging section of the Pacuare as class IV drops seem to be around every corner. The spectacular river canyon and virgin rainforest create vertical walls of green, broken by waterfalls and hanging vines. Our afternoon takeout allows time for a quick shower and change into dry clothes before we continue our journey to the Caribbean Coast. You will enjoy a relaxing evening stroll along the beach, a spot of souvenir shopping, a delicious dinner and perhaps a beach-side Caribbean dance club before calling it a night.

Day 6 ~ Surf, Sun and Beach
The white sand beach and clear blue ocean give us many choices today. Take an early morning walk along the beach and through the tropical jungle to spot howler monkeys, sloths and birds. After breakfast, you can receive surfing instruction from one of our guides using our soft top long boards and boogie boards. We take a break and enjoy a delicious lunch in a small local restaurant before going to the Cahuita National Park. After lunch we head out on a boat for a snorkeling tour. Tropical fish and coastal reefs await any snorkelers in the group or you can hike along the beach spotting wildlife in the jungle setting. Later we pack up and begin our journey through the flat Caribbean terrain, and up through the eastern slops of the central mountains to Turrialba where we will spend the night back at the Bed and Breakfast.

Day 7 ~ Mountain Biking
For today’s mountain biking adventure you select your bike in our bodega (the warehouse) and your guides will adjust the K2 ZED 4.0 bikes to provide optimum comfort and performance for your journey down Volcan Irazú and through the cloud forest. The summit of Irazú is at 11,259 feet and offers spectacular views of the region and the volcano crater. Prepare for an unforgettable mountain bike experience as you descend 9,200 feet to the town of Turrialba. Your route takes you through the National Park's lush cloud forest to the shoulder of the Turrialba Volcano and passes through small villages and hillsides laden with ferns and bromeliads. We take lunch in a valley between the Irazú and Turrialba Volcanoes with a grand view of surrounding volcanos. After a nice rest, we continue down into the valley and cruise back to the Bed and Breakfast in time for a shower and filling dinner.
OR
Canyoning
This is a full day canyoneering tour in a private reserve right in the heart of the rainforest. You will have a local naturalist guide lead you along the trails before getting to the canyons. From there it is a fun rockscrambling, waterfall-rappelling day in a “leave no trace” environment. At each waterfall the guides will prepare the ropes as there are no permanent fixtures. You will enjoy a delicious typical lunch, cooked up by an older lady over a wood stove, with spectacular views down to the Turrialba valley. You will also have the chance to see all sorts of wildlife. It’s a short scenic drive to the reserve past sugar and coffee plantations. You will get wet so make sure you have a plenty of quick dry clothing with you.

Day 8 ~ Departure - Saying Goodbye
We enjoy a great breakfast sharing our experiences.  We say our good-byes at the airport and we start making plans for your return to Costa Rica!!

Week of Adventures Itinerary
Day 1 ~ Airport Pickup
Day 2 ~ Beginner Kayaking
Day 3 ~ Whitewater Rafting, Pacuare Camp
Day 4 ~ Canopy, Zip Lines, Rappel, Pacuare Camp
Day 5 ~ Whitewater Rafting & Beach
Day 6 ~ Surfing & Snorkeling
Day 7 ~ Mountain Biking or Canyoning
Day 8 ~ Airport Drop-off

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